I want to start out this posting a little different than most.  We did not make any special trips sightseeing this week, just a lot of hard work.  There were nine of us working on this house this week, all of us teamed up doing different jobs.  One couple continued working in the basement framing in for the rooms that will be bedrooms, another couple worked on putting up sheet rock in a closet that was built where a furnace had been and working around windows patching the sheet rock where new windows had been installed, one group worked on installing windows, while the rest of us started putting up the new siding.  I posted pictures last week of the work in the basement, so this week I will post some of the outside work.

The house was wrapped with a moisture barrier protection material prior to installing the windows and siding.  This was completed on Monday.  This is where we left off as we finished our workday.

By the end of the day on Tuesday we had most of the windows installed and had started installing the vinyl siding.  The home owner had selected a brick color.  As you can see it looks really good.  A lot of challenges are come with remodeling a house that had water above the ceiling, and there for about three weeks.  It took about three weeks for the waters to recede after the flooding.

After we finished the end of the house, we started on the front.  The first thing that has to be done is putting on the starting strip of metal.  The metal strip has to be level and aligned with the other sides of the house so the siding goes up evenly around the house.  If the starter strip is installed correctly, and level, the siding goes up nice and straight.  I can brag a little saying that we got that starter strip on just perfect.

By the end of the work day on Wednesday we had finished up to about halfway on the front of the house.  Jim, in the blue shirt on the right, has a piece of the metal starter strip that he is helping to put on the south end of the house.  Allen, in the red shirt, is waiting for Meridith to cut a piece of the vinyl to be installed on the front of the house.

The group was invited to dinner and a concert at Hope Village on Wednesday night.  I have told you all about Hope Village before, but for those that have joined us on this trip, Hope Village is the central point for volunteer organizations that are working in Minot.  One of the large Lutheran Churches in Minot stepped up first to start recovery efforts.  Several other denominations joined in with the work.  It was decided to make one person responsible for doing all of the coordination of work.  The gentleman in the middle of the following picture has been doing just that for about two years.  His efforts have really paid off.  Over 400 families have been able to move back into their homes since the flooding.

The young man in the blue shirt is the pastor of the Lutheran church that is hosting Hope Village.  The churches parking lot was turned into a large construction company and housing facility for volunteers.

After some brief introductions, we sat down to a very good BBQ dinner.  There was another group from Florida there also.  Volunteers come from all parts of the country.

After dinner we were entertained by a family of violinist.  The four young people in the following picture are all brothers and sister.  They played some very good classical music, with a couple of hymns included.  They travel the country doing concerts for church groups. They are very good.

Thursday had us back at work installing more siding.  The hardest part is doing the last row.  It usually does not go in as a whole piece.  We had to actually trim the siding to make it fit.  A small strip that is used to clip the last piece into is installed first, the the last strip of siding is snapped into place.  Holds it nice and tight.

The finished job is looking pretty good.

While some of us were finishing up on the front, a few of the others were starting on the south end of the house.  As you can see they got a lot done.

When our group finished the front of the house, we started on the back.  It took us most of the afternoon installing just a few panels.  You can see pipes and vents sticking out of the wall.  We had to cut around each one of those to make the siding fit.  There was a lot of measuring, remeasuring, and remeasuring, to make sure we had our measurements right before we cut.  It paid off, because the panel fit right on the first try.

This is where we left off for this week.  We hope to have all of the siding finished by the end of the work day on Tuesday. 

This house is special for us.  I want to share with you the story of a very brave young man.  Darin, the home owner, has leukemia.  But he has not let that stop him from being a loving husband and father, and an important part of his community.  Darin is a Lieutenant on the Minot police department.  He has continued to work, although his health has been very poor.  He stands about 6"2", his weight is about 130 pounds.  He had actually lost weight down to about 100 pounds.  Darin has been fighting is illness for about 9 years.  I believe that he will win the battle.  He has many friends in Minot, and after talking with him I can see why.  His faith in God is strong too, and many of you know that is a great thing to have.  We are working hard to try and have Darin and his family back into their home before we leave in two weeks.  It is going to be tight, but we are going to do our best.

I will give you another update on our progress next week, so in the meantime you all take care, have a great weekend, and remember

God Loves You

Gary