The home that was built once in a parking lot in St. Louis is now being resurrected and finished here in Tuscaloosa. The future home of the Jemison family had the drywall installed and finished this past week by subcontractors while our volunteers from Willow Creek near Chicago worked on finishing the outside. The metal roof is 40% complete. Rained out a few times plus lots of the young folks in the group werent comfortable working on the roof, which is fine. We'll finish it up this week with the ones God sends us for the task. The Hardi siding also moved along and we started trimming out the front porch with the help of the beloved blue shirts (Presbyterian Disaster Assistance) six men from Oklahoma, with the eldest (and hardest working) member of the group, Mr. Bill, 75 years young. It was still hot, hot, hot all week. Pete DeWorken, who used to work with us, told me of a strategy that he used when he was working with volunteers and it was hot. He would have the whole group gather first thing in the morning of the day that he knew would be a scorcher and have everyone say in unison- "It's Hot!!!" and then that was it- no more for the rest of the day. We knocked off early a couple of days - the people were just dragging.  
     This week also, Stephen Scott, son of Mark, started framing the house next door with the group from Nutley High School . Got all the walls put together and standing up, installed sheathing and started setting trusses. The roof is a combination of trusses and stick-built, so I'm hoping we can juggle the schedule and let him at least finish up the roof while its fresh in his head. Our construction director, Brandon is away on vacation this week also and while he made up 3 weeks of schedule, he did allow for some flexibility in it.
     Nancy and Paul, two long term volunteers have been keeping pressure on Mya's and the Word's home back at the old quad. I felt so bad that those two have been languishing, awaiting completion. I saw Mya tonite in Target, where she works, and I told her the same- hope we can finish up and get both her and the Word's in their homes soon.
     We also have a new baby (house) whose foundation has been poured also in Alberta City on 5th and 18th, which will be Ms. Jessies new home. Been driving by to see when the blocklayers are going to start. Gotta watch that "new baby syndrome" though, where we get all excited for a new start and then those we have underway get forgotten and not finished .
     Been plugging away at the Lion's Den. Working on getting the power company to bring in the service to feed it. Had to give a haircut to some trees by the transformer out there. We are going to install two poles with cobra lights to light up the areas by the sleeping trailers and the bathhouse and also from one pole will be the overhead feed for the Lion's Den. God's mercy continues to pour down upon me. Got a phone call from a family who just moved here and bought a house. Had a perfectly good and nice black electric flattop range, over the range microwave and dishwasher that they were changing out for new and asked if I wanted them. In a timely manner too. How does He do that?
     Got a new NCCC Americorp team arriving this week. Three weeks till I head off to Peru for a week to participate in the Millard Fuller Legacy Build. Ten homes in 5 days. Bill Lifsey is going too. It will be good to see him again-
      That's all for this week. When are you coming back to help again (with your friends)? Peter