Finished Feb Project

Hi. We are done with our February project so this week is a time to catch up on shopping, sightseeing, cleaning, fixing leaky water lines in camper, sorting tools, scrapbooking, relaxing, attending HEE HAW show at a local church, etc. B can't resist using the dozer so he plays some. Throttle linkage on the dozer kept falling off so he had to fix that too--rather old machine but runs good. Nine new SOWER couples will be coming in on Thursday and Friday--will be fun to get to know them. Three couples are staying over from February.


This week several members of the Mennonite Disaster Service are working here at Trinity Pines because they ran out of work on one project and another project was cancelled--they put the metal on the lean-to and purlins on the high roof--they are younger so can climb around much better than us "old" SOWERS. The MDS are from "up north" most from PA. Also here this week are the TBMs (Texas Baptist Men) brick layers. About 15 of them. They are laying up the rock facing, These men just lay brick, block or stone but they have worked in Africa and Russia besides the US--many are retired but not all them.

It has been fun to interact with all the volunteers who come from all over the country.

C and I are planning to visit the prison museum in Huntsville today and take a driving tour of the twelve prisons around Huntsville.

B enjoying the break between projects--sunshine and about 80 degrees.

The 32 ft trusses are set on the 16 ft side walls. MDS is putting up lower common rafters

MDS put the metal on the porch roof.

COM (Campers On Mission) built the lower structure of the deck and MDS put on the decking and railing.

You may be wondering what do the SOWERs do--Since there are no blueprints for this building, most of the SOWERs do the design, layout and prep work to keep the other volunteers productive. Lots of fun and lots of progress. A little side line on how God provides--As I said earlier. One of the MDS projects was cancelled when the workers were already on the road so rather than turn around and go home they were available to work at Trinity Pines. Also two of the TBM bricklayers projects were recently cancelled so they too were available to come to Trinity Pines.

Glad to hear that MN is finally warming up. We will be glad to see you the first part of April. We are fix'n (oops, guess I have been south too long) to attend the SOWER reunion in Big Sandy TX the last week of March.

Continue to pray for safety on this project. nlsower

Week 2 at Trinity Pines

The pool looked inviting but rather cool. The cross by lake Livingston.
These ladies made sweat shirt jackets one afternoon.
One of C's painting projects.
The men continued to work on the worship center and B spent thursday running the dozer to build roads--rained Saturday so he may have to repair some washouts. The ladies were painting, cleaning and crafts. Lots of good fellowship--played putt putt golf Sunday afternoon. Five SOWER couples went to the local Cowboy Church--fun. Of course we went out to eat too. Looks like the weather this week will be great for working. Lows in the 40's and highs in the 60's. Must get to devotions this morning. Thanks for the comments. I was beginning to think my readership was very limited. Even a single word would be encouraging. nlsower

Great week of work

Flower pots that some of the ladies are painting on.

Fish and crosses that are being painted
One of the picture frames that was painted. These items are sold in the gift store.

Rafters etc that we worked on this week. Notice the handy lifts we use.

Stone faced wall one of the SOWERs worked on and he is teaching some other guys how to lay the stone. This facing will be on three sides of the new building--lots of stone to lay. Austin Stone.

This is how the stone arrived. Just dumped in a pile.

The geothermo drilling truck. I am waiting until they get out of the way so I can build the circle driveway with the dozer.
One of the high lift we use to reach the top of the building.The Dozer I will use to build the driveway and to rebuild another road. It works good--just no brakes and the foot throttle is backwards--push to go slow and release to go fast--I'll try not to run over any cars.
The deck the COM's (Campers on Mission) are building on the end of the Chapel. They are only here one more week, so they have lots to do yet. Hope the weather cooperates--could rain Tuesday. The deck is about 30 ft x 70 ft.

We go to a different church each week--lots of fun to see all of the fellow believers worshipping whereever we go. Lots of friendly people--including "southern" greetings--C says I turn bright red from these greetings. This northern Swede isn't use to so much hugging in church.

Been nice weather this past week-lows in 40's and highs in the 70's with low humidity. Next week the winds are to change--come from the gulf. That means the high humidity will be back.

We went to Huntsville on Friday--drove around the main prision--will go back sometime to see "old sparky". Must get to bed. nlsower

At Trinity Pines Camp

Entrance to Trinity Pines

Pines by the entrance


1000 seat auditorium we will be working on.

Porch along auditorium we will be working on

New guest house that the ladies were painting last month--got too wet to finish the painting.

Hi. We made it to Trinity TX yesterday. We are about 25 miles from Huntsville TX. Cool yesterday but beautiful today--took a long walk around the camp and then a nap in the lawn chair.

There are 10 sower couples working here this month. nlsower