Elk, WA – Nov. 5-10, 2025

This week, seven weekly volunteers from Montana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California joined our three crew leaders to continue framing houses #1 and #2. By the end of the week, trusses were set on house #1, as well as the outside walls on house #2.

Our group included a contractor with more than 40 years of experience, as well as others with no construction experience. As usual, those with experience were willing to offer explanations and instructions. The work on floor joists, decking, posts, subfloor, and trusses went smoothly.

The foundation we installed for house #3 has been assigned to a Holdeman disaster aid group called Christian Public Service (CPS). That group installed a foundation for our third house this week. They will complete the foundations for the rest of the houses assigned to MDS. Permit requests are underway for our fourth and fifth houses.

One of our crew leaders led devotions on Thursday. As a closing, he announced his joy at becoming a first-time grandpa on Wednesday night. His family, including the prospective parents, had been told the baby would be a girl. To their surprise, “she” was a boy.

We welcomed Don Nelson from Lancaster, PA, as our new crew leader for the next three weeks. We also met our new area coordinator, Clark Upton, from Portland, OR.

On Saturday, four of us followed the Columbia River into British Columbia. The mountain passes were beautiful, with six to eight inches of fresh snow.

Next week, we welcome a group from Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, VA. They will help move us toward our goal of six houses under roof by December 20.