TCOGV Progress, Fifth Week

This is our last week here in Lindale, TX at The Church of Garden Valley MAPS RV Project.  We have enjoyed our time here; these five weeks have flown by.  We planned to leave on Saturday, Dec 7th, but now the weather has turned to ice and snow.  We have to get home for doctors appointments and of course Christmas with the family. 

I think great progress has been accomplished in these short five weeks.  The growth of this church is amazing and offices and classrooms were in great need as well as a space for the youth group.  Here are a few progress pictures, but much work is yet to be done.

Glenn and Dean framed in a space where a large roll up door was and here they are putting up the sheet metal siding.  The roll up door was taken down after all of this was finished.  

Ken Rock is the Project Manager.  He stepped out to seen the progress.

Here Ken is working on a door.  Sorry the lighting was so bad.

These stairs lead to a large room for the youth.

Pictures of the food bank in Van, TX

I worked at a food bank on occasion. These are boxes of food given by the schools for Angel Tree families. More food boxes were to be delivered by two more schools so this is not all.

More food boxes being unloaded.  

Prior to the delivery of Angel Food Tree goods, we passed out food for around 145 families.  The food bank is an on-going ministry.  I had the opportunity of helping out a few days. The ladies and men do an amazing job for the needs of the community.

TCOGV Progress Week Three and Four

Today is Thanksgiving Day. The RVers were invited to share Thanksgiving Dinner with a very sweet couple and their family from the church. We had delicious food and wonderful fellowship.

The first of the week we had cold rainy weather but the men made more progress in building offices and classrooms.  Here are progress pictures.

Dean has skill at cutting just the right length of all these boards. 

I believe these were finished during the third week. 

The electrical wiring is pulled through each week as framing is completed. 

Next week is our last week here. The men should be able to start laying the floor down for the second level.  The second level will be a large room for the youth. 

Week two progress at TCOGV

Today is a beautiful day here in East Texas. Just wish I felt better.  With the weather changing from a hard freeze last week to 80 degree at the end of the week, I have a cold.  It happens every time we have a drastic weather change.  But on to the progress the men accomplished last week on the project.

Walls starting to go up. This is the first room being framed in. 

Hall way from outside door. 

There was a change in plans, so Glenn is cutting another door.  (Plans changes often around here). 

Burl pulling the electrical wire. 

Ken taking out an old fan. The upper floor will be used by the youth, and this fan had to go. It can be used elsewhere. 

Glenn was building another wall (see on the floor) but first assistance was needed. 

On the weekend we spent a little time around a fire. 

First Week Progress --The Church of Garden Valley (TCOGV)

This is our first full week at TCOGV.

Here is a picture of the church buildings. 

The building on the far right is building three.  Glenn is working in that building. The project is to make Sunday School rooms on the bottom level and build an upper level for the youth. 

The building in the middle is used as the sanctuary.  Called building two.

The building on the left of page is building one and presently used for storage. 

Here is inside of building one.  Or at lease one half of the building. 

This large roll up door will be closed in with a wall. 

Studs for the wall. 

This part of the building will have a lower level for class rooms with a hallway in between and rooms on each side. The top level will be built for the youth room. 

This is only half or less actually of the building. 

The room in the pictures are to the right of this hallway. On the left is another large room that has a swimming pool. 

Lumber for the project. And another view of the room. 

These buildings were one used as a boat manufacturing business. 

There is a lot going on here. I hope to keep up with the progress in this blog.  We are here for the month of November. 

Arrived in Texas

We arrived in Lindale, Texas to work on a MAPS RV project at The Church of Garden Valley. We plan to be here for the month of November. 

Since we arrived yesterday afternoon, we finished setting up our home this morning. 

As you can see it was a beautiful day and the temp was to get up to the high 60's.  

Around 10:00, we decided to check out the Canton Flea Market. Wow, what a surprise!!

I don't know why, but I had never heard of Canton Trade Days, but I was soon to find out...

"It is the oldest, largest continually operating outdoor flea market in the USA, operates on hundreds of acres, and provides spaces for about 6,000 vendors."

Canton Trade Days is more than just a typical flea market. You can find most anything here. 

There were buildings and easy pop up tents as far as the eye could see.  The traffic was well directed and most parking was $5.00. 

There were scores and scores of people.  It kind of reminded me of the Charleston Market only on a much, much, much larger scale. 

Needless to say, we didn't see it all.  Here is a little map to give a small glimps of the grounds. 

We had a fun day!!

Last day in Huntsville

This is our last day here at Huntsville. We have enjoyed our time here except for the truck breakdown. We are parked at the Redstone Arsenal RV Park. It is a nice park with large concrete pads and full hookups. 

When we travel, we meet many interesting people. Next door to us is a single retired flight mechanic turned pilot that travels around looking at the stars. He has a storage unit looking thing on the back of his camper that houses a huge telescope. He is headed to Texas too. He said he is going to one of the darkest places in the U S.  The stars are bright in Texas from what I remembered when we lived there. 

We are so thankful for our friends. The Robinson's live here in Huntsville and they were so generous to loan us a vehicle while our truck was in the shop. We will take it back today. Truck is now fixed and ready to roll. Headed to Lindale, TX tomorrow for a MAPS project. "Building churches, changing lives". 

While here in Huntsville, we took advantage of seeing the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. It was super interesting and as we were in the building that houses Saturn V,  a man (volunteer) just walked up it us to answer any questions. He walked around with us telling us about each exhibit. Come to find  out, he wasn't just a volunteer, but a retired NASA engineer. We felt honored to be talking to him. 

Saturn V rocket. One of only three in the world. 

Huge. I couldn't begin  to get the whole thing in my picture, so I just got the back end. 

Apollo 16 capsule named  Casper because when it went up, it was white, but burned up as it re-entered Earths atmosphere. Astronauts John Young, Thomas Mattingly, Charles Duke brought back moon rocks. 

I now wish I had taken more pictures. 

FCF Territorial 2013

We are in Huntsville, Alabama so that Glenn can go to the FCF Territorial before heading to Texas for a MAPS project.  

Today I got to go for a time of visitation.  But, as I was driving, truck powered down to 25mph and then 15mph.  With flashers on, I crept into the FCF camping site.  Needless to say, we are here until we can get it fixed.

I did enjoy seeing the village and I even got a few pictures. 

This was only a small portion of the lodges. There were 

lodges set up row after row.   Glenn made a number

of them. 

Beautiful leather work by "Longhair". Every FCF member

takes on an FCF name. Glenn's name is "Ramrod". 

This was taken shortly after I dropped Glenn off so he had not 

dressed in his FCF clothes. 

Notice the candle chandelier.  Love it. 

Wares set out for sale or trade. 

A good afternoon but we had to borrow a truck to get me back 

to our home on wheels.