Journal: March 11
March 11, 2006
It’s Saturday night, the end of the first week here at Africa Inland Mission Retirement Center. This assignment is quite different from the others, but then they are all different. I can’t put my finger on why it is, but I’m not as comfortable here. The last two groups of sowers were more unified and there was a better feeling of camaraderie. I miss that. Every individual in the group is really nice, but I haven’t felt group cohesiveness so far. It’s a big group, but no bigger than the Vero group. Our morning devotions are combined with the staff and we meet in a large room and sit in rows instead of a circle. That is way too formal and doesn’t lead to unity. Actually, I shouldn’t judge because we have had to opt out of game nights and a Friday excursion because Anitarae was not feeling well. Perhaps the next two weeks will be better.
I’ve been doing a few small jobs on a house remodel. I have a hankering to get into a bigger more interesting project. I did some sheetrock taping without the help of a corner tool and found that to be frustrating. I also did a little electrical work and some painting. Perhaps next week will be better in this arena also.
Yesterday, I drew up a plan and started out to build a tool box for the tailgate end of the truck. I asked another sower his opinion and he advised me to check out the flea market first. So we drove to Leesburg and headed east on 441 as directed. Ten miles down 441 we had yet to find the flea market so I stopped for directions (about ten miles farther than Anitarae had wished.) The flea market was another fifteen minutes away and not open on Friday. Bummer! So we headed back towards Leesburg. I spotted a truck accessories store so I stopped to check it out. No toolbox, but try Central Tractor was the advice. Central Tractor also had no toolbox and suggested another flea market only a half-hour away. So we started out, but hunger took over and we stopped in The Villages at a Mexican restaurant. The food was great … very authentic … the best Mexican since Oklahoma according to ATR. The whole area of The Villages is Spanish architecture and brand new. Every house, every store and very attractive. We got to the flea market at 2:45 and it closed at 3:00 and no toolbox. I was enjoying the day anyway because this area of Florida is very different with its hills and lakes and architecture. Anitarae, on the other hand, was not feeling well and considered the day just one huge frustration so we started home. Less than a mile from home we spotted a pull off where a truck was parked and had all these toolboxes for sale. I didn’t know whether to be happy to maybe find a toolbox right near where we started out or sad we had driven so far unnecessarily. The guy turned out to be very friendly and a wealth of information about toolboxes and auxiliary fuel tanks (another wish), but he had no toolbox for me. Now what do I do? Should I buy a new one for $269, build one for c. $69 or skip it and use the back seat? And what about that fuel tank?
We are all signed up for projects in April and May. We’ll be in Gautier, MS April 1 – 21 and Smithville, TN April 28 – May 18. I don’t have an address for MS yet. I know we will be at the Crossroads Church of the Nazarene, but I don’t have the mailing address. The address for TN is: 205 Serenity Place, Smithville, TN 37166. An emergency number is 615 – 597 1264. The MS project is Katrina relief and we will be with ROAM (the Nazarene RV ministry). We plan to be home about June 1 and also hope to stop to see the MD Robinsons on the way.
It’s Saturday night, the end of the first week here at Africa Inland Mission Retirement Center. This assignment is quite different from the others, but then they are all different. I can’t put my finger on why it is, but I’m not as comfortable here. The last two groups of sowers were more unified and there was a better feeling of camaraderie. I miss that. Every individual in the group is really nice, but I haven’t felt group cohesiveness so far. It’s a big group, but no bigger than the Vero group. Our morning devotions are combined with the staff and we meet in a large room and sit in rows instead of a circle. That is way too formal and doesn’t lead to unity. Actually, I shouldn’t judge because we have had to opt out of game nights and a Friday excursion because Anitarae was not feeling well. Perhaps the next two weeks will be better.
I’ve been doing a few small jobs on a house remodel. I have a hankering to get into a bigger more interesting project. I did some sheetrock taping without the help of a corner tool and found that to be frustrating. I also did a little electrical work and some painting. Perhaps next week will be better in this arena also.
Yesterday, I drew up a plan and started out to build a tool box for the tailgate end of the truck. I asked another sower his opinion and he advised me to check out the flea market first. So we drove to Leesburg and headed east on 441 as directed. Ten miles down 441 we had yet to find the flea market so I stopped for directions (about ten miles farther than Anitarae had wished.) The flea market was another fifteen minutes away and not open on Friday. Bummer! So we headed back towards Leesburg. I spotted a truck accessories store so I stopped to check it out. No toolbox, but try Central Tractor was the advice. Central Tractor also had no toolbox and suggested another flea market only a half-hour away. So we started out, but hunger took over and we stopped in The Villages at a Mexican restaurant. The food was great … very authentic … the best Mexican since Oklahoma according to ATR. The whole area of The Villages is Spanish architecture and brand new. Every house, every store and very attractive. We got to the flea market at 2:45 and it closed at 3:00 and no toolbox. I was enjoying the day anyway because this area of Florida is very different with its hills and lakes and architecture. Anitarae, on the other hand, was not feeling well and considered the day just one huge frustration so we started home. Less than a mile from home we spotted a pull off where a truck was parked and had all these toolboxes for sale. I didn’t know whether to be happy to maybe find a toolbox right near where we started out or sad we had driven so far unnecessarily. The guy turned out to be very friendly and a wealth of information about toolboxes and auxiliary fuel tanks (another wish), but he had no toolbox for me. Now what do I do? Should I buy a new one for $269, build one for c. $69 or skip it and use the back seat? And what about that fuel tank?
We are all signed up for projects in April and May. We’ll be in Gautier, MS April 1 – 21 and Smithville, TN April 28 – May 18. I don’t have an address for MS yet. I know we will be at the Crossroads Church of the Nazarene, but I don’t have the mailing address. The address for TN is: 205 Serenity Place, Smithville, TN 37166. An emergency number is 615 – 597 1264. The MS project is Katrina relief and we will be with ROAM (the Nazarene RV ministry). We plan to be home about June 1 and also hope to stop to see the MD Robinsons on the way.
Comments
Our life is just too unpredictable!
Can we get tickets at the last minute or do they sell out?