Friends, Furniture, and a Brand New Sign!

This weekend was certainly a fun and productive one that will go down in the history of our humble little outreach effort. There were twelve visitors for our first official workday. We accomplished a lot and a had a great time getting to know each other. 

     I had gone to Vidor to pick Amanda up. It took us four hours to drive to Longview. We had been awake since 2 a.m. when we were the first to arrive at the house at 9. We had coffee and donuts and got to work. I started clipping the hedges and sweeping the sidewalk. I put the weed eater together and started exploring our jungle of a backyard. Amanda started cleaning the house, wiping down the walls and mopping. The house took on an entirely new fresh smell of Pinesol. 

    Soon, Aaron and his Amanda came over. It was our first chance to meet her, but it didn't take us long to click. Before we knew it, she had found a job for herself and got to it. Aaron started doing a variety of yard work with me. We pulled up roots and nails and glass. We're not done, but we made a lot of progress. 

     A little while later, Justin and his family came over from Marshall to say hello and take the tour. Mark and Ronnie came over and joined in the fun. I have been friends with Mark for about a year now on Facebook through our mutual friend Travis. I always appreciated his encouragement and was happy to meet him in person as well as his friend Ronny. After a short visit and introductions, we all got to work. Everyone was working so hard that before we knew it, the overgrown flower bed was only freshly tilled dirt and not a blade of grass to be seen. The hedges were square once again. The yard was mowed and many of the bits of debris had been removed. The sign was nearly completed.   Mark, Ronnie, Aaron, and I prayed together before they left.  We really enjoyed meeting them, and we hope to see them again real soon.

     For lunch, we had PIZZA! And we continued to make progress throughout the afternoon. Later in the evening, when everyone had gone home, Bro. Blake showed up with a truckload of furniture and helped us get it settled in the house. We drank coffee with him as we wound our first work day to a close. I look forward to many coffee visits and Sunday afternoon naps on that big and comfortable sectional. 

     On Sunday afternoon, Amanda, Aaron, and I fried bacon and relaxed in the house. I hope that in the future everyone come to feel at home in the the community house. My prayer is that- however houseless we may be from time to time- we will never, ever be homeless. 

Our plan at this point is to be there every Saturday from 9a to 9p, and every Sunday from 12 to 5. So if you would like to see or to participate or to dream with us, come by and drink some coffee on our BIG COMFY COUCH!