by Aly Bufton, EM Summer Staff in Kentucky
This week was special to me. Not only did we have awesome volunteers, but they were also the last mission trip team for me this summer. Each week has been indescribable, and this one was no different. There were 17 people here from Mahomet, Illinois. We continued work at Winston and Debbie's home, sub-flooring (and lifting the house) in the kitchen and building two wheelchair ramps, and building barn doors and painting at John and Michelle's house.
As the work being done in Pikeville continues, it is easy to see how the Lord has been present in each aspect of this summer. When projects seemed like they would never get done or no one knew exactly how to fix something, we would consistently pray for guidance and answers. And each week we saw the Lord answer those prayers by allowing the teams to complete projects. When the going got tough, the Lord kept us going. That is one thing that I know I'll take away from this summer, and I hope and pray each team has taken away. The Lord always provides.
Milton was so excited to have his ramp finished that he couldn't wait for the grip strips to be put down before he went on down. He may not be smiling big in this photo, but his joyous smile was contagious and a blessing for us all to see as he went up and down the ramp. So much so, that he had each team member go up and down in his chair to test it out.
Tina and Colby got to know Jackie and Milton very well this past week. They were the team leaders at the Mullen's home and we could not have done that project without them.
The group at John and Michelle's were able to help again this week by painting the trim of their house. It is crazy what a fresh coat of paint can do to a home.
At the nursing home the kids got to know some of the residents and play UNO. Sadie may have won 90% of the time, but her smile made everyone feel welcomed and happy.
This wheelchair ramp was built 45 minutes south of Pikeville in McRoberts, KY. The man it was built for was in ICU the week the team was building it, but they were lucky enough to meet Mr. Baker’s wife, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandkids.
Demo day at Winston & Debbie's meant tearing up the old floor. It was messy, but Winston and Debbie didn't seem to mind.
Winston was so happy to stand on his new kitchen floor. This was a tough project to get done, but the Lord is always, always faithful and always provides.
At the Overlook for one of our Evening Gatherings. This team was awesome!
Since it is my final week this summer, I decided to put in some personal photos. Rubie, Adam, and I (EM Summer Staff in Kentucky) are so fortunate and so blessed by the Maynard family. Winston and Debbie have taken us in, along with the teams, and treated us like family. They constantly remind us how much they love us and appreciate what we are doing, and always have a smile on their face even if we are tearing apart their kitchen. My favorite moments with Winston are every time I leave his home, he tells me he loves me. I tell him I love him back, and he ends it with an "I love you more, Aly. I really do." While the tangible things we are doing in Kentucky may only last for 100 years, the relationships that we have made with the people here will last forever.
These two people are not excluded from my thankfulness for this summer. From our late night ice cream runs to our early morning breakfast making, nothing would have been the same without the two of them. We were strangers to each other three months ago, but now I can't imagine my life without them. We've grown in our faith, in our leadership abilities, and closer together than I could have ever wanted. Thankful for the forever friendships that we've made with each other and with this community.
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