Getting Hammered

Today started just like yesterday: warm, sunny, and with everyone in good spirits. We packed up our lunches and headed out for our first look at the job site in Seaford, DE, where we would be working on for the week. We arrived early and the Habitat Americorps volunteers were already there getting things set up. In the place of the future home was a flat concrete slab and a pile of lumber nearby. 

We started with a prayer and got to meet the Sussex County Habitat For Humanity worksite supervisor "Bubba" and the Americorps members Hektor, Kyle, and Gary. Everyone was very welcoming and we got started quickly. Over the next hour or so, we really got rolling and by lunchtime we had 2 and a half walls up. It sprinkled on us for an hour or so but cleared up and we experienced a warm sunny day just like yesterday! After lunch, we completed all the exterior walls and several interior walls for the house. 

We all had some new experiences and learned to use tools we hadn't used before. In all, this was a perfect first day and we made incredible progress on the house. Our group, which had previously never worked together before came together to become a very efficient work team. I think we are all excited for tomorrow to see just how much more we can accomplish together!

~Brendan 

Summer in February

Seeing that we all spend at least 9 months out of ten in Erie, we were all extremely excited to wake up to 60 degree weather today!

 We began our day with a Mass at a local Catholic Church and then we set off on our free day. 

We drove to Rehoboth Beach and I can honestly tell you that we were the only people crazy enough to stick our feet in the 38 degree water! A lot of laughs were had by all and the beach was more than we could have imagined! We were able to walk the boardwalk and marvel at how many people and dogs were out; especially the dogs since most of us are going through withdrawal. We ventured into candy stores and it is safe to say that we were the oldest people in the toy stores. Jokes were made and the puns just keep on coming as we continue on this journey. 

As you can see from the photo above, none of us are wearing shoes and our pants are rolled up, so you have to know that we went in:) 

When we returned from the beach, tacos were prepared and enjoyed based off of the fact that there were no leftovers.

I guess you could say the game of the day yesterday was the "song game" and today it was sardines! We used any and all places in the church to hide and I have to say, Brendan was the best hider- we spent at least a half an hour looking for him. 

Here is a picture of me- what you can't see is the fact that I'm hiding in a storage bin in a dark closet. We go hard.

The reflection for tonight consisted of everyone thinking about their comfort zones. Think about it, how comfortable are you starting up a conversation with a stranger? How uncomfortable are you when you sleep on the floor for a week? We asked these questions with the hopes that as the week continues, we become more comfortable with the challenges and tasks we are faced with.

Wish us luck as we begin our work day in the morning, and maybe say a prayer that us accident prone kids don't get hurt :) 

Thanks for reading!

~Morgan 

A Great Time

Hello everyone!

The group had quite a great time during our first day of our ABST journey to Delaware. We left the GU admissions parking lot around 7:30am and arrived to St. Phillips Epicopal Church at 4pm. On our way, the group got to know each other more through conversation and games. A game that we played involved singing songs according to a certain topic. With the topics of run, roll, drive, and time, the group had a bonding experience singing out all the songs that we could recall. This game lasted up to 3 hours and we sure enjoyed every minute of it. 

We arrived to the church and were welcomed by some very nice people affiliated with Habitat for Humanity. We settled in and hung around for a while, continuing to build our relationships with one another. There we many laughs all around the dinner table about things that happened today. Overall, it was a great day. Everyone in the group has already connected in some kind of way, which is absolutely awesome! I am looking forward to serving, laughing, and bonding with these awesome people for the rest over the week! 

Signing off for today, but we will see what tomorrow brings us!

Anna

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by the Habitat for Humanity ABST blog! 

First of all, we're  going to Sussex County, Delaware! The leaders of the trip are Brendan Scully and Morgan Grzegorzewski.

Brendan is a senior nursing student from Erie, Pennsylvania and has been on past ABST Habitat trips. He is also on the executive board for Gannon University's Habitat for Humanity chapter! 

Morgan is a sophomore physician assistant student from Cincinnati, Ohio. She went on the habitat trip last year and looks forward to leading it this year. She is also a part of the executive board at Gannon. 

As we continue this journey, you will meet more of the group members and get to read their stories and experiences! 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~Morgan 

We started building a house and left a Home

Our last full day in Kentucky was another eventful one in the books. 

We started our day with a two hour delay, a goodbye to a very special habitat friend we made, and then we were off. We went to a new house in the very near town of Berea to work. 

The Berea house was close to finish, so we were able to try new tools of trade. We hung doors (or rather attempted to), and we trimmed. 

