Dave and his wife Beth brought of group of 24 from Salem Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota to Tuscaloosa on their 7th mission trip since 2006. A big number of the group I have worked with in the past in Biloxi, Texas and Louisiana. Noticebly absent was two of Dave's brothers-in-law, Kevin and Mark. The three are married to three sisters. Mark is an executive chef, and I seem to remeber the group eating pretty well for the week when he came along and Kevin, who owns his own construction company, was a one man housebuilding machine. I suppose the reason that he didnt come with the group this time is that we didn't have roof trusses for him to set on walls 15ft. above the ground like in Pt. Sulphur. Oh, well, I hope that if they both read this I have shamed them enough to come back next time.
      Pastor JD of Good Shepherd Presbyterian in Rock Island, Illinois brought a group of 16 back for a return visit the same week . Since we had so many people volunteering this week, and only three homes to work on, most of the Good Shepherd folks agreed to help out with the restoration of the new space at our Re-Store here. We just picked up some more space behind the current warehouse and the group helped with setting up the new space. Indirectly, still building homes, though. The proceeds from selling the donated building supplies go towards building new homes here in Tuscaloosa. Part of our Monday morning kickoff spiel is that we ask the volunteers who have come here to be flexible and patient. We thank all of our volunteers this week who complied with that wish and thank them profusely.
     Amy Schmidt, also from Minnesota,eh?, was also back for another week, her fourth with us here. Coincidentally, the last time she was here was also the same week as Salem Lutheran from Minnesota also.
       Today also, three of our beloved RV Carevanners leave us after two weeks of service.. Wayne Klemme, Doug, and Marlene Storey from California . Doug and Wayne worked mostly on Lee's home at 32 Juanita Drive and took it right up to the finish line under Nancy McDaniels first stint as house leader. Good job, Nancy! She even led in the mini-dedication and presentation of the prayer shawl from Salem Lutherans ministry.
      On Monday, Brandon must have jinxed us. He was bragging how we had gone for 7 weeks with no injuries and Boom! first hour out one lady from the Good Shepherd group slips on the scaffold and bangs her head (stitches) and the next day a man nips his finger tip with the saw. Dag nabbit, I really do hate it when that happens! We want all of those who come to serve to have a memorable experience while here, but not like that!
      Worked Saturday with a group of 25 college girls from Sigma Delta Tau sorority from t he University of West Alabama in Livingston.   Got the whole inside of Nicki Bankheads's home painted and started the tile in the kitchen.. Also painted the new storage building down the street and built storage shelves therein, with RVer Wayne helping out .
        Bit of sad news this week. A good friend of mine, John Foss of Fargo, ND passed away in his sleep this past week. He was an architect and we worked on a number of large projects in New York City back in the '80's Good man with a bright spririt. He will be missed. He is the second friend of my age to pass away this last year. I heard that's what happens when you start to get old. Makes ya think. . . .
      Wellp, that's all for this week.   Looking forward to finishing the inside of Nicki's home in the next two weeks before my jaunt up to NJ at the end of the month for a weeklong Millard Fuller Legacy Build.  
       Got your taxes done yet?