Sixteen missioners rolled out of the Grace parking lot this morning, in three cars, braced for a long drive to Dungannon, Virginia. After the expected 8 hours or so we arrived at the Dungannon Development Commission’s Phoenix Center around 4:30 in the afternoon. Our accommodations here are sparse but adequate — the beds are hard (platform bunks) but there is hot water and hot food. Our dorm room is roughly 50 ft X 30 ft and contains 23 bunk beds. First order of the day was to rearrange the bunks to make passable aisles and let groups form as they wanted. We’re all in one room which will make for a particularly interesting bonding experience this trip.
Dungannon is a small town in Scott County with population of roughly 330 people and the closest real grocery store is 12 miles away. Cell phone coverage is sketchy and Verizon seems to be the best so far. The main attractions in town are the city hall (which closed at 3:00pm), the post office (closing time unknown), and Dollar General (which closes at a surprising 10:00pm). Tonight’s after dinner activity was raiding Dollar General where the key purchases were fans, extension cords, and foam bedding pads (platform beds, right? … no mattresses).
After many applications of easter tattoos and a few rousing card games, things are winding down now with Ben on the guitar and quiet singing from the teens. Our real work starts tomorrow when we break into two groups — one to work at the local elementary school and the other to work on the grounds of the Phoenix Center where we are staying. More information to come tomorrow on the work for the remainder of the week.
Post written by Molly
July 6, 2011 at 12:52 pm
LOL for hanging out at Dollar General!
~ Amanda