Amory, MS – Nov. 17-23, 2024

Long-term volunteers this week were new to their roles at the Amory project, except for construction supervisor, David King, from VA.  Serving as head cook, Judith Schmidt, Manitoba; assistant cook, Jenny Stuckey, OH; crew leaders, Ken Hollinger, MI, and Jon Stuckey, OH; project director Fred Hershey, AL; office manager Stan Kauffman, MI; long-term volunteers, Millie Hershey, AL, and Joetta Hollinger, MI, who also doubled as crew leader much of this week.  Thirteen weekly volunteers came from NY and 2 from IN, making a total of 24 volunteers for the project this week.

Repair work focused on three houses this week.  At Marshall’s house, volunteers completed soffit, facia and exterior paint, hung and finished drywall, and are now ready for interior paint, flooring and trim.  At Taylor’s, volunteers worked on soffit and facia repairs, removed old shingles, replaced roof sheeting where needed, installed underlayment, finished installing new shingles, and painted.  At the Rainey home, volunteers removed old insulation, drywall and electrical boxes, sprayed for termites and replaced termite damaged wood, removed old, damaged floor tile, finished installing new insulation in ceiling and walls, hung drywall, finished new electrical rough-in, and installed a new tub.  The owner was present and assisted with much of the work.  He was particularly pleased with the new bathroom ceiling lighting.

The volunteers from Penn Yan, New York blessed us all by leading us in singing during our morning and evening meal gathering times and entertained us with lots of stories and jokes.  New friendships were formed. Two of this week’s volunteers are staying for a second week, joined by a new group from the same area arriving for this next week.

The leadership team continues next week.  Also joining us next week as a crew leader is Joel Short from OH.  We look forward to making more new friends, blessing and being blessed by one another and those we will have the privilege of meeting and sharing life alongside in the Amory community during the coming week.