It is a big day. The First Presbyterian IHN Host week moves to the Youth Ministry area--also known as the PIT! Everything is close by, showers across the hall, loading dock just a few steps away, storage close at hand. Thanks to Adrian and the youth for sharing their wonderful space during our host weeks! If all goes well this will be the permanent location.
Rick, Carl, Carla, Denise & Kitty D arrive at 1 pm to move all the FPC-IHN things to the lowest level from the "under the porch" storage area next to the Children's Ministry Suite. There is more than one might think. Thanks to Misse, Judy, Elaine, Richard and all the others we inconvenienced for sharing "your" space with us for so long.
At 2 pm Mary and Gail arrived and the serious set up began. It was a learning experience for all of us, to see what fit where and how best to arrange things. We are all pleased with the size of the guest rooms, and the nice furniture--that nicely stays in the rooms! No more serious moving--yea. We packed up Youth books and materials and marked them and stored them in a nearby closet until Sunday (or when Adrian needs them before). The sofas and comfy chairs stayed in place.
The IHN truck delivered beds and belongings right on time. No more bumping up and down steps. Fortunately David, Ira and Michael arrive just before the truck to get the lay of the land for their Sat night duties, and they are pressed into service to roll beds into rooms, and get the belongings to the right families. With so much good help it went very quickly and we could give the CCI guys a tour. We are so happy to have CCI as our partner congregation.
Lots got done in addition to setting up the guest rooms, and making the storage room livable as our Host Room. It is amazing how comfortable a storage room can be -- if not quite the Ritz!
ALL the First Pres linens and pillows got marked "1st Pres" so church things are not not mixed in with the IHN things (which we stored near the coke machine to return on the truck on next Sunday). Mary and Gail inventoried the IHN boxes, and put like items together. A big job that is much easier to do before the guests arrive and first-day hubbub begins.
Marking was a big job--and Rick and Carla --the markers --discovered it is easier to write on paper than blankets. But since they were both IHN coordinators alone for two years each, those two can do anything! Our team of six has wanted to do this for the last year...the move to the Pit got us off the dime.
Mary also made name tags for the week's volunteers. Carl moved a lot of stuff! We have our new storage area set up and ready to use, and the boxes that will be refilled are there. The Set up crew, with the extra duties, was finished a bit before 4 pm--thanks for a BIG job well done! It won't be this way every time...so please sign up again.
Dishes, utensils, glasses, etc were moved from upstairs for the week. We have new place mats to use instead of table cloths (which have to be washed and ironed--instead of wiped off) and set the two tables with them for the first time.
Susan and Will arrived with the evening meal as well as diapers and wipes. What generous volunteers we have! They helped finish some last minute setting up.
Michelle left fabulous food for breakfast, lunches-to-pack, and snacks. It was great to see the children eating fresh fruit! We try to have only healthy food.
The Van arrived from Emanuel Episcopal. The guests seem delighted with their space for the week. We have a full house. Four adults and six children: Clarice, Wilbert and their four cute boys, Sean Maurice age 9, Ezekiel age 3, Isaiah who will be 2 on Sunday, and Jeremiah age 1. No'el and darling Samantha age 2. Amber and precious 6 month old Tristan.
They got settled in their rooms and we had an orientation to the space and rules. Two families have cars, and they moved those to the covered parking space off College Avenue, right at the Pit. I moved the IHN van there also. A cone will be set for the Van on Wed night.
Carol, the other evening host arrived and immediately helped with the children. So nice to have so many loving hands for these active little ones.
Susan's dinner was a big hit. Baked chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with cheese, and strawberry shortcake with whipped cream--yum.
Madeline and Bert arrived for their Overnight Host duty. Madeline and Carol did a check of all the outside doors of FPC, to make sure all was secure. When the Evening Hosts left, the parking gate was then closed for the night.
There was good conversation around the tables...and Madeline made a list of food the guests would enjoy (good idea Madeline!) Terry will be sharing that with the meal prep volunteers to see if some things could be incorporated. We will try to do that the week prior next host week. We are always learning new and better ways.
We are all blessed to be part of Interfaith Hospitality Network and work together with such nice families. First Pres and Congregation Children of Israel (CCI) is blessed with compassionate, caring, generous, fun volunteers! It is going to be a good week. We may have bugs to work out--let us know when things need to be tweaked please. Stay tuned for the rest of the IHN week.
God Bless you one and all.
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