THE BILTMORE BAPTIST CHURCH TEAM WAS ASSIGNED WORK IN THE ALLENWOOD, NEW JERSEY AREA |
A TEAM OF 14 EAGER AND COFFEE FUELED BUILDERS! |
DAMAGED HOMES NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOME NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOME NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOMES NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOMES NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOMES NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOMES NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
DAMAGED HOME NEAR ALLENTOWN, NJ - ON THE "JERSEY SHORE" |
HEADING FOR NEW JERSEY IN THE RAIN |
TEAM MEMBERS, GLAD TO BE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN |
CHECKING THAT ALL TRAVEL PAPERWORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED |
BREAKFAST STOP AT MICKEY-Ds |
THE TEAM ARRIVED AT THE GRACE TABERNACLE BIBLE CHURCH |
THE MAIN SANCTUARY OF THE GRACE TABERNACLE BIBLE CHURCH |
OUR LOGO/SIGN, DISPLAYED OUTSIDE THE CHURCH |
AT THE CHURCH, UNPACKING THE TWO VANS |
ONE VAN CARRIED OUR PERSONAL GEAR AND THE OTHER VAN CARRIED OUR TOOLS |
HOME SWEET HOME - ONE OF THE MEN'S SLEEPING ROOMS |
THAT'S MY SLEEPING CORNER ON THE LEFT |
AFTER UNLOADING ALL OUR GEAR, WE FOUND A WONDERFUL RESTAURANT! |
WAITING FOR THE FOOD AT VINNIE'S |
SOME GOOD CONVERSATION AND REFLECTION ON OUR FIRST DAY |
H-U-G-E PORTIONS! |
AFTER DINNER, A QUICK PLANNING MEETING FOR OUR FIRST WORK DAY |
AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR DAILY TEAM MEETINGS ALSO INCLUDED A LOT OF FUN! |
UP EARLY FOR BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING |
FIXING OUR BAG LUNCHES |
WAITING TO LOAD UP FOR THE FIRST DAY'S ASSIGNMENT |
ON THE WAY TO OUR FIRST HOUSE ASSIGNMENT, WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING INTERESTING |
GOING INTO THE HOUSE FOR A QUICK EVALUATION OF THE WORK REQUIRED |
"OH MY!" |
THE HOUSE DIDN'T LOOK TOO BAD FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT THE INTERIOR WAS QUITE ANOTHER MATTER |
THE HIGH WATER LEVEL HAD PRETTY MUCH RUINED EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE |
VERY HEAVY BAGS OF SOAKED CLOTHING AND SHOES |
UNCOMPLETED WORK BY THE CONTRACTOR |
A LOT OF THINGS WERE STORED UNDER THE HOUSE |
THE TEAM ALWAYS PRAYED FOR WISDOM AND SAFETY BEFORE STARTING WORK |
AS WE TEAR OUT THE HOUSE, THE TRASH PILES UP IN FRONT |
WORKING ON OUR FIRST ASSIGNED HOUSE |
WORKING ON OUR FIRST ASSIGNED HOUSE |
WORKING ON OUR FIRST ASSIGNED HOUSE |
WORKING ON OUR FIRST ASSIGNED HOUSE |
WORKING ON OUR FIRST ASSIGNED HOUSE |
WORKING ON OUR FIRST ASSIGNED HOUSE |
DISASSEMBLING AND CUTTING UP A RUSTED METAL STORAGE SHED IN THE ALLEY |
AN ALIEN VISITING THE WORK SITE? ...... NOPE, JUST ME! |
SOMEONE HAD TO CRAWL UNDER THE HOUSE |
VERNON IS "THE MAN"! |
REMOVING MOLDY INSULATION |
REMOVING DAMAGED FLOORING |
A MESS TO CLEAN UP AT THE END OF THE DAY! |
TAKING A WATER BREAK |
WE HAD ABOUT REACHED THE SATURATION POINT IN THE FRONT YARD PILE, BUT STILL NO DUMPSTER DELIVERY |
A BREAK FOR WATER AND FRUIT |
DESPITE THE HARD WORK, WE STILL MANAGED TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN! |
A LOT OF STUFF FOR THE DUMPSTER! |
BACK TO WORK |
CARRYING OUT PARTS OF THE OLD BATHROOM |
