Tasty ribs in memphis and then to St. Luke's UMC to stay the night. Youth missions is hard work!...

Day Four!

Piggly Wiggly Little Tracey Speedy Sledgers: Mr. Meacham, Mr. Smith, Megan Patterson, Rachel Smith, Alison Marsh, Jack Eidson, Brayden Adams, Katie Peisen, Timmy Clark, Samantha Wintermute

Today, after turning around a couple million times, we finally arrived at a new home. Ms. Mae, the sweetest 96-year-old lady we have ever met, is recovering from a stroke and needed some help with her yard and wheelchair ramp. We jumped right into our work. While tearing down the wheelchair ramp, Timmy slipped back and landed on a rusty nail, which then proceeded to impale his buttock. We finally found a use for our first aid kits. During all this excitement, half the group was raking leaves, as usual. During lunch, we had a lovely conversation about “free range chickens” in which Mr. Meacham declared that such things do not actually exist (much to Timmy’s dismay). Mr. Meacham and Patty spent most of the afternoon “working” on the swing set (had to make sure it was safe for swinging, you know), while the rest of us continued to rake or tear down the ramp. We kind of hit a wall after lunch so Patty bet Rachel, Alison, Jack, and KP (now known as the Almighty Sing-Along Tarpers) that they couldn’t finish raking the leaves and running them across the road in 5 minutes. I am happy to report that we finished in 4 minutes and 40 seconds and, consequently, received king-sized Reese’s from our favorite Tennessee store, Piggly Wiggly. We finally completed our tasks and went inside to bid Ms. Mae farewell. Although we had only known her for one day, she gave each of us a hug, despite her physical condition, and told us how much she loved us and appreciated our work. I have never been so touched. After another exciting, eventful day in the lovely mountains of Tennessee, we arrived back at Mountain T.O.P., exhausted and yet inspired by our experiences. Though we are all ready to get home, I think everyone would agree that we enjoyed our time here and will return home with great memories, touching stories, and lots of inside jokes.

Written by: Alison

P.S.
I have had such a great time this week! Today was one of the best days of work. We deconstructed a ramp (apparently, our group was assigned deconstruction with very little construction. I think there’s something biblical about that). I did have a scare when I landed on that nail today, but my spirits were lifted after hugging Ms.Mae and her saying, “I love you,” to each one of us. I know all of us were inspired to love one another and all of God’s children much more openly than before. Thanks to all of the parents and families who supported this trip.

Peace,

Timmy

Trick Daddy green grass donkeys that ride tractors
Paul M., Jacob Thomas, John Meacham, Jonny Lee, Tyler, Abbi, Abigal, Nick

Today was a wonderful day, with blue skies, sunshine, and not in a moldy basement for the third day in a row. Today we built a chicken coop that was the greatest thing ever. We had worked for a man that was in the Korean War and then retired and settled down in a small house. We started of putting up chicken wire around t in the half finished coop, then Jonny, John an Abbey got to use the power tools!!!! We cut some wood and the screwed the boards in completing the job at noon. Then we headed back to camp and got a new job fixing a slight problem from Floral Heights had while setting up some wood. We took it down and fixed it in about two hours. So all in all the day was good.







*Read Note at bottom of page before starting below paragraphs

Chapter I

It was a long and arduous day. The receding mist was like the steam from a finished shower, fading quickly. The sun arose from the sky like the headlights of a car at night, slowly coming into view. The grass was tall like trees, intertwined with vines and other shrubbery. The cool air was like a refreshing drink of water, cold and persistent. Evan’s metaphors are like the endless piles of trash found in a basement, never ceasing.

Anyways, we got to work around 10 or 11, with the intent of conquering a tree larger than BKs large-headed perception on the effectiveness of his own jokes. After a while of sawing several limbs off, we moved to the body (I am referring to the tree of course.), and took a quick lunch break. We then came back shortly after (I have 5 minutes and 20 seconds left to write this blog. Thanks Patty) with a chainsaw and made a lot better progress. I like pancakes. Shortly after the chainsaw started to do work, it got flooded with failsauce and stopped working. Day of work over.

After that we went to GREETA FALLS and well, saw GREETA FALLS.

And they lived happily ever after.

The END

Written by: Evan Scallan

Day Three!

