The final day of our adventure came so soon and there was still so much work to do.

The fellowship knew their tasks and split once more across two sites.

Team girl power headed back to site 1 to try to finish their house and get the homeowner back in.

Team boy power tried to get as far as they could, but found even more mold!

Every hand was needed, every hour counted, as our adventurers raced to accomplish as much as they could before the quest drew to a close.

Julia takes up the quill to recount the day's final push.

Julia Markovic:

Unfortunately today was our last day in New Bern.

Although it was our last day, it was in my opinion the most rewarding.

When we first arrived to the site at the start of the week there was an endless list of things to do and touch up; (day 1)

you can't imagine how in a few days the job was supposed to be completed, but never the less we try to do as much as we can. (day 5)

By the end of this week thankfully with all the hard work of the mission team we made great progress on both houses with even being able to complete one of the houses.

To see the kindest lady be able to feel at peace with a safer and cleaner environment made me realize how much I take for granted.

For me and many of my peers we are fortunate enough to say it has never been an issue feeling comfortable at home but for these home owners, safe spaces get turned into a place that may ultimately cause discomfort in the span of a few days/ weeks.

To see a place where I assume she once felt near and dear filled with memories trun back into a sanctuary was just moving.

Many thanks to Julia for chronicling the final push of this quest, and to every adventurer who gave their all across two sites on this last day.

And with that, the quest comes to a close. What a fantastic week it has been, and what an incredible job this fellowship did, from the first riddle to the final nail. Well done, adventurers. Well done indeed.

If you'd like to hear more about our week firsthand, join us this Sunday at church, where James, Julia, Corinne, and Gabi will be sharing their stories from the road.

The Chronicles: A Visual Record

The final trial, immortalized. Behold the last batch of videos and photos from this quest, gathered from two sites and one shared mission to finish strong.

“Anyone can do a cartwheel” - Juliette Mamalian

Proof Video 1: James.

Proof Video 2: Chris and Dash

Candid vs. Plandid

For the first and only time in this trip's history, the judge himself must step down from the bench and into the dock. Joining me in the accused seats are Suzi and Barry, and no, being the one who writes the rulings does not earn a pardon. Justice is blind, even to its own author.

Suzi Henderson:

Case 1:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Caught mid act, unaware that photo was being taken.

Barry Henderson:

Ruling: Plandid.

Reason: Posing naturally in a power stance. Eye contact with the camera and planned intention present.

Suzi is the only Henderson to make it through unscathed!

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for...

Chris McAulfife:

Case 1:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Caught mid writing and intent on bringing you the latest and greatest in Candid vs. Plandid rulings.

Case 2:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Subject looking away from camera. In a natural pose and looking away from the camera. Also, am i cross eyed?

Case 3:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Displaying pure joy at getting to interact with Parker. Not noting the camera in any way.

I mean, do we have to keep going? Three cases, three acquittals, and not a shred of evidence to the contrary. It appears the judge is, in fact, innocent. Shocking, I know.

Here’s the official tally: 6 Candid, 7 Plandid.

Thanks for following along with my bit of the year! I hope you learned something, and that you now see candid and plandid shots for the works of art they truly are.

The fellowship rose knowing today would demand more of them than any day before. Of all the trials faced on this quest it was the toughest by far, but our adventurers plowed through without faltering.

Corinne takes up the quill to recount the day's battles.

Corinne Davies:

Today Chris, James, Sebastian, Julia, Juliette and I worked at site 2 together.

We were eager to start and immediately got to work clearing out the last untouched room to begin making repairs.

James heroically attempted to save us from a spider but failed miserably, (Thankfully caught on video) shrieked and left us to fend for ourselves.

Later as Julia was removing the remaining carpet James once again spotted his old nemesis aka the harmless spider and ironically yelled “Julia don’t panic!!” as he ripped of his shoe, blindly hurling it into the direction of Julia and the spider.

Luckily Chris was there to remedy the situation and actually get rid of the spider. We finally removed the carpet and subfloor which led us to discover a rotting floor beneath us.

Chris quickly ensured everyone’s safety by instructing us all to wear masks and seal off the room to prevent possible mold inhalation.

While we waited for the room to be treated we got to work on other parts of the house.

Julia, Juliette and I took up the responsibility of finishing the flooring in another part of the home.

We replaced subfloor and laid new flooring. It was a new task for most of us but after some initial troubleshooting we quickly became self proclaimed professionals and completed the room.

