Week 3 in Falfurrias, Tx

 We started our final week returning to Hortensia's house to tear out the old ramp and build a new one.  We brought most of the team to make sure we could make it usable in one day.

Paul started dismantling the old ramp

with the assistance of Gary and Avis

Stel and

Jodi started cutting boards for the new deck while

Dave began calculating the location of the new post with "lame" Gary supervising.

Then Paul and Stel assisted with setting the post.

The team lifted the prefabricated deck section into place and then mid line posts holes were dug and installed.

Then Paul, Avis and Gary installed the pre-cut deck boards.

Next day, handrails were installed by Stel, Dave and Paul and

Jerry and then 

handrails were sanded

and sanded and

handrails near the door were designed and installed.

Jodi cleaned the entire deck and 

Dave, Stel and Joel (from the church outreach group) installed a concrete landing pad.

Finally, Stel and Dave filled ruts in the carport with material from the post holes and reinstalled the owners capet  pad.

Meanwhile, Paul replaced Hortensia's kitchen faucet and

Paul and Karen repaired the kitchen floor near the door and 

installed a new section of vinyl.

With Hortensia's project completed, Stel, Dave and Jodi headed to the parsonage to begin repairs to the carport on which the soffit and facia were badly rotted.

When we arrived, we were able to see what 3 of the ladies had accomplished in the 2 previous weeks of painting.

Then we began to assess

measure and tear out damaged material on the carport.

Then we added new support material

then new boards are installed.

Meanwhile, Paul repaired the bathroom tub drain/overflow then

he and Jerry sanded and stained the back door.

Stel caulked the seams in the repairs in preparation for painting

and after a short break, Dave began painting.

After lunch, a final coat of paint was applied, the back door reinstalled and with that, our work on the parsonage was complete.

It is not pictured by several members of the team spent the final day cleaning rooms in the church that had been damaged by a previous flood and moving the office for the new pastor.

Our project is now complete and Jodi and Stel are heading to McAllen, Tx for 3 weeks of vacation, sightseeing and rest.

Week 2 in Falfurrias, TX

On the weekend, Gary & Avis could not open the compartment door on their RV so....

Stel helped out by crawling through an adjacent compartment and adjusting the closing mechanisms.

There was also opportunity for bird watching thanks to this little woodpecker

pecking away.

On Monday, Paul and Karen returned to Naomi's hose to finish the bathroom floor. After painting the floor with KILZ, they began installing tile.

and the finished product.

 The rest headed to Hortensia's house to begin work on the deck & ramp. 

First, Judy, Jan, Dave, Stel & Jodi worked on clearing accumulated debris.

Then we prepared to raise the original deck 3 1/2 inches to meet the door frame and eliminate the step down to the ramp. Stel and Dave investigate the options and

Dave starts to jack it up.

Next day, since it was so cold, some returned to continue painting the inside of the parsonage but others.....

Stel, Dave and Jerry worked on repairing leaking toilets in the church to delay going out in the cold.

Couldn't put it off any longer so Jerry, Dave, Stel and Jodi started layout  and ....

construction of the new section of ramp.

Once we were ready, Paul and Karen helped put it in place.

We need to move the ramp itself a foot away from the house to avoid the air conditioner so Stel and Dave begain setting the post for expansion of the upper deck landing.

An angle brace is fabricated (serious group effort) and...

new deck boards are installed to meet the new deck support.

Since we don't want to leave Hortensia without an exit for the weekend, we moved our work back to the church.

Avis and Gary use the warmth of the church to cut trim pieces for the storm door at the parsonage.

The church requested that the cross and flame be painted on this wall in fellowship hall so...

Jan and Judy began sketching it and

painting it and

what a beautiful result.

Paul, Jerry, Dave & Stel worked on ...

replacing bulbs in the light fixtures and

repairing pew racks and

repairing ceiling tiles and...

Karen removed grape juice stains form the carpet.  (Her secret is boiling water poured on the spots. It Works!!!)

 (Why do I feel like I am back home?)

On Saturday, the church threw a party for the NOMADS, the "Winter Texans" and the new Pastor.  Good food and fellowship.  See you next week.