Ethnos360, McNeal, AZ - December 2018

Ethnos360, McNeal, AZ

December 2018

Last project of 2018 - December
Ethnos360 in McNeal, AZ
with Carol & Jerry Wright

The first Sunday after church we went to
The Gadsden Hotel in Douglas, AZ for lunch.
This is quite the historical spot right on the
Mexico/U.S.A. border.

The men's first project consisted of tearing down and
removing this deck from this mobile unit.

Then the construction began.

Landing done, railing begun, and now the stairs.

Jerry close to the ground!

The finished product.  Such a great improvement!

Several coats of stain and it will be as good as new.

Work crew:  Wayne, Josiah, Ricky and Jerry.
These 2 young men come from missionary families
and worked along side our men for the month before
heading off to college.

Carol and I scraped and painted the
RV markers in the RV park.

And of course Teddy helped!!!!

The finished product was no comparison. Now you can read 

from 2 blocks away!

Break times were so much fun.  Getting to know the staff
and hearing their testimonies made us feel like we were
on the mission field with them.

Then off to Bisbee, AZ to visit the Copper Mine.

Wayne, Jerry and Carol went on an inside tour
of the mine.  Gail stayed outside and took
a mini-tour of the town of Bisbee
to include the coffee shop!

Old cars near Bisbee.

Felt like we were in Mayberry!

Inside the hangar of Ethnos360.

Then the 2 Carotenuto girls
came to visit Ethnos360 for
a couple of nights.  Fun in
the Big Bus! 

Decorating Christmas Cookies.
AND EATING THEM TOO!

How much icing can you fit on one cookie?

Making jewelry.

And of course a tea party!

A missionary wife from Indonesia
instructs us in cooking customs.

The local church hosted a
Christmas Craft night for local ladies.

And of course a trip to Tombstone
to experience the gun show!

Then...........the helicopter ride!

95 miles per hour!

Our RV's from the air!

This was our chariot.

Our experience at Ethnos360 is one we will not soon forget.  The people are special, their goals in life are special, the location is special, their mission minded lives are special and God has worked miracles in all of their lives.  We will be spending another month - January 2019 - here at Ethnos360. Something tells me we will be spending many winters with these people.

The scenery and sunsets on McNeal, AZ are incredible.

Now off for Christmas with the Fieler's and Carotenuto's - the first in 18 yrs.

WOOHOO!

Thanksgiving 2018 with the Carotenuto's

Thanksgiving 2018 with the Carotenuto's

After evacuating Chico, CA because of fires, then working one last week at Ironwood in Newberry Springs, CA we set off for McNeal, AZ.  We parked the RV at the project at Ethnos360 in McNeal and then packed our bags for the Thanksgiving feast at the Carotenuto's in Tucson.  And a feast it was!

Evangeline and Abigail like to help in the kitchen.  Here they are helping mom make a pumpkin spice cheesecake. Yeah buddy!

3 happy ladies!

Nighttime is fun when Grannie & G'pa spend the night.  The
girls have to give up their beds but that means sleeping on the
blow up mattresses in Abigail's room.  This is a test to see if
they will be able to handle bunk beds for Christmas.  Not sure
Santa if this will work!!!

Gorgeous Thanksgiving outfits, in front of the Christmas tree!

Evangeline is quite the monkey.

Off to the park while Mom cooks alone!

Believe me, I can understand why, and

I think she will be nipping at the wine

bottle will she does!

Our g'girls love to swing.

Higher G'pa, higher, again, again!

She didn't get sick this time but a few weeks later,
the story ended throwing up at 10:30 that night
after eating raw crescent roll dough!  Yuk!

A Bible quizzer earns medals.  We are extremely proud.

Who is this?  I think it could be Abigail!

The next day a hike to 
Sabino Canyon.  Fall in Arizona is just as beautiful as
anywhere else.  G'pa and Evangeline comparing notes along the way!

Don't get wet, right!

