Left to right: 1st row: Ashley Kijewski, Theresa Skora; 2nd row: Craig Spinks, Jeff Naeger, Angeline Smith (homeowner), Gandolfo Lore, Herpreet Sethi, Milad Rabban, Matt Guinta, Lisa Zessin, Sr. Beth Ann Finster-(Univ.Minister))

Description of trip:
ASB South Carolina has worked the United Methodist Relief Center for 10 years, making Angelina Smith's roof in Awendaw at least our 7th roofing project .  Replacing a roof in the "low country" often means tearing off a tin roof and replacing it with plywood tar paper and shingles, hoping that the rafters and beams are strong enough to hold a person. Otherwise it means a least a hole in the ceiling's sheet rock, or a painful fall. This year in addition to working on the roof, we continued siding the house, and putting in cabinets and doing some repairs in the house? who knew they made quarter inch dry wall ceilings!  Each of us had the opportunity to use power tools, including the circular saw, nail gun, saws-all and screwdriver. We became experts at cutting needed fillers and shims of all lengths, as well as lifting plywood up to the folks on the roof.

The trip wasn't all work, and after 10-11 hour days we had the chance to enjoy the beach house we had to rent. Days began at sunrise and ended with dusk walks on the beach, and looking for shells and sea creatures by the light of the almost full moon, followed by opportunities for reflection on the whole experience. Not to be missed was our catered lunch by Buckshots Restaurant, where we encountered other volunteers from Marymount University and Boston College and enjoyed southern hospitality and cuisine at its best.

(Sr. Beth)

 

 

"Who knew when we grew up we would be short term missionaries and
general contractors?  ASB trips stretch you in ways you wouldn't imagine! 
Serving rocks!  OK, so maybe I really didn't grow up.  Thanks for another
fantastic trip!"
-Lisa Zessin-

"Alternative Spring Break is a priceless experience that
leaves you with such great aspirations. You leave for the
trip with a group of students and come back with a group
of amazing friends that you have spent a week contributing
your time to community service. The accomplishment of
re-building a roof, some drywall repair and completing the
placement of finish siding on a house, for a well deserved
family, is priceless and a lifelong memorable experience."
-Gandolfo Lore-

"ASB is a once in a lifetime experience. Diverse people with different skills and expectations come together and make possible the hopes and dreams of a person in need."
-Jeff Naeger-