A Bug Ranch?

The ride today was pretty boring…. but we did see this Bug Ranch…. a small version of yesterday’s Cadillac Ranch. And it was right next door to the Rattlesnake Ranch.  We didn’t get any closer.  I wasn’t even tempted by the antiques. We could see the Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere for miles away…. but Billy did not stop even though the sign said “A spiritual experience you will never forget”.  I told you he is ready to get home.

We traveled the 330 miles through Oklahoma and I did not see the first thing interesting enough to take a picture of.  The roads were very bumpy too. We made it to Arkansas and have stopped in Clarksville at Wallyworld for the night.

Goodbye Bayfield

By Billy

Last year when Ann & I were in Twin Bridges, Montana  GOD let me know I would be a part of NCBM Work & Witness in 2009.  Then later in the year while we were in Baytown, TX  and David called me to see if we needed help GOD again spoke and I knew I would be in Colorado. Well it was not long before all the pieces came together and I knew our project in 2009 would be Bayfield, Co.  However Satin had his hands all over me and the project.  The closer the time got the more mixed up  life got.  Ann's mom’s condition got worse, my mom’s health got worse,  some of our family issues continued to grow along with much more.  Then came the big issue - Ann would not be able to go due to her needing to stay home and care for her mother.  But I knew that GOD wanted me on the Work & Witness project in Bayfield.  So after many messages from GOD and encouragement from Ann I followed through with what GOD had called me to do.  What a blessing.

From the morning I left home and headed west GOD has stayed beside me.  He has helped me meet many  wonderful people who believe all is possible with GOD at your side.  For the first time in my life I traveled 36 hours straight to reach Colorado.  Then when I arrived in Bayfield I saw what would have turned most people back.  Doug and a helper were  inside a mud covered future slab area trampling in mud trying to finish the rough in plumbing. Where there was not mud there was standing water.  With GOD's help the first team helped make a large mud area turn into concrete in 6 days.  I knew then it would be an awesome summer.

As the days and weeks went by GOD provided us the team members we needed when we needed them.  Word of this project  spread through the community and many surrounding states.  We had several people come to look at how much had been done in such a short time and most of it was by VOLUNTEER LABORS FOLLOWING THE CALL OF GOD.  In addition to the building being built the groups that came and did backyard bible clubs, Upward basketball and cheerleading, block parties and local outreach by cleaning and repairing homes was just amazing.

The building is not complete,  nor do I believe we have sowed all the seed we should have, but I do believe GOD is looking down and saying JOB WELL DONE.

Thanks to a great group of volunteers for following His call.  I also want to thank the church family of FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH -BAYFIELD, Co. for inviting us to come here and to serve GOD.  I feel I can speak for all and say you have made us feel welcome  and blessed.

The rest is by Ann I think Billy is happy to be going home.  Everyone in Bayfield seems to be sad that he is leaving. We said goodbye Colorado… and hello New Mexico. Which went from this… to this…. to miles and miles of this. When we finally got to Texas…. we saw miles and miles…. and more miles of this. This was the most interesting thing we’ve seen so far…. Doesn’t Billy look excited to be at the Cadillac Ranch.  That group on the right was a youth group from a Baptist Church listening to a sermon.

We are spending the night at Wallyworld in Amarillo, TX

The Last Day

By Ann I got up this morning at 5:00  to go back to the airport.  I really was blessed and was able to get on the first flight out at 8:15.  Billy picked me up at Durango at 9:30.  I sure was happy not to have to spend the whole day at the Denver airport. On the way back to Bayfield we spotted these alpacas. I went for a walk and when I was coming back up the church drive I spotted this doe.  She was really close to me and just standing there staring.  She did not run away even when I got a little closer to take her picture. Billy worked on his last job before we leave tomorrow.This afternoon we went for a ride…. to visit a church at Vallecito Lake. On the way back I had to stop to take a picture of Billy’s Home Service initials at this ball field.  OK it really stands for Bayfield High School.Vacation Bible School this week. Boomerang Express

We will be packing up in the morning and starting our journey home.

Not the Way I Wanted This Day to End

By Ann

My flight from Atlanta to Denver landed 45  minutes late due to storms so that means I missed my flight to Durango.  I have been rescheduled for 3:15 pm Wednesday.  That was not what I wanted to hear. They gave me a room at the Doubletree and a meal voucher.  I plan to go back to the airport early in the morning hoping to  get on standby for an earlier flight.

Oh yeah, when I went out to get on the shuttle bus it was hailing really hard.

New Chairs

Today (Tuesday) started slow but then it changed. The truck showed up with the new chairs so we got together and went to the storage building to unload them. Glenn, Ronnie, Joel, Doug, Pastor Randy & I unloaded the chairs and then stacked them in the storage building.

When we were almost through with the chairs the gas company called and Doug & I had to go back to the church to clean out the ditch and help put the line in.  Then they wanted it covered up before they left so we spent the afternoon filling in the ditch.

The Day We’ve Been Waiting For

By Ann

Today is the day I fly back to Baytown, CO.  so I can drive back home with Billy.  I think he is ready to see me and I know I am ready to see him and bring him home.

I will be flying out of RDU at 3:30 this afternoon and arriving in Durango at 10:57.  Please pray for safe travel and that afternoon thunderstorms will not cause delays.

