Service Adventure - J O H N S T O W N

Johnstown is one of the cloudiest cities in the United States. Many days it would not surprise me to see towering, robust cloud banks bearing down on the valley or plain sheets of gray stretched over the whole city. The gray raininess to me speaks of cold days to come, time to wear comfy sweaters, slip on thick socks, bake warm breads and brew hot tea. I think of my many friends who'd prefer the gray drizzle perfect for reading in to the bright sun. In the mornings when  I drive to the farm to work, fog drifts across the road softening treelines. When I'm up on the hill feeding chickens I can look out over the trees and see the gray mist filling the valley below the blue green mountains. The clouds can be beautiful. The crew riding home from an evening spent at another family's home. Up front - Eva and Jonathan. Middle seats - Evan and Abby. The grayness can also mean more Seasonal Affective Disorder. Johnstown is one of the most depressed cities in the United State...

Just a week ago, I arrived at my new house in the town of Kernville in Johnstown Pennsylvania. Let me show it now to you too. It's periwinkle blue, three stories tall. Surrounding it are the cracked pavement, weedy grass and similarly old houses that mark a run down neighborhood. You can hear the whir of cars on the big road that winds along the other side of the river. There's a dog barking up the street. But the house stands out a bit from the others. There are crosses in the windows and Swiss chard ready for harvest in the flower beds. The periwinkle blue walls and white doors almost look kind. Look inside, there's a brown toned sitting room not meant to ever match, a cluttered kitchen and dining room and a flight of stairs leading to three brightly colored rooms and uneven floors. Meet my new family, Leah and Krista, my kind and exuberant leaders, Eva who is from Germany and often fills the house with piano playing, Abby with her quiet practicality, Evan whose bad h...