Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Many hands make light work.

I apologize I tried to post this last night but the Internet here at St. Johns refused to let me connect. I think it hates me.

Every night after dinner the entire group has a meeting during which Pastor Derrick shares with everyone the work which was accomplished for that day and then gives everyone their assignments for the next day. As I sat listening during the meeting this evening it struck me just how much work is accomplished by this group in just 4 days and I'm simply amazed.

Can you imagine 3 years waiting for your insurance company to settle your claim or waiting to receive your road home money mean while you are living in a half restored home or better yet a FEMA trailer. At first you save what ever extra money you have and make a repair here and a repair there a little at a time. Eventually the stress or shear magnitude of the task ahead of you begins to become overwhelming or there is just not enough money to fix the big things that are left. Either way progress stops. That is the story for many of the families we have worked with.

Now imagine that when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel a green van pulls up and out of that van comes a group of people ready to help. These people come not only with the tools and expertise to do the job but the willingness to do what ever it takes to get that job done. Pastor Derrik said it best when he said "We don't only tape the sheet rock, hang the siding and fix the walls...we bring hope." That hope gives the people who receive the help of Lutheran's C.A.R.E the will to continue to move forward and eventually to move back into their homes.

I am truly blessed to be in the company of the many amazing people who donate their time and skill to the people who need help the most.

Below is a list of jobs that Lutheran's C.A.R.E was able to complete this week by house:

St. John Lutheran Church and School
Removed temporary  storage area (built it above)
Moved Library for school expansion
Built platforms for walkway between buildings
Changed lights in stairwell
Light in bathroom

Lorraine & James Williams
Electric service turned on!!!
Gas service turned on !!!
Rehung 2 doors
Installed base molding
Finished tile around tub
Regrouted floor
Taped utility room
Painted utility room
Installed 2 access panels under tub
Fabricated door for Heating and AC unit

Troy Fourtunia
Pulled out old nails and set nails in floor
Grouted tile in laundry room and bathroom
Sanded (x3) all floors (720’)
Polyeurathaned floors
Installed used cabinets (needed to make fit because to big)
Installed countertop (donated LCARE)
Installed kitchen sink
Installed garbage disposal
Installed feed lines and drain lines (final connectioms)

Bethany Gonski 
Insulated ¾ of attic 

Robert Welch 
Installed cement board siding to window (60 x12’ lengths)
Reinstalled rear entry door
Finish securing sheetrock
Sheetrocked an arch
Taped and sanded to finish 3 rooms

Eddie Gonzales 
Secured plywood sheeting for entire exterior
Problem solved plumbing and electrical exterior sites 
Sheeted same sites
Sheeted 2nd floor around windows on rear of house
Started installing radiant barrier
Installed venting for microwave range hood
Repaired and properly installed cabinets
Aligned all door fronts
Installed nobs and pulls on all doors and drawers
Uncovered and relocated electrical box for microwave  

Lavarn Jackson 
Installed 23 homeruns which had been cut out and stolen
Installed a few additional as needed
Made terminal connections in breaker box
Insulated all exterior walls
Insulated all 4 bathrooms
Sheetrocked 5 room s ~60 sheets
1st coated 3 rooms  

Lilly Jackson 
Upgraded 3” to 4” drain line (twice)
Sheetrocked  inspection areas of house
Finish coated sheetrock
Hooked up sinks
Sheetrocked ½ of hot water heater closet

Gayle Butler, Andrea, Gary 
Removed and replace  termite damaged framing
This included 3 interioir walls and the entire rear wall of house
Also several areas in their brothers house across the street.
Replaced several ceiling joist and reinforced roof support


We serve an amazing God!

God Bless,

Jessy

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