Weekly Report for Marble Falls

Len and Nettie wove their way down into our camp at the beginning of this week. Several of the other couples here have worked with them on previous projects, however some of us had the pleasure of meeting Len and Nettie for the first time. We are not surprised that they too, fit into our now completed MDS Family.

Monday morning saw us anxious to get to the work site and begin to put up the trusses that were to arrive by 10:00 a.m. The few preparations to be made prior to their arrival were done swiftly! The truck arrived and ,before they were unloaded, John announced, “They are constructed incorrectly and don’t fit”!

Disappointment hung in the air like a cloud! Now what? Warren was on the telephone immediately and true to his style, he remained calm and collected during the entire conversation and all conversations that followed. Hurray for Warren! What a great example he is!

By the evening, arrangements were made that the new trusses would be completed by next week sometime. 

What is the whole crew supposed to do until next week? Well, we can finish the insulation of the floor and install the chicken wire to keep it up. Framing for the skirting can be built. We can wrap the exterior walls with Ty-Vec. We can build the porches and paint the interior doors. Even windows and doors can be installed before the trusses are in place, if necessary.

Everyone got busy! No matter what the obstacles, this crew sees them as hurdles to conquer! 

The two teams, Jim, LaVonne, Annette, Georgia , Nettie, Linda, Joanne, and Suzette completed the insulation and chicken wire job. Sherman and Ron built the porches and with Georgia and Nettie’s help, all the spindles are ready for installation. Pete and Gerry had the framing for the skirt in place and the house was wrapped with Ty-Vec by Andre, Suzette, Len and Nettie. Pete, Len, and Andre installed the windows and the exterior doors, installed by Len and Andre, completed the now, ready for siding. Linda, Joanne, Mary Ann, Annette and Carol all assisted in sanding and undercoating the interior doors. 

Thursday morning LaVonne, the “Palm Nailer Lady”, Pete and Gerry began installing the siding when, suddenly, the phone rang. “The trusses will be delivered this afternoon and so will the crane to lift them”, said the voice at the other end!

Cheers filled the air! 

Just as promised, the trusses arrived and the crane was set up for lifting them by 2:30p.m.! One and a half hours later 23 trusses were in place. It took the men 3.91 minutes per truss! Wow! Now if that’s not a record breaker, I’m sure it’s close. The ladies stood in awe, watching their husbands work like a well oiled machine, everyone knowing exactly what to do as if they had always worked together as a construction team! 

This week was another example of God’s faithfulness when we put our trust in him. He taught us just a bit more patience while we waited for the trusses and we also learned that, even it isn’t constructed in the “normal” order, work can continue! 

Submitted by Mary Ann Sawatzky