Overall today the worksite was filled with excitement and setbacks but we learned new skills, who to call in an emergency (not James), and saw great progress.

Many thanks to Corinne for her account of the day!

After the dust settled, the fellowship set out to explore the unmapped streets of downtown New Bern, uncovering secrets the town had kept hidden in plain sight.

There they stumbled upon a legendary landmark: the very birthplace of Pepsi itself, a discovery few outside these parts can claim to have made.

Weary from their travels, the party sought refuge at Cow Cafe, a hidden oasis known only to those who know where to look, and cooled off with the finest ice cream this side of New Bern.

As the sun dipped low, the adventurers gathered once more for a hearty steak dinner, a feast fit for heroes who had earned every bite.

(Shoutout grill chief Barry!)

Just one more day stands between our adventurers and their fated journey home.

The Chronicles: A Visual Record

Another day, another set of trials survived, and of course, another batch of photos to prove it. Behold today's collection below, gathered straight from the front lines of spiders, subfloors, and downtown adventures.

Plandid vs. Candid

It has come to my attention that many of you don't actually know what Candid or Plandid means, and some even thought I made the whole thing up! Forgive me for putting the cart before the horse. Allow me to clear the air.

Candid (noun): a genuine, unposed photo, caught in the wild, no warning given, no pose struck.

Plandid (noun): a photo dressed up as candid but very much staged, planned, and performed for the camera, whether the subject admits it or not.

I did not invent these words, I am merely the chief judge of this court, sworn to uphold Candid vs. Plandid to the letter of the law, wherever the evidence may lead.

Now, since most of my time is taken up, let’s do this quickly with some textbook cases:

Bobby Srour:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Bobby is so genuine that I don’t think he’d ever do a plandid. Look at that perfect definition of a Candid.

Alex Henderson:

Case 1:

Ruling Candid:

Reson: Natural looking photo, caught unaware. Eyes away from camera. Great candid photo!

Ruling: Plandid.

Reason: Notice the smoot looking posture and left hand leaning on the door. Direct eye contact with the camera. About as plandid as it can get.

Hope that cleared up all the confusion. See you tomorrow as we present our final contestants.

Today the questing paused, if only for a day, as the fellowship traded their tools for towels and set off toward the shore. Young August takes up the quill to recount the day's adventures, so let's hand it over to him.

August McFeaters:

Today was "beach day" for the team. We got to sleep in and rest from our hard work the past two days. The girls got up early to go grab coffee and energy drinks, while the boys did a push up for every Psalm.

After breakfast and a devotional where we learned about how to feel closer to God by saying "Jesus come with," we got ready and headed towards the beach.

Once we got there, we were greeted by Jan, Stewart, Davis, Margaret, and Parker who welcomed us with cheeseburgers and hotdogs in their local clubhouse.

After a dip in the pool, we made our way to their beach house and walked over to the beach.

We were out there for around 5 hours.

Drone Video

This is an overview of what happened:

Me, Alex, and Chris played a super competitive game of spikeball

Sebastian swam out to sea and found an island

Dash got stung by a jellyfish

We lost a unicorn floatie at sea

After an eventful beach trip, Jan and Stewart made an ice cream sundae bar and we got to eat while watching the view and listening to country music.

Afterwards, we drove back home and ate an amazing lasagna made by our private chef. To end the night, we played a spooky game of real life among us in the dark.

Many thanks to August for chronicling the day's adventures so faithfully, spikeball rivalries, jellyfish stings, and one lost unicorn included. A true scribe of the fellowship.

And so the crew's day of shore leave draws to a close. Bellies full, skin sun-kissed, and spirits refreshed after a day well earned. Rest well, adventurers, for the quest resumes tomorrow.

The Chronicles: A Visual Record

No day of shore leave is complete without proof it happened. Cast your eyes below on today's haul, salvaged fresh from a day spent chasing sun, sand, and sea.

Candid vs. Plandid

The McFeaters trial rocked the courtroom, and the verdicts will likely shock you. Here are the minutes.

Sebastian McFeaters:

Case 1:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Pure and utter joy depicted here. No glance at camera or awareness of the photo being taken.

Case 2:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Sebastian is in his natural element. Unaware of the photo and appears to be sleeping while watching something on his phone.

August McFeaters:

Case 1:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Unaware of the camera. Natural position and focused on phone. Not planned.

