First, we only have a couple more scheduled workdays in Galveston. Our intended project phase is coming to an end … with Island Community Church and we also need to start working on more local projects.

Second, there is a ChurchInAction Blog that will serve in this blog’s place.

But before this blog is finished … here are a few shots of the other two projects that we plan to take on this summer and fall. We have a donated trailer house that we intend to use to replace a very old trailerhouse in Fulshear. Then, we are working with an organization, Fort Bend CORP, to relocate a home that has been donated to them. We plan to move it to the Fulshear area.

Plans are to finish the trailerhouse project in May – June time frame and finish the home move project by Oct – Nov.

For individuals, we hope to see you at some of these projects …. for Small Groups … we would love to work with your Small Groups members as a group … please pray about a weekend that you guys could be available.

In His Service,

Steve and Greg

We were able to get ALL of the walls, ceiling and trim painted in the entire Island Community Church … it really, really looks good.

Also, we had a great crew that continued to work on some of the large windows in the Fellowship Hall.

It was a long, hard day of work … and everyone pulled their weight and did their thing … it was absolutely great to work with everyone!

I know the congregation of Island Community Church is going to really like what they see, the day after … it has been a pleasure serving at this church.

In His Service,

Steve & Greg

The last couple of trips have been very long workdays … one involved texturing all of the remaining walls in the “fellowship hall”, hallways and all of the tape and float repair spots in the offices and classrooms.

Last workday, we were able to get all of the excess texture off of the baseboards and then apply white primer on the fellowship hall, repair spots and hallways … we ran out of primer so we called it a night … literally. We had a slight plumbing repair to take care of … that kept us in Galveston until later.

It is so great to be able to think about how far the volunteers from Grace Fellowship have brought this church along … from the Men’s retreat, we have been the only church that has been working on this church. It really has come a long ways!!

The next Workday (Saturday, April 2nd) is when we will start painting the walls and ceiling … we could use your help … please come to help or convince your Small Group the join you … we can use all the help we can get!

God Bless …

Steve & Greg & Noel …

With the donation from Grace, they were able to get most of the concrete poured around the church (see last entry) and this time we see that the front glass and doors have been installed. Boy does it look great!! For those men that attended the Grace Men’s Retreat … the insides and foyer have really come a long ways!!

This last workday (Dec 28th) four men from Grace were able to actually complete the installation of all of the sheetrock! That has certainly taken some persistence to get that done! Now, we’re planning on getting bids to help with the remaining sheetrock that still needs to be taped and floated. We also need some help with some of the previous installation of tape and float. We are getting closer and closer to getting the remainder of the insides textured and painted … and then Pastor Jim has the floor and electrical to get done.

The Church In Action Leadership Team have decided that we will complete our work at the Island Community Church in June. If you do the math, that leaves about 5 more workdays in Galveston. If you or your Small Group are interested in spending a day, working on this church, please let a CIA Team Member know and we will accommodate.

A special thanks to the guys that travelled to Galveston yesterday … well done!!

In His Service,

Steve & Greg

There continues to be many small jobs that need to be completed, but the church is looking very nice. The concrete was poured for the drive and as much of the sidewalk as money was available. The front doors and windows have yet to be installed, but the window installer is tied up on another project (where he’s not donating him time).

The next Workday will be an “unoffical” Workday … we are planning on working at the Island Community Church on the Tues & Wed between Christmas and New Years … hope you can join us.

Work that will continue includes more sheetrock taping and floating (in the fellowship hall), sanding of the trim and repair of some of the installed tape & float jobs. We hope to get more of the walls textured and possibly some paint completed by Wednesday.

So, another day that God hath made … God Bless

Steve & Greg

We also had a few folks that noticed the workspace needed a good cleaning … so much of the trash was picked up and the entire classroom, office, foyer and hallway was swept and vacuumed … it really is started to look great! We also had a “much-anticipated” training class on floating and taping. That paid off in getting much of the tape and floating complete and some of the “re-dos” completed … But … we still have a ways to go with all the taping and floating … and … unfortunately “re-dos”.

We had another cookout with sausage and hot dogs … and a couple of deserts. It was overall, a great day … and the weather was outstanding. Oh, the mosquitos have returned … not sure where they’ve been … but they were back!

Also, we were able to present Pastor Jim with a $11,000 check from Grace’s Hurricane Ike Love Offering. Pastor Jim told us that this money will be used to obtain the front glass windows and doors and get most of the concrete poured around the church. Pastor Jim was most appreciative for the donation from Grace and he has already arranged for the work to start next week. It was a pleasure to be a part of such an outpouring of love from Grace … from one church to another. God Bless …

Work still remains and we’re getting closer … next official Workday is the first Saturday in December. And unofficial plans are being laid for possibly a couple of workdays between Christmas and New Years … hopefully you will be able to join us.

A special thanks to the two small groups that sent their members to this workday …

God Bless …

Steve

Special thanks to Bert and Boyce (and their boys) for coming to Galveston to join in on the work.

Preparations were made for our next Workday on Nov 20th. We anticipate a couple of home teams and possibly a few youth showing up for that Workday.

Greg and I were able to sit down and visit with Pastor Jim about where he needed Grace to help next with his church. It appears Grace may be in a position to make a donation to Island Community Church on Nov 20th … and we have also agreed that Grace will schedule Saturday Workdays on the 1st Saturday of each month through June 2011. Great news!!

Hope you’re able to join us on Nov 20th … God Bless.

Steve & Greg

The workforce from Grace Fellowship was 40 workers strong! And what workers they were! We were able to get most of the primer on the classrooms and offices, got all of the remaining new doors installed, installed all of the trim and baseboards in the classrooms and office and also got all of the dirt spread out in the drive. All in all, it was a great workday and we were blessed to have such a great day.

Also worth mentioning, we had three Small Groups join us this weekend … a special thanks to those folks. We hope to see more Small Groups join us in the future.

The next workday in Galvestion is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th … hope to see you there.

God Bless,

Steve & Greg

Steve

Details regarding the retreat will be published to individual participants, while this blog entry contains information on the individual worksites for the Men’s Retreat.

regular Grace Hurricane Relief Mission trips will begin at on Saturday, October 1st in Galveston.

In His Service,

Steve