House #4 Dedication in Colerain

What a glorious day in Colerain.  Today we did what some thought was impossible.  What was forgotten was that GOD sent us to Colerain with a purpose and it was time for His glory to shine.  We dedicated the 4th home and turned over the keys to Mrs. Annie Mitchell and remembered her late husband William Mitchell.  I don't know about the others present but I felt the LORD's presence at the dedication.   In closing I want to say THANKS to GOD for the grace and guidance He has provided for us as I have drawn much closer to Him than I have ever been.  Also a big thank you to Ann for her support along with all the volunteers that have served with us in GOD's kingdom.

Keep watching the blog to see where God leads us next.                                                                                                                                                       

Billy

It was sad to leave Colerain and the friends I have made there but it is good to be home for Christmas.

Ann

Three Down and One To Go

This week the push began to finish the Bond house.  Billy set the dedication for Wednesday at 2:00.  As usual, I had my doubts that we could meet the deadline but God sent the volunteers we needed and we actually finished on Tuesday, a day early.  God is so good.

Dedication Day went great for the Bond home.  Even though it was drizzling rain we had a good crowd.

Some days I feel like I am missing Christmas.  You know, the baking goodies, decorating the house and Christmas shopping.  But then we get the privilege of dedicating a brand new house to a grateful family and handing them the keys to their new home.  Then I know that we are where God has placed us and just where we belong.

Meanwhile work continues on the Mitchell house.  Will it be ready by dedication time Thursday at 2 pm?

A Glorious Week and Billy Was Right

When I got back here on Monday night and saw how much more needed to be done on the Earley and Williams houses I just did not believe that we could have these homes complete and ready to dedicate by Friday but Billy fully believed that it could be done.  Well I am happy to report that he was right.  We had many volunteers coming and going all week and the work was complete.  Even got Christmas trees decorated thanks to the Colerain Baptist Children’s group and the Flanagans.

On Friday afternoon at 2:00 just as the cold front came through we had our dedication ceremony and turned the house keys over to the happy but tearful owners.  Dot Earley commented that she had always wondered how God worked and now she had seen how He worked.  Dot, her daughter Crystal and some of their friends had prepared refreshments for everyone so the celebration continued.

• Crystal Earley and David Earley – No relation but friends for life
• The Williams house- We were told by Dot that Mrs. Williams liked to decorate this tree in her front yard with clear bottles with colored water in them so we decorated it for her homecoming.
• The Earley house-I think Dot and Crystal may be spending their first night there tonight.
• A few of the many volunteers we have been blessed with on this project.

PS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           This project is not over yet.  We still have two more houses to complete.  Billy thinks we can finish them next week. Will he be right again?  We need volunteers to help two more families have a new home by Christmas.  If you would like to share in this blessing please contact us.

Earley House Almost Finished

The big teams have disappeared but the work continues.  Rex & Dana did tile work on two homes.  Billy, Allen, Ben & David did flooring.  Charles and Tom finished the steps and rails at the Early house.  The ladies have been caulking and painting.  The first house is almost done but we still need help completing the other three before Christmas.
To the volunteers who have helped on the Mitchell house, James William Mitchell went home to the Lord this week. Please remember and pray for the family.

New Dental Unit

We left Colerain on Thursday so we could pickup the new Dental Bus Unit.  This was our first trip on the new unit and our first dental trip since March. 

On Friday and Saturday we worked on the unit at Trinity Baptist Church in Hollister.  Praise God that there was one salvation.

The new dental unit is great.  It is first class and even has digital x-rays.  Hopefully we will be able to make some more trips soon but who knows because God seems to have other plans for us.

We Have Been Blessed with Many Volunteers

We had 41 volunteers to come in Sunday of last week so they could start early Monday morning. It was a beautiful day and lots of work got done. I admit I had concerns about Tuesday due to they called for rain all morning but it lasted almost all day. However GOD ruled again and supplied a place for everybody to work all day. I actually made the mistake of wondering what they were going to do when the rain kept coming , but GOD worked His miracle and lots got done. We all dressed for the cold on Wednesday and again thank you everybody for the amount of work that has been done.

Still working on  sheet rock hanging and finishing, building of ramps and steps, siding, and cabinet installation.

Our wonderful volunteer teams.

Next week is looking kind of slim so we need you.

Thanksgiving Week and Blessings from the Week Before

These are the groups that we were blessed with last week.  1st Baptist Mooresville, Oak Grove Baptist from Boone, Sandy Plains Baptist from Gastonia and Kingdom Builders from Fletcher.  Debbie shows the church ladies how to make potato candy.

Sheetrock finishing began, more siding was hung and steps were built.

The number of volunteers has been few this week but GOD's work continues.  Even Ann took most of the week off to spent time at home with our daughter Kim and her husband Brandon.  They were in from Ohio for Thanksgiving.  This week we finished hanging sheet rock in the third house.  The siding is complete on two homes.  The electricians began finalizing the wiring.  Lots of clean up has been done and supplies moved around in preparation for the large number of volunteers expected next week.   

After next week we don’t have any teams scheduled to volunteer.  Please consider coming to Colerain for a few days to help finish these homes in time for Christmas.

Two Weeks in a Row

Last week was great and this week is also going good with 44 volunteers.  We have volunteers from Gastonia, Mooresville, Boone,  Asheville, Clayton, Durham and Momeyer.  Sheetrock is being hung in two homes.  Vinyl is being installed on three of the homes.  Exterior trim is being formed and installed.  Plumbing is being worked on in two homes.  It’s good to see so many volunteers coming together for meals in our dining hall in the Colerain Fire Dept. Training Center. The food has been delicious too. 

Please continue to pray for the work and volunteers as we try to follow GOD's call and witness to the people in this area.  We have had two new local volunteers to start helping this week and another today asked how he could get involved.

A Good Week in Colerain

Another blessed week in Colerain.

As of Friday volunteers have finished the Mitchell house framing and started the shingles, plumbing and electric.

The shingles at the Early house were completed as well as more of the vinyl.

Insulation has been installed at the Williams house.

Doors and windows have been installed in the Bond house.

Vacation and Back to Colerain

Last week Ann took some R & R with Marsha and Debra.  They went to Massantutten Resort where they got to see snow on the fall foliage.  I joined her on Wednesday afternoon.  We took a trip to Natural Bridge, rode on part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and went to see the movie Courageous.

While we were gone the work continued in Colerain. The Bond house is framed waiting on front porch and shingles.

The Early house has siding started, is rough plumbed and is waiting on insulation and shingles.

The Mitchell house has the walls framed and is waiting on the walls to be wrapped and trusses to be set and sheeted.

The Williams house is waiting on rough in plumbing so the inside can continue. 

GOD has been good as we knew He would be.  He has sent lots of great volunteers who have shown this area how much GOD loves them.  We still have a lot of work to do and need your help so these families can celebrate CHRISTmas in their new home this year.