Hinton Blog; Day 6 the Finale

                Ok so today, May 30, 2013, was unlike any other we have seen so far… It started like any other day, like regular clockwork, we awoke early in hopes of glimpsing, our sun rise, like a majestic phoenix from its ashes reborn, another day. After the hike down to the lake, we were dismayed, to see the mountain opposite of us, shrouded in clouds, and fog looming over the water, thus preventing us from watching the eastern light rise. Unfortunately our hike was for naught.  Out across the lake, quit vividly, flashing lights could be seen, piercing the cloud of mist on the southern shore across the lake.      Eventually we wandered back up to Moore Hall, and partook in our usual morning activities of enjoying the peace of the early mountain morning in the gentle sway of the rocking chairs, swift games of checkers, announcements, service, and breakfast.

                Being our last day, rumors of Fires Creek or ice cream floated around in our heads like dreams of Christmas in little children.  We set off to the tool shed to load the truck, and a heavy truth hit us hard. There was a high chance of us, after finishing our job, returning to Hinton  for the back breaking task of trenching. After loading the truck and piling onto the bus, we headed out with heavy hearts and high hopes of completing the ramp. Previously we had ventured into Wal*Mart, searching for gifts of memorabilia to leave our home owner and service workers. After a few obnoxious photos , cheap frames, and a music box, we had our prize. We had a picture of our crew (officially Team 4--the Mordacious Mountain Men) around the ramp. We found a frame with a border that we all signed and gave it to our homeowner.  After completing our ramp--of which is the most glorious and beautiful of ramps in the world—Kevin and Hayden (our site coordinators) were given gifts, as well. First, all week our only complaint was a lack of music, the never ending silence, throbbing sound of our shovels on the hard, rock filled clay, constant buzz of our drills and occasional comment escaping our lips--we purchased a portable AM/FM Weather Radio; again, our luck ran dry due to lack of outlet and batteries. We were unable to shatter the silence with music from the newly purchased radio.  Instead Scott, was able to play his music, from his iPhone.  After completing our work on the job site, a few group photo shoots in which we all modeled, lunch and a decent sized wait, we were able to go off to Fires Creek and avoid the dreaded trenches.

Alan’s Team was in the midst of equipping each other with war paint as they assaulted the hefty labor of lavishing layers of thickly coated paint and finish that encased the entirety of their site without breaks or rest feeling more and more desperate to complete their task. Also we had a framed bible quote for our homeowner. The sole stop was when Coach came to collect the Mordacious Mountain Men to help finish the job. In all actuality, they just relaxed on the lawn…awaiting the lavish cleaning of the brushes to make our voyage o’er land to Fires Creek.

                After getting lost we finally reached our destination--Fires Creek, a cold running natural mountain stream with a waterfall.  Mordacious mountain men--the whole crew, minus Kevin of whom unfortunately was unable to join us--made the hike to the top. We then left the falls to venture down the mountain to commence building a dam. After a while at the creek,  we ventured on to the homestead. Once at our separate lodges, we got ourselves all gussied up for the end of the week dinner with our homeowners. After the filling explosion of flavors of Taco-Thursday, we had a couple of minutes till we headed to a bonfire, down at the lake. We went boating out on the lake, sang songs, made s ‘mores, and enjoyed a festive joyous evening. Finally ending with packing our bags,  and cleaning the lodge so that we are ready to begin our trip back to Missouri.

