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Part: 2 (Page1)
Mike's and JJ's group went to their job sight which was a great trailer way back a dirt road (see pics). Upon arrival we noticed a few things, one of which being that everybody's trash was in cages. We found out later that this was due to a bear problem. Another thing we noticed was that the neighbor's trailer didn't have a front door. And the third thing we noticed immediately was the cleverly hidden 'no trespassing' sign spray-painted on the front of the trailer. Our job that day was to construct, frame, stare, clank, roof, and tar a back porch for the lady who lived in this trailer. The day started off somewhat overcast, but nice, with a gorgeous view of the mountains and we started off the day working in nice, green grass. As the pictures show, by the end of the day we were wading shin-deep in water and mud. Despite all this, in one day we managed to do everything we were tasked to do. After some quick instructions and a demonstration on how to operate power-tools, I opened up the proverbial flood-gates and let them at it. Now before you get too worried, no Band-Aids were needed. At the end of day one, the back porch was done. Day two saw us attacking the same house, except the front porch. And after some miscommunication, and us rebuilding the porch again, we were done! (We were done with this job, that is.) We then went on day three to the house that the roofers were working on, and proceeded to begin work on a loading ramp that ran from the stairs in the backyard to the door. This run ended up being about twenty-six feet. Once we discovered a 'flaw' in the design, it became necessary to add a board in the middle so the other boards didn't bow. Anna and Andy were asked to do this job due to their strength, integrity, courage, willingness to attempt difficult jobs, and the fact that they were the two smallest kids. As you can see in the pics, there was a lot of work and planning that went into the construction of the ramp, and I served as an advisor and allowed them to work and figure out the construction. When we reached the last step, we realized the ramp wouldn't work there, so a quick lesson in concrete-laying was given and the step was angled to match the ramp, successfully. I can say without a doubt that these were by far the hardest jobs given I have ever been involved with in a mission trip. The ramp, the porches and the roof were technically challenging and physically demanding. And even though the pictures don't do it justice, I hope in the pictures you can see the pride the kids took in these jobs.
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