Case 2:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: This was a close call, but the tie goes to the runner. Hands in unnatural position and direct eye contact. Appears to be mid motion and posing the gift towards the camera, but is doing so not to appear natural. When in doubt, candid until proven plandid.

Dash McFeaters:

Case 1:

Ruling: Candid

Reason: A joyful, natural moment caught on film. Subject is looking off to the side away from the camera and holding object a bit awkwardly.

Case 2:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Now, things are getting a little interesting. Subject has noticed the camera and has changed facial position. Still appears to be looking natural, but is perhaps beginning to plan something for the photo. It’s getting close, but not yet there.

Case 3:

Ruling: ...

Reason: Wow. Never before have my candid vs. plandid lawyers had to work so hard on a case. Subject has gone from total candid to near, and I mean soooooo near plandid in these three photos. After hours of deliberation, and thousands of tax payer dollars, we have concluded that... this is in fact candid. Subject has now acknoledged and looked at the camera directly, but the photos has moved to the realm of posed photo rather than plandid. Dash McFeaters barely escapes with his two brothers.

Incredible turn for our adventurers! Our first three defendants have made it through court unscathed and the current tally is 4 Plandid and 3 Candid. How will the others fare in the days ahead? You’ll have to wait to find out!

P.S. I have received many letters asking why I am out to get our adventurers in these trials. I’d like to state that I am a purely neutral party and am neither cheering, nor praying for the demise of these subjects. I just uphold Candid vs. Plandid to the letter of the law and hope to impart some knowledge along the way.

The fellowship returns for workday two of their quest, ready to face the true heart of their labor once more.

James and Gabi take up the quill to tell the tale of what awaited them in the field.

James Chhetree:

This day, upon our noble expedition, I did return unto yesterday’s dwelling, albeit in the esteemed company of an altogether different fellowship of laborers.

There I beheld young Dash(ing) McFeaters, now upon only his second sunrise of honest toil, conducting himself with such swiftness of wit and hand that one might reckon he had apprenticed beneath Noah himself. Verily, he did not merely labor, but didst also guide those in his vicinity.

Master Alexander B. Henderson (the “B,” I am informed, standing for Brazil) undertook the noble art of floor-rending with uncommon zeal, laying siege to carpets, planks, and all manner of earthly coverings whilst rallying his fellow craftsmen.

Good Sebastian did accompany me upon a most perilous side quest unto the village provisioner, from whence we procured paper towels and the sacred elixir known as Red Bull. Along the journey we discoursed upon theology, the curious mysteries of quantum physics, and the ever-enigmatic Waffle Shorts 🩳

Lady Juliette proved herself a woman of many distinguished callings: Master Caulker, Supreme Trimmer, Hammerist Extraordinaire, Advocate of the Mormon Persuasion, and, by all accounts, a Founding Partner of Snapchat

Pastor Christopher V. McAuliffe (V as in Volley) did faithfully shepherd our merry company in wise meditation, earnest prayer, and the noble pursuit of living as honorable Christians. A steadier captain one could scarce hope to find.

And thus, by some providence most peculiar, this merry band of respectable oddities united in neighborly fellowship, transforming a house once bruised by misfortune into a home fit to welcome strangers as friends

May history remember us… or at the very least, may the drywall remain standing in the glory of Nicholas Mason

Gabi Henderson:

Today me, Corrine, Julia, August, my mom and my dad started out at the first worksite. The morning started off a little bit slow.

All the kids loaded up in Bobby’s truck and we picked up all the materials we needed for the day. When we got to the worksite, we started with organizing all of the power tools, and miscellaneous things left out from yesterday‘s work.

Then we started caulking, mudding painting, and more caulking.

My mom had some amazing innovation when it came to doing the transition from the flooring in one room to another. It was so good that Bobby gave her a shout out.

Although I think my dad got a little jealous because he told me later today it was actually his idea. Looks like Bobby shout outs go a long way.

Anyways, once everyone got home, we had an amazing dinner made by my amazing mom.

After dinner, we had a great devotional and played hide and seek.

It was a little creepy because we turned off all the lights.

James found Juliette in a closet and I think I let out the most bloodcurdling scream of my whole life.

Looking forward to a fun beach day tomorrow (and less screaming and scaries.)

Well done, adventurers! After two days of hard-won labor, the party bears the marks of true toil: tired backs, weary limbs, and in need of some rest. Fortune smiles upon them, for tomorrow brings not more toil, but the shores of the sea. It will be a well-deserved respite for our brave adventurers! See you tomorrow!

