Alternative Spring Break. Our schedule for the month of march is loaded with college students coming to help build homes on their spring break. I had the opportunity to lead a beautiful group of ten students from UVA (University of Virginia in Charlottesville). Led by student leaders Ellen and Madeline, they drove ten hours in two of their own vehicles with eight other students. Seven young ladies and three young men. They stayed at our volunteer camp, Y's Acres. The camp, which has a capacity of forty (ten bunk beds each in two single wides separated by a large deck) was full up this week, as there was another group of thirty or so who came all the way from Canada. That group worked with Joe Chastine, rehabbing a home with the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, a branch of our Habitat affiliate. The group from UVA worked all week on finishing Jackie Bookers home and, as someone I know likes to say, we came dangerously close. Finished the ramp and handrail, finished up the interior painting (I think- Jackie keeps b ringing in her touch up paint guys), completed the kitchen tile, stained the front porch, hauled lots of stuff over to Juanita Drive, laid all four pallets of sod and planted the bushes, did a ton of caulking and cleaning, installed doorknobs, doorstops, bathroom accessories, mirrors. Man, they did a lot! Jackie is getting excited to be so close to move in.   The power company hooked up permanent power, all the trades came back and trimmed out plumbing fixtures and HVAC grills and the outside unit. We're getting very close to done. Juanita drive is tugging me but I will resist until the end. Jackie bought us pizza for lunch and donuts, fruit and treats to go with our coffee at break.
     We also had some spring breakers down from Frederick Md, Hood College, on a return trip with us . Fredereick Md. Habitat has been to the Gulf Coast and the south over twenty times since 2005. Chuck, Jeannie Kozak, BJ Booker and Rick from there have become good friends and we shared dinner at the Lion's Den one night, together with the Mennonites who are working with us.
      This week on Wednesday also brought us the coming of River 1, our new AmeriCorps NCCC team out of Vicksburg, led by Cam Wood, who was here a month or so ago with twenty other team leaders for two days of training with us. Speaking of us, we we awarded "favorite place to work" or something like that by a vote of all the Americorps teams.
       Loving this spring weather! We've got four new houses popping out of the ground like spring flowers on Juanita Drive and another thirty some signs of things to come! Stay tuned and come on back! Luv ya!   Peter