Here and There: The Pieces are Coming Together

Wow! Has life been crazy or what?  It has been over a month since our last blog entry.  Let me give you a quick update on where we are with the JOM project. Thanks to an in-kind donation from Southwood Builders Supply, we now have a garage door installed.  With another in-kind donation from Baker Septic Systems, we have a septic tank system in place…check-out the photos!   Steve Blount worked last week to get the site close to final grade for us to install mechanical equipment pads and the driveway.  There has been painting inside and outside by various volunteers, along with interior trim work completed by Tom Wrenn (All American Hallmark Homes) and Carl Cavnevari (Heritage Homes and Development).  Tom Wirth (Marlin Marble) has installed all the window sills and two bathroom countertops.  They are also in the process of fabricating the granite countertops for the kitchen cabinets.   Central Contractors is working toward completing the electrical trim-out so that the power can be turned on.  Once we have the equipment pads in place, Miller’s Central Air can install the HVAC equipment so we can begin to climate control the house for the vinyl plank flooring installation.

If you get a chance stop by and check-out the progress.  Oh yeah…Keith and Dawn you are not allowed to move in when we get the power and air conditioning on:)

Pausing to Praise

4-29-09 (Wednesday)

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to listen to a sermon by Pastor Brett Morey about the presence of God, and how important it was for us as Christians to never loose site in seeking God’s presence. Today as I drove up to Grandma Bet’s project I felt the overwhelming presence of God…making it hard for me to leave.

As I sat in my truck I thought about this project from its beginning to where we find ourselves today. God has done so many things through this project as He broke racial barriers, built our faith, grew our relationships, and has left us all forever changed. The greatest change is our overwhelming love for God and others, His two greatest commands. PRAISE!!! GOD for what he has done and continues to do through His people. God you and you alone are worthy to receive all honor, glory and power.

“In-kind” donations continue to pour in through God’s hands. Thanks to Mike Corby (Corby Tile) the tile flooring throughout the house is complete. Tom Wirth (Marlin Marble) has supplied and installed all the marble window sills. Seacoast Supply is on site delivering the stucco materials, while Gourley Plastering is preparing the house for stucco. Just before I left the project a Bagwell Lumber truck pulled up to deliver the interior trim package (doors, base,etc…provided in full)–WOW!

Meeting Notes: September 29

9-29-09 (Monday):
I woke up this morning knowing that tonight we would be having another meeting about the project with the hopes of enlisting more individuals and companies to help. In my quiet time today, the first thing I prayed was God please provide us with the needs to keep this project moving in a positive direction. I also prayed for him to give me strength to see this project to the end.

At 11:00 AM this morning while working at my office, Keith Lagrow dropped in and said that he had been praying and that the Holy Spirit was leading him to come see me about our project. It was at that time he dropped a check on my desk, and said this is what God had laid on his heart to give. How AWESOME is it to see God at work!

I spoke to Ronnie Hathaway today about site work; he said he would do anything we needed. Ronnie agreed to work together with Marty Hickey (Hickey Excavation).

I called Joe Lyon today who has agreed to provide a window package if needed. Joe also said he could help provide plumbing fixtures.

Again the meeting was a HUGE success. Maurice and I were able to give testimony on the $1,500.00 cash donations given to us. It was a pleasure to have Grandma Bet attend along with many others from her community.

Lou Canevari introduced us to Grif Broach who wants to provide all the drafting and engineering at no cost. He has agreed to generate a preliminary set of plans within a week and working plans for permitting within in two weeks. This is a huge blessing, because we will be able to design our own set of plans to meet Grandma Bet’s needs.

As we went down the takeoff list seeing who we could enlist to help with the project: God is continuing to answer prayers. Some of those who said they would help with the project are:
Donald Clark (Clark Pest Control), Ray Huber (Soffit/Fascia), Tom Wirth (Marlin Marble),
Sharion Hudson (All Around Septic), Gene Lollis’s Brother (to donate slab steel materials),
Bud Whitlock (Whitlock Surveying), and Don Maddox (Central Florida Glass).

Much discussion was centered on the importance of making others within the community aware of this project. While at lunch with my wife (Tracy) mentioned that I should start an Internet Blog to have a place where people can go to learn about the ministry and be updated on the project status. While at our meeting my daughter (Chelsea) and Tracy went on line and set up a Blog (Kingdom Builders), which was up and running when I returned home. It will take some time to enter pictures, notes, etc…, but I am looking forward to using this technology to promote the project/ministry. I also talked to Terry Weaver and his wife Tony is working on providing us with a CD to help promote the project.

A question that was brought up is what are we going to do with any excess money that is left over from this project? What a good thing to be concerned about! It was agreed upon by all that we would shift it to the next project God lay’s before us. It also raised the importance of Kingdom Builders becoming a Non-Profit organization, so that we can continue to do ministry. I told Grandma Bet her project was a launch for more good things to come, as God give us direction for other ministry opportunities.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday 10-13-08 7:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Lake Placid.