Candler, NC – Sept 29-Oct 3, 2025

We had a total of 11 volunteers for the week of 9/29-10/3 to work on the Gregory West Bridge. They came from PA, NY, VA, and OH. Eleven of the volunteers were on the project on Monday and Tuesday, then 10 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Monday they built the forms. Tuesday and Wednesday they put in pipes, welded plates, and dug footers for the forms, and put rebar in the forms. Thursday, volunteers finished putting the rebar in the forms and poured concrete footers. They also started putting new tile in the road. On Friday they finished up pouring the concrete forms and putting new tile in the road.

We were thanked multiple times by vendors and delivery drivers for being there. They are often a close society, self-sufficient and outsiders are usually an intrusion, but their need and MDS is different. It’s a needed hand that is freely given and the response is a careful brief message of deep gratitude. What is often expressed by the volunteers is that they valued us enough to open, a beautiful oneness.