Last week concluded the first guests stay at the new volunteer camp here in Tuscaloosa. They were friends from Silverton, Oregon and were boomerangers times three working with me. Kent, brothers Ralph and Virgil, Rex, Duane and (oops, sorry, I forgot) are veterans of the Biloxi, Ms, Bridge City, Tx, and Port Sulphur, La campaigns. They initiated the newly refurbished camp for us. We tried not to use the word guinea pigs. The heater in the first trailer the first night cooked them and then froze them but by the end of the week got it worked out. the group worked on bringing Appie Jones house to the finish line- last minute touchups inside and working with the sod and landscaping outside to get ready for the dedication this coming week. On friday, they finished up andcame over to fourth street to work with me to get Keith and Amy's within strinking distance for them (K & A) to move in this week also. They also (ahem) reframed the deck on the house next door to 16" centers and started the plywood decking for the house. At K & A's house this past week also, we had a mini-women's build with the ladies from Bethel Lutheran of Minnesota putting all the final touches on the house. All the menfolk were working at 45th street installing the metal roofing and finishing the hardi siding. The folks from Minnesota had two weeks worth of people working with us.
     On Friday and Saturday we hosted a group of airmen from Elgin AFB who drove 4 1/2 hrs from Florida to come help us . They worked on Friday prepping the site at a new foundation on 7th street and on Saturday finished up the deck on 4th and put together most of the safe room. That is easier to do when there isnt a house around it (it's in the background of the picture of them)
     Friday night took the gang from Oregon out to farewell (and please come back again) dinner at local restaurant Carmello's, which is owned by the nephew of Uncle Pinu (aka Sal Taranto) whose home they resotred in biloxi after Katrina. Small world, eh? Afterwords all went to see the women's basketball team (in wheelchairs) play a game at the Foster Auditorium on U of A campus. First time to see such an event. Truly inspiring. One of the players, Carolina from Lithuania, has come out to volunteer a bunch of times.
     Finally, the latest booomeranger is Miss Nancy from Pittsburg, who ran our camp in Port Sulphur, Louisiana. Welcome back, Nancy.
     Gearing up for our very own March Madness with over 100 volunteers each week in March. Brandon is working hard getting foundations in for another four houses to keep everyone busy during the month. Coupla boomerangers that I know are participating are Larry and Cheryl Wingers Kairos Carpenteers and also Mike Bultmeyer (sp?) is bringing a group.
      Brandon's churchmates got the 2nd trailer's bunkbeds and carpet laid so Y's acres will soon be up to full capacity.  
     So, this week we should see three mor families moving into simple, decent homes. Appie Jones, Robert Reed is moving in to his home in Holt and Keith and Amy.
     Stay tuned- Luv ya- Peter