Author: rvingwithapurpose

Friday, January 19, 2018

We had another cold start to the day with the low of 34. As we were leaving town we noticed frost everywhere. It would have been considered a light or scattered frost at home, but here in central Florida it was FROST and they don’t have FROST. Anyway, it didn’t stay around for long because the sun was again glorious and by shortly after lunch everyone at the RV show was talking about how many layers they had shed. The highest number we heard was 6.

We left Enterprise heading to Tampa to the RV Super show, one of, if not the largest RV show in the US about 7:15. We made a quick stop at McDonald’s for a biscuit before jumping in I-4 west. There was a high power line almost in the parking lot and it was covered with buzzards. We decided they were waiting for customers to have heart attacks from all the high cholesterol foods. Two hours later we were exploring the RV show. There were hundreds and hundreds of beautiful RVs to enjoy and two large buildings of must have stuff to peruse. Of course we weren’t really shopping for a new RV, but we always like to look to see what new RV’s are coming out and what has changed in our favorites. We did pick up a few ideas we might like to use in FRED and did make a purchase of some storage containers. Otherwise, we looked and enjoyed it all, were able to talk to a couple of people about NOMADS and our mission work, and then left to return home just in time to be in the middle of Friday afternoon traffic in Tampa. It actually wasn’t too bad and we had an uneventful ride back to Enterprise.

When you purchase your tickets for the show you get a second ticket to return another day,  because there is really too much to see in one day,  but we saw a lot of it.   Jo and Mark are planning to go to the show tomorrow so we gave them our second day tickets because we don’t plan to play tomorrow.  There is rig cleaning and laundry and resting to be done.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

It was 27 degrees this morning when we got up. Now that is not nearly as cold as other places north of here, but it is way too cold for central Florida. It’s been a long time since it was this cold here according to the TV. It is suppose to warm up this weekend and be nice again. I guess we can handle one day of cold.

Kathy and Terry, our team leaders, prepared a wonderful pancake breakfast for the team this morning. Great way to start the day! We all ate our fill of sausage and pancakes.  Kathy and Terry decided we would have breakfast today and intentionally get a late start to our work because we were trying to let it warm up a little. Max and Anne brought our devotion that we entitled First Responders. It was based on Luke 10:29-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan,

After devotion we all went to work. Mark, Chris and Max went back to the water plant. They continued to work on the shed for the electrical panel. We were all glad to have Chris back.

Jo and Kathy did some landscaping work, repositioning a statue in a garden and then worked on the privacy fence. Mike and Terry did some additional work in the chapel.

 

 

Anne, Laura, Ruth and Carol painted at a duplex all day. The duplex will be used for some of the young men in the transition program.

 

 

When the work day was over we all quickly got showers and we all headed to Goodfella’s Italian restaurant. All the food looked and smelled delicious. Everyone agreed that the food was very good and the desserts as well. We had a wonderful waiter who took very good care of our large group and we would definitely go there again.

That’s it for today. Tomorrow – Road Trip!

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Today was another nice day here in Florida. A little cool this morning but warming up this afternoon. However, temperatures started dropping about 3:00 and dropped quickly, and a nasty wind developed. We finished work at 4:00 and wanted to get a bike ride in because we know it will be too cold tomorrow. When we left for the ride it was 66 and less than an hour later and 8 miles later it was 59 and we were cold. The 4 mile return was straight into a nasty wind. We did get to see the bald eagle on its nest again. The cold front comes through tonight with 30 degrees predicted so we are operating off our water tank rather than city water tonight.

We started the day with another good devotion today brought to us by Lee. We then received our assignments for today and went to work. Actually we sat and visited a little while before going to work. Everyone seemed a little tired this morning. Max and Mark completed the pump house today. Yea! We think it looks really good. It still needs to be painted but the wood is pretty green so they may let it “age” a little before painting. The NOMADS that will be here in 6 weeks might get that job. Max and Mark then resumed their work on a shed on another building to protect an electrical panel. They made good progress on that as well.

Anne again worked with Jo, Laura and Kathy on another painting project. This time the group worked on painting a porch, doors and windows at one of the children’s cottages. They will have to return next week to do some additional work, but it is already looking so much better.  The house mother and kids were very please and appreciative.  Mike and Terry did some work in the chapel and Mike did some additional landscaping. Lee and Bob continued as the light bulb brigade. There are a lot of light bulbs on this campus with about 47 buildings.

Ruth and Carol did an amazing job of cleaning up an area close to the new fence. In cleaning out the underbrush they discovered some great potted plans, azaleas and gardenias as well as some other things we can’t name. They also came to the cottage the other ladies were painting and did some raking and cleaning of the landscape there too.

It was another day where a lot was accomplished but there is always more to do. Tonight and tomorrow are going to be cold. Don’t think we will be doing much work outside in the morning.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Today was a repeat of yesterday weather-wise except it got even warmer this afternoon. It was hot if you were working in the sun but a little too cool in the shade and wind. But it was another beautiful day. We are feeling really sorry for all of you who are experiencing the dangerously cold weather. Please be careful!

We, of course, started our day with a devotional, today lead by Mike and Ruth. Ruth used Psalm 100 and a devotion from “Jesus is Calling”, a very good daily devotion book. Mike and Ruth gave us a copy a couple of years ago. Thanks Ruth and Mike for reminding us today that since we are Christians and have Jesus as our Savior we need to share that joy with the world. We should be smiling and praising.

So what work did we do today? Kathy, Lynn, Jo and Anne painted all day. They worked at the picnic pavilion painting the ceiling, inside and outside trim and the picnic tables. It was a big job, but one they completed just before the end of the day. Max and Mark repaired some of the trim at the pavilion this morning and then returned to the water treatment plant.

They completed the copula on the pump house and installed part of the siding. Mike and Ruth worked some in the chapel and then Mike and Terry installed some privacy screen on the fence at the water plant. Carol and Ruth did a lot more landscaping work. Lee continued working on changing out light bulbs all over campus.

Just as we were finishing up for the day Terry reminded us that it was Taco Tuesday at a nearby Mexican restaurant. Bob and Carol could not go because of another commitment but the rest of us decided $0.99 tacos sounded good and with a quick cleanup and change of clothes we were off. We did get to the restaurant before the big crowd, but the place was packed and noisy before we left. We returned home and topped of our meal with a slice of Key Lime pie. Another good day. Time to go to bed.