Thursday March 17th

As I'm sitting here, typing this post, I can feel the heat radiating off my head.  That's because I did today's work without a hat.  And because I am a redhead and virtually have no hair, you can picture me being sunburnt.  That's what happens when you're working on a roof the whole day, from the time we arrived in the chilly air and fog.  Early mornings in Kentucky are interesting because you don't feel the sun's rays until roughly eleven AM - noonish.  We were back on the roof we stripped yesterday, putting on shingles.  Everyone in the group worked as a full-functioning team to complete this task before 4 PM, which is when the contractors send us home for the day.  I've done similar things on previous trips, but this was by far the biggest job I've ever undertaken.

Tuesday was our day off and we utilized it to our potential.  After visiting the coal mine "Portal 31," we toured an accompanying museum full of equipment and other home items straight from the Coal Mining era.  In the case of Portal 31, that went straight through the fifties until the mine closed in the 1963.  The scary thing about it, other than touring the mine itself via a trolley car and engine, was that we only "saw" a mere fraction of the 13 miles of tunnels that went through Black Mountain, which is where the mine was.  Next door to this museum was a thrift shop.  The owners of said thrift shop are some of the most generous people I've ever met.  They let us go through their store and take a garbage bags worth of clothing and other items for only $1.  Yes, that's right:  $1.  I acquired some flannel shirts (my first ever!) and some fancy dinner jackets that need to have the arms fixed because they are too short.  And a black winter hat, because I didn't have one (Outside of the many hats I own).

Tomorrow is our last day.  We will return to the roof one last time before heading back to Chester under the cover of night.  My last trip here has been a blast.  I've done a lot with awesome people and I just don't want it to end.  For four years, I've devoted my Spring Break to helping those in need and who are less fortunate than I.  It's been a fun ride.  Thanks, Kentucky, for having this tremendous opporunity for students to take.

 - Alan