Once again a great teen group including 6 girls and two boys accompanied by Pastor Matt and John Renock, returned to assist the folks at the Allegheny Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the region northeast of Pittsburgh near New Kensington, PA. The July 13-18, 2008 adventure was our fifth trip to this area and one of 17 Habitat work camps sponsored by FLC in the past 19 years.

The crew and our Habitat friends gathered for a photo before we returned home. In the front left to right are: Paige Longstreth, Lauren Cortelletti, Cassidy Qualls, Kendra Kocher, Alexa Cortelletti, Ben Longstreth, Callie Qualls and Cody Adkins. Back row are: Rich Michaux, Diane Belitskus, Pastor Matt Wheeler, Martin Ide, Tom Hughes and John Renock. (Click on any photo to see a larger view, then browser back button.)

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Our first morning found us at the Restore where the affiliate receives donated items, cleans, sorts and catalogues them to be sold at a great savings to the public.  The profits go toward the building of new Habitat Houses.  Click here for more tour photos and helping move items in the large warehouse.
	Top-soil was delivered to one of the two houses we worked on.  During the week the dirt was spread and smoothed over the yard.  This house had been dedicated the day before we arrived and we helped get it finished for the family to move in.  More landscaping photos.
This duplex, just a few blocks from the other house, was another building we worked in.  The duplex style is a first for the affiliate and is sponsored by Thrivent Builds.  Much of our trip costs were also paid through funds raised through our church and matched by Thrivent Financial. Click here for more photos.
	One project was this storage shed with part of the crew posing after its completion.  Click here for more photos of the shed construction.
A view of Pittsburgh at night marked the end of the traditional half-day visit to the city where the Ohio River starts.  The Duquesne Incline, which brought us to the summit overlooking the city can be seen in the foreground.  More Pittsburgh here
	The gang posed for a photo after a delicious evening meal provided by Janes United Methodist Church in Creighton. We were also treated to dinner by Bethel United Methodist Church, Lower Burrell with their new pastor, Rev. Paul Taylor.  Click here for more photos.
Back "home", at the Curtisville Presbyterian Church, the youth entered thoughts and comments in each other's journals, usually followed by "broom writing" or card games.  See more after work activities here.
	We were invited to an open house at Keeler's Ponderosa in Barberton.  We stopped for a brief visit with our former Pastor, Tim and wife Martha and a chance to meet their grandson Keeler.  More photos here.
Mid-week, the group was interviewed and photographed for a story in the Valley News Dispatch.  To see the activities of the Habitat affiliate including our visit see their newsletter here.  See pages 7 & 9 about us. To visit our trip in 2007 click here