Day 5- Third Day of Work

The day started off as any other day. We packed our lunches and then met in the great hall for exercises. Today we had an intense game of Wah. Despite their best efforts, Conner and Josh were not victorious. After exercise time, Katie, Cullen, Madison, Everett, Emma, Emily and Torrie planned a treat for us. They performed a beautiful rendition of “Holy, Holy, Holy.” We then headed to the cafeteria for breakfast. We had bacon, hash browns, eggs, and biscuits and gravy. After that we packed up the last of our work gear and left for our job sites. Jamie: Well, the Mordacious Mountain woMen had a little change in their daily routine. Because of their working skills, they sped through their job and came to a point where there was almost nothing left to do at the job. The team of Jessica, Blake, Emily, Alex, Jamie, and Scott did not have to leave to go to their job site. Today they got to stay at Hinton to dig trenches to put some wires in. We dug those trenches so deep we almost saw China. Considering today was a scheduled half day, we only had to work till lunch time. Once lunch came around, we got to eat in the nice air-conditioned cafeteria. We will see what tomorrow has in store for us. But with this group we know it should be fun. Hayley: At my job site, we had already started priming the back porch the day before so we picked up where we left off. I joined Coach Speckhals on the back porch and stained what was already primed. Then after finishing that, we moved to the front porch. Since today was a shortened day we worked hard so we could get at least one coat of prime/paint on the front and back deck. Thanks to everyone’s hard work we finished that and also replaced a few boards that were bad on the car port. After that we had to wait for Coach Speckhals to clean all of his brushes, so we thought that would be a good time to eat lunch. Mr. Waters joined us, and after that we came back to Hinton and got ready for the other adventures planned for the day. Conner & Josh: Our team (The Rita Roach Restoration Rescue Responders) began the day with an over abundance of energy and dedication to finish our tasks at hand. We stained the porch swing and its holder. We also painted the front porch. Then we devoured our paper sack lunch and had devotion as a group while telling funny stories and laughing. Today’s work was different in our group because the “Notorious Van Driver” (who by the way, turns her blinker on 3 miles before the turn. That is if she even takes the correct roads) Mrs. Dann joined our group since King Sire Shawn Lane wasn’t present at his palace today. His skills were needed in another group. We didn’t get a chance to talk to Ms. Rita (the homeowner) because she was gone all day. After cleaning up our site, we left and came back to Hinton to get ready for our upcoming Indian experience. Kirsten: The Notorious Gazelle Wranglers began their work day thankful that Shawn Lane came to the worksite to help with the carpentry work on the soffits. Blue (the dog that just occasionally hangs with us) greeted us as we came into the driveway, and we all gave him a little lovin’. We got straight to work because we knew we were pressed on time. Natalie, Valerie, Mrs. Vieth and I began staining the two decks and worked vigorously all morning. Our team leaders, Jill and Rebekah (they are awesome), Shawn Lane (the plumber (a.k.a. Connors dad)), Everett (Everett) and Eli (Eli) worked on the soffits and spent the morning taking measurements, painting, and moving ladders for Shawn to stand on. We finished staining the big porch and the soffit crew got something done (not sure what but they were working hard), so we ended the work day feeling accomplished and proud of what we did. We are looking forward to working hard tomorrow and having a lot of fun (lots of it)! After we completed our missions at our job sites, we were off to a nice time. After an hour long bus ride, we arrived at the Cherokee Reservation. As soon as we entered the Reservation, we were invited to a ceremonial dance presentation. After watching a few dances, some of our group members got to join the dancers for a friendship dance. Once all the dancing was over, we immediately got to tour the Oconaluftee Indian Village with a tour guide named Jordan. On the tour we got to see several different aspects of past Cherokee life. We saw Cherokee men and women basket making, pottery making, beading, weapon making, wood carving, and weaving. We were then on our own to visit the common houses, sweat house and the storage house. After our visiting time was up, we got to check out the gift shop and pick out some traditional Indian items. We got on the bus to drive for another half an hour to feed our hungry stomachs. We ate at a family style restaurant named Jarrett House. The food was very good. You got to pick your entrée and pass around your sides that were shared at the table. The owner told us a couple ghost stories as we enjoyed our meal. She later told us that the Band Perry had eaten there in the past. We left there to make our way to Wal Mart. We went to get gifts for our project coordinators and homeowners who have treated us very well. We left Wal Mart and came back to the wonderful Hilton Center. We decided to have our last night at the lake since it is reserved for another purpose tomorrow. We decided to play cards and make s’mores for one of the last times here in North Carolina. We are really enjoying this trip and are looking forward to the ones in the future.

