OK the day started as normal - breakfast at 7 A.M. Now, I am a very early riser but I don't like to eat that early. I "suffered" and ate scrambled eggs and sausages. Glad I did, too, 'cause the rest of the day got a bit confusing.
First of all our house didn't have the required supplies yet so we hung around Camp Restore and deep cleaned. The place was a mess and one of our ladies took it upon herself to recruit some peeps to clean. So, while we were waiting for supplies we cleaned, moved bunk beds and sanitized anything that didn't move (and some things that did). About 10:30 we got a call that the supplies were on the way to our house so we all loaded up and found our place. It was in a real blighted area. The homeowner had been ripped off and was starting from scratch. He had had all of his supplies and tools and then someone broke in and stole everything - including pulling wires out of the wall. He now has a rotweiler. Anyhow, we had some cash and used some of it to get him drywall and cement board. The two rooms we were to drywall and tile were each no bigger than 4X4 and there were 8 of us. Our "advance team" guy came by and two of us were moved to another project. We went to Mrs Cloud's house on Hope Street. Isn't that perfect? Anyhow, Mrs Cloud has a double shotgun house (long and narrow with a kitchen/living room combo followed by a bedroom, followed by another bedroom). There is the exact duplicate on the other side that Mrs Cloud rents out. She was born in this house over 60 years ago and this is all she knows. The water was higher than her front door and to get to her front door you had to go up about 5 stairs to her front porch so you can tell it was very high. So, we drywalled, taped, patched, primed and painted. Tomorrow (if I am still on that team) we will finish painting and start on the ceramic floors and the laminate floors. Mrs Cloud has all of her materials so other than labor, she has paid for everything herself. Don't think she has that much left for labor and that is why we are here. I hope Dave (the other orphan) and I stay with this team. They are fun, work hard, and get along. No one seems to think they are any smarter or better than the next. We are young and old, boys and girls, skinny and not so, in good shape and not at all. A very diverse group to be sure.
So far the only embarrassing moments I have had was first when I asked this lady which church she went to and she said the same as mine. She also knew which pew was mine (for those of you who don't know, I'm very territorial about my church pew). Well, I surely had egg on my face! Then today I was walking into the bathroom to do some priming and tripped over absolutely nothing and fell face down on the floor. Worse yet, there were 3 young guys there who absolutely froze. I am sure that they thought they'd have to take the "old lady" to the hospital. The good thing was I didn't spill a drop of paint. I'm not going to tell them that my knee really hurts. Let's see what cute tricks I can do tomorrow to liven up the crowd.
O K - hate to go on about the weather here when you have blizzard warnings in Elgin but I just can't resist! We had upper 50's today and bright sunshine. We were outside eating lunch in shirt sleeves. The people who live here keep apologizing because it is so "cold". They look so cute in their jackets when we have tee shirts on. The grass here is very green and the yards around Hope Street need cutting. I'm sorry - the devil must have taken over my fingers and made me type that but it is beautiful. Next year you can all experience this kind of weather in January by coming with us. You will love it!
Everyone from Immanuel is doing well. Some of them have more energy than the 20 year olds. They have found out that there is something for everyone to do no matter what your age or experience.
Well, that is about all for now. We have bible study in a few minutes and I want to get ready, Hope I can stay awake. Not that bible study is boring but I am really really sleepy!!
Ya'all take care. Pray for us - tomorrow is going to be a tougher day. More than one of us will be moving a little more gingerly.
Peace and love to you all
Ginny and the rest of the Immanuel group.
p.s. Look for the pictures at the top of the page. Don't know what they'll be yet so we will be surprised together. Will post some right after I post this.
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