Return of the House Movers

Progress is at a standstill, pending the return of the workers. On the good side, progress continues on the gas well, or at least the preparation for the gas well. The company preparing the pad needed more dirt. More dirt translates to more money, which translates to more funds to complete the necessary steps to make the shelter livable. If you have ever carved a homeplace out of the wilderness, you know what is happening here in these woods. After the house gets smacked back together, there are some huge projects--not impossible, at all, but lots of work--including the septic tank, putting the house systems (electrical and plumbing) back together where they sawed the house in two, seeing if the a/c works, and all those things. Of course we cannot see if the a/c works until the electricity gets there. Then there is water line, smoothing the road, cleaning debris--just more and more stuff.

Part of why I am hoping this will get underway soon of course has to do with the need for it. This week alone we turned down four requests for help with housing, not counting the number of people who call wanting to apply for a Habitat home--that is a different category of folks and need, usually. There was the man who called from the motel while the motel owner paced outside his room waiting for him to get out, the grandmother whose son and grandchild lived with her, but she had been evicted, and the one who lives wherever he can but needs at least to be able to sleep under a roof. He works hard, and will make it back up, but in the meantime, he is scrambling (and thankful) for every small thing he gets.

Some folks think we have no homeless people in Marshall. We do. The events and situations that lead to the need for a roof over one's head are many and as varied as the people, but they are all things that could happen to any of us. Later on I want to expound on some of the stories, and theorize as to how different choices might have prevented some of the results, but right now it is time to go to the House of the Lord and worship. On the way I will pick up from two to four beautiful little girls whose parents entrust to my care.

May you have a great day.