Final Sunday and Monday

Clyde & Carolyn volunteered to come back and haul Momeyer’s tool trailer back to NC for me.  Here they are all hooked up and ready to pull out after church.  However, after being invited out to eat they chose to hang around a little longer.

Here are a few views of the inside of the sanctuary.

A view of the pulpit from the kitchen window. A view of the pulpit from the balcony. The seating  area and sound booth in the balcony. Joel & Ronnie's son is ready for VBS to start.  I understand he got up early this morning (5:30) so he wouldn't be late tonight.

Monday

Today started slow with nobody but Doug & I.  Then Gunether  & Glen came by along with John.

Most of us worked inside with more wood blocking and additional gas piping.

John brought his backhoe and dug the gas line trench. Next he was to locate the sewer line and dig it also, but this was not the way we wanted him to find it.  Not what we needed with VBS starting in 2 hours so Doug &  I had to get busy and make repairs.  While doing this we started the line to run to the new building. Gunether carrier me out to eat in Durango tonight.  We went to the Red Snapper.  On the way back to the car I noticed this setting.  At the base of a large oak is green moss for the lawn, patio furniture and a plank for a door into the tree.

Preparing to Leave Bayfield

Since the Sandy Ridge team finished the roof and most of the odd and end stuff on Thursday they packed up early on Friday morning and left to sightsee an then went on to Albuquerque.

Some of the church members came to work Friday so we removed the beds from the kitchen and stored them.  Then we sorted out my tools that were all over the new building.  At the same time we loaded Momeyer's tool trailer and tied down the ladders so it can travel home with Clyde and Carolyn.

Today (Saturday) started early again.  Rex & Lois wanted to leave by 6 or 6:30 so I got up to help Rex and say good bye.  Well Satin had to stick his 2 cents in also and wouldn't let their camper's slide out come in.  But as usual GOD stepped in and Rex tinkered with it until he was able to jump wire it to work.  They did leave around 6:40.  After that we had some breakfast and then some quite time which I know I am behind on.

Later in the morning Carolyn went to the laundromat and Clyde & I moved my camper.  Where it was set it had a lot to take down and clean up.  Now come Thursday morning we should be on the road early.  Ann is flying in on Tuesday night to drive back home with me.We were also requested to help a lady unload some VBS stuff. When we walked around the corner what we saw was a big train which we put inside of the church.  GOD has been speaking here this summer.  We know 10 children have asked GOD into their hearts and a lot of adults are now asking questions and have been watching us as we work.  Please remember First Baptist, Bayfield in your prayers next week during VBS.

Metal Roof Finished

I thought they went up on the roof to install metal not to take a break. But we on the ground don't have much room to talk.  Roofing is a hurry up and wait job for sure. Texas needed their shower unit back yesterday so Chap & Bessie let us use their RV  for showers.  So in return we washed their unit. Roofing must be very tiring . Of course they were up there all day Wednesday and most of today. Last piece of metal roof going down. As the sprinkler crew finished a room we have been boxing in the duct work & sprinklers.

Installing Metal Roof

This morning the rain was gone so we started on the east side installing the metal roof. Bryan rigged up a guide to sit on my ladder so we could slide the metal up safely By mid afternoon we had the east side sheeted and trimmed.

On the inside the electrical, sprinkler and HVC guys continued.

The ladies have not only been busy cooking but also cleaning out closets and helping get ready for VBS next week.

Fresh Water and Who Is Tim?

by Ann If you recall the post Our Christmas Gift  last year Billy and I choose to purchase a well to be dug  in Bihar, India in place of buying Christmas presents for each other and our family.

This week we received a letter from Biju Thomas and pictures of  “our” well.  His letter explains it much better than I can.

REPORT OF THE BORRE WELL AT MUSLIM TOLA NAHAR VILLAGE SPONSORED BY BILLY & ANN LAYTON

This is a village where there are over 250 people living and they were facing severe problem of clean drinking water.  The villagers are poor Muslims who are laborers.  They were longing for a bore well for many years.  But the local government officials did not give attention to them although they requested for help.  They used to go to the nearby personal bore wells and get water.  Sometimes the gates were locked and they could not get water.

We received an application from a Pastor who works in this area, requesting us to help the villagers with clean drinking water.  Based on the application, we surveyed the village and found that the villagers were really in need of clean drinking water and we helped them.  The villagers were very happy that the Christians have come forward to help them.

The well is 180 feet down.  At the time of the inauguration, we shared briefly about the living water Jesus offers.  As you can see in the Marble Slab, we have inscribed in Hindi, Jesus said, “I am the living water”.  I believe this Bible verse will continue to speak to the people as they use water from the bore well.  We told them that this is a gift from the Christians.

Thanks a lot to Billy and Ann for helping the villagers with clean drinking water.  You have truly helped the villagers with one of their most important and at the same time very basic need-clean water.  The villagers were thanking God and the sponsors for helping them with a bore well.  Please pray that this village may turn to Jesus.  I am deeply grateful to NC Baptist Men for building the bridge and bringing life and hope to the people of Bihar.

With warm regards, In His service for the unreached,

Biju Thomas

Those little guys are loving it. Lined up for the water. Can you imagine waiting in line for this small amount of water?  We are so blessed. Look at those precious faces. I was wondering who this TIM guy was whose name was on “our” well.  I found out that it stands for Transform India Movement, which you can find out more about  at the Baptist Men’s web site.

Thank you God for giving us the opportunity and the resources to help these people with something that we take for granted.