Lytton, BC – May 25-31, 2025

The past weekend was a time of exploring and hiking. A cab-filled truck crossed the ferry over to the west side. We discovered the Stein Valley Park, which invited a hike down to the river. On Sunday, the four students went extreme hiking. They came back looking rather wind tossed and dirty, particularly because they had been on the pedestrian train bridge. The coal cars passed by them and, with the wind, they were dusted with coal!

Monday, Judy and Linda did the Lillooet grocery run — another two cart loads for our hungry workers. On the build site, they finished painting the siding and continued with its installation. Tuesday was a very busy day with HVAC and insulation installed at the same time.  Delbert and Yolanda Wiebe, from Abbotsford, insulated and poly-ed by 4 pm and joined us for supper, bringing their gregarious spirits and lots of laughter with them. What an amazing and efficient team!

The electrical inspection passed. Wednesday, the house was cleaned up in order for the sheet rock to be installed the next day.  It was a hot 34-degree (Celsius) day. Linda brought out watermelon for afternoon break.

The cook received multiple text messages that it was Isabel’s 22nd birthday so, she jumped into action and decided on 22 chocolate cupcakes with icing and blue sprinkles.

The homeowner family joined us for supper, and we appreciated hearing about their experiences of the June 2021 wildfire. They were evacuated 3 years in row, yet Nikiah and Cle-Ann are resilient, cheerful, and look forward to their new home and the beginning of a new season in their lives.

The young folk went over to the Parish Hall for a recital by the homeowners’ daughters and scholarship student Isabel. Amazing pianists.

By the end of the week, the house was completely sided. The insulation inspection passed. On Monday, the blower door test will take place and, on Tuesday, a sheeting crew arrives. Great progress.

Leaving this week are two scholarship students, Matthaeus Dyck and Jacob Morris. We thank them for their service and the youthful energy they brought to the site. The Sawatzkys filled in for two weeks as Project Director and Office Manager, and will head back to their home in Salmon Arm, BC.  Linda taught the crew a new game and hopes “ Tensies” will continue as an MDS tradition, which the couple learned on an MDS assignment in Maui at Ohana Hope Village.