Day 4 at Dungannon 2014

Click for Day 4 Audio Podcast
Interviewer:  Clifton H. Poole
Featuring:  Michelle Searcy
Topics:  The Eucharist, worksite, freetime, feelings, wakeup, sleepytime,

Clifton's Blog:

Today was a very productive day at the Travis Kern worksite.  Our team (led by Michelle, Laura and me) is working a project with two decks and we making great progress (listen to the audio blog featuring Michelle Searcy to hear more about the worksite).  We are ready to install the flooring material on one deck and secure the floor joist on the other deck.

(Brianna, Michelle, Katrina and Laura)

We took a much needed break and spent part of the afternoon relaxing in the park.  We ate lunch and enjoyed friendly conversation before heading off to the store.  At the local lumber yard we purchased 12 - 8'x2"x4" boards and several varieties of decking screws.

We had a very late workday and did not arrive back to the Phoenix Center until 5 PM.  The team took a trip to Gates City to run a few errands.  Laura needed bread for the Eucharist and we had to visit several locations before we could purchase freshly baked bread.

After dinner, Laura led Eucharist in a local park near the center of town.  It is a great location because the worshipers can see the mountains and enjoy the beautiful scenery while in worship.  Also, we can be seen by our Dungannon neighbors as we worship.  During the lesson, many missioners shared examples of blessings they have seen witnessed while in Dungannon.  We were called to continue to look for blessing that reflects the teachings we've received and purpose God has for us.

I am experiencing many blessings on this trip.  Most of them occur when I am doing something that is a 'distraction' from the next planned task. The trip to Gate City today gave me a chance to talk with the other missioners without being concerned about the next step in our project or the amount of productive project time remaining.  We were in the moment and just enjoyed being in community with one another.

After the Eucharist, instead of returning to the center (free time, organize pictures or write this very blog), a few of us visited a local cemetery to say farwell to Mrs Gillenwater.  We worked on her home during the 2013 trip and recently learned she had passed away.  Our group shared a tender moment saying goodbye and remembering her as a warm and loving friend to the community.  Collectively, the missioners and she were blessed meeting her during that week in 2013.

Lastly, I always experienced some some type of car trouble and this trip is no different.  I had a flat tire to change before heading out to the jobsite in the morning.  Oh! the fun of mission work.