FINALLY, THE LONG AWAITED DUMPSTER ARRIVED! |
A SPECIAL SADNESS |
TAKING A LUNCH BREAK ON THE STEPS ACROSS THE STREET |
DURING THE LUNCH BREAK, WE FIRST MET PAUL AND HIS DOG, ROSIE |
THE LUMBER COMPANY DOWN THE STREET GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED US TO USE THEIR BATHROOM FACILITIES |
BEGINNING THE ARDUOUS TASK OF REMOVING THE FLOORING AND SUB-FLOOR |
SOME SERIOUS ROT IN THE FLOORING AND SUB-FLOOR |
TEAMWORK FOR FLOORING AND SUB-FLOOR REMOVAL |
CHECKING PIPES |
PULLING UP THE FLOORING AND SUB-FLOOR |
MUCH MOLD AND WET INSULATION UNDER THE SUB-FLOOR |
MY NEMISIS! |
IN NEED OF SOME HEAVY DUTY MOLD SPRAY/TREATMENT |
THERE WASN'T MUCH INTERIOR LEFT WHEN WE FINISHED |
SOME OF THE SUB-FLOOR HAD TO BE CUT OUT |
THE HUGE DUMPSTER WAS COMPLETELY FILLED AND WE STILL HAD A LOT LEFT IN THE FRONT YARD |
PACKING UP TO RETURN TO THE CHURCH, AFTER A LONG, BUT SUCESSFUL DAY |
OUR "JERSEY GIRLS" |
BACK TO THE CHURCH FOR DINNER, WITH B-I-G APPETITES! |
EYE "SURGERY" |
OUR INTREPID TEAM, AFTER BEING WELL FED |
THE NEXT MORNING, ARRIVING AT OUR ASSIGNED HOUSE |
THE KITCHEN COUNTERS, SINK AND APPLIANCES HAD TO BE REMOVED |
REMOVING SHELF BRACKETS SO THE DRYWALL CAN BE TORN OUT |
PIECES OF THE DRYWALL WE REMOVED, SHOWING TWO DISTINCT TYPES OF MOLD |
THE GARAGE HAD TO BE EMPTIED TO FACILITATE REMOVAL OF THE MOLDY DRYWALL |
DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORT HERE! |
CLEANING UP THE GARAGE AFTER REMOVING THE DAMAGED DRYWALL |
A WATER BREAK BEFORE CARRYING EVERYTHING BACK INSIDE THE GARAGE |
THE TORN OUT KITCHEN |
A TIME TO "TAKE FIVE" AND REST |
AS ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS TALKS WITH A NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET, THIS MAN CAME DOWN THE STREET WALKING THESE BEAUTIFUL DOGS |
WHILE GETTING READY TO BREAK FOR LUNCH, WE MET SYLVIA, THE "NEIGHBORHOOD ANGEL" |
IN SYLVIA'S BACKYARD |
OUR "GANG OF 14" GETS TO SIT DOWN AND ENJOY LUNCH |
AND THE VIEW FROM SYLVIA'S BACKYARD WAS INDEED GORGEOUS! |
A VERY INTERESTING BOAT, DOCKED ACROSS THE LAGOON FROM SYLVIA'S HOUSE |
COFFEE, CAKE AND BISCUITS (COOKIES), PROVIDED BY SYLVIA |
NEW FRIENDS! |
SYLVIA'S HUSBAND, BOB, TALKS WITH SOME OF THE TEAM MEMBERS |
BOB AND SYLVIA - OUR NEW FRIENDS AND GUARDIAN ANGELS |
WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR NEXT HOUSE ASSIGNMENT, WE DISCOVERED A SAMARITAN'S PURSE TEAM WAS ALREADY WORKING THERE |
OUR TEAM VISITED AND "TALKED SHOP" WITH THE SAMARITAN'S PURSE GROUP, BEFORE HEADING TO OUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT |
NOW, THAT'S A GOOD LOOKING GROUP OF FOLKS! |
OUR NEXT HOUSE ASSIGNMENT |
GETTING DOWN TO THE INTERIOR'S "BARE BONES" |
WE HAD TO REMOVE THE REST OF THE FLOORING AND SUB-FLOOR AND TAKE DOWN SOME CABINETS |
THE REMAINING DAMAGED PORTIONS OF THE HOUSE WERE TAKEN OUT TO THE FRONT FOR LATER PICK UP |
GETTING READY TO TEAR OUT THE REMAINING SUB-FLOOR |
WHEN WE TOOK A WATER BREAK, I FOUND THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE! |
IT WAS A LONG CLIMB UP FOR ONE OF OUR "VERTICALLY CHALLENGE" TEAM MEMBERS! |
"HEY! ..... DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY TARZAN IMITATION?" |
AS USUAL, THE MOLD WAS EVERYWHERE |
WE SAVED ALL THE METAL FROM THE TEAR OUT FOR RECYCLING |
