It was hot Monday, and no one knows that better than the 12 teenage volunteers who spent the day replacing a roof on South Concord Avenue.

The crew is one of 18 similar crews hard at work through Natchez and Adams County this week as part of the 2000 World Changers program.

While the extreme temperatures may have affected the frequency of water breaks, they failed to scorch the volunteers’ spirits.

&uot;We see (the heat) as a challenge and just keep on going,&uot; Mike &uot;Burr&uot; Lovett of Corinth said.

This is Lovett’s ninth summer with the program.

&uot;Every year is a different experience,&uot; he said. &uot;And God has a way to speak to my heart.&uot;

In fact, the volunteers from across the South made sure the heat did not overshadow their purpose – to spread the love of Christ – and their goal of completing the scheduled projects.

&uot;The heat is an even bigger reason to be proud when you’re done,&uot; 15-year-old Nicole Keller of Owasso, Okla., said.

Amanda Hurd, 16, also of Owasso, agreed with her fellow church member. Hurd said she was anxious to begin work after arriving on Saturday.

&uot;When we came to look at it yesterday, I got excited,&uot; Hurd said. While she is enjoying the project, Hurd said she also looks forward to looking at a completed project and saying, &uot;I did that house.&uot;

It is not only a sense of accomplishment that motivates the young construction crews; the feeling that comes with helping someone in need keeps them hammering and sawing in the July heat.

&uot;Just to see her face when it’s all done,&uot; Hurd said, referring to the house’s resident, Mary Belle Carey.

Carey, 86, lives alone and is confined to a wheelchair. Carey said her roof has several leaks, but she cannot afford to have them repaired.

&uot;It’s just too good to be true,&uot; Carey said of the volunteers’ work on her house.

&uot;If you (are) nice to someone when you’re young, it’ll come back to you,&uot; she said.

A ministry of the North American Mission Board and Southern Baptist Convention, the program provides home repair to low-income families while spreading the love of Christ.

This year marks the third year the World Changers have visited Natchez. Over the next five days, the group of more than 200 high schooler students plans to complete 24 projects across the area.