November 2019 Lindale, TX Calvary Commission

November 2019 Lindale, TX 

Calvary Commission

We left Anadarko, OK and headed southeast towards our next project in Lindale, TX - Calvary Commission.  Calvary Commission is a Bible Seminary where those who have become Jesus followers in prison dedicate their lives to study of the WORD and study for a vocation that they can grow and honor the Lord for the remainder of their lives.  Many go on to work in missions and some return to their homes to minister to their families.

Here we are to work by ourselves for one week as Carol Wright needs to stay in Illinois to help out with her mom.  Carol continued to stay with her mom for 2 more weeks while Jerry drove the RV to help us out in Lindale.  We were so thankful as it helped us to finish a remodel job of the director's master bedroom and bathroom on the campus.  After we finished that Gail helped hem black out curtains in the dining hall and office.  Wayne & Jerry continued odd jobs which included installing and maintaining LOTS of smoke detectors in MANY buildings!  Also, since we were close to the SOWER office in Lindale, we were able to meet up with other SOWERs for a very nice lunch after church one Sunday.  Love these mini-reunions. Catch up on all news for all of us.

Wayne continued on with installation of the ceramic tile
on the walls of the master bath shower stall.

I am soooooo handy with
a paint roller in the
master bedroom!

Now the shower stall
is ready for the grouting.

Time out at a most delicious
Mexican Restaurant.  North Carolina
doesn't match these restaurants.

Jerry Wright to the rescue!

Jerry drove from Illinois by himself just to help us out.  Wayne was especially glad to see him arrive.

The flooring in this bedroom made all the difference.
Gorgeous job Wayne & Jerry.  Now that they
are experienced - my RV bedroom will
be their next project!

Installation of new fixtures in the bathroom,
vanity, new stool, towel racks, and EVEN
a toilet paper gizmo with a shelf for your
phone.  AND a exhaust fan with bluetooth!

  The finished bathroom - GORGEOUS!

Gail was able to help out in the kitchen
on Thursdays.  Tight quarters for sure!

Snack time for the students
was very creative!

And when the heat unit was on the fritz,
just bring the fire inside!  That works!

After Calvary Commission our next project was to be at Camp Tejas in Giddings TX.  We stopped at the Garissi's in Bastrop TX for the night so that Wayne could take me to the Austin airport so that I could help out with my mom since she just got out of the hospital in North Carolina. Thanksgiving for me with mom! Wayne joined the other SOWERs at Tejas for Thanksgiving at the Director's house - Paul, Kelli & kids.

The Garissi's built a home in Bastrop TX and
included a stop off for SOWERs with full
hookups.  What a blessing and they are wonderful
hosts.  We will be spending Christmas Eve at their
house again with 9 other SOWERs for games and
fellowship.

The next morning Wayne took me to the airport and then he drove on to Giddings TX at Camp Tejas Lights of Christmas event for the month of December.  I joined him 2 weeks later.

October 2019 Anadarko, OK

October 2019 Anadarko, OK

Oakridge Ministries

After the SOWER Board Meeting at the end of September 2019, Wayne and I traveled to Anadarko, OK for our October 2019 project - Oakridge Ministries.  The Harper's and the Olson's joined us for the month.  This is a family run camp by the Ball's, they made us feel like one of the family of course.  Many delicious meals and lots to accomplish, which primarily was the remodel of the bottom floor of a 2-story lodge.  Four bedrooms with at 8-10 bunkbeds and one large bathroom with toilets, sinks and shower stalls which needed major renovations.  A dark floor came alive with bright colors and new flooring.

We were also able to make a sightseeing trip to Oklahoma City to see where the bombing took place at the government building and the land-rush scene.  We also took this opportunity to venture to South Dakota to change our domicile address, which incorporated our drivers licenses and voter registrations.

Many side trips to Lawton, OK for dinners, shopping and theaters.  At the end of the project the Keumichel's stopped for 3 days of which Richard was able to finish the details on the entryway signage for the camp that he and Laurie had begun that summer.

Roy & Lola left immediately after the project for their home in Oregon.  Lola needed to return for some annual medical appointments where she found out that cancer has returned.  She and Roy are staying for treatments as I write this update.

Oakridge Ministries
A family run camp where the
presence of Jesus is felt everyday.

Our mission was to remodel 4 rooms like this.
First the dismantling and removal of the bunkbeds,
and removal of all decorations.

The toilets and stalls were removed along
with urinal plumbing and all decorations.

Then the shower stall decorations were removed
to include lighting and ceilings above the showers.
Leaks were repaired from up above.  Floors of showers
had to be ground so that new while tiling could be
installed.  All shower plumbing was revamped
and new FRP walls were installed on top of the brick walls.

Roy & Lola Olson needed
some g'parenting moments
with one of the g'babies of
Ball's.

Lola Olson, Lana Harper and myself

were primarily instrumental in 

prepping the walls

of the lodge, and repainting.

Roy Olson and Wayne grinding
the floors of the showers so that
while ceramic tile could be laid.

On days we were unable to get into the lodge,
us ladies sorted and priced items to go in the
camp store for next year.

One weekend Wayne & I went to 
Oklahoma City for sightseeing.
Here is a relic from the Cowboy Museum.

Large mural paintings in the Museum.

The land-rush monuments
in Oklahoma City.

The sad part, visiting the area
that was bombed by Timothy McVey
in the 1980's.

At nighttime was when
it really tugged at your 
heartstrings.

The little chairs represented the many
children that lost their lives in a senseless
act that day - they were in a daycare
located in that building.

 Back to Oakridge!
Gail making toast in an
antique toaster.  I am
sure you cannot buy one
of these today!

The Harper's.  Dan incased the AC unit in this
room so that it could be accessed by a door.  This man could work circles around all of us.

Roy & Wayne laying the tile in the showers.

Next came the FRP for
the walls in the showers.

A little time out for dining in truly a hole in the wall cafe
in truly the middle of nowhere.  If our friends the Harpers
had not suggested it, we would have never stopped!
Hamburgers are the most amazing ever!

Mz. Lola getting more
GRANNIE time in!

Now Mr. Wayne getting

some of that G'PA time in.

Something we SOWERs miss

while traveling - our own g'children.

On the way to South Dakota
to change our domicile from
North Carolina to SD.  This 
was flooding in Iowa.

Oakridge's new entry way

thanks to Mr. Richard Keumichel.

Before lettering.

New tiles on floors of 

shower stalls.

Bunk rooms coming
along.

New shower 

plumbing being built in.

New ceilings to 
incorporate recessed
lighting.

The ladies altered purchased curtains to be put in each
 bunk room and the leftovers were made into toppers for the privacy rooms outside the showers and a curtain
for the bathroom.  Waste not!

Starting to brighten up!

Even brighter!

Lola painting new
baseboards to be installed.

Now, the hallway needs brightening up!

Privacy stalls added
to outside of showers.

Much was accomplished at Oakridge.  We would love to come back in our travels.  The family atmosphere was the best part of being there.  We love the Ball family!