RVing With a Purpose

Last Day in Illinois

Friday, September 18, 2020

Yesterday there was more sanding and mudding. Max, Gary and Ray made a lot of progress. They worked very hard to leave the drywall as close to ready to paint as they could. Anne had an executive committee meeting for the NOMADS in preparation for today’s full Board meetings. Last night we drove over to Taylorville, about 30 minutes away, to get some ice cream for supper. It was very good. It was an interesting drive, on roads we had not previously seen. Today the guys were back to work on the drywall, sanding and marking any areas they feel needs a touch up with the mud. We will leave it for someone else to do the touch up, probably another day or two of work and then it will be ready for paint, probably late next week. Anne’s board meeting was all day. She reports they got a lot done.

We spent the afternoon cleaning up what seemed like many pounds of drywall dust.

Walls are ready for the next volunteer …

Yesterday evening while in Taylorville we drove past these strange all-terrain vehicles. They are called Sherps. We think they would be great for wilderness rescue.

Last evening in Illinois (for this trip)

We really enjoy working with the people here at MMDC. They are such a joy and inspiration. They do great work! Today they treated us to a great Mexican lunch with some great ice cream sundaes for dessert and then showered us with gifts of their 20th anniversary, T-shirts and a metal model of their 18 wheeler transport truck. Thanks so much MMDC for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful ministry of providing help and support to those in need. Tonight the low is predicted to be 43 degrees. We will have to turn the fireplace on tonight and head south tomorrow. Please remember us in your prayers for safe travel. Have a wonderful weekend.

Ice Cream and Pie

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

We have finished the taping and first cost of mud on all the walls and have moved on to sanding and the second coat. Sanding drywall makes a lot of dust and it gets on and in everything on the job site. Even if our NOMADS policy did not require us to wear masks when working inside and near others, we would be wearing them now for our own health.

Anne and Ray installing flexible corner bead tape

Funny fact about this blog: We have a blog post from May 7, 2018 entitled “Drywall dust in the ears, drywall dust in the nose, drywall dust in the hair, drywall dust everywhere!” Our blog statistics page shows that one entry gets more views than any other. And from more countries.

At break today Gary volunteered to make homemade ice cream for us after work. We offered to bring some frozen peaches to go on the ice cream, but they somehow became a peach cobbler. Thanks, Gary, for the ice cream and the fellowship.

Gary’s homemade ice cream. Yes, it is a hand-cranked freezer.

One of Anne’s famous peach cobblers to go with the ice cream.

Rain Then Sunshine

Sunday September 13, 2020

Yesterday was a rainy, sleepy day. This area of Illinois needed some rain so it was a good thing. We relaxed, rested and did the usual weekend stuff in the rig. Laundry, changing the sheets, grocery store and cooking. Today was a beautiful day – in several ways. Beautiful sunshine! Wonderful worship service streamed to us from Lester Memorial. Missing our church. We enjoyed preparing some meals for this coming week. Anne worked on some NOMADS business getting ready for the annual board meeting. This afternoon we were able to join by zoom the ordination service for our dear friend (we claim her as almost our daughter), Melody. Wish we could have been there in person but…it was in Canada so not possible. Congratulations, sweet Melody! It was so good to see you today! May God continue to bless and keep you in his care!

This little fellow stayed on our window most of Saturday afternoon.

Old Rt 66 – where we walked a few miles after church this morning.

This evening we ended the weekend by walking a few miles on the Interurban Trail again.

And we met another little brown snake on the trail.

BTW, if you thought we would be home by now – we had planned to be. But Gumby won out again. Since things were not quite ready for us to install the drywall when we got here, we haven’t completed the work we came here to do. All four of the NOMADS decided to stay a few more days. Anne will have zoom meetings Thursday and Friday so we have to be somewhere with good internet those days. It will be another fun week ending with us back in Alabama for a few weeks unless of course, Gumby returns. Everyone stay safe and healthy!

Tired of Drywall Pictures?

Friday, September 11, 2020

Drywall mudding and finishing is all we did today and we figure y’all are probably tired of pictures of that. So here is a picture from our foggy morning walk. There are many,many acres of corn and soybeans growing in the fields around MMDC so that is what we see when we walk.

But if you really like watching drywall finishing, click on the picture below for a short video of us at work:

Remember the heinous attack that was perpetrated on our country 19 years ago today. And remember to pray for those who are still suffering from the effects of that evil act. And remember to pray for all law enforcement, other first responders (including 9-1-1 telecommunicators) and service members who place themselves in harm’s way for our safety and security.