Selma, AL – Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2025

The weekend was very busy with long-term leadership transition. This always means a grand bedding washing, room sweep-out (and usually a mop – good-bye, dust bunnies!), and a scramble to find enough clean pillows, sheets and blankets for the new leadership.

The weekly crew is welcomed in simultaneously, making for a jolly and lively new crowd. Four of us stayed over from January, to welcome Gregg Olson (crew leader), Ryan Sprunger (construction supervisor), and Ivan and Anna Mary Martin, (cooks), who are already treating us to wonderful meals. Kathryn Burkholder from Kentucky is here for a month as well, as a long-term volunteer.

Galen and Kathy Waltner headed home to Kansas, to tend their greenhouse and help prepare for the 75^thanniversary celebration in Wichita. Bill Metschulat hustled home to meet his newest grandbabies, and Lorissa and Kirsten, our lively young cooks from Ohio, rode home with Bruce and Donna Kindy to continue their lives there, with great hopes of returning to serve with MDS again.

We finally managed to finish painting Mary Brown’s large house, now that the weather has finally warmed up. She is one happy homeowner.

The large repair project at Didi Davis’ house is finally done as well. After Jason Martin’s crew replaced the roof, all the windows got replaced as well, with new white trim. Immediately the house was smiling again. Much of the interior saw repairs as well, much to Didi’s thankful satisfaction.

On Friday, Jason’s crew salvaged tin roofing and cleaned out the Reynolds house for demo on Monday. Then Jason and Lamar went and installed a dryer vent for Tom Jones. Thus ended another happy week, full of evening games in the bunk room, and volleyball on the church lawn!