Newton, TX – RV – Feb. 9-15, 2025

Super Bowl Sunday – In the morning, we attended Vision Outreach Church with Mary, the homeowner of the house where we had a house blessing last week.  The service was very spontaneous – impromptu musical numbers and testimonies and no bulletin to follow for the order of service.  The congregation was aware of Mary’s “new” home and we, MDS volunteers, were heartily welcomed!

At 4:00 p.m., we met at the office trailer for grilled hamburgers and chicken wings, salads and homemade ice cream.  Most of the guys stayed and watched the Super Bowl in the office trailer – some of us chose to watch in the comfort of our RV’s, and others enjoyed visiting and free time!!

Monday morning the work was finished at the Thomas home with the final installation of the under-house insulation, just in time as rain began falling about noon.  Monday night, Duane and Ed represented MDS at the Newton City Council Meeting, where again, we received a warm welcome and many thanks for the work we are doing in this area.

Despite the rain on Monday afternoon and Tuesday, Vernon, Tom and Ed finished the new sewer drains and plumbing under the Diggles home.   Jean, Lori and Darlene cleaned the house on Wednesday, and we are set to have a house blessing on Friday morning, the 21^st.   All that remains to be done is to install a stove hood which will be completed before the house blessing.

All the volunteers worked at the Minter home sometime during this week.  They have painted walls, doors and trim, installed door casings, hung doors, laid flooring and reinstalled the toilet and sink.  The sliding doors in the front of the converted garage were removed, and the opening was framed up to receive two new windows.

A new job was started at the Wright home.  The process of removing siding was started and then stopped on Wednesday due to the downpour of rain we received this week.    On Thursday, work continued on the removal of siding and windows, and the application of house wrap.

Friday night and Saturday morning, we watched the livestream of the MDS Annual Celebration.  Sometimes when we are in the day-to-day work on site, we don’t see the big picture or realize the immense contributions of this organization.  It was encouraging and refreshing to hear the stories and reports – we are ready to do our part for another week!  On Saturday afternoon, many of the volunteers caravaned to Jennings, Louisiana, to visit an alligator farm, watch a parade and eat at a delicious Cajun restaurant – some experienced eating crawfish for the first time.  Six of our current volunteers have previously served in the Jennings area and were able to see some of the homes they worked on.

It has been a busy, rewarding week!

Ruth for the Newton TX RV Volunteers – Duane & Jean, Lynn & Darlene, Dave & Karen, Vernon & Mary, Tom & Lori, Bill & Sandi and Ed & Ruth