"Peter said (to the crippled beggar),'I don't have any money, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk!'" Acts 3: 6. CEB
At our evening devotions tonight, Pastor David used the passage above to remind us that money is not the only way to help those in need. This week the individuals on our team are giving of their time and labor as well as paying their own way to be here. And even though this is only Wednesday and we have only one full day tomorrow and a half day on Friday, we have made great progress.
At our primary work site, Steve, Jim and Bonnie have finished as much as possible in the front, side and backyards. Although the worst portion of the overgrowth and fallen limbs were removed before we got here, they have raked the remaining debris, pulled weeds and vines, cut roots and mowed the sparce grass. Yesterday Michelle's supervisor, Bob came and hauled away over 30 bags of yard waste and the remains of a rusted children's play set. By the end of the day they had filled another 5-6 bags. With that taken care of and the threat of rain in the forecast, today Bonnie and Steve have joined the rest of us inside while Jim went with David, Robin and Anita to work on the second home.
Inside the house is also really starting to look good. All day long this place echoes with the sounds of industrious work and occasional laughter. Team members call to each other for help or to offer advice. The sounds of hammers and saws ring thru a home which is slowly being made whole once again. People shift from room to room, trading tools and paint, working on tasks each feels most comfortable at doing, a complicated ballet playing out in cramped spaces but somehow executed with amazing grace and efficiency.
By the end of today, the 3 upstairs bedrooms and closets have been completely primed and painted and ready for baseboards and trim. Doug and Martin began framing one of the closets which Carol then primed. Carol and Dennis have completed painting in the living room and it also is ready for the trim work. Bonnie, Carol and Doug have also finished painting the 4th bedroom on the lower level, Martin has finished repairing the baseboard in the utility/HVAC room and has mudded the seams, and Doug and Steve then began measuring and cutting baseboard for the small family room. Tomorrow we hope to get baseboards cut and installed, finish framing the rest of the closets and to start painting and caulking the baseboards.
At the second home, David, Robin, Anita and Jim have been busy painting the living room, a bedroom and hallway. The homeowner has been so pleased that although no work was planned for tomorrow because he needed to be away for a funeral, he has asked them to come back and continue working and they hope to be finished by the end of the day.
Although everyone is pretty tired by the time we return to St. Luke's each evening, our spirits remain high. We've grown closer as a team which makes a big difference. And after dinner we relaxed and sang old songs from a songbook collection Jim has put together then played a hilarious few rounds of good old fashioned Charades. We are giving of our time and labor to brothers and sisters in need of help to repair the damage to their home. And we have given each other the gift of laughter and fellowship, to lighten our spirits and our weariness at the end of a long but rewarding day.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13. NKJV
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