Second Day of Work

Second Day of Work Day 4 We woke up this morning exhausted and tired from the rigorous chores we put our bodies through yesterday. Most of us were more tired mentally than physically. After waking up, we went to the Moore Great Hall to hear announcements and do our daily dance to the tune of “What I Like About You”. We found out that some of us have the groove like Marvin Gaye, but most do not. We then finally ate our breakfast, packed our things, and headed to the work sites our groups were assigned to. The group Eli “The Fro” Mure was in, called the “Notorious Gazelle Wranglers”, scrubbed decks first thing in the morning and then followed it up with power-washing. After the quick washing of the deck, they applied a thick coat of the finest North Carolina stain around. From Mr. Mure’s experience, he felt as fulfilled as a jelly donut. Drew “The Kangaroo” Loehnig’s group had a similar job as the “Wranglers”, which was staining decks around a local citizen’s homestead. His adult in the group, Shaun “The Plumber” Lane, used his priceless plumbing experience to install a toilet in the bathroom of the house. The homeowner was as happy as a pancake on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately for Craig “The Forklift” Winkelmann, he had to share a group with “Anxiety” Andrew Riddell, who was as worked up as a turkey on Thanksgiving. They pulled together despite their differences to power-wash a deck and build a two step stairs. They also replaced some boards on a deck that needed repairs, and the new boards fit like a glove. The group ended their workday with a staining of the deck. They also learned how to properly clean a paintbrush from the well known “The Human Paintbrush” Allen Speckhals. We got back to Hinton to have a great time playing Ultimate Disc after eating dinner and swimming in the lake nearby. The game didn’t last long because the disc was frequently thrown into the woods. We are now sitting by the lake eating ice cream sandwiches and drinking Sundrop, a drink which many of us missed dearly. With a sandwich in one hand and a Sundrop in the other, we are writing a blog which goes a little something like this: “Second Day of Work" Day 4 We woke up this morning exhausted and tired from the rigorous chores … We all had a very productive day that made us come together to work for a good cause. We all realize that this is a great opportunity and we will carry these memories with us for a long time. – Craig “The Forklift”, “Anxiety” Andrew, Drew “The Kangaroo”, and Eli “The Walking Fro” P.S. - We all miss our grandmas dearly.

First Day on the Job

On the day of May 27, 2013, we awoke from our wholesome and satisfying slumber to the sound of the lake lapping on the shores, the birds chirping in the trees, and the sharp unnecessary pounding on our doors at a very unreasonable and annoying hour. We made our way to the Great Hall to consume our breakfast for the day and to stock our rations. After packing tools, we loaded the worksite vehicles and embarked on our journey to help the people of North Carolina. Hooray… We were as a whole broken into many smaller groups to help a greater variety of people. We worked jobs such as stripping decks, mowing lawns, building handicapped ramps, fixing decks, and painting houses. The “Grass Masters” took on a large inclined plane of waist high grass. The “Notorious Gazelle Wranglers” scrubbed the entire exterior of a house in preparation for paint and stain. The “2X2s” weeded and cut a forest of bamboo and stripped a deck. Lastly the “Mordacious Mountain Men” engineered a ramp and prepped the exterior of a separate house for painting. After we returned from a hard day’s labor, it became a mad dash to the cooling oasis of Lake Chatuge. We splashed and played and frolicked our little hearts out in that water. Then when the hour of 5:45 PM struck, we headed to the Great Hall for announcements and invigorating dinner of chicken and macaroni and cheese. Our day ended with an INTENSE Family Feud competition in which the “Grass Masters” emerged victorious. Hooray… We now sit here and type this by the lakeside, as we hear Mrs. Dann being weird, watch the guys play baseball, and smell the aroma of toasting S’mores. The owls are hooting, the fire is crackling and we are transfixed by the majestic water. As we stare off into the mountains that scatter the landscape we can only hope that tomorrow will bring a day as fulfilling as this day has been. -Tyler, Cullen, Alex, and Everett

