Week 1 at Odem, Tx

We arrived in Odem, Texas on Saturday, 2/17

Our crew from the left front row are Chic, Jane, Barbara, Avis and Jodi.  Back row from the left are Jim,
Bob, Dave, Gary, Stel and Cindy.

Our host church is Odem First United Methodist Church and

our campground is directly across the street from the church.

On Monday, we went to work on a home in the community.  The owners of this house are our age and have raised their family in this house.  They had one biological child and adopted 12 other children, 7 boys from the same family at one time.  They also were foster parents to somewhere near 60 other children over the years.  A married daughter and her husband live with them and she runs a day care in their home as well.  Such a wonderful, loving family is a joy to serve.  Their home needs a lot of exterior work.  Last year, NOMADS resided the east side of the house and this year, we are working on the north side.

First job is to tear off all this existing siding which while in bad shape in some areas is attached more securely than we had hoped.

Another view of the work we are facing.

Four of us were assigned to this job and the owner, far left, is to help us.  We begin by investigating how much has to be removed and from where so we spend some time studying it.

Then tear out begins with Avis

Jodi

Gary and owner Richard 

and Stel.

By the end of the day, we were able to remove the siding from the front and

worked late to cover it with house wrap to the right and

to the left.

Meanwhile, some of the rest of the crew was working on adding a shower and washer and dryer for volunteer workers in the garage beside the church and behind the parsonage.  Some trenching was completed before our arrival.

Inside, the wall was insulated for the shower by Jim and Bob with the help of Dave.

The ladies (Chic is behind the tree) busied themselves with pruning and weed pulling in the garden areas of the church..

Jane is pulling large amounts of some sort of vine out of these shrubs and adding the debris to the stack in the wheelbarrow.

On Tuesday, we were greeted with much colder temperatures and a very strong wind.  Although we dressed for the colder temps, it was not enough but we worked to keep each other warm.

Cindy joined our crew and Avis insisted on a picture since somehow 5 of us ended up in the same space.

We dispersed and Stel started to remove siding in the recessed doorway.

Richard (owner) and Cindy removed the steps so we can put siding behind it.

Group meeting to plan how best to begin the siding to coordinate it with the wall to the left that was replaced last year.

Gary & Avis begin removing house wrap from the windows

which has to just barely expose the window frame so we can add tape to seal the windows and the house wrap.

Then Stel and Cindy get back to work removing the siding in the doorway

while Gary and Avis start cutting "starter strips" for the bottom edge.

Stel and Cindy attached the starter strips and that ended another day.

Wednesday was a little warmer thanks to the sun and the wind was not as strong so we began applying the 12 foot Hardie Board siding.

Stel, Avis and

Cindy are adding screws to the 12 foot section before we carry it to the wall.

12 Foot sections requires team effort to install every piece.

We have a system developed so that one drills holes, others put in screws.

and Avis makes sure all the screws are flush.

Cutting window openings is a major team effort and Stel and Cindy get their first experience operating the cement board cutter.

At the end of day 3, we were just up to the windows with siding on the right side.

Back at the church.  The "plumbers" from the left are Bob, Dave, Jim and Jim the Trustee.

Installing the drain in the shower requires that Jim really gets into his work,

and Bob holds the other side.

Dave extends the digging to connect to water source and sever lines.

Jane is showing off their hard work which continued through Wednesday to this area

and the front of the church.

Thursday, end of the week.

5 of us are back at Richard and Petra's house and get to work measuring for the next pieces. 

Cindy countersinking the screws.

Stel adds tape around the windows while Cindy holds the ladder.

Gary cuts and assisted by Jodi and Richard and Cindy, Stel and Avis install the pieces.

Pieces cut over windows provide a special challenge since some of the ladders are not as tall as we need.

By the end of Thursday, we had siding installed to the right of the bay window all the way to the top except for 2 rows under the eaves.

On Saturday, several of us traveled to Padre Island and the National Seashore.

A beautiful calm morning looking out at the intracoastal waterway where

many wind surfers camp.

Jodi, Gary, Avis and Stel came to see the wind surfers but if you notice, the water is as still as a sheet of glass so we won't be watching the surfers this morning.

Down the beach is a wharf for fishermen to cut up their catch.  This pelicans have gathered to collect the spoils.

But they have a battle ahead because quite a crowd has collected

including this great blue heron who doesn't stand a chance.

On the other side of the island is the Gulf of Mexico

with great beaches for walking, sunbathing, or just watching the surf.  A great weekend outing but it's time to head home.  See you next week.