Prancing Kitty Cats- Mr.Lee, Bonita, Meacham, Melissa, Bo, Mason, Evian, Bk(BJ)

Today we went to an old women’s house and heard her life story that none of us will ever forget. She has been through a lot!!!! She lost her husband one year and three months ago, got in a terrible car accident that did enough damage to her for a lifetime. Her nose was cut off, her scalp was torn off, and on top of all that she broke several bones. Just recently she fell and broke her hip and femur. So basically all of the things that involve walking that she needed help with, we had to do. We cleaned the yard, front porch, side porch, and back porch, and a large tree that has fallen and is in the way. We all learned from Bonnie that no matter what life brings you, it happens for a reason. She said “God will never give you anything that you cant handle”. Through all of the things she has been through she never once has questioned her faith. We are looking forward to going back tomorrow for another busy but rewarding day. –Meacham

The Piggly Wiggly Little Tracey Speedy Sledgers- Rachel(Ray-Town), Alison(B-Girl Allie), Jack, Timmy, Mr.Meacham(el jefe), Darryl Smith(Big D), Katie(KP-Money Bags), Samantha, Brayden(Bray-Bray), Patty.

Today we got a new project with an old lady up on the side of the mountain. She had about an acre of land with lots of trees and she wanted us to rake the whole thing! We were also supposed to fix her porch, fix her roof, pick weeds, clean up trash, put the leaves in the compost piles, and help her friend a mile down the road; it was a very busy day! To make things even better it was freezing cold and raining! We spent most of the day raking endlessly and picking up cold wet things, which made our gloves cold and wet which made our hands cold and wet. Big D was not able to help because of his near amputated finger courtesy of Jack. Although Big D did allow Jack to use a power saw…it was an intense moment. To pass the time Rachel, Alison, Brayden, and KP made up a chant that goes “I don’t know what I’ve been told, we’re outside and we’re really cold. I don’t but it’s been said, raking leaves hurts my head, bring it back down now, 4---3---2---1, 4,3---2,1 huh!” It also helped the whole group by chanting “left, left, left, right, left!” Overall it was a really busy and cold day! Oh ya! I almost forgot to mention we all received a book about how most all music was the work of the devil…including the Beatles and Christian rock. We will be adding this to the church library if you would like to check it out!

~Ray-TownJ

Tractor Riding Green Grass Donkeys- Tyler, John, Jacob, Nick, Paul, Abigail, Abbey, Jonny.

Today, we finished removing the mountain of trash from the house with the basement. John and Jonny rode with Jay up the mountain twice in a rickety 93 Ford F-150 to unload the trailer full of trash. We had a great time when Jay went 75 up a steep mountain road that was missing side rails. Unloading the trailer was a little hectic because our past loads had already filled up two of the three dumpsters. We ended up filling the up the compactor and the remaining dumpster. On our last trip up the mountain, Jonny and John dumpster dived in order to finish the job. Afterwards, we got ice- cream cones and three bags of chips.

Day Two!

Today, the Tractor-riding green grass Trick-Daddy donkeys continued on their adventure through the mysterious moldy and mildewey basement. We started off the day fabulously, shoveling up a good amount of clothes and junk in the first hour while Abbey, Paul, and Jonny spent their dear sweet time buying trash bags at Dollar General. We shoveled junk and hauled it out the entire time (with a short lunch break) and eventually cleared the entire basement. While we were doing our man’s work, Jonny, Nick, and Paul discovered their feminine abilities while cleaning the house for the family. The nastiest experiences of today include numerous wet dirty diapers, pots filled with poop (and wet diapers), 5 frog sightings, and old sweaty football bags, adding to the loveliness of this moldy basement. After lunch, Abbey and Elroy (Tyler) replaced Jonny and Nick in this woman’s work. When we finished with the basement, we ended the workday hauling junk off the front porch and from around the yard. Overall, the day was very successful and we are all very tired!
Tractor-riding green grass Trick-Daddy donkeys include: JT (Jacob Thomas), Paul, Abigail, Abbey, Nick, Jonny, John Meacham, and Elroy (Tyler).
Written by: Abigail ☺

On this fine day the Piggly Wiggly Little Tracey Speedy Sledgers arrived at our half demolished building rearing to go when it was realized that we could do nothing without a trailer, which apparently takes a long time to arrive! While waiting we decided to move the big stuff into a large pile, then when the trailer arrived we moved it all into another big pile! In the meantime, Brayden decided he would stomp the newfound tailgate. This is a bad idea especially when it is wet, it is no surprise that his feet came right out from under him and he fell on his butt! We followed the trailer of wood back to the camp where we unloaded it into ANOTHER big pile! (There was a lot of piling today!) After lunch we went back to the site only to have more piling to do. We then had to wait around talking about “Lost” and playing tricky mind games while the truck pulling the trailer broke down. During these hours of waiting, we decided to make the Little Tracey doll song our theme song, going ”Stomp your feet---and boogie to the beat---turn around and touch the ground ---and wiggle it---just a little bit!” When the truck finally came we started piling all the stuff into the trailer again using only one wheelbarrow and ten people (do the math). Jack was in charge of wheel barrowing and proceeded to try and cut off Big D’s (Darryl Smith) finger. Which was obviously not a pretty sight! Overall it was a slow, cold, and waitingfull day!
Written by: Rachel and Alison!

