With great team leaders, great team members and a host agency with a truly great mission how could we help but to have a great week? We started the week with a joint devotional time with the ECHO staff and other volunteers. That is how each week will start. In additional to the devotional time, we learn a lot about ECHO (Hope Against Hunger) and their mission. After the devotional time everyone breaks into small groups to pray for each other and ECHO.
Then our NOMADS team was treated to a tour of the farm by one of the docents. Most of the team had not been here before but it was still very interesting to those of us who have.
The ECHO Global Farm is a fascinating place. Even though we took the tour last year, we learned even more on this tour.
Our guide pointing out some jackfruit. Two of our team members have eaten it at a BBQ restaurant where it is offered as a vegetarian option to pork. They said the taste and texture were just like pulled pork.
Our guide also explained the difference between a bunch (or stalk) and a hand of bananas.
One of the growing techniques ECHO teaches
After the tour our team leaders, Susan and Kevin, gave us our marching orders. Top priorities were to repair some walk bridges and the duck pond dock, install a vent fan in the mushroom house, build some potting tables and build some steps to a goat birthing house.
Bridge to the front of the tropical highlands when we arrived
Checking out the bridge framing
Finished bridge to the front of the tropical highlands
Testing the finished bridge
This bridge to the back of the tropical highlands also needed to be rebuilt
When Anne and Mary were demolishing the bridge they used “appropriate technology”, banana plant papers, to collect the old screws.
The team used benches as field expedient saw horses while rebuilding the bridge.
Almost finished bridge to back of tropical highlands
Bridge to back of the tropical highlands at the end of the week. Several team members worked on demolishing the old bridge and building this. The whole structure had to be replaced.
The duck pond dock when we arrived. We had to empty the water tank, remove it and the human powered pumps before we could start work.
Then we had to remove all the old decking
Since the dock holds a large water tank and sometimes several people in a tour group, we had to strengthen the frame. We laminated new rough cut 2x8s to the existing joists.
Last year we worked almost the whole three weeks with Elliot. He is the manager of the Appropriate Technologies area of the farm. We were glad to get to work with him again this week.
After strengthening the structure we re-decked the dock with treated 2x8s.
Some of the work involved wading in the duck pond.
Fortunately the farm had boots we could use.
Getting ready to set a support post. It was set in concrete just before the end of our work week.
The duck pond dock at the end of the week. Next week we will replace the end rail and the last couple of deck boards.
The team prepared a third bridge for repairs. We will probably get back to it next week.
Preparing pipes for potting tables. They were fastened to 4x4s to form the table tops.
Drilling pipes for potting tables
One of several potting table tops the team built
How the potting tables are used
Some of the team installed a vent fan the the mushroom house
New steps for goat birthing house
Today was spent doing laundry, grocery shopping, resting and enjoying the sunset.
Sunset at Riverside Camp where we stay when working at ECHO
Since our Christmas blog post, we spent our time enjoying the many trails and attractions at Gulf State Park. We hiked and biked every day and did our usual wildlife viewing and photography. We had several delicious meals of local seafood and took care of chores and NOMADS business.
We walked on the beach several times.
We checked on the eagles almost every day …
… and occasionally saw an osprey fly over.
The first gator we saw on this visit was this small one along the Rosemary Dunes Trail.
Then we saw this larger gator on the bank of Lake Shelby.
We also got to see this large tortoise. Its shell is over 12″ across.
Sunrise from our wonderful campsite. We liked it so much we reserved the same site for Christmas next year.
Last Tuesday, while Anne worked on NOMADS Board business, Max once again participated in the park’s Give Back Tuesday, a day each week for volunteers to help out around the park. About a dozen volunteers showed up to help finish a fence that was needed to direct people away from occupied campsites to an established trail. Apparently some people don’t know it is rude to walk through someone else’s campsite.
