Where You Invest Your Love, You Invest Your Life - Awake My Soul

Our final work day in Seattle. This morning we went on a short hike at Lincoln park. We started along the shoreline then climbed up a steep hill to explore a more wooded area. The trek was a bit of a workout so we were able to work off our breakfast. We even had some adventurous volunteers try zip lining for the first time. The person sits on a swing then slides down the line. At the end of the line, the swing hits a rubber tire to make the individual swing higher.

Today we worked at Westside Baby. Westside Baby is an agency that collects used children's clothing and other necessities. Besides donated items, they also provide a 10 day supply of diapers to every family they serve with an infant in their household. Nonprofits in the greater Seattle area go online and place orders for clients in need of various items. There is an admin building, a warehouse where the items are tidily stored by size/age, and another warehouse with recently donated supplies. We worked in one of the warehouses taking car seats apart so they can be recycled. Car seats only have a six year lifespan because the plastic degrades. Four out of five car seats donated is either too old or has been recalled. To recycle a car seat, the plastic and metal must be separated which is very time intensive. Because of this factor, it is very challenging to find an organization which will recycle them. The task does not sound difficult but it is actually quite complicated to take apart a car seat. There are so many  car seat designs; each one is a little bit different. It also takes a decent amount of muscle to separate some of the pieces. We had quite the project ahead of us as there was a mountain of car seats but we were able to finish the majority of the pile. The staff and local volunteers were welcoming and appreciative of the work we did.

Next we voyaged out to the Ballard locks. Built in 1917 by the Army corps, the locks connect the Puget Sound to Lake Union. The locks also contain a fish ladder where Salmon and trout journey through twice a year. There are four panels of glass viewers can watch the fish swim by. Although this is not the prime time to see them, we caught a glimpse of a couple of the early birds- I mean fish. While at the locks we also took time to sit to reflect on our week and the experiences we gained. 

From there we headed to the greater Seattle Live with Passion potluck.  Supporters of the program were gracious enough to host us at their home in Edmonds. The potluck had a nice turn-out with thirty attendees.  Good conversation and food were enjoyed by all. Volunteers shared their experiences from the week and locals gave us an inside perspective of living in Washington.  Pickle ball, a favorite local past time was played. A volunteer's thirtieth birthday was celebrated and we ended the evening with stomachs full of scrumptious desserts. 

The week went by so quickly. We are amazed at how fast time flew by. We all learned so much about Seattle and enjoyed everything the area has to offer. We learned it is not always rainy in Seattle, observed the benefits of a city that is environmentally and locally conscious and took in breathtaking views. We spent time with the last, the lost and the left out and will carry our memories from this week with us in our hearts. We invested our love to impact Seattle and will forever invest our lives in community, service and reflection.

Another Member of the Human Race

Another Member of the Human Race

http://www.law.louisville.edu/cardinallawyer/node/61

Good evening PV blog readers! Today was a hot one in Seattle! All of our fair skinned volunteers are rosy from a morning's work in the parish garden. This site is a continuation from last year. Last year the volunteers weeded, leveled and created garden boxes turning an idea to reality. This year seeds are planted and a prayer labyrinth was installed. This morning we weeded and leveled the side of the garden so a fence can later be installed. The garden is on a steep incline; a fence will be built for safety reasons. While working we listened to stories from a local while following PV protocol and taking multiple water breaks. Our project was completed thankfully before the severe heat wave was upon us.

Next we headed back to the school library. Half of us removed books out of the computer database. The rest of us prepared the books for their journey to the Philippines. The afternoon went quickly and we were able to accomplish much. Fun fact- Pearl Harbor occurred before Hawaii was a state.

For fun we grabbed some local ice cream and headed to the Museum of Flight. We saw an aerocar, walked onto Eisenhower's Air Force One and watched a video on how astronauts go to the bathroom in space. It was a great way to enjoy the outdoors as many of the planes were outside. Boeing is a big contributor to Seattle's economy so visiting the Museum of Flight seemed appropriate.

For dinner we were treated to the guys' delicious tuna casserole. We reflected on various stories from our week who have brightened us with their presence similar to Thomas Merton's experience in Louisville. The week has been so interesting and enjoyable it is hard to believe tomorrow is Friday.

Another Day In Paradise

Just Another Day in Paradise

     Merrily we left at 6:20am to serve breakfast at the Union Gospel Mission. Four of us served the grits, pancakes with syrup, and bacon. Two of us handed out milk, bagels, yogurt (sweet potato being one of the variations) and an after breakfast mint. There were four shifts of guests with a total of three hundred served. One hundred percent of the food served is donated. We were told by one of the local volunteers that they have always had enough food because God always provides. After the final tier of breakfast was served, we cleaned up and then started cutting vegetables for lunch. One of the volunteers had attended culinary school so he showed us the proper techniques for cutting celery, shallots, and red peppers. We managed to not cut ourselves with their chef knives and enjoyed some nice conversation. That same volunteer explained to us that he is a graduate of the mission program and that eighty percent of the staff graduated from the program as well. We left Union Gospel Mission and enjoyed a picnic lunch before working at the Our Lady of Guadeloupe school library.

     For those who don't remember, Our Lady of Guadeloupe is the parish generously providing us with a place to stay at their parish center. The facility is state of the art and beautiful. Their school library will soon be transformed. The librarians spent hours researching and created a master plan. Step one of this renovation is to make room for the new by filtering out books older than thirty years old. Research has shown children feel overwhelmed by overcrowded book shelves and are more likely to explore a library when the bookshelves are half full. Nine of us checked the copyrights of every book in the library and removed the older books in one afternoon. The school will donate the older books to a place in the Philippines. It was fun to see the old books, to reminisce and to educate ourselves. At the end of the day, the library was ready for the next stage of their renovation.

