We're leaving tomorrow.

Update: I worked with Vic and Geneva at Feed the Hungry today. Geneva thinks she is going to be able to go, after all--we're all glad to hear that!

David and I had a great time last summer participating in Extreme Build. There's probably a post about it in July 2008, somewhere. We enjoyed it so much, we wanted to do it again--which explains why we're leaving tomorrow.

Tomorrow afternoon we are going to McCreary County, Kentucky, to build a house with other folks for a family we don't know. The house is for a single mother with two sons, one of whom still lives at home. She managed to purchase a lot in the country near Whitley City, and her house will be built there. This week, June 3-5, is what they call the prebuild week, when the subfloor is installed and walls are built. Much of the work will begin in earnest on Saturday, June 6, when the walls are raised and the roof is installed.

Beginning on Monday, folks will be doing interior work (if all goes according to plans). There will be plumbers, electricians, plasterers, dry-wall hangers, people installing siding, and painters all over the place. Hopefully by the Saturday after next, June 13, the house will be ready for its new owners to move in.

David was a carpenter for 20 years before he began work at Toyota, and he dearly loves carpentry work. He has taken 10 days of vacation in order to participate. He is a team leader when the majority of the volunteers are there, June 5-13, but just a regular carpenter the rest of the time. He loves the work, the people, the area...and I love him. That's why we're going.

We will be living in a motel from June 2-June 13. Starting on June 5, almost all our meals will be communal. Our days will be long, hot, dirty, but very rewarding. Also again this year, we will have our son Everett there with us, from the 5-13th. That has been a great experience for us.

I'd like for you all to pray for Extreme Build. Here are some specifics:

1. That the weather will be cooperative. That matters really more for the first part of the build, when the roof isn't on the place, but we would love to have temperatures more near 80 than 100, like we had last year.
2. That David's health will hold up. Last year he had some serious problems with heat exhaustion (see above), before I started making a conscious effort to keep him hydrated and full of potassium.
3. That the other workers from our church will have a good experience. We have our good friend Gina Whittle going with us. Gina is a teacher in Scott County, married to Kenny, and the mother of a really neat girl, Taylor. Last year the entire family went. This year, Kenny was unable to get vacation time, so he and Taylor are staying home. Our other local team member, Vic Carr, is pushing 90. He's a great guy, and an example and role model for all the folks on the team. Please try to lift him up in prayer every day, as the work is hard on him, but he will NOT give up and quit going. This is at least his third trip to the Extreme Build. The other two years his wife, Geneva, went with us, but this year she doesn't feel up to the trip.
   
4. That we all get along. When we're living out of a motel room (well, three rooms when the other folks show up), tempers can raise their ugly heads. We need to learn to live together as a family, God's family, and this is one good way for us to practice doing this.

Well, I have a bunch of things to do today, since we're leaving tomorrow, and part of the day is occupied with a trip to Lexington for Feed the Hungry--that will take three hours or more. Sometime I'll have to tell you all about that.

Love to all, and God bless!