Our inspiration also came from the morning services. Every morning from 8 until 8:30, there was singing, praying and messages to the volunteers gathered. Habitat had set up 2 large circus tents with chairs. We gathered in the morning for a praise service and also at noon for lunch. The morning service was amazingly uplifting and rewarding. In fact, most of us were anxious to get down to Sandtown in the morning so we wouldn't miss the service. The singing was led by Elder Clyde Harris. A big man with gold fillings, who loves to sing and clap and raise arms and hands to the Lord. And he made sure we were doing the same too. He was a great inspiration to us-especially for us who were still tired from the previous day's work. One day, Wednesday, we got to the house a little late and went right to work unboarding the windows and doors. By the time we were done opening up the house, we walked down the 3 blocks to the service and it had concluded by then and the people were leaving to go to their houses for work. Many of us were disappointed to miss the singing and you could see that we didn't have the same lift to our day as we did on the days we started with the service.

Every day we had to leave the house empty of anything, except a couple of boards. Windows and doors were boarded up and locked. We brought everything with us each day; tools and cords and wood and water. Otherwise there was always the chance that kids would break in and steal what was inside of value.

The main projects seemed to break us into nature work teams. The roof needed to be removed and the 4 teenagers tackled that project with great energy. It was easily 110 degrees on the roof but they never complained. They would eventually need to rip off 6 layers of asphalt roofing and one layer of tin before getting to the roof boards. Because of the slight pitch to the roof, there was a tremendous amount of water damage to the roof and back walls. The roof boards on the back half all needed to be removed. Once the roof was removed, they went on the removing the 3 extra chimneys that were no longer needed. Every night, the 4 of them went home tired, filthy, hot and satisfied. They worked extremely hard all week. In fact, Charles, a Sandtown Habitat construction chief who seemed to like us and came by often to see how we were doing, often commented how hard the teenagers worked. He was particularly impressed with Amy Jo and her attitude and willingness and wanted to know who her parent was. When he found out that it was me, he made sure to tell me that he had never seen any young girl work as hard as she has and that I should be very proud of her. He wishes she was around more often and that she come back next year. He was also impressed that she keeps up with those boys!

Another project was installing new floor joists and building a floor. Dad Elsen and Mike did that. I worked with Ron and on one day Ned, to build a support wall in the basement along side new basement stairs. Sylvia and Mary Beth knocked out walls for doors combining the 2 homes into one as well as being masons rebuilding window frames rebuilding walls that had no mortar to replace fallen bricks. Paul and John and others installed the walls built by the kids at John's house as well as installing new roof joists for the new roof.

One of the questions asked by those not working in Sandtown but hearing the house described is one of safety. They wonder if the neighborhood is safe to walk in? I went down to the warehouse a couple times (about a 6 block walk) and I never felt unsafe. People were generally friend and often said hi or good morning. I think it helped to have a nail apron on and work gloves too. We also learned that many of the Sandtown staff actually live right there in the neighborhood which says a lot.

By week's end, much work had been done. But you look around and wonder how much of a dent did we make? There is still hours and hours to go. But we felt good knowing that with each nail that is pounded we are getting closer to finishing and giving someone a dream house. When will we be done and what happens after this week? Well, John and others will continue working throughout the weeks. Habitat Staff work throughout the year. Others will be there to work with John. We are hoping some of the college kids can take their Spring break to work in Sandtown. It may take a couple years. We are not sure.

We did have our exciting moments though; pinched and sprained fingers, a bee sting near Sam's left eye (bees had built a nest under the roof and didn't like the fact that it was now gone), and a cut natural gas pipe which Dad cut though when he was preparing to break through the basement wall to join the basements together. He was told that the gas had been shut off. This lead to an evacuation of the house and an emergency call to the fire department. They quickly came and applied putty to the leaking pipe and all was well. The gas company later came and shut off the gas. For some reason the gas had not been shut off in 1620. It was off in 1618. But Dad was fine and no one got seriously hurt.