Monday - Dateline ECHO Village

 Today was our first day at ECHO Village.  We learned how Suzie & Dan (not Dave) were called to start ECHO Village.  They took their work at the health clinic to the next level - helping those patients find a place to start their journey to having a home.  Their first meeting calling for volunteers brought 200 people from a town of 2,000.  A 10% response - how amazing!  The work they do is filling a huge need in Eureka Springs. In addition to all the work of running ECHO Village and directing our day, they are leading a petition drive to get people more involved in decision making around schools.  They knew everyone that arrived personally and called them by name.  They are amazing people!

We sent a few people to the Thrift Store to pickup a table and 12 chairs.  During that time, they got to experience an exploding shower door.  David has a few wounds to prove this.  Once back the work on installing the porch ceiling at the Hospitality House was started.  Much to Dan's (Not Dave's) surprise, the installation was completed in one day.  Tomorrow we paint.  

Another group went to a house that will be specifically for a veteran experiencing homelessness.  They made great progress in cleaning, installing blinds, installing the knobs on the kitchen drawers and cupboards - but they missed one.  Of course, it was missed because it wasn't there. The shower is sparkling clean due to their efforts.

We got to set up bed frames and even took a trip to pick up additional mattresses and box springs at the Hospitality House.  These will be used for emergency housing - due to fires, domestic violence, etc.  One of our youth really enjoyed making the beds.  If you donate to the mission trip fund, this youth might come make your bed.  (OK - just kidding!)  We washed windows, moved some furniture, tried to get paint off doors, weeded, and installed blinds in the office.  Unfortunately, the people that moved the desk to install the blinds later found that work reversed.  The desk is now back under the window.

 Dinner was so good last night that we repeated it tonight.  Thank you, Travis, for the wonderful pulled pork.  Also, thank you to Group 2 (Pam, JinHee, Melanie, and Cora) for preparing dinner and cleaning up.  Due to Pam's diligence at the grocery store, we acquired free fudgsicles  and the wonderful woman at the grocery store chased us down in the parking lot because we left them behind.

After dinner, we had devotions led by Group 1 - Tyler, Gene, Alex, and Caleb.  It was great to have a guitar help with the singing.  Following mission trip tradition, we watched the Care Cards video.  (I may regret keeping this tradition alive.)

Group 3 has brought you tonight's edition of our day.

Thanks for following our adventure.

David, Anna, Rob, and Barbara 

PS - watch for our post trip video for picture.