Although we are home . . . .

Although we are home, there are more stories to tell. I hope to collect more and post them. Allen has told his own story on his blog. I hope to collect some from those who did not have cameras or able to write as we worked. So check back occasionally.

The entire week's workforce

The entire workforce for this week, made up of the three groups, Inglewood Presbyterian Church, Lehigh Valley Presbytery, Ann Arbor Westminster Presbyterian Church, all on the steps of Nashville's Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Lehigh Valley Group

first row: June, Sandy, Gwen, _, Sandy, Karen, Sandy, Pat,

second row: _, Bill who cooked many wonderful meals,

Thrid row: far right Clem

As you can see I do not have a name for everyone.

WPC Group

first row: Jack, Betty, Travis, Jim

second row: Allen, Marjorie, Roger, Ron,

third row: Paul, Al, Travis

Inglewood, WA group

Alyse, Gary, Ryan, Scott, Terresa, Tom, and others.

Saturday, Home at last!

We arrived home at WPC at 6:53 p.m. by our car clock. It was a long and safe drive. Construction in the Dayton area slowed us down by about half an hour. When we arrived back at WPC, we quickly said our good byes and headed home. Some had a pressing appointment to see the UM hockey game. So I parted with mixed feelings. The was much done. Many friendships made and renewed. People served. Praises sung to our Lord. There is still much work for future teams.

Saturday, On our way home!

We finished packing, took group photos and left this morning shortly after 8 a.m.
Now we are going through a thunderstorm around Louisville. We saw a very fresh accident going the other way. Fortunately it did not look like an injury accident. The rain and the traffic are challenging. Roger is rooting to be home in time for the hockey game tonight.

Friday, Dinner in Nashville

We walked some of downtown Nashville. Had dinner, and looked at some of the Friday night scenery. I did a little shopping and bought a tiny pink guitar for my grand daughter's 3rd birthday. Heh, heh!

Friday, Jim's painting group

They finished up with a happy homeowner. The house is beginning to look finished. As you can see it tool a lot of equipment as well as lots of hours of careful work, by all concerned. They had the opportunity to meet and work with their client. We missed not having that experience.

Friday, Relaxing at Westminster

There is  sign post showing many of the groups who have come to help in Nashville. We added one for our church.  Big Al made it, and Jim lettered it. We all signed it.

Last Day, Worksite, Friday April 8, 2011

Here are some pictures of the last day at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.

Deb and I hung the doors.  We were all tired. Some showed it more than others. The end product and our team.

 

Friday, The work is done.

We have closed our worksite. So is everyone else. Now it is time to clean at the church. In the evening we will be going to Nashville for a dinner out. Later, I will post a group picture standing on our floor. We have been a good team from across the country. Our only regret is that we really did not have contact with the congregation we were serving. Maybe I will come back someday and attend a service at that church. On to the goal of leaving things better than we found them, . . . Well at least not worse.

Thursday, April 7, 2011 Last full day

Tonight I am whipped.  I got back from the worksite. Got off the worst of my clothes and flopped in bed for a good long nap. After that and dinner, and chores, here I am. Today we laid some tile, but mostly we grouted, and sponged, and sponged . . .  It is really beginning to look like a nice room. Unfortunately, we will not finish the project. The next team will have to continue the project. Tomorrow will be a half day of work. Then we clean house for the next team. Hopefully we will have some free time. Saturday we set off for home. 

Wednesday, Evening Devotions

Tonight a local worship team did devotions. A taste of Nashville for real! The uncle of Alyse, the girl on the same team I've been working on and whose picture has appeared on the blog, and his friend, John Armstrong, played and sang many original Christian songs. Alyse sang some at the mic too. I particularly liked one called "Concrete and Steel".  Then a minister from a church really hurt in the flood spoke. Trying to convey to us how bad the flood was, he said that Nashville nearly washed away. There were news pictures of a house being washed down the highway. That was the house next door to his church! What I took from his message was that although we come here to do good. Do not get so wrapped up in doing, that we miss the blessings God has for us here. That we should return home energized to share the energy and spirit we have experienced here. Following that we shared communion.
 

Wednesday, after lunch

When we crawled out of the basement for lunch, it was glorious! Here we are
enjoying the afterglow of lunch.

"Our church" is just inside the "Buena Vista" historic district. This sign is
just around the corner. We pass it morning and night.

Wednesday, The work of the day

Jack cut tiles. I made him a protective garment so the spray did not soak him today. Still his legs got wet, but he was more comfortable. Late in the day when we did not need more shaped tiles, he got to lay some tile with Tom. Clem was our mud man. He continues to keep the tile layers well supplied with the mud. Alyse and Ryan mixed some too. most of us chiseled out the mud from previous days that rose to high between the tile. We needed to make room for the grout. At least I could get off my knees today! Gwen from Lehigh Presbytery chiseled and then started cleaning to begin the prep for grouting.

Wednesday, April 6 In the beginning

My crew continued with the church fellowship hall floor. This is about where it was when we started today. This is the front half that is looking pretty good, but it needs edging. The back half needs a lot of tile.
 

Storms yesterday

THIS IS REGARDING THE STORMS ON MONDAY! I do not know why the entry picked up Wednesday's date. It was written on Tuesday. Thank you for your prayers on the weather. Yesterday we had some bad storms. We heard sirens, which seem to have been tornado sirens. I have not heard of any group seeing one. We did have strong winds and heavy rain, thunder and rain. Some had to detour home because of downed trees. Other than some groups loosing power, our work was unaffected. Jack, Ron, Travis, Ross, and I were safe in the basement while we worked. The other WPC folk were in different groups, but they all returned safely too.

Today has been a beautiful day after the storm type day.

Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church

Others of us continue at the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.

Jack has been the cutter today. The women and I laid a lot more of tile, more to go. The guys started the day making yet more cement, and moved on to other things. The ended the day by setting some tile too.

 

I do not mean to over look the other projects that WPC people are on. I just do not have any pictures.