Our Strong Tower: Work Weekend 8

Monday, September 3, 2012

Work Weekend 8

Saturday started out with very cool weather. During the week the plumber had completed plumbing in a lot of the houses. We got started with are safety meeting on using tools. We found out that the plumber would be back on Monday and we need to get the rest of the house ready for the plumber. We were divided into work crews. Pat, Maria, Wendy, John, Dave, and Jeffery worked on putting the footing boards on our house (lot 10). Luisa, Andres, Jackie, Maria, and two volunteers worked on putting rebar on Evelyn's house (lot 12) and Andres and Luisa's house (lot 13). Ian, David, Haylee, Steve, Michael, and Brandon were put on the digging crew. They had to clean out some footings for the plumber to finish his work. Paul, Evelyn, Leticia, Lupe, and a volunteer worked on finishing the rebar on Brandon and Patricia's house (lot 9). Debbie, Deena, Patricia, Lynda, and myself worked on adding vertical rebar to lot 9 and 12. Alfredo and his volunteer worked on bending rebar. Carlos and Jacob worked on putting kickers on the houses.

Here is what the lots looked like on Saturday morning.

Brandon and Patricia's house lot 9.

Debbie's house lot 16.

Leticia's house lot 14.

Evelyn's house lot 12

Steve and Maria's house lot 11.

Robert and Maria's house lot 17.

Lupe's house lot 8.

Alfredo and Naty's house lot 6.

John and my house lot 10.

Michael and Brandon digging.

Steve, Jacob, and Brandon looking at what needed to be dug out.

Deena and Debbie working on putting vertical rebar on (Evelyn's) lot 12.

Lynda and Patricia working on vertical rebar.

Ian digging.

Steve and David digging.

Haylee digging.

Alfredo bending rebar.

Andres and Luisa working on rebar.

Dave, John, Maria, and Wendy working on the footings on my house (lot 10)

Paul, Leticia, Evelyn, Lupe, and Lupe's helper working on rebar.

Pat and John checking level on the garage.

John, Jeffery, Maria, and Facio working on putting the boards up on my house (lot 10).

At the end of Saturday my house with boards up.

Garage finished on lot 10.

Patricia, Deena, and me at the end of Saturday. We were just a little dirty.

Debbie at the end of Saturday.

Evelyn's house at the end of Saturday.

Sunday morning started out warmer then Saturday. We got to work setting up right away. We all went back to what we did on Saturday. Brandon, Michael, and Steve joined the crew that was putting footing boards up to get the last house completed by the end of Sunday. At lunch time Facio told me he had something new for me to do after lunch. Patrica and myself started marking where the bolts need to go for the sheer wall. Brandon and Patricia's house was finished with rebar and the crew moved to lot 15. Evelyn's house was finished with rebar, so the crew moved to lot 13. Debbie and Deena moved back to Brandon and Patricia's house to finish the vertical rebar work.

Evelyn, Paul, Leticia's volunteer, and Leticia carrying rebar.

Evelyn's house with vertical rebar done.

Andres and Luisa's house with rebar.

adding the rebar to the footing

Putting the boards up on Deena's house.

boards going up on Deena's house

Patricia and myself marking out were the bolts go on lot 6.

John holding up a board on Deena's house.

We are making progress each week. We took Labor Day off. Everyone needed a day to rest after two months of working hard. It is exciting to see everyone learn new skills and start to work faster at their assigned tasks. Sunday at the end of the day, we found out that the plumber is going to finish the plumbing on some of the lots and we will have inspection on Thursday. Yeah!!

We are so blessed by the people that come out each week to support us and help us build our homes. Thank you.

Prayer Request:

1) We pass inspection.
2) Wisdom to Facio on how to teach us each new tasks and that we learn the task.
3) Unity and harmony on the job site.
4) We complete each task quickly and accurately.

Philippians 4:10-13

¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹²I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

2 comments:

AnonymousSeptember 5, 2012 at 4:26 PM
how did we get so dirty??
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TriciaSeptember 5, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Talent.
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Home Ownership Program

We are doing a program through a organization that has been building homes in our area for 40 years. The program is designed to help lower income families buy homes. There will be a total of 24 homes built. The homes are divided into two groups. We are in the first group of twelve families. We work together to build all twelve families' homes. By the end of the process we will know our new neighbors very well. We are required to work 40 hours a week, split between two people. We do most of our work on the weekends. There is a contractor working with us to teach us how to build a home. We can not move in until all twelve homes are complete. It usually take one year to build twelve homes. We don't do plumbing, electrical, drywall, or stucco. We are the labor. The labor is our down payment down, sweat equity.

Deena and the Boys

Hi, I am Deena. I have four awesome young men (21, 19, 17, and 12). We have always wanted a home of our own. The place we are in was supposed to be temporary housing sixteen years ago. Now God is giving us a new adventure. We are going to build our own home and eleven others with our new neighbors. And God blesses us with neighbors who we already know! Jacob is my co-builder and my two teenagers will be helping as much as they can. God is always providing
for me when I least expect it. He is so amazing.

Where did this journey start?

For me, Tricia, this journey began with me wanting to own a home and God using this desire to grow my faith and dependence on Him. I have been trying to buy a home for 6 years with my husband, John. We tried many times to buy a home, but God always said no. A year ago, we finally decided to stop our search and learn to be content where God has us. God had different plans for us. In August, we applied for a self-help housing project. In October, we were accepted. I then told our neighbor (for 7 years) and friend Debbie. She applied and was accepted. In January, I told Deena a friend from church. She applied and was accepted. These homes are such a blessing. We sit in awe of what God has given us. We are excited to get started on the homes. God is our strong tower. He will give us the strength to build these homes.