Our counterparts from Iowa

A big part of our experience at Cary Christian Center has been getting to know the folks with whom we're sharing the week:* a team like us from Northwestern College in Iowa. 

Some of these guys were here last year at the same time as some of the Witt group, so it's been fun for us returnees to renew old friendships.

*Dorms, meals, work experiences, toothpaste, into-the-wee-hour conversations. . .

Photos: The Iowa group poses by the sign out in front of the administration building as Robert Jackson snaps a few photos.

Leaving Cary

The teams from Wittenberg and Northwestern College and the Cary Christian Center staff pose for one last photo before hitting the road for home.

Project Manager (and chef!) Robert Jackson treated the volunteers to a celebratory farewell catfish supper last night. Here, Cary Christian Center board member Ruby Johnson shares one of her many fascinating life stories with those around her. 

 

The sign over the dormitory door offers us some parting wisdom . . .

Planting seeds and changing lives

Another crazy day for the Wittenberg and Northwestern folks, this one packed with gardening with kids, painting houses, roofing, tutoring, playing on the playground, shooting portraits of young moms-to-be, and cooking after-school treats for 50 students and dinner for 30 hungry volunteers.

Photos (above): Tyler and Kirstie show students how to lay black plastic in the flower bed. (below): 1) Fist bump! 2) Nickie's prenatal class gets crazy; 3) Mica and new friends on the playground; 4) Cathy gets tickled at Karl's rendition of the Taboo Rap; 5) the Wednesday Night team of tortilla chefs: Erin, Tori, Clint, and Kirstie.

A job well done

Under the guidance of Ryan and Karlos (the adult volunteers who had headed up this project had to hit the road for Michigan this morning), today's team of painters finished Sandra's house. She was thrilled with her home's makeover. . . and we were pretty happy ourselves.

Photos: At top, Karlos and Ryan pose with Sandra outside her freshly-painted house. Above, today's crew.

Everybody, paint!

Monday and Tuesday found us painting two different houses. Here are a few shots of the volunteers hard at work. . .