Joy

Well our time here is past the half way point but we still have more time to help more people. Today we had a new job for an older gentleman who suffers from diabetes and whose grandson looks after him. When we arrived at his home he was still sleeping but his daughter greeted us and we decided together that it would be easier if he could move out while we renovated. Soon family and friends showed up and the rooms that we needed cleaned out were empty. The girls quickly got to work gutting the place, we could not get them to slow down. Both the porch and the kitchen floor would need to be lifted and reinforced, ceilings patched, two bathrooms mostly gutted and redone but that will come.

Returning back to camp I was soon asked to be a crew leader for when Norman would leave on Thursday so that meant Tim would be on his own with the girls and I would go with Norman on Thursday so I would know what to do on Friday.

We, that is, Tim and I both had two good days on the job. Tim and his girls put up drywall, mudded, jacked up the porch floor, put plywood on the porch ceiling, scrapped off stipple, tore/peeled off paint, sanded, mudded some more, cleaned trash into the dumpster and enjoyed singing, Tim listed while the girls sang. I mudded, sanded, scrapped, instructed in the art of drywall mudding (I know what to do I'm just not that good at it), drove, shopped at Lowes and Home Depot (ye haw), gave direction and had a really good time. My crew mudded, sanded, did plumbing and electrical, put trash in the dumpster, built one interior wall. Much more is needed but more will happen in time.

Next week we will be at it again, and last week for me. I am looking forward to my trip to Florida and will be sure to keep you all posted.

Another enjoyable week working with really good, fun, nice people. The group of Old Order Mennonites were such a joy! Their love for each other and love of themselves, their forgiving spirits and their joy to work and joy of life is truly a blessing. We will miss them a lot.

Thank you Lord for the joy you give!