(Above is Morgan and Alfred, and below Shawn working on doors)

(Above Giona and Marty-the Habitat job supervisor finish up a door, and below Marya and Morgan trim) 

It was a tedious task to hang doors and trim as most of us found out quickly. However, we were able to work side by side with the owner of the house today and get to hear a little bit about their story. When our work day was done it was a bitter sweet moment. Knowing we were done with the doors and trim for the day was a small highlight. Although we realized it was our last time working with the amazing people we met this week.

 (Our group with our fearless job supervisor Marty) 

After work we returned home, got cleaned up, and headed back to Berea for First Friday. First Friday is held at the beginning of every month at the Village Trough; which is a local earthy resturant that uses locally grown products. We listened to two very talented musicians play and sing. Some of us tried the local grub and really enjoyed it and we talked with each other and some locals. 

We returned to our home of the week for our final time, and had a great reflection of everything we have experienced. We now pack, clean, and finish up some last minute tasks of the week before we head home. 

At the beginning of the week we started with some lumber in an empty warehouse. Within two and a half days we were able to build the frame for a house where many memories are going to be made. Today we were able to see the work we did from the beginning of the week in an almost finished house. We started as strangers, and are leaving as friends. Just as we started a house, and we are leaving a home. 

-Jess

SNOWDAY!!!

Hello world!

Anna here with today's blog. After an exciting day yesterday we went to bed ready to rise early in search of adventure at the Berea build. We awoke to six inches of snow and a ghost town. We brave erie-ites had no second thoughts of entering the tundra, but to our dismay the build was cancelled for the day. But fear not we did not simply sit around all day...okay we did. We spent the day together strengthening the community we have built and learning from one another. Some of us went outside and played in the snow (throwing snow and licking metal poles) while others chilled inside. 

Late afternoon arrived and we decided to venture up the road to the local coffee shop Purdys. There we found warm drinks, crazy games, and special memories. after returning home Leann, Morgan, and I treated the group to a Taylor swift concert, much to everyone else's dismay. 

After a delicious dinner of pizza, we had our nightly reflection. Tonight was special; we heard the story of one of our group members. We heard their struggles and why our service is so important. The time we were supposed to meet the families we have been building for had to be cancelled. There is a good chance we will not be able to meet the people we have been building for, and that is kind of hard. However, the good we have done will not go unnoticed or unappreciated. We all have to believe that it has all been for a greater purpose than ourselves.

"The good you do today will often be forgotten tomorrow, do good anyway."-Mother Teresa. 

Yes we wanted to meet the families and see what they thought of our work, hear their story, and understand what we have been working towards, but instead we are holding on to a belief that we must always strive to do good even when we don't see why. As we end our fun-filled day with laughter and games, we look to tomorrow as one last chance to do real good before we leave our beautiful  Richmond. Goodnight all and pray that the weather allows us the opportunity to build together one more time.

left- Anna and Morgan in their Purdy's Shirts

back- Shawn and Anna front- Morgan and Marya--- all are sporting their Purdy's shirts bought from the local coffee shop 

 -Anna and Morgan 

With A Little Help From My Friends

This morning was quite the rainy one! In fact all day has been a mixture of signs from a Mother Nature that can't make up her mind. 

Along with the rain, we were gifted with the opportunity to help out at a place called God's Outreach.

God's Outreach is a food bank for Madison county in Richmond. The woman on the far right, Joyce, graciously allowed us to work with her and her staff this morning. We packed bags, moved groceries, and talked with a diverse group of people. I had the pleasure of taking the foods to the cars of families in need. It was pouring down rain and I couldn't feel my hands, but the comments and stories I heard made it all okay. One woman went as far as to ask if the reason for my helping was because I was in trouble! I laughed and explained we were from out of town and we wanted to help. She confirmed our need in the world for more people like that. 

Photo includes Ben helping to unload food.

Left- Local volunteer, Alfred, Morgan, Shawn waiting to push the carts for those in need.

The mornings experience was exhilarating and reflective. Volunteering, even if for a few hours can make all the difference. Joyce gave us all a little wisdom along with some food as a parting gift. She told us that we need to find a volunteer opportunity we love and to give and then give some more. People are in need and when we are all giving, the world can be a beautiful place.

After lunch we went back to work on our frame! More nails were hammered, more knees were sore, and more was accomplished. We ended our work on this house, in particular, with an almost complete frame! 

Marty will be finishing up part of a window and the front door! Other than that, this house is ready to be moved to its resting place!

This is our crew leaving the workplace for the last time.

At the end of each day, during reflection, we are asked to tell our high and low moments as well as the moment we feel closest to God. I'm realizing as we continue on this journey that my high moments so easily couple with how close I feel to God. If you are up to it, as the readers, maybe think about your moments that fall under these categories and reflect with us as our adventure continues!

Tomorrow is a new day!  A new site will hopefully be visited if weather permits!

-Morgan