Unloading fence parts
Setting a post
Finished fence
As much as we enjoyed our time and rest at Gulf State Park, it’s time to get back to work. We sadly left the park Friday morning and started south to our next project. We arrived here in the North Fort Myers, Florida area to spend three weeks working on a NOMADS project at ECHO, also known as Hope Against Hunger. Our regular readers may remember that almost exactly a year ago we were also here for the same reason.
On our drive from Gulf Shores to North Fort Myers we spent New Years Eve at a Florida rest area known for its Snake Wall.
We attended our first Sunday service of 2022 at Grace UMC, Fort Myers Shores Campus with the team. It was a great service!
In the three weeks we spent here last year we don’t remember ever being stopped by this drawbridge. In the first 24 hours we were here this year we have been stopped by it twice.
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama
Even though for most of the time we have been here it has been unseasonably cool, we have been to the beach a few times. Interestingly, the park has installed this beach mat from a wooden walkway almost to the high tide line to make the beach more accessible to the less mobile.
One thing we always do here is check on the eagles. Yesterday we were at the nest at shift change. The male and female take turns sitting on the eggs until they hatch.
A rustic sculpture created from a burned stump near Eagle Loop Trail.
This is our traveling Nativity at sunrise this morning. It is our constant reminder during the season of the greatest Gift we could ever receive – the Gift of Salvation.
This afternoon after a bike ride with some new friends and a hike we enjoyed our traditional Christmas diner – steamed snow crab legs.
Others in the campground decorated differently.
We hope each of you had a very merry Christmas and pray each of you will carry the true spirit of Christmas in your hearts all the other days of the year!
As we mentioned in our last post, we returned to Laurel, MS on Sunday, December 12. On our arrival we were met by our team leaders Kevin and Suzan. It was great to get to work with them again. We last saw them in North Fort Myers last January. The entire team was so kind and welcoming on our return. We knew they had been praying for us and we certainly felt their love on our return. Thanks team!!
Monday of course we began with devotion and then we headed to a house the team began while we were gone. Miss Daisy’s mobile home and addition had roof damage from the tornado which then allowed water to damage the interior ceiling and exterior wall in the back room. The team began last week on the demo work taking out a portion of the wall and the ceiling, and began the rebuild. This week we completed the installation of the paneling, a little electrical work, insulation and ceiling drywall. Also all the trim – windows, crown and base – had to be installed. And we also painted the ceiling and the exterior except for the metal. I think you can tell from the pictures that we made big improvements, most importantly there are no more leaks. Wednesday afternoon we had the Bible presentation for Miss Daisy and said our tearful goodbyes. She is such a sweet lady. Anne and some great conversation with Miss Daisy and her sister who decided she needed to be the ladder holder for Anne.
Cutting paneling
Painting trim
Hanging trim
Installing exterior window trim
Our battery powered trim nailer saw a lot of use on this project.
Painting the ceiling
Painting outside
Painting the eaves
The team replaced this temporary support …
… with this permanent brace
The room before NOMADS
The room after NOMADS
Max told the team leader he was willing to do any job – as long as it didn’t involve ladders or painting.
Bible presentation for Miss Daisy
Thursday was a fun day from start to finish. It began with a surprise birthday party for our construction supervisor, Robby. We really enjoyed working with him again and were pleased to share in his celebration including doughnuts and pigs-in-blankets. We also continued demolition on a house that NOMADS will be rebuilding in the spring. It’s fun to end the week with some good demo work. Thursday evening the team shared pizza and white elephant Christmas gifts in our meeting room at the church and then packed up. We all gathered for pray and goodbyes Friday morning as we all went our separate ways. It was a great week with a lot accomplished for our homeowners but also good for us.
Robby’s surprise from his friends
Treats for Robby’s Birthday
The results of “Demo Day”
Paige explaining the flexible “rules” of the White Elephant gift game.
We were blessed to be a part of this team
Friday we drove to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL where we will spend the next two weeks celebrating Christmas – hopefully.
Driving under Mobile Bay
Out our window when we got set up at Gulf State Park. Actually, even though the forecast was for a rainy weekend, it has been very nice so far.