GETTING READY TO LEAVE - HOW MANY TEAM MEMBERS DOES IT TAKE TO LOCK THE FRONT DOOR? :-) |
SHOWER TRAILER |
ARRIVING AT OUR FINAL HOUSE ASSIGNMENT |
RELAXING, WAITING FOR DINNER TO BE READY |
A BIT OF "TRASH TALKING" BEFORE DINNER |
MY FAVORITE VIEW AT THE END OF A LONG DAY! |
ONE OF THE FEEDING TEAM MEMBERS LEADING THE EVENING DEVOTIONS |
BACK AT THE HOUSE, INSTALLING THE NEW CEILING - IT'S EASY WHEN YOU HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS! |
THE TEAM WORKS LIKE A WELL OILED MACHINE! |
DEFINITELY A GROUP-SIZE OPERATION HERE! |
MAKING CRITICAL MEASUREMENTS |
WHEN INSTALLING SHEETROCK, YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO GET A BIT CREATIVE! |
CALLING IN TO HEADQUATERS FOR SOME MORE SHEETROCK |
A VERY SPEEDY SHEETROCK FROM THE "BLUE HAT" (THE BIG OPERATIONS BOSS) |
PLAYING WITH "MUD" (SCREW HOLE AND SEAM FILLER) |
MAKING SURE THE SHEETROCK SCREW HOLES HAVE THE PROPER "DIMPLE" FOR MUD SMOOTHING |
A BOYS NIGHT OUT TO THE BIG BOX "TOOL TOY STORE" |
LOOKING FOR PLUMBING PARTS |
"I WANT ONE OF THESE.....ONE OF THOSE.....AND SOME OF THOSE!" |
EVERY FUEL STOP FOR THE VANS WAS EXPENSIVE, BUT THOSE DIESEL ENGINES GET DECENT MILEAGE |
A LOT OF TOOL BAGS, BUT THE TEAM MEMBERS LIKE TO USE THEIR OWN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT |
QUITE OFTEN, TEAM MEETINGS ARE MORE LIKE A COMEDY CENTRAL ROUTINE! |
LUNCH BREAD AND A NICE PLAYGROUND ACROSS THE STREET - WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED? |
PRAISING JESUS ON THE SHORE - I DON'T THINK HE CARED IF HER HANDS WERE COVERED IN SHEETROCK "MUD"! |
REACHING SOME OF THOSE SHEETROCK SCREWS WAS A STRETCH! |
FINISHING SHEETROCK ON A DOORWAY |
THE TEAM INSTALLED A NEW BATHTUB AND SURROUND |
INSTALLING THE NEW BATHTUB AND SURROUND |
HAULING AWAY THE TRASH AND TEAR OUT MATERIALS - THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE NO LONGER PROVIDING PICK-UP SERVICE |
STIRRING UP THE "MUD" FOR SHEETROCK APPLICATION |
A BILTMORE TEAM MEMBER LEADING AN EVENING DEVOTIONAL PROGRAM |
THE BILTMORE TEAM HAS DEFINITELY EMBRACED THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES! |
ARRIVING AT OUR FINAL HOUSE ASSIGNMENT |
WHEN WE DID ROLL CALL, ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WAS MISSING - WE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND HIM IN ONE OF THE VANS! |
THE "JERSEY GIRLS" INSTALLED NEW INSULATION IN ALL THE EXTERIOR WALLS |
OF THOSE HOUSES ASSIGNED TO US, THIS ONE WAS THE LARGES |
AN IN-CAMERA PANORAMA, TAKEN DURING A DISASTER RELIEF TRIP TO NEW JERSEY |
MAKING A BETTER SHEETROCK CUT |
WE WERE ABLE TO USE LONGER PIECES OF SHEETROCK, WHICH MADE THE WORK PROCEED MUCH FASTER |
TAKING A LUNCH BREAK ON THE FRONT PORCH |
SOME OF THE MORE ADVENTUROUS MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND FOUND A BETTER VIEW FOR LUNCH |
OTHER MEMBERS DECIDED TO PLAY A LITTLE "ROUND BALL" DURING THE LUNCH BREAK |
A GOOD SHOT! |
SAYING OUR FAREWELLS TO PAUL |
LEAVING WAS EMOTIONAL, BUT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO RETURN TO THE AREA FOR ADDITIONAL WORK |
OUR NEW FRIEND, PAUL, AND ROSIE |
ON THE WAY HOME, WE GOT A NOT-SO-SUBTLE REMINDER THAT WE'RE ONLY ON THIS EARTH FOR A SHORT WHILE! |
IT WAS A VERY REWARDING TRIP - AND, GOD WILLING, THE BILTMORE TEAM WILL BE BACK! |