The girls in our group were being stupid when they called our group the “Prancing Kitty Cats.” We are now the “Gweeta Falls Gaaaang” because today we were supposed to cut up a tree that fell in a Normandy Beach D-Day veteran named Mr. Thompson, but when we got there he had already cut up the tree. So predy much half of the job was already done. When finished hauling the logs we had to kill time so Mr. lee told us to just start hacking at random branches. As we finished that we got a great idea, going to Greeter Falls. It was beautiful. As a joke I(BK Sanford) yelled in Patties face “ Gweeta Falls” therefore we are now known as the “Gweeta Falls Gaaaang.”

Ok parents...I am sorry for the lack of pictures from all of the groups. We have cameras at the other ones, but the computer is not reading a couple of the cameras. Again, I apologize, and we should have more tomorrow! Hopefully we can figure out the technical problem..

Mountain T.O.P. Signing Off..

Patty

Day One!

The Speedy Sledgers- Chad Meacham(el jefe), Darryl Smith(Big D), Megan Patterson (Patty), Jack Eidson, Brayden Adams, Alison Marsh, Katy Peisen, Samantha Wintermute, Rachel Smith, and Timmy Clark( almost forgot TC)

Wow! What a day! We can now say our favorite tool is….The SeldgeHammer. We demolished a roof. Enough said. NO, we annihilated a roof. We arrived to a large cinderblock house that was victim of fire. About an hour in we were told by the owner of the house to STOP demolishing the cinderblock and focus on the roof. So we attacked Sawzall. We took down the roof, trying to avoid rusty nails , and other debris. In the process, Rachel, Alison, and Mr. Meacham took down their half of the roof faster than all the other guys and their powertools! I could make up some crazy story, or talk about funny situations , but the reality is we worked the entire time tearing that roof up. And that’s how we roll-Sledge style!

Prancing Kitty Cats(yes the boys agreed to it)-Mr.Lee, Mrs.Meacham(Bonita), Bk(BJ), Evan(Evian), Melissa, Meachers(Chuck Norris/Baby Eater), Bo, and Mason

So pretty much this group is too legit to quit. We started our adventure tearing up a bush the size of Mount Everest. After taking the axe and pick axe to the darn thing, we took the challenge to the next level. We discombobulated two more baby Everests. After all this hard work, we took a marvelous lunch at the Grundy National Park, where we got the oppurtunity to see God’s beautiful creations. On the way back, we almost saw the woman we were working for hit a dog (it tried to bite the tire). We finished taking out the bushes, clearing the garden, taking the wood to the brush pile, and satisfying the old lady. On the way out, we managed to get stuck in the mud. Luckily we had two boys (Mason and Evan), a man (Mr. Lee) and Bonita who was driving to get us unstuck. After getting free of the mud, we were rewarded with a trip into town to get tasty treats. We stopped at a Dutch Bakery and enjoyed a drink and talked about our exciting day. We soon realized that a dent appeared on the back bumper of the car. We panicked thinking we hit something or someone hit us, but realized that the dent was already there. We all know that we are the most amazing group EVER!!!!!! J -Lissbliss and Meachers

P.s.- We managed to destroy the clean, shiny and black rented Suburban.

Alright, so, we, team Tractor Riding Green Grass Trick Daddy Donkeys, showed up to the house that we’re assigned to work on, knowing that we were cleaning out a basement because of a flood, we thought we would finish pretty quickly. When we walked down to the basement, we found out that it was much bigger than we thought, very cluttered, and there was much more damage than expected. Me, Abbey, and Abigail started upstairs folding laundry and such until Jacob came and told us they needed help. So we went to the basement with Jacob, Paul, Nick, Tyler, John and Jonny. We basically swept up a ton of dirt, trash and many live bugs. There were a lot of things that had very bad water damage or broken that needed to be tossed, so Jay brought a trailer and we loaded it up and him and John took all of it to the dumpster(three times). One of the woman’s grandsons came out with a nice China plate and gave us all cheese slices as a gift. And at the end of the day, two massive dumpsters were filled past the top, and we still have more work to do. Lastly, the woman that owned the house asked us if we would pray with her before we left, so we all pilled into the house and prayed, including PJ the dog.

Oh, we found an old Villi Vanilli CD and Abigail also picked up a couple of old dirty diapers and got the remains on her gloves. J