Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Today, different from the last two day, we worked all day on drywall finishing at Dennis’s. There was drywall dust everywhere. It reminded us that for some reason our May 7, 2018 blog post titled “Drywall dust in the ears, drywall dust in the nose, drywall dust in the hair, drywall dust everywhere!” shows up regularly as being visited on our blog. In fact it seems to be the most visited post. Don’t really know why.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Work-wise, today was much like yesterday. We worked on drywall finishing at Dennis’s house on Big Pine Key in the morning and on painting and odds and ends at Danny’s house on Sugarloaf Key. There is a group of volunteers here from First Baptist Church in Atlanta and some of them have been helping us at Dennis’s.
When we arrived at Danny’s after lunch this big white blimp was in the sky above us. We saw it on Sunday also and Carolyn told us it a Tethered Aerostat Radar System operated by Customs and Border Patrol to assist in interdiction of drug and illegal immigration traffic. She actually calls it “the eye in the sky.” It wasn’t watching us.
Then tonight we got to enjoy a Christmas cantata performed by the Lower Keys Community Choir and the Keys Chamber Orchestra. Our team leader Carolyn played French horn in the performance.
Monday, December 09, 2019
Today was our first day back at work on a project in several weeks. We of course began our day like we do every day regardless if we are working a project, with devotion time. Today Gene and Carolyn shared a little different reading of 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. Just a little reminder what’s really important. Carolyn played her french horn for our music accompaniment. Thanks Carolyn and Gene. We discussed our work plans for today and then met another group of volunteers working with the church this week.
We then drove about a mile to one of the homes the NOMADS are currently rebuilding. At Dennis’s home the entire team (Gene and Carolyn, Ron and Mary, Elaine and Anne and Max) worked on sanding drywall and a few did a little mudding. This home was flooded by the storm surge of Hurricane Irma when most of the structures on the island received 2-4 feet of salt water. We think Dennis’ house was on the low end of that but since he wasn’t allowed back into his neighborhood for some time, by then the water and wicked up all the drywall and mold had begun to grow. It happens very quickly. The house was gutted. Prior to our arrival NOMADS had already installed all the drywall except for one closet. They also began the finishing process. Today the team did a lot of sanding and applied a little more joint compound.
At lunch we headed to another home about 20 minutes south. NOMADS have also been working in this home previously. We are now working on finishing up the last items so it will be ready to move in. We hope to have it completed before Christmas. It was a busy but good day.
Sunday, December 08, 2019
Today started with an inspirational – and unconventional – morning worship at our host church, Big Pine United Methodist Church. It was unusual for us that we had not heard a single song in the order of worship. After the service the church hosts a light lunch which was very good and very welcomed.
This afternoon Gene and Carolyn, our team leaders, drove us around to see the houses we will be working on this week. Both houses have had a lot of work done by the homeowners, contractors, other volunteers and NOMADS. It looks like we will spend the week finishing drywall, painting and a lot of odds and ends.
They then drove us to Key West to Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe so Carolyn could get some Chocolate Dipped Key Lime Pie on a Stick to take home to her daughter when they leave next weekend. Of course, we had to try it, too.
This evening Gene and Carolyn hosted the team meeting in their RV because another group was using the church. They even provided us with delicious grilled burgers and key lime pie. We are looking forward to getting back on our purpose.
RVing With a Purpose 