Day One - we show up at 1st Presbyterian Church of Galveston. Once we arrive in the parking lot, we head on over to the church - a beautiful old white building that you can visibly see damaged. We are escorted into the Chapel that we will be working on. Inside this once beautiful building we are greeted with plywood pieces placed across the floor, exposed brick and mortar, dust and dirt, and most importantly, a non-stop view of the sky. That is correct. The ceiling and roof are completely removed! Our first job - to put up a new ceiling.
In another part of the building we walk into two old classrooms. The ceilings are falling down with insulation and lighting hang out and there are old pocket doors that have been covered with plaster that needs to be removed. A dusty and dirty job in a hot stuffy room.
We all eagerly get to work and are soon meet with the 98 degree day with humidity to top it all off making it seem as if it is 104! Teams are moving in to work and trying to rehydrate to stay on the job. Sweat is pouring out of every pore of our bodies - yet we strive to work on and bless these that we are here to serve.
A small group of children and women head on out to the store to buy supplies for lunch and make it, while others cook dinner. Children choose fruit, bread, and snacks for all and then create a lunch buffet of sandwiches, fruit, and chips. The ladies slave away over a hot stove to make dinner to feed this hungry crowd.
Overall our first day was an eye awakening experience - staring in awe at beautiful Tiffany glass windows in the midst of a destroyed sanctuary; seeing homes still in disrepair with piles of debris in their front yards; meeting friendly faces that have been living and working through all of this in less than comfortable conditions.
All went home dirty and tired - yet ready to face another day!
No comments:
Post a Comment