LEADERS ALREADY

 We left PA on April 16th and headed west to Conway, Arkansas. the weather was good for traveling and we arrived on Saturday at noon. This area that was hit hard by tornadoes April 27, 2014. The Methodist Church and parsonage in Vilonia ( a town 14 miles from here) was destroyed, along with much of the town.. The Wesley Methodist  church installed full hook -ups for NOMADS and other Christian relief helpers to park at while we are working here.

Our rigs parked behind the church. The brown 5th wheel is Jean and Steve's new home along with a new truck.

 Sunday afternoon we went to a performance by the Conway Women's Chorus. Sorry I forgot my camera for two of the women from this church were part of the group. They sang songs and recounted stories of Southern women during the Civil War. It was very well done.

 Monday we all were back at the Carter house with hopes of getting it finished. NOMADS have been working on it the whole time, at least since Gary and Gwen have been leading. Gwen and Fran continued to paint the kitchen cabinets.

 Larry and Gary worked on installing the counter tops.

Break time for the team, Fran and Ron from Texas, Steve and Jean from Minnesota, Fran from  Florida and Gary and Gwen from Georgia

 Fran finished painting the trim and worked on the house the rest of the week, including making a  list of all that will still need to be completed next week!

 Ron worked on plumbing.

 Kitchen cabinets doors on, counter top installed and ron working on getting the sink hooked up without leaking.

 The water heater was very different and challenging for Steve. We are praying for a plumber on our team next week to help get the sinks and water heater to stop leaking.

Tuesday evening we went to the Market Place for a farewell dinner. Gwen and Gary are leaving on Wednesday morning for his mother fell and broke her hip and he was needed back home. We were glad to take over the leadership a little early for them.  Our meal began with a flaming cheese dip appetizer followed by some very good meals.

We have devotions every morning in the fellowship hall. Gary and Gwen joined us on Wednesday before pulling out. Charlotte came early and joined the team on Tuesday.

 Wednesday all but Fran and Ron came over to work at this house. The tornado took 32 homes in this area, and they were just recovering from a tornado three years earlier.

 As you drive down the road you see slab after slab where homes use to be. This slab had a safe room standing on it, I would sure want a storm shelter of some kind if I lived here.

 A group had come in and helped this gentleman mud his house, but unfortunately a lot of repair is needed to the mudding for it has cracked.  Fran taking off the mud so she can put on tape and remud the ceiling in this room.

 Jean, Steve and Charlotte sanded another one of the bedrooms.

 I worked on filling in the holes around the electrical boxes. I think there will be lots of challenges when the electric is hooked up! Thankfully we were only giving the home owner a hand with the mudding. Keep him in your prayers.

 Jean sanding the hallway.

 Fran moved into the bathroom to fix the ceiling in here. We will miss her next week.

 She inspected the bedroom  she worked on and it looks much better and should be fine with just a light sanding.

 On Thursday our team was joined by a very friendly cat.

The team  working at this house on Thursday consisted of these hard working women plus me. I was on scaffolding sanding and mudding the ceilings in the kitchen/living room most of the day. This "simple" one or two day task may take us all of next week.

THE DOORS

 Friday the church doors arrived so Butch and Cheri came over from Hawthorne and we drove up from Orlando on Saturday and installed them.

 First we reinstalled the drywall that we had to take down for the inspection and permits. They were very impressed with the quality of work the NOMADS had done and the permits were easily obtained.

Only took a few hours for the doors to be hung and all the wall boards replaced that we had to remove for the inspection. We were glad we were able to come back to complete the project.

STOPPING WORK AT BARTLEY TEMPLE

 Butch installed the drop ceiling in the bathrooms.

 Then the sink was installed.

 Larry installed the doors.

 Cheri putting some final paint on the walls.

 Bathrooms completed, except for hanging up the paper towel, toilet paper holders and soap dispensers. Edward from the church is going to to all the plaster work on the walls after we leave.

 Gene replaced the rotten wood at this corner.

 Rinda and Mary Ann hung up the men's bathroom mirror. Pictures were bought and hung and the bathrooms in the sanctuary were looking beautiful.

 Larry wired lights with a sensor for the outside entrance and some receptacles in the hall way.

 We hung one of the chandeliers we had removed from the sanctuary in this hallway.I cut the hole in the ceiling for it.

 Members from this church and Russell (a NOMAD who lives in Gainsville) helped hang the drywall.

 Our work was stopped on Wednesday afternoon by code compliance because there was no permit. After a contractor was hired to oversee the work, the only thing we had to do was remove the drywall on the outside walls for them to see the work. Luckily the new entrance doors had not arrived and would not be there till we left so they had not been installed. We plan to drive up and help finish this entrance when the get the OK and the doors have come.

 Larry was able to put a metal plate on the sanctuary door leading to the restrooms so it hung safely. Rinda did a nice job of getting the metal painted.

 I helped Gene hang the second screen in the sanctuary.

 The side entrance door to the sanctuary needed to be repaired.

 Wes put on the metal strip.

 The people of Bartley Temple sure did welcome out team.  From left to right Wes and Rinda, Butch and Cheri, Mary Ann and Gene, and Dottie and Larry. This team sure got a lot of quality work accomplished and the church is looking a lot different.

 Different members from the congregation provided lunch for us each day. Hard to lose any weight this way!

 Wednesday night Gary (on the left) and Pastor Mary fried us a fish dinner.

 Izzy and Eldora serving us once more. They helped us in so many ways.

Butch filled his truck with all the tools he had on this project.  WOW he sure came prepared.

 We celebrated the end of this project with a meal at the Ocean Buffet. Good food was definitely a great benefit of  working at Bartley Temple. Think about signing up to work here next year if you are in Florida, it is a great project.