RVing With a Purpose

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

It was just as cold this morning as predicted, 27. We had no problems from the cold with Fred and we were toasty warm. It’s suppose to be 28 in the morning and then we have a warming trend. Of course that means rain is coming with rain predicted Saturday through next Tuesday. Rain is the last thing Lumberton needs. Today Lumberton finally went out of the flood warning. The river is still high and there is still standing water all around. Our campsite is still very squishy. The ground is still saturated and there is just no where for the water to go.

Today Nancy and Gary brought us our devotion. Nancy talked to us about prevenient grace – the grace God shows us while we are still lost, justifying grace – that ah ha moment when we get it and make a decision for Christ and sanctifying grace – the ongoing experience of God’s grace through Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. She and Gary shared some of their personal stories of their walk with the Lord. We had a good time of sharing. Thanks so much, Nancy and Gary.

Then it was time for us to all go back to work. Yesterday we said flexibility was one of the hallmarks of good NOMADS and today again proved that. Mary Ann and Gene had to make multiple changes in job assignments today. There are about 30 volunteers coming in tomorrow and Jeff needed some help getting ready for them and gathering all the necessary supplies. So, Gene and Philip took Gene’s truck and picked up metal roofing and lumber and delivered it to a couple of job sites. Dave and Gary took Gary’s truck and went to Fayetteville to pick up some metal. That’s what was scheduled when we left for our job. Mary Ann and Cindy were hoping to get back to put a second coat of mud on the drywall at Mary and Jim’s. Don’t know if they ever made it out there or not. We will have to find out what everyone did in the morning.

We know that Nancy went with us back out to Elsie and Bruce’s house and we resumed work on the ceiling. We got clearance on completing the drywall and finished getting all of that hung right after lunch. We then started the mudding and taping. We got three of five seams taped and all the screws covered. We taught Nancy how to mud and tape and wow! She did a great job. She really has a talent for drywall finishing. We hope to complete the two seams that still needing tape and re-mud the other three tomorrow. If we are real lucky, we could possibly get two coats on the 2 remaining seams because it drys fast on the ceiling of a very warm house. Perhaps it will only take the two coats because the next step will be texture. We will just have to see what it looks like after two. Any way, we are making good progress and Elsie and Bruce are thrilled.

 

Too tired to go to the gym tonight but did get 10,000 steps today. It’s now 7:30 pm and the temperature is already down to 33. One more cold night.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

This morning was cold. Tomorrow is going to be even colder with predicted low of 27. We will also have wind with gusts to 20 mph so it will be COLD in the morning. We have disconnected our water hose and turned on the light in the sewer bay. We shouldn’t have any problems but most of us took sensible precautions.

We had devotion today and shared the JD Walt Seedbed devotion for today. People seemed to appreciate our efforts. We have enjoyed the Seedbed study through Mark.

After devotion, we all gave reports on yesterday’s work. We were wrong on where Dave worked yesterday. He was out at Jim and Mary’s working on installing drywall. That was completed and Mary Ann and Cindy worked on taping and mudding today. They are getting close to completing that job. Completing the drywall and then paint should about close that one out. Yesterday at Jackie’s there was work done on cabinets and plumbing.

Nancy and Gary went back to Elsie and Bruce’s house with us today. We had to go by the warehouse and pick up a few things. Before we left the job site yesterday day we tried to clean up the living room and set their TV back up so they would watch the news. Therefore, first duties today were to move the TV out and cover up the carpet and table. Gene went to Lowe’s and picked up drywall and insulation for us and we worked on that installation today. Nancy and Gary did a lot of the installation while we did most of the cutting. Nancy and Gary did a great job! Today was their first experience with drywall. Love it when people get to learn new skills. Nancy, like most of us NOMADS girls, now has a drill and impact driver on her list of needed tools. Are you listening Santa? We have just one more sheet of drywall we can install in the morning before Jeff comes to take a look at the leak area. He is going to try to find us some metal so we can replace at least part of the roof. We may be taping and mudding tomorrow. Flexibility is very important to being a good NOMAD so we will wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Monday, November 26, 2018

As predicted the rain began during the night and it was a messy, rainy, dreary morning. Rain was suppose to be over by 9 or 10 but it lasted a bit longer. However, by this afternoon it was nice again. Now we are going to have a cold spell. Not as cold as home but lows of 28-29 which is plenty cold enough, actually too cold for us. It’s about time to head south.

Mary Ann had our devotion this morning and used Ephesians 5. She told a story about a child imitating his Dad. Kids certainly look at their parents and often imitate them. We are called to be imitators of our heavenly Father. We learn to live fully and love others. We become the only Bible some others ever see. She ended with a funny, The Bible Through a Child’s Eyes. Thanks Mary Ann.

After devotion, we discussed our work day. Max and Anne with our new NOMADS, Gary and Nancy, went to Bruce’s house about 30 minutes from Lumberton. Gene and Max had visited here the week before Thanksgiving and made an emergency repair to the living room ceiling. Unfortunately Bruce’s wife had a stoke and spends a great deal of time on the couch in the living room, watching TV. The roof has leaked and the ceiling panels were close to falling on the couch. Today our first job was to empty as much of the furniture from the living room as there was space in other rooms. We then covered the carpet with a tarp and covered two pieces of furniture. That took some time as we carefully took down pictures and moved objects precious to our home owners. That part always make us a little anxious. After moving everything without a disaster, we started the demolition. Demo is always fun. It went pretty fast today. Unfortunately we found the roof which was thought to be repaired is still leaking. We removed wet insulation and inspected everything we could get to. That included climbing up on the roof. We had to tarp the roof today and tomorrow Jeff, our construction supervisor, will come take another look and make a decision as to what to do. We will go ahead and begin replacing drywall in the areas without leaks. Unfortunately, we were told that there was not very much money budgeted for this house. Hopefully they can find enough to allow us to do what needs to be done.  It was really nice to get to work, and get to know Nancy and Gary a little better.  They are going to make great NOMADS!

 

 

Mary Ann, Cindy, Dave, Bruce, and Joe went back to work at Jackie’s. Gene and Jerry went back to Mary and Jim’s. They were planning to hang drywall today. They were able to get the flooring in and the shower and toilet installed last week before Jim and Mary’s family came for Thanksgiving. Now they have the wall and vanity to complete. Some little things were done at Jackie’s last week but since we didn’t go over there today, we don’t know exactly what they were planning to do today. We heard Jackie has bought her countertops so we will have to stop by there one day soon.

After work we were on good behavior and went back to the gym for a good cardiac workout. Now tonight we are watching a Christmas movie and enjoying our lemon ginger tea. It was a good day!

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Today was a beautiful day in Lumberton. We had beautiful sun today. Jackets were needed this morning but this afternoon great. Knowing tomorrow is suppose to be another wet day made today even more appreciated.

We again went to church at Chestnut Street UMC. Pastor Herbert brought another great message. He is a gifted speaker and simply presents the Word. No sugar coating but speaks the truth. Reminds me of our home church, Lester Memorial. If we were going to be in this area for an extended period of time (which we aren’t) we would certainly consider Chestnut Street as our home church.

After church we returned to Fred for a lunch of leftovers. While we were waiting for some brand new NOMADS to arrive, we did some laundry and relaxed. After greeting Gary and Nancy, we made a quick run to the gym to get our exercise for the day. We finished up in time to make a quick run for groceries and then make it to our team meeting tonight at the church. We also had another team member arrive today, Phillip and we met Jerry for the first time but he was here last week. It was great to meet new friends and we look forward to a productive week. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week.