SSP Smith River

Follow Sierra Service Project youth and adult volunteers in Smith River, California, this summer. Posts will highlight the service work, learning and worship that occurs during a week at SSP.

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At SSP youth interact with the community they are serving with in unexpected ways.

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Got this in the mail today!

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Community Hall

We got to paint the Community Hall of Smith River, CA for our SSP experience. We had tons of fun and got two walls and the porch done. We were able to take some side trips to take a tour of the hatchery and a trip to get gas in Oregon! Awesome week!

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Dea's ramp

Our work team was given the task of building a ramp in front of a house. We started with the frame of a deck and during the week we dug out a frame for a concrete slab, which took around thirty bags of concrete, and transition and stained and laid most of the decking in front of the door. Every day our homeowner, Dea, would come out and ask us how we were doing and if we needed anything, it was very cool and added some fun for the work team. On the way to and from the work site we would always play really loud music from the stereo and would have a blast listening to it with each other. We are looking forward to the rest of the week being even better than it has been so far.

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"Tuesday Tumblr Picture (Smith River)"

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Sierra Service Project in Smith River will be on the HMong for Life Radio today (August 7, 2014) from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm (PST) on KFUG 101.1 FM. You can live stream online at kfugradio.org.

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SSP Poem

Tuesday dawned foggy and fair Breakfast was consumed with speed rare Mike was our leader, with his questioning stare

Steps to be made, special for Gary After a night with the guys shouting "Larry!" Stain the deck, match the colors, thou shalt not tarry

Lunch arrived swift, the wind grown still Our honorary sandwich maker Will Wondrous good, perfection in each bite, it completely fit the bill

Stories of faith, discussions of lumber Stairs ramps and paint, time to take a small slumber! All in all, SSP couldn't be funner!

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Today the Rowdy Creek Railers worked at a fish hatchery that raise steel head trout and hatch more than 3,000 eggs. The rainbow trout they raise can change into steel head trout when put in salt water and a change of diet. We are working on the rusted rails that lead the paths you can walk on to see the fish. First we washed off the moss, and then we scraped of the rust and paint to prepare for the primer.  

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This week our group worked on Brenda’s stairs. Brenda and her husband were very kind during the long days of hard work. What started as an idea manifested into a beautiful staircase by week’s end. The work was hard and very dirty, but it all paid off in the end. Also, our group, which consisted of people from all around the country, became good friends by the end of the week

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Week 5 at Kimberly’s House! Today we were able to finish the fence, and started the gate! We are hoping to complete that tomorrow. We had a blast. We struggled to shovel, but with Gunner’s persistence we were able to get the job done. We devoured our PB&Js while asking each other intriguing questions.  Woah, we almost forgot that we met the dog Rufus—what a cute lil’ Chihuahua. We had great time getting to know one another while we waited for showers and contemplated what would happen if a zombie attack were to occur. We were worried the zombies from the cemetery might make their way over to the firehouse where we were fortunate enough to shower. So far SSP has helped us grow as friends and construction workers! Yay! “Let’s put our hands up. They are playing our song. The butterflies fly away!”

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I came into SSP knowing nothing about construction work and now I feel much more comfortable with it! Our project is to build a ramp and deck for Dea.

In order to do so, we have to make post holes for the posts in the ground. It was a lot of digging and physical labor but it was awesome to have a goal we could work towards. Our group is full of hard workers so it was very rewarding to be out being active! We took a couple pictures of us standing in the holes when we finished to remember to work hard and have fun!

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We got to know our homeowner Dea better over the past two days :) Before we left today, we took this picture with her! She has a dog named Meisha and Dea plays "World of Warcraft" with her son online. When we have lunch she gives us cookies and a drink to share.  Getting to know your homeowner is such an amazing time and you get the best feeling helping them out.

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Team name: Groundbreakers

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your birthday at SSP? Well, I don't have that wonder anymore. Today at SSP, I had my 17th birthday. I woke up at the crack of dawn with the staff flickering lights and singing at the top of their lungs, what a great start!

Throughout the day ALL campers and counselors greeted me with a warm birthday message, I felt quite honored like a queen. Our homeowner, Dea, who we are building a ramp for celebrated this milestone with cookies, and the cooks made everyone a cake! I would say it was quite a great birthday especially since I was digging holes all day! The end.

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One of the biggest blessings of being a cook in Smith River has been having the opportunity to prepare and serve locally grown, organic food. It is empowering to know where your food comes from and how it has been sourced. Growing up in dense suburban areas, I have not often known where my food comes from; however, in Smith River we pick up our eggs, beef, and produce from local farms, both within 15 minutes driving distance.

The first day at Alexandre Ecodairy Farms, we were given a tour where I snapped this shot of some chickens against the looming sky. I love chickens and was absolutely thrilled at the experience. I got the opportunity to personally thank these chickens who are feeding our campers and ensuring that local, organic, humane food is supported and at the forefront of every consumer’s mind. 

Nathan Theobald, Cook at Smith River

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The Hiouchi Fire Station is doing well!

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The SSP Rap

Welcome to SSP! Do you like what you see? We've got cooks in the kitchen Construction workers liftin' And we all become family

We've got a guy named Evan He makes SSP heaven Plus Hana is cool She makes the Bible rule Every mornin' when you see us stretchin'

Now let's talk about our cooks Food everywhere we look Nathan and Natalie Make everything fancy But that's not the only hook

Now we've got some servin' to do Workin' in the neighborhood with the crew Nathan and Riley Always super smiley Helpin' buildin' projects with you!

Now the story ends with Mike Is this a rap you think he'll like? He'll say no Time for you to go home But c'mon, I'll just say sike!

-Axie, Gail's Paint$ter$

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Gail's house week 4

Well hello there. This week has been absolutely wonderful. Fantastic. Amazing. We had so much fun working our hardest on Gail's house.

I had one of the most best work groups ever in my life. We worked really well together and I thought it was about to go down when we ended up having to paint the gutters.

It actually turned out that we had more than half done with the house, and Gail was sooo impressed with how hard we worked. I love all of these guys. Special thanks to Wes and Rhonda for being great leaders.

-Kassidy, Gail's Paint$ter$