     The weather has frequently been discussed this week but for good reason. Today was 80 degrees and without a cloud in the sky. Seattle is normally not blessed with this type of weather, especially not in April. We spent the evening at Alki Beach. For dinner we had hot dogs cooked on a beach fire followed by s'mores. We forgot we were in Seattle until we dipped our toes into the sound. So many people were out enjoying the gorgeous weather. Watching the sun set behind snow capped mountains is truly a sight to see.
   

To Be Understood As To Understand

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is dying that we are born into eternal life.

Approximately 9,000 people in King County are homeless, living in shelters, under freeways, in doorways and in cars. These 9,000 individuals are disabled veterans, families, and the working poor. Today we volunteered at St. Francis House serving coffee and donuts and sandwiches. We also assisted in their free clothing rooms along with other small tasks. Some of the clients we served today rode multiple buses to get to St. Francis House. Clients receive as much food and necessities such as bedding, diapers, toiletries etc. as they need no questions asked. The St. Francis House does not receive funding from the federal or church funding. Items are donated from community members, day old donuts are donated from bakeries and hotels donate unused soaps. Kathleen, the executive director, shared with us that providing the basics with smiles on our faces is not enough to fundamentally change lives but it is enough to make their days a little brighter.

A simple but satisfying spaghetti dinner was shared followed by a home made strawberry rhubarb pie. At reflection we shared moments today where we felt the presence of God. Tonight we are going to bed early as we are leaving the parish center at 6:20am to arrive in time to serve breakfast at United Gospel Mission. Sweet dreams PV blog readers!

The Bluest Skies Are in Seattle

     Yesterday we arrived in Seattle. What a beautiful day in a beautiful city! Blue skies with clouds consisting of the texture of cotton candy, water visible to the pebbly bottom, luscious green plants that would make Ireland jealous, snow capped mountains embracing us with their presence- we couldn't have picked a better city to serve in. Although Seattle is infamous for its rain, the forecast is calling for nothing but sunshine.

     For those of us who arrived early, we have recovered from the heartbreak of witnessing our hometown heroes, the Seattle Mariners, lose to the bad guys. We picked up our crew from the airport and readied ourselves for our weeklong journey.  In orientation our fearless leader, Jill, gave us a rundown on the good, bad, and ugly of Seattle. We learned about Seattle's recycling/composting laws, its young median age, and all the fun things to do the city offers. We also heard about its tent cities, how 45% of those receiving food assistance have higher than a high school education and the sometimes unattainable high cost of living. We finished the night with some pizza and commissioning.

    We are oh so fortunate to be staying at the Our Lady of Guadeloupe parish center. The building is almost as stunning as the view from our air mattresses. The building rests atop a hill so much can be seen. The Puget Sound, the iconic Space Needle, and mountains all visible from the four large windows in our make shift bedroom along with West Seattle residents playing a fierce match of soccer. We are excited to be a part of all of this.

Our Work Week Has Begun!

Today we ventured out to the Oso distribution center. Oso is a town about an hour away from where we are staying. About a month ago, Oso was hit by a severe mudslide. Forty-one people died and many more are displaced. Oso was just visited by the president last week. Due to the generosity of neighbors far and wide, a temporary distribution center was established to help meet the needs of the community. Items donated are sorted, organized and then sent out to fulfill their purpose. We had six out of state volunteers and five local residing PVs collaborate to get as much done as possible. Pairs of volunteers sorted new arrivals, organized men's and women's clothing, transport canned items to their appropriate spot and more. Our male volunteers stated they now know much more about women's clothing and feel this will positively impact their everyday lives. Much was accomplished at the center but much more work is needed to be done.

     After our organizing and sorting, we continued heading north to experience some of the breathtaking attractions. Unbelievable. We saw vibrant tulip fields made the rainbow we saw later on the evening appear dull. We hiked at a state park and walked along the beach. We stopped at a historic fort and caught a glimpse of Mount Rainier over 100 miles away when the clouds drifted. We broke bread at a town nestled by the water as picturesque as a movie scene. Our adventure was completed by a trip on a ferry ride where we saw both a seal and a bald eagle. Could we have really done all of this in one quintessential day? Yes.

     One particular story that stuck with us today was told by the volunteer instructing us of our work. She informed us that family members were out grocery shopping when the mud slide hit. Their family members at home perished. Can you imagine your life changing that quickly in the blink of an eye?

President Obama is Coming to Oso, and So Are the PVs

Today President Obama is paying a visit to Oso, WA and its neighboring communities of Darrington and Arlington to see the destruction caused by the massive mudslide at the end of March. On Monday, the PVs will be in the area as well.  We will be sending a group up to help at the Mudslide Relief Community Collection Center, a grass roots organized center to help collect, sort and distribute the many generous donations that the area has received. We are grateful to be able to lend a hand where we can. The PVs will be in the Seattle area for the rest of the week, assisting at numerous social service agencies. Please check back to the website/blog during the week and see what we are doing!

Seattle PVs in Three Weeks!

The PVs will be descending upon the Emerald City in just over three weeks! The week is coming together with a different service activity each day, community activities planned and hopes of a repeat performance of sunny, warm weather. (Sounds pretty good after a long cold winter, right?) We have PVs coming from across the country, as well as having quite a bit of interest from local volunteers wanting to join in with us on our days activities.  If you are now thinking, "Gee, I wish I decided to go this year," you are in luck! We still have a couple spots available for traveling PVs, so if you are itching to sleep on an air mattress for a week and join us in Seattle, please let us know ASAP.