Perry, FL (SYP) – June 28 – July 4, 2026

This was the second week of the 2026 SYP in Perry, FL.  Leadership team: Lowell Peachey, PD; Rita Peachey, OM; Val and Lynn Kipfer, Head Cook and Assistant Cook, respectively; and Laverne Delp, Christopher Stoltzfus and John Glick, Crew Leaders. There were two groups who came for the week: a father and two sons from Walden, NY and a youth group from Blossom Hill Mennonite in Lancaster, PA. There were four active job sites during the week, three that started the first week and one that started mid-week. The volunteers were able to complete two of the jobs by the end of the week.

Grace’s house was completed early in the week by three volunteers and a CL, delayed by a couple of days awaiting a special-order piece for exterior French doors.  As we signed off on the Job Card we presented Grace with a quilted wall-hanging that was made by the Lindale Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, VA) ladies’ group.  The first week volunteers were from Lindale so it was a nice memento for her since most of the work was completed by  the Lindale youth group.

Jurleen’s house was also completed by the volunteers.  The bulk of the work was to refinish ceilings in four rooms.  We installed new drywall over the ceilings in two rooms, removed the popcorn texture and applied mud and paint ending in a smooth finish, and patching, texturing and painting the kitchen ceiling.  Ms. Jurleen has many crock pots in use in her kitchen, and she is known for providing large meals for folks in her church and her community. Many neighbors (“nephews” and “grandsons”) were frequently stopping by and we never really knew which were blood relatives versus younger folks from nearby.

The team continued with the same activities as last week in the third house belonging to Curtis and Teresa.  Staircases both inside and out were completed with some railing still required for the inside stairs.  The team also completed the installation of tin roofing material in the peak of the inside great room and under the first-floor deck which is on pylons.

Linda’s home was the number four job that will involve complete renovation of the floor throughout the house due to significant water/moisture damage. Damaged subflooring was removed in much of the house and new floor joists and T&G plywood was installed as needed.

Theme of the week was safety (including hydration), learn something new, and have fun!

The groups working on replacing floor joists encountered some replacements joists that had been incorrectly installed by another (non-MDS) provider.  They needed to be “married” to the existing joists for structural integrity, so the group performed a mock marriage ceremony prior to completing the task.

One of the youth sponsors was inspired by the old water-soaked subfloor that was being removed.  Since the old board looked like a granola bar he penned the following chorus: “There’s a wall, it’s bound to be on Granola.  I thought I had seen everything but I have not seen it all!”