The Chronicles: A Visual Record

As always, the day's chaos wasn't complete without a few photos to prove it happened. Feast your eyes on today's collection below, gathered fresh from the front lines of labor.

Plandid vs. Candid

Today’s Defendant: Corinne Davies

Case 1:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: In middle of texting. Eyes on phone and caught mid step. Appears unaware of candid.

Case 2:

Ruling: Candid.

Reason: Though subject appears to be looking at the camera, they appear to be cuaght unaware. If no planning, no plandid.

Case 3:

Ruling: Plandid!

Reason: Note the casual natural-looking posture, right hand holding the camera, and unnatural facial expression intended to look cool. Direct eye contact strikes again as well!

Corinne Davies has been deemed guilty of Plandid!

Letting one person know ahead of time was too easy. So we're raising the stakes. Not one, not two, but THREE contenders enter the ring... and they're siblings, no less. Can the McFeaters family survive the court of Candid vs. Plandid? Order your tickets now, folks, because this is the main event you won't want to miss.

The fellowship rose early, fueled up with breakfast, and gathered for orientation with our local guides Kristy and Jeremy of the CCDRA, who armed us with the knowledge and tools needed for the trials ahead.

With our marching orders in hand, the party split into two, each group setting off on their own path to tackle the day's work.

Rather than have your humble narrator recount every detail, I'll let the adventurers speak for themselves. Here's what they had to say:

Dash McFeaters: Hello, today we got to do lots of painting and nailing.

I even had to climb on top of the fridge with the nail gun to work on the trims.

Luckily no lives were lost and we completed our tasks.

Alex Henderson:

During first day of work I thought a lot about our theme for the mission trip this year: summer of connections.

During the lunch devotional today we spoke about how Jesus encourages us to not only love god with all our whole heart but also our neighbors. I realized during this discussion that the two things aren’t as separate as they seem.

To me, loving god with our whole heart seems to spill over into showing up for those around us. It’s as if we are naturally pushing our neighbors towards the Lord as well.

This observation made me see loving thy neighbor less as a second task added on top of loving god, but more as visual evidence that our love for god is real.

When we love god, we love our neighbors too, and to me that is evidence that loving good changes our world for the better.

Juliette Mamalian:

I’ve taken it upon myself to introduce our new head chef, Suzi Henderson.

Absolutely impeccable first night of dinner, no notes, can’t wait to feast again.

During our group devotional, we learned who was extroverted vs introverted, how long we could go without our phones (i’m chronically online apparently), and who voluntarily starts conversations with people in elevators.

We split up to go more in depth about how we can connect with eachother during this week and others moving forward.

Heading into the night, the boys played a few rounds of poker. Chris taught us not to gamble, and James taught us to never fold.

Our group game for the night was mafia, here are notable moments: I was murdered first round by Alex, motive unclear. Julia can never die. If James talks too much, we accuse him. If James is too quiet, we accuse him. Dash always looks guilty. Gabi can’t lie. Alex sabotages the game, communication is key.

Our first full day is complete, and we are all going to bed happy, healthy, and with full stomachs!

Of course, no day in the chronicles would be complete without a little visual evidence. Stay tuned below for today's batch of candids (and, undoubtedly, a Plandid or two).

Candid vs. Plandid

Defendents on the docket today: Gabi, Julia, and Juliette

Gabi: Case 1

Ruling: Candid

Reason: Appears to be caught mid thought. Right pointer finger seems in unnatural position, but Candid until proven Plandid.

Case 2:

Ruling: Plandid

Reason: Direct eye contact with the camera. Unnatural hand placement with both right and left. Unnatural eating position

Julia: Case 1

Ruling: Candid

Reason: No direct eye contact with camera. Right hand in motion is evidence it wasn’t posed.

Case 2:

Ruling: Plandid

Reason: Say it with me: direct camera eye contact. Unnatural facial pose. (You can even see Dash’s plandid radar going off in the background).

Juliette: Case 1

Ruling: Candid

Reason: Now this one was included to trick you and teach a lesson. Yes, there is direct eye contact which is rule number 1. But, this was not a pose struck to try to look natural. If not planned then no plandid. See, we all learned something today.

Case 2:

Ruling: Plandid

Reason: Ok, on this one we got her.

Three more bite the dust. Let’s make it interesting and let one of our next targets know it’s coming...