Week 30 -McMinnville
This past week, we were brought to McMinnville, Oregon, a quaint little town an hour outside of Portland. It is home to many wonderful wineries, restaurants, and the Spruce Goose (if you are into planes), but what truly brought us there was the Hayes family (Julianna and David), who were close with the Comptons during their living spell in Charleston. It was a must-visit as we pushed into the Pacific Northwest, and we are so grateful for them allowing us to park in their neighborhood and putting up with our revolving door of visitors this week. I had my notepad out to take notes on how to host well around them. Not having a TV in the living room allowed for great conversation to fill the room instead. They always had ideas for something special we could do together to create a lasting memory. They also had a goofy pet; Jeffrey, their English Pointer, the wackiest hound we've been around, but we laughed hard when he got spooked by any insect that flew nearby.
Some of Hayes Family (Julianna, Zoe and David)
Organizing our project in McMinnville was slow to come. Attending church on Sunday, we intended to spark some conversations. As we walked up to the front doors, I heard people speaking. Here's a rough outline of the dialogue:
Woman 1: "What is that big blue thing over there?"
Woman 2: "Well, I think it may be a school bus."
Woman 1: "It... it says Lost Bus, wonder what that is."
Davis: "Yeah, what's up with that stupid bus over there?" (Sometimes I like the humor of using the word "stupid" to describe our bus, when in actuality I am obviously a big fan)
Woman 2: "Well, we don't know either. We were just wondering as well."
Davis: "I was just kidding. That's my bus," (insert Lost Bus pitch).
Woman Number 2 is Diana. Following telling her about our purpose, I asked if she may know any organizations in the community we could talk to. She responded, "Well, yes. You could talk to me. I run a non-profit in town serving many in need (Provoking Hope)." Provoking Hope provides service for people in the area battling addictions and aid in their recovery process. Following church, we organized a project with them for the week. Good for them (which means they are well-staffed), they didn't need our help the entire week. Dianna being the very first person I conversed with at church was a reminder that as much as I feel like we're just bouncing around aimlessly, we are actually traveling with a purpose. We just aren't aware of the direction, but God is.
Some simple weed picking at Provoking Hope
For fun, Max, son of Julianna and David, was kind enough to share with us his addiction to fishing when we arrived in town. He offered to take us fishing on his boat, but Oregon boats are built differently. Essentially, it was a 28-foot stainless steel bathtub with a 250-horsepower tiller-steer motor (see photo for reference). We fished right outside downtown Portland on the river, which didn't make sense to me, figured we’d be in a less populated area. But I know nothing about fishing in Oregon rivers. Max helped us catch fish; Josh caught one, and Cain caught the other. I'll let the pictures tell the story of whose fish was bigger.
Josh’s Fish
Cain’s Fish
Notice the massive tiller motor in the back
The rest of our week was spent working with Habitat for Humanity in McMinnville. Fortunately, they were at a stage of their build where many hands were needed, and we helped frame walls for the second story of a duplex house. When we arrived on the scene, we saw nothing but grey hair (sorry guys if you're reading this). Of course, we were excited; obviously, a lot of wisdom enters your brain when the grey comes in, along with humor, and you can make fun of being old or us being young and not as wise. It all just works out. They said they enjoyed our company as well, and I'll take their word for it. These fellas were hard workers, and throughout the day, we kept our heads on the task at hand. We were satisfied to see our differences in the house at the end of each day.
Trust this man with your house
Cain managing any possible falling objects
We were extremely grateful to have so many families and friends visit us this week, including the loving Comptons, who brought along Rosa Marie, and our dear friends Seneca and Rachel. They made time to venture to the West Coast once again, and luckily, the Hayes’ opened their doors to help us manage our guests. As entertainers, they knew how to show us all a dandy time in their surroundings. Spending time with familiar faces once again has energized us for our last five months on the bus.
The Comptons grand entrance
This picture is lovely
Seneca and Rachel also joined us in working on the Habitat for Humanity build, and the hard hats and protective glasses were a flattering look for both of them. Our new building friends enjoyed their company. I am pretty sure the girls now understand a nail gun but the tape measure was usually just for show. More impressively, they never complained about getting rained on the whole day, which made for a very Pacific Northwest experience.
We have a funny split week this week as we travel to Seattle. Spending time to make that transition, we will now have caught a flight to North Carolina where we will stay until early next week to celebrate some dear friends' marriages. We are excited to see even more familiar faces for the first time since leaving seven long months ago. Due to this disruption our next update with be slightly postponed. If you would like some entertainment in the meantime, Cain has created a wonderfully crafted photo montage that is posted on our Instagram page. Thank you very much to each one of you for opening this newsletter. Here is a picture of us smiling, because we like each other, but not as much as we appreciate your support.
Smiles