Fall is gorgeous.

Then a trip to the climbing wall.

These girls are fearless.

Even Abigail can do it.
Grannie & G'pa just watch!

Then Mom gets in the act!

There she goes!

Thanksgiving in Tucson, a first since the Carotenuto's moved there.  It was a joy to share in the time of being thankful and joyful that soon the Fieler's would come to join for Christmas - first time we have all been together for the holidays in 18 yrs.

YWAM, Chico, CA - November 2018

YWAM, Chico, CA

November 2018

Leaving Grants Pass, OR and on to Chico, CA to work at YWAM.  This will blow your socks off.  YWAM is located down a 4 mile one-lane road at Richardson Springs.  This was a historical landmark in its day and because of the one-lane road you will find that it was a hinderance to our staying for the entire 3 weeks.

On the last day of our 2nd week, a fire broke out 18 miles from YWAM which we could see at a distance.  It looked to be harmless.  Ended up being the worst recorded wildfire in the state of California in recorded history.  We watched the smoke for one entire day, seemed to be diminishing, but little did we know it was not.  Burned the entire city of Paradise.  At 4:30 in the morning the power went out.  We began to pack and by 11:00 the next morning we evacuated and started driving to our next destination to be in Arizona.  We ended up staying at another YWAM location in California overnight and drove in to Ironwood at Newberry Springs, CA for the night.  They asked if we would like to stay and work the next week which we did and then we continued on to Arizona for the holidays. 

It was a mentally exhausting decision to leave Chico but because of the one-lane road we knew if emergency vehicles had to locate on our premises we would not be able to evacuate.  The road was not wide enough to accommodate our RV and emergency vehicles.  That morning we tried to make a trip into Chico to pick an order from Target, but because of closed roads we could not make it to the store.  The smoke appeared to be lying close to the ground surface and we were driving with our lights on even during the day because the smoke was making it difficult to see.  Several road closings and major interstates were being threatened so knowing we had to travel south on I-5 we had to leave while I-5 was still passable.  

Hopefully we never have to experience a fire that close to our home again.  God spared our home on wheels and gave us wisdom in knowing when to leave when necessary.

Work while we were at YWAM consisted of countertop installation and electrical work in a cabin for Wayne.  Gail helped prepare rooms in hotel for conference and did many, many, many loads of laundry!

Some electrical work that Wayne did in a cabin.

First day when the smoke appeared.

As the day progressed we watched intently.  The fire was just over the ridge.

But nightfall came and we were no longer able to visibly track the fire.

Soot and fire debris on our RV roof the next morning.

Riding in Chico this is what we saw.

Leaving Chico this is what we saw from the RV.

Our car covered in soot and debris.

We hope to never face this decision again and that all SOWERs will be safe under His wing.  Fire is an uncertain destructive force and only God knows the direction it will take.  Now, on to Arizona where we will be with family for the holidays and be extremely thankful that He gave us protection.

New Hope Christian School - Grants Pass, OR - October 2018

New Hope Christian School

Grants Pass, OR - October 2018

This month was a month of recuperation from the previous, which was 8 couples and a Rally.  Now for the month of October, Rick & Melissa Young followed us to Grants Pass, OR to work at New Hope Christian School.

Melissa Young and Gail painted the cubbies that the men
built to go in the locker rooms of the gym.

Rick & Wayne constructed the cubbies in the workshop
because of the cold weather setting in.

Here Wayne added storage in one of the classrooms for music instruments.

Gail painting creative designs on 
storage cabinets for the music, drama
and political institutions classroom. 

Wayne repaired outdoor faucets for Kindergarten.

Installed cubbies.

 During this month Gail acquired her embroidery machine under the direction of Melissa.  She is such a bad influence on Gail and makes her spend money (but not foolishly)!!!!  Thanks Melissa, now Gail is addicted!  Now moving on next month to YWAM in Chico, CA - getting closer to AZ for the holidays, WOOHOO!