Thursday

Today we woke up bright and early after a very warm night sleeping. There isn't air-conditioning in the cabins. The first couple days were nice and got cool in the evening, but Wednesday had heat advisories. so, we were all dragging a bit this morning. We have group time in the morning before breakfast. We sing worship songs, read scripture and have a morning start. After that we eat breakfast, pack our lunches and then head out to job sites. I am on a job site with Jill and Ken (who chaperone with me), Tyler, Josh, Chandler, Charlotte, Josie and Katie. We had Reverend Doss, from Ames, IA with us up until today. He was only able to make it for part of the week. We have been painting at the parsonage in Mound, MN. It's a two story, four bedroom house. Very different from our own parsonage! We are painting it Newbury blue with white trim. It used to be a cream color. The church has been very nice and has been allowing us to use their air-conditioned fellowship hall for lunch and have been providing us with cold drinks. Today they gave us rice crispy treats! One of the trustees has worked with us today. She is a very nice lady and worked side by side in the heat with us, had lunch with us and chatted with us throughout the day. The paint has really transformed the parsonage and it will be so nice for the new minister and his family. The church has a very large parcel of land and they have a monsterous community garden and have installed raised beds for those who are disabled to be able to share in. We've had a chance to speak with many of the church members who come out to tend the garden. It's really been an amazing job. We are so hopeful that we can finish our paint job before our time here is done.