Day 2

This morning we shook off the exhaustion of our long travel and boarded the bus at 7:30 AM. Where were we headed? That would be McDonalds. Again. After breakfast, we rode the perilous highway to Anna Ruby Falls in northern Georgia. We trekked the .5 mile trail to the falls. We were astounded with what we saw at the end. The falls stretched endlessly up the mountain as the water glided down with beautiful grace. After diligent photo-taking, we headed to the gift shop before it was time to move on to the highlight of Mrs. Dann’s day. Cleveland, Georgia, is home to none other than Babyland General Hospital, famous for Cabbage Patch Kids. We were greeted by hospitable (pun intended) LPNs (licensed patch nurses) caring to their babies. We even got to witness a live birth from mother cabbage. It was magical. We even named the baby! Yes, Joseph Ralph was a gorgeous eight pound baby boy. After marveling at the building a little longer, we headed to the eclectic shops in Helen. We browsed a coffee shop, sampled grits at a grist mill, and marveled at different types of candies. Now was time for the real fun! We suited up, boarded a Helen Tubing bus, and headed to our tubing destination. It was an enjoyable experience, even for those who felt the icy water face first. We tumbled over rapids, floated coolly through the German town’s atmosphere in Helen, and absorbed the North Carolina sun. Our journey lasted an hour. Afterwards we dried in the sunshine and had snacks. We were sticking to a rigorous schedule, so it was now time to head back to Hinton! That is where we met Jen, the volunteer coordinator of Hinton. She explained the mission of Hinton, which is to provide service and friendship to any member of the community that is in need. Jen also gave us some background information of Hinton. Hinton was founded 52 years ago as a mission place after the Hinton family donated their 33 acres and lodge. We broke into our work groups to meet our leaders and discuss the tasks at hand. Each person has a different job for the entire week. These jobs range from food coordinator, to tools coordinator to clean-up to relationship builder. The relationship builder will get to know the families we are helping and provide them with any extra needed service. After the discussing was finished, we got to know each other more with some fun games! The winners were awarded with first dibs at supper. We settled down by relaxing lakeside with a calm fire. We told ghost stories and slipped quietly into bed time preparing for our first day of work!

On the Road to North Carolina

On the morning of Saturday, May 25, 2013, 31 of us Hermannities were up bright and early (too early for most of us), to be on the road to Hayesville, North Carolina, at 6:00 a.m. We were off to a good start, many of us sleeping on the bus already, but then our bladders started kicking in. After three stops with about an hour in between each of them, everyone had empty bladders; for a few more hours at least. The ride mostly consisted of sleeping, the occasional card game, more sleeping, storytelling and the few lone book readers. Crossing many state lines, we were bored out of our minds. Then the hunger hit. Even though we had McDonalds for breakfast, the complaints for more food began. Around one o’clock we finally made it to Nashville. The Loveless Café was the destination; we finally made it. Everyone grouped up and went to reserve tables. The wait was an hour and a half or more for everyone. We managed to entertain ourselves with the many cute “Loveless” shops next door to the café itself. There were cute little gift shops such as the main Loveless store which sold souvenirs and Lil’ Biscuits which sold children gifts and pet gifts. There were also antique and jewlery stores. Finally everyone was seated, and it was worth the wait. The food was delectable and we all understood why they were famous for their biscuits. Then it was to the bus. After a delicious meal, we were back on the road to finish our (approximately) 14 hour journey. We slept for many more hours after our bellies were full. More games were played, more books were read, and more people got anxious, especially after Coach Speckhals started driving because he was driving in the mountains. The estimated five hours remaining was definitely shaved down. Mrs. Vieth had much trouble keeping her eyes open, staying in her seat and calm because of the horrid curves on the road. We made one more stop at McDonalds and fifteen minutes later we arrived at the Hinton Rural Life Center, where we are staying for the week. It was about 10:30 when we arrived and we all eventually settled in and fell asleep, although, both cabins had at least one room who decided to stay up and be rambunctious.