Finally a Home Dedication

We were able to be part of a home dedication Thursday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. It's been five years since we experienced our first home dedication in Wauchula, Florida. MDS has worked at Mr. John's for approximately 9 weeks repairing his home. Our MDS group of 14, some case managers for SETIO (South East Texas Interfaith Organization), his grandson, Joe and a few friends were in attendance. Other family members were not able to attend due to the afternoon time frame.

The program consisted of a welcome, prayer, reading, presentation of a large print Bible, the MDS "Hammer Rings Hope" book, and a song "Amazing Grace". Coffee and cookies were enjoyed by all.

Joe surprised everyone with his solo of a verse of Amazing Grace.

The two Mr. John's have become quite attached to each other over the months. He expressed his appreciation of what we had done and we know we will be missed after having such regular interaction with all of us.

Joe has been instrumental in decorating the newly renovated home of his grandfather where he will be living and taking care of Mr. John.

Work, Food, Exploring . . .

More and more of the job list items are being completed on Mr. John's house. On Monday Annette assisted Jim with linoleum installation in the third bedroom and hall completing the flooring in this house. Jim finished putting up the remainder of the light fixtures, plug and switch covers while someone else hooked up the plumbing fixtures. Finally this week the weather was appropriate for exterior painting of the carport ceiling.

With the weather warming up Pete and Maryann were finally able to treat our group with a waffle brunch on Friday. Others participated by bringing the toppings to create a delicious meal. Here is Annette's five topping creation.

Our weekends frequently include some exploratory trips in the area. This high bridge in Port Arthur is one of many we have crossed over the Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway is a major shipping channel for area industries.

One of our interests is bird watching. On our Saturday outing to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge we saw the White Ibis (above photo) and the Glossy Ibis (below). These birds were feeding in a recently prepared rice field.

We located a unique bird sanctuary at High Island, but found that we were to early for the spring migration of birds crossing the Gulf of Mexico. High Island is located on a salt dome creating the only treed area in the vast surrounding marshland. These trees become a resting and feeding spot before continuing their journey north.

Confession Spawns Determination

On Sunday Jim and I toured the McFaddin-Ward Home and Carriage House in Beaumont. This home is over 100 years old. The carriage house contained a stable, hay loft, garage, gymnasium and servants quarters. It was owned by the prosperous McFaddin family, who had accumulated considerable wealth from the cattle business, rice farming & milling, commercial real estate & fur trapping, the family prospered even further since Mr. McFaddin owned part interest in the land where oil was discovered.

We as an MDS group have all dealt with a certain amount of "culture shock" in our work with helping these people clean up and fix their homes.

Our whole group was affected by this prayer in the bulletin at one of the churches we have attended recently.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of understanding, we confess today that we flat out prefer comfortable and very safe places of service. In fact, if we hear you calling us, we will have our hearing aids replaced. Surely there are others who are more daring and flexible than we are who would do a much better job for you in these uneasy places! We seek comfy places of service, O God, where all the people we have to deal with are sweet and safe and sane. Forgive us today's reluctance, and fill us with tomorrow's courage. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

On left, Agnes, Chris and on the right Mabel (homeowner), Annette.

Mabel's home was in bad need of repair and the rooms were to full. MDS was able to rent a POD storage unit. On Monday morning we helped move all their belongings into this unit. So now with the house empty the bottom 4 ft of drywall were cut out to assist in the rewiring. Kilz primer was applied on the walls and ceiling to cover mould and discoloration.

Back at Mr. John's house the ladies have been doing lots of painting which completes the living room, bathrooms and the third bedroom. Most of the trim work has been done too. We can start seeing the end to this project.

I assisted Jim on Thursday with the tile job in the living room. It turned out great considering we were using an assortment of left-over tile stock.

On Saturday our group went to an MDS lunch and reunion in Lake Charles, Louisiana. We met the New Iberia and the Johnson Bayou groups. We worked with a number of these people last winter in Marble Falls, Texas.

Out of Chaos, Hope

Sunday, January 31 our MDS group chose to attend the Presbyterian Church in Port Arthur area for their morning service, which we felt was very meaningful for us. While here we were shown the "cardboard village", that houses the volunteers that come to work through their organization Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Their slogan "Out of Chaos, Hope" tells what volunteers bring to their clients. PDA presently has 5 volunteer villages in Texas and Louisiana.

These 3 person cabins are Canadian made from corrugated plastic sign material which are collapsible and readily moved to another location. We prefer our own RV to these accomodations.

The PDA dining and assembly hall. Nearby they had kitchen, washroom and shower trailers for the weekly volunteers.

Linda showing Mr. John the paint she mixed for his hallway.

Willing hands for many tasks.

As our work began at the King home we soon discovered wiring that was not working in several places in the house. Bernie our electrian found that this house had aluminum wiring which showed signs of being overheated from poor connections. After some deliberation SETIO (Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization) decided it would be best to rewire the entire house. Pete and Jim began this work with the removal of the lower portion of the drywall and insulation in order to work inside the walls.

Thursday night some of our group enjoyed watching the Harlem Globetrotters play a very entertaining basketball game at the nearby Ford Arena. Here they are positioned for their football antics.

The Globetrotters "dance routine".