MMAP, June 2013, CEF Windsor Mills, Maryland

What an exciting way to start our project!!  Sunday morning we attended Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, MD, that was having a Good News Club (Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)) Appreciation Day!

They are currently sponsoring two schools, one for the past three years, and one just this year.  The principal and the assistant principal of the newest school are both Christians.  The assistant principal spoke for a couple of minutes, as did a parent, a student, a volunteer, and our own Dr. Martha Wright,  director of the Maryland CEF.  The church’s vision is to sponsor a club in 10 schools within the next 5 years!!  To see a church so excited about serving in the community and bringing children to Christ was an encouragement.

CEF was started in 1937 by a retired farmer who saw the need for children to hear the gospel and be given the opportunity to accept Christ.  It has grown to be an international mission in  208 countries, focusing on a current goal to establish active ministry in 13 more countries by 2017.

One country visited by CEF missionaries was Argentina.  A Christian teenager there attended training classes and started a club, leading 5 boys to Christ in the first 5 days!  From there, he started street meetings, youth conferences, and radio program.  His name?   Luis Palau.  He still uses the basic tools and simple principles in his ministry today according to the forward of the biography of the founder, Jesse Overholtzer.  Pretty impressive how the Lord used a simple, unobtrusive farmer, to reach the world.  

Last year was the first time MMAP had a project here.  The priority was completely remodeling and finishing a basement room.  We were able to accomplish this, and  shortly after we left, new carpeting and tile were installed.  They have been using it since as a training room.  On the first Saturday after we arrived they were doing a training with 20 high school students.

The priority this year is a new roof.  No one remembers ever having had a roof put on, but they are experiencing leaks in various places.  Since the roof is most likely at least 30 years old, it is time!

Weather dictated when the guys could work on the roof.  Between the heat and rain, they only got one side almost completed, during this first week.

In addition to the roof, the bathroom remodel was the second priority.  This was on last years list, but did not get done.  This included removing and replacing the sink and toilet,

and the linoleum,

The ladies worked on removing  the wall paper

The conference room remodel was also on the list for this year.  The guys moved most of the heavy furniture of the room. These shelves were  upstairs in the conference room, and have now been set up downstairs after painting.  

We ladies installed the material on the drawers matching the valances on the drawers last year.

Then we (the ladies!) filled holes and sanded the walls, prepping the room by covering the windows and doors, ready for the texturing.  It was textured, and now ready to paint on Monday!

With all of these jobs going on, an unexpected job came up that took high priority!

The day after we arrived, Martha told us about finding the powerpoint projector in the closet above the staircase, covered with mildew and moisture.  On close inspection, this is what Paul found.....

The closet is located above the bottom of the staircase, and when it rained, it was a constant flow of water coming down onto the staircase. 

So Paul was assigned to find out what the problem was. 

He found the downspout was plugged up, and the water was going straight down into the flashing between the metal siding and the brick.  Sixteen feet of sheetrock and insulation had to be removed form the closet and staircase.  The plate and studs had disintegrated due to wet rot and had to be removed and replaced, as well as moisture barrier and wet insulation. 

Paul sealed the inside where the bricks met the siding, cleaned it out with bleach, installed new insulation and moisture barrier, and then installed new studs and drywall!  

With periodic downpours, Paul moved his saw under the 5th wheel so he could continue to saw!

He spent two days so far on the emergency repair work, with at least another day and a half away from the planned work.

Martha’s favorite saying this week was “you have come for such a time as this!!”

The Lord is good in providing the repairs before they caused even worse damage to the structure.

And ALL THIS in the first four days!!!