GOD GIVITH, CODE COMPLIANCE TAKEITH AWAY

 In the evening on Thursday,April21, we received a call from Jesse at Zion UMC saying they had to take off the extension we had added to the building. That evening Larry sent an email about the need for an emergency team to Carla.  Friday she sent out the call to our members for anyone that would be available to help on Saturday. In no time we had this team together, Geary, Ed and Lynn, Dottie and Larry and Morris and Karen. We met for devotions at 8 Saturday morning and Ed began taking off the front roofing.

 Geary took down the cross beams.

 Larry and Jesse unfastened the hurricane straps

 We marked each truss, beam and post as they were removed and gave them the diagram of how it was constructed.

By noon we finished by attaching a 2x4 to the edge of the roofing to reinforce it.
 Thanks to all the help, the right tools and being mostly screwed together the work went quickly.
 In Zion's hospitable fashion we were invited to stay for a chicken luncheon they were serving for the funeral of one of the older church members who had died.

FINISHING TOUCHES

 On Monday we opened the door to the room and found a bird had built a nest on the shelf over the weekend.

 We had this window mostly covered with a board, so there wasn't much space for a bird to get in. Larry installed the bars and Plexiglas, so the room is secure from anyone or thing getting in now.

 The only holes in the room we hadn't filled in were these air spaces at the top so Larry covered them with screening. Hopefully no birds or animals will be breaking into the room.

 This is the room finished,

 a lot better then what it looked like when we started.

 Ginger and I mixed up the cement and filled the holes, and Larry B had the finishing touch.

 Before and after,

 Larry B and I painted the top of the roof with sealant on Monday afternoon We used a long roller which didn't roll and was back breaking. So he went out that night and got brushes that made applying it much easier. Ginger and I finished sealing the roof. We had to stand on plywood for we were afraid we might fall through the rusty old metal roofing.

 Another big improvement.

 We hope the sealant will keep the old metal from rusting and leaking.

 Becky painted the rafters by hand.

Whhle Ron and Fran spray painted the inside and outside of the building.

 Ron was well painted too.

 We would have put up a railing but work was stopped since the church did not have a permit or plans for the work that was done.

 All agree the work done made the building much safer and usable for the church and community.

 A definite big improvement from how it looked when we started.

 The last two days were spent doing other project they wanted done. This shed by the church needed to be cleaned and painted.

 Larry B, Fran and Ginger worked on it.

 The finished project.

 Ron, Becky and I worked on tiles in the church that were broken and needed replacing. Ron said he would much rather do a whole room then try to remove and replace tiles.

 He did a good job and it turned out great.

Ginger, Ron, Larry and Larry B worked at a home of one of the church members that needed spouting and electrical work.

 Ron working in the dark.

 Wednesday evening the church gave us a lovely appreciation dinner.  Many of the congregation had made lunch or dinner for us, including taking us all out for dinner several times.

 Their welcoming, love, great food and generosity will never be forgotten. We really enjoyed getting to know the members of this congregation.

 Larry thanked them for all they did to help us and make us welcomed.

 Ginger presented the church with this shadow box. She made the cross from nails she gathered around the building as we were working.

We ended our stay with Bea and her lunch ladies giving Larry a card and cake for his birthday. This has been a very special project.

UNDER ROOF

 This is the team for the second week here at Zion. Brayden is Ron and Becky's grandson and has joined NOMADS to work with us on his spring break. Becky left on Sunday to go help with Ron's cousin who is very ill.

 Brayden started with hammering on the hurricane straps.

 Larry B and Ron putting on the rest of the trusses.

 They patched the back roof with the metal we took off the front roof. We all thought the opening made a nice sky light.

 Ginger and Brayden putting on cross beams.

 Larry put on the front fascia board..

 Brayden cutting some of the wood. Ginger and Larry B welcomed Brayden to NOMADS by giving him his own tool belt. He is official now.

 Now that all of the metal is off the front roof and the trusses are finished it was time to install the  new metal roofing.

 This big palm tree was too close to the back of the building so Bruce, a member from this church, cut it down.

 Fran spent a day scraping the rest of the building.

 The palm  tree was causing the back wall to crack, so Fran took out the old mortar and then filled the crack in with new.

 Larry B and Ron cut the old metal roofing to use on the back roof.

 Larry and I helped put on the new roofing.

 The sun reflecting off the roof made it a hot job.

 The next day Ginger and Brayden had the front portion finished so she helped Larry get the rest of the roof on.

 Becky was back with us by Thursday so she and Fran painted the building with Kilz.

 Larry taught and helped me mix the bags of cement to fill in these holes.

 The building was painted and the roof on by the end of the week.

We ended the week with toppling the last lean-to.