Some pics from Pittsburgh …

Recap of the week …

While sipping on our coffee this morning, Emily, Gina, Madison, and Harper reflect on our journey at Pittsburgh Project.  Though the sky is dark and dorsey, we still leave with sunshine in our hearts.  We are feeling very accomplished, proud, and prepared for returning home.  We look forward to our 7 hours drive home today building new memories with our new friends and we reminisce on the past week.

Above all else these three remain faith, hope, and love. 

Thursday in Pittsburgh!

Today has been a very full day of finishing projects, working incredibly hard, and a since of accomplishment.  Our youth gathered for a picnic tonight to celebrate their accomplishments as a community and to have some time to play.  We met as our full youth community of 17 youth and 4 adults this evening and summed up the experiences we have had over these past four days of mission.  I can share that we all leave here feeling closer to God and to this youth community at St. Andrew’s.  Thank you to all of St. Andrew’s and our youth’s families who made this trip possible for all of us.  We are so grateful to you!  Keep us in our prayers as we have our closing worship in the morning and travel home to Newport News.

It is almost 11 p.m. and the kids (and adults) have been going all day, but what a day we had.  We had several projects to finish today, and what felt like very little time to get them done, but we did it.  Each and every one on my team took ownership of the jobs they had to do and saw them all through.  Ms. Foss was so pleased with the work they had done, and the kids were so happy and pleased when they saw the look on her face when she what they had finished. But even better than the look on her face, was the look on the kids’ faces when they finally took a look at all they had accomplished, and how much it meant to someone else.  You should be very proud of the work they did this week. I am sure they can’t wait to share their experiences with you! It has been a wonderful week for me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group kids to work with.

Time to go pack now.  We have a lot to do in the morning before we head out. Pray we have a safe trip back. Goodnight.

Sean Bradberry 

Today we reflected on what we have learned from our homeowners this week.

We reflected with prayer that even included a prayer from Francis of Assisi.

It has been a busy week so far but the kids have done a great job and you should be very proud of them. We have been working in Sharpsburg, about 15 minutes east of the Pittsburgh Project. The homeowner is Ms. Foss.  She is a 79 year old widower, who was born in the house where we have been working. The kids have mainly been working in the basement the last two days. So far they have scraped and painted the stone and mortar front basement wall. A HUGE job in itself. They installed two vertical supports for a handrail to the basement. The handrail will be installed on Thursday.  In addition they replaced a bathroom faucet, fixed a leaky toilet (which involved taking it apart), and fixed a tile ceiling in the basement bathroom. We still have quite a few jobs to finish tomorrow, and it is going to be a busy day, but I’m sure we will get it done. I have been very proud of the kids. They have worked well together, and have been able to see the results of their labor. Ms. Foss has been very nice and is very grateful and pleased with the kids and the job they have done. Wish us luck for the last day. We still have plenty to do, but I know the kids will have a huge sense of accomplishment if we can get it all done.

Sean Bradberry

 Day 3 in Pittsburgh

We’ve achieved a lot in the past two days.

Physically, my work group has successfully attacked and semi-defeated the unchartered rainforest that is our homeowner’s, Ms. Schilling’s, backyard.  Spiritually, I have personally discovered newfound strength in my relationship with My Father, just in time to make the giant leap into college life in the fall.

Today proved to be extra challenging, as it was extra hot and my initial fervor for starting a new project had waned slightly since yesterday.  Nonetheless, I was extremely impressed (once again) with the hard work that the group put into the day and the level of teamwork that everyone demonstrated in hacking away at unruly plant life and scrubbing our homeowner’s back deck.

 I am so excited to see what tomorrow brings, and I can’t wait to see the finished result!!    

Day 2 of work day. We were working on Mt. Plant again(Almost done) And scrubbing the porch. Only one word could describe today. HOT!!!!!!!!!! The water in my camelback was almost boiling. Hope tommorow is cooler!

I have had so much fun lately, I played an organ at a church near a river by Hines Field! The stain glass there was beautiful! On the day we got here in Pittsburgh, we got to see fireworks which i was very happy about!

My group and i have been working very hard, climbing a big hill cutting small trees and vines, Last day of work tomorrow :( - Maggie

I am really enjoyed these kids this time.  I have enjoyed the rides to get to our destitations.  Everyone has had a first of some sort while at Pittsburgh Project this time.  We get a cold beverage at the end of the day to refresh ourselves after a long day of hard work.  Their attitude has been beyond expectation.  Thank you parents for your kids!  - Curt

The trip was long but well worth it! I am having a great time and learning a lot. - Davis

Today was the third day that St. Andrew’s has been here in Pittsburgh. It’s been a very unique experience so far, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s my second year at TPP, yet this year is very different from last year. Unlike last year, our homeowner, Mrs. Foss, is very outgoing, nice, and very much a part of our projects throughout the day. Also, last year my group working non-stop outside, whereas this year its the majority inside. Although the two years are contradicting, each have been equally memorable. The different experience from these first three days have affected me in more ways than one. All of this accumulates into one fantastic experience.

-Jack Phillips