Wednesday Update for Team 21 (UB)

The work doesn't change, but the stories remain heartwrenching. We showed up to fix the roof and a plumbing leak at a house today for a lady who has been helping to cook for volunteers here. Her health hasn't allowed her to lately and we found she had just returned home from 4 days in the hospital for heart trouble and will probably require surgery. Lots of people in her family rely on her for support and her absence was obvious.

We fixed the several plumbing leaks that forced them to keep their water turned off and tore into a leaky contract roofing job where nails were exposed and poking up through the shingles. Unfortunately we had to leave the tarp through the rain this afternoon as shingles that match may take two weeks to special order.

Several of the crew cleaned up the kitchen and laundry that was backed up and caught up for her lost time away, but please pray for Linda Gilderman and her health. She's keeping several grandkids, one who is autistic. Pray also for her family and for other volunteers to help care for them.

The fire plug crew spent the day painting more hydrants and as cheesy as that job sounds, the results are showing. The firechief was unable to find the hydrants on runs because they were covered in brush and blended into the surroundings. The newly painted ones stand out as you saw in yesteday's photos, but we really noticed them today driving around.

I spent all day driving. Getting plumbing parts and roofing parts and other parts. This organization could use long term help as Daphne is trying to do a lot of this with only a couple helpers. Fortunately there are extra this week with so many students here. We need to be sure to be prepared to spec our jobs and have one person get materials while others in a team work on the project. Lots of rebuilding operations are likely to be like this.

Tonight we had a talent show! It was really kewl and the only pictures I took today.

Marilyn Sloan won for "most artistic" for her interpretive dance to a Christian song.

No joking she's really good and her performance was really moving. Got her a standing ovation!

A couple people from Marquette organized the talent competition when they came in Sunday night. It was really a lot of fun.

Adam, Nate, TJ, and Rich all grossed us out with their skit and won the Nasty Buzzard award.




Some of Daphne's girls sang Amazing Grace and then Heather, the third from left, sang it solo. She has an incredible voice!

A group from Marquette did a kewl cup game REALLY fast

The for nasty buzzards won also for their "le batre boys" parody of the backstreet boys.

These dudes are talented! They sing in different a capella groups at school and do some really good gospel songs.

Tomorrow's weather forecast is for heavy storms that will probably keep us from our work mostly. Pretty much all the work we have left is outside work. We'll have to see how it goes. Rain this afternoon slowed us down and made for a short day for many, but we were able to clean up around the community center where we stay and everyone has more energy.

Basketball was finally broken up just now @ 11:15 central and 20 people moved out to the foyer to play Mafia, a survivor like role playing game where towns people try to eradicate the crime syndicate and the hit men kill off people until they are the only ones left. I love good Christian fellowship! It's a lot of fun though.

More tomorrow!

John McGuire