That's the definition of the greek word Kairos. If you google it, you also get some info about prison misnistries also, but for me the word Kairos goes with Carpenters. Larry and Cheryl Winger have been leading groups of their Kairos Carpenters on mission trips for over twenty years, both in the US and abroad. They recently returned from a january trip to rural Bolivia, South America, where they hand dug a foundation six feet wide, five feet deep and forty feet long. This past week brought them again to Tuscaloosa, their fourth trip here in two years. About thirty five people were in the group, many of them "boomerangers" whom I have met and worked with over the years, as well as some newbies. Don and Shirley Johnson, Lou Sproll (sp?), John, Charlotte, Leda, Reba, Bernie with his banjo, Steve, just to name a few. they are mostly very skilled and when they come to see us, it is almost like a get a week of vacation- I just point them in the right direction (go hang the kitchen cabinets at Ms. Jackies)- and off they go. Since there were so many in the group, my only regret is that I wasn't able to work with the whole group. Only five worked with me on Jackie Booker's home. Ladeana was a great help in herding the waves of U of Alabama sorority girls that would show up in droves for an hour or two to help paint or install bamboo flooring. Jackie's home is getting close to completion and she has brought in a friend of hers, James, to do some of the final touch-up painting, inside and out. The rest of the Kairos group worked on Juanita drive framing a new home's floor and another led by long term volunteer from Ohio, Roger, worked on the metal roof. We now have four homes started on Juanita Drive with another 30 or so sites ready. We have planted the white signs infront of each lot announcing the coming of another Habitat home. The city of Tuscaloosa is re-mapping the town after the tornado and their survey crew is working on Juanita drive as we are building. I guess they are documenting the existing conditions, but they have expressed surprise and wonder because every new day they are out their, something new has gone from empty lot to new foundations or even new house! The city told Brandon, our construction director, not to pour any new driveways since the street will be re-done and the driveways may not match.
      Worked Saturday with 50 or so local youth from Northpoint HS and First Pres . Church and others. Since may were under 16, we did a lot of painting of siding and trim before it is installed, under the able leadership of our own Nancy McDaniel. She loves painting!   Not. But anyway, still does a good job leading volunteers. Last week she had a contingent of schleppers from Larry's group riding around in the back of her pickup, moving this and that from here to there in preparation to finishing up at 7th street and moving our whole operation over to Juanita Drive.  
     Took a day off Thursday and drove over to Anniston, Al to visit with new friends Lavern and Sue Clark and to work a day with the Calhun county Habitat.   Anniston was 1/3 of the 2003 Jimmy Carter work Project. The other two cities were Valdosta and LaGrange. Little different operation over there. Lavern was the only volunteer on site. Their construction director is basically a paid subcontractor, Mark Keller. When they have vounteers, he leads them. Lavern connected us with the Care-a-Vanners program that offers a grant to help affiliates make spaces for them and is seem that we will be the recipient of one of these grants to have an upgrade on the electrical hook-ups and install a dump station out at the Y's Acres camp.
     Had a short visit with Stephen Scott after his ACL surgery.   He will be laid up for a number of months and will be sorely (not sure if that's a fitting adjective) missed. Wishing him a speedy recovery. His dad, Mark Scott, flew out to be with him before and after his operation. Mark and Stephen were both at the bay Stl Louis, Ms. affiliate for six years after hurricane Katrina and built ove 200 new homes their in that time. The funding has dried up and we got Stephen and his dad got a job with the FT. Collins, Co. affiliate. It was great seeing Mark again. He can blitz build a house with his eyes closed. he came to help me out when we hosted our first blitz build in Pt. Sulphur, La. a few years back and saved the day!!\
       Recieved some great family news- son Paul has gotten into the carpenters union (local 132 in Washington, DC- same local that I did my apprenticeship a hundred years ago)- and is getting union scale with excellent benefit package. Makes a dad proud.
     Great, beautiful spring weather these days! Gotta love it! That's all for this week. Out.   Peter