Dave and Pat check out the lights on their car as Fred and Pat prepare to head out We returned to Faith with Pat and Fred as a Nomads team was winding down their project at another church, but staying at Faith. They would be moving on shortly, but our stay would be a longer one. With plans to travel later in May, we needed to get the van ready to move and the fifth wheel ready to sit for several months.
With a clean fuel line, this filter should be clogging less now Lights, Heat, and Water
Knowing the church’s boiler problems were not solved, and having both Fred and Butch on site for a short time meant this would be the highest priority. Dave worked with them to remove the fuel feed line, which was suspected to be a source of clogs that caused the boiler to fail to fire. Butch worked to clean it out and together he and Dave re-installed it. Unfortunately, in the process Dave miscalculated the flow of diesel when bleeding the line and got doused from the knees down. The optimism is high that this has solved much, if not all, of the boiler problems. However, we are still working to get the diesel smell out of Dave’s pants.
Knowing the church’s boiler problems were not solved, and having both Fred and Butch on site for a short time meant this would be the highest priority. Dave worked with them to remove the fuel feed line, which was suspected to be a source of clogs that caused the boiler to fail to fire. Butch worked to clean it out and together he and Dave re-installed it. Unfortunately, in the process Dave miscalculated the flow of diesel when bleeding the line and got doused from the knees down. The optimism is high that this has solved much, if not all, of the boiler problems. However, we are still working to get the diesel smell out of Dave’s pants.
Water is flowing from the church's well again. Another task that was right up Butch’s alley was repairs to the well pump that fed the church’s irrigation system. We suspect the existing pump had failed when the water supply was shut off to stop a leak, without turning off the pump. The complexity of the existing system was driven by higher demand for a community garden that no longer was in place. Butch got the system working again with a little help from Dave (and Cathy and Jose) when it came to raising and lowering the well pipe.
Dave supervises as Butch digs to find that leak in the irrigation line With the well pump repaired and the water flowing, Butch and Dave turned their attention to the irrigation system. Since it had not been used in the past year, each zone needed to be inspected for broken heads, leaks and problems with the control valves. One of the more challenging leaks was deep underground in the original feed line near a tree in the parking lot. The fact that it was so deep meant that it couldn’t have failed due to interference from traffic or mowers on the surface. The cause turned out to be years of compression by the tree’s roots. The PVC pipe slowly twisted from the pressure over many years before it cracked the pipe near a T coupling. After a lot of digging and hacking at the roots, Butch was able to access the pipe and repair it. The other problem heads were simple in comparison.
Let there be light With dozens of exterior lights around Faith’s campus, it is not unusual that several bulbs have dimmed or gone out each year. Cathy found about a dozen that were out and made her way around restoring light to some dark corners or main walkways. In the process of her checks, she discovered some lights were on during the day. That meant that a photocell had probably failed. This time it was on the bunkhouse. It was pretty simple to replace it, and the lights stayed off until night once again.
There was also some painting to be done around campus, only some of it actually on a building. There were new sign posts needed at each of the campus entrances that needed to primed and painted. A new sign on Asbury Hall had been planned, but time ran out last year before it could be painted. The expansion tank by the well was rusting and needed a coat of paint. And several of our yellow cans that mark and protect the campground’s sewer connections were starting to fade or disintegrate. Thanks to Cheri, all of these projects were quickly taken care of. And she had time to scrape and paint the front of Peeler Hall. That was a productive week.
Dave works to install a new cover on the slide where the propane stove was removed. Van Stuff
Bit by bit, we are modifying the van to work for us. The rear kitchen has a long slide with a propane cooktop, that we never intended to use. After removing it, we had access to a large storage area 5 feet long and 6” deep within the slide. But we needed to close off the hole made by removing the cooktop. We went to Walmart thinking we could pick up a light cutting board to fit the space, but passing by some TV tables, we quickly changed direction. The table top fit neatly above the opening. Then Dave used small sections of the table legs to create supports that would make the cover fit snugly into the opening. The results looks like it was part of the original design.
Bit by bit, we are modifying the van to work for us. The rear kitchen has a long slide with a propane cooktop, that we never intended to use. After removing it, we had access to a large storage area 5 feet long and 6” deep within the slide. But we needed to close off the hole made by removing the cooktop. We went to Walmart thinking we could pick up a light cutting board to fit the space, but passing by some TV tables, we quickly changed direction. The table top fit neatly above the opening. Then Dave used small sections of the table legs to create supports that would make the cover fit snugly into the opening. The results looks like it was part of the original design.
The finished cover.
With our efforts to get the solar panels working moving very slowly, we started thinking about ways to carry a backup generator to charge the batteries on the van. We decided to buy a hitch step and a metal box that could be mounted on it. It could hold the generator and a small gallon gas container. To ensure any fumes could escape, we added vents on each side as well.
Most of Cathy’s efforts on the van took place on the sewing machine. She sewed magnets into window covers and made a privacy curtain to close off the cab for short stops. But most of her efforts were in making a cover for the new generator box.
The ladies in all of their finery Time Off
Our arrival was timed perfectly for Cathy to attend and help with the Beyond 90 Sewcial Class Fashion Show. The ladies gather to learn to sew and to make outfits, none of which have patterns. The Fashion Show gives them a chance to show their handiwork and celebrate their accomplishments. The ladies from Faith spend a lot of effort making this a special event with a menu that honors the home countries of each participant and decorating the hall to allow them to walk a red carpet.
Our arrival was timed perfectly for Cathy to attend and help with the Beyond 90 Sewcial Class Fashion Show. The ladies gather to learn to sew and to make outfits, none of which have patterns. The Fashion Show gives them a chance to show their handiwork and celebrate their accomplishments. The ladies from Faith spend a lot of effort making this a special event with a menu that honors the home countries of each participant and decorating the hall to allow them to walk a red carpet.
The University of North Florida Brass Ensemble in concert On another night, we made our way to the University of North Florida campus to see a brass ensemble concert that Nelson was part of. The concert was in a smaller hall, giving us a chance to see the musicians up close, including Nelson. As a tuba player, he is often too far back to even be sure he is there. This time he was in the center of everything.
Dave preparing to serve his masterpiece. Parting Shot
All winter long, we had been looking to cook a brisket for Fred before he had to head back north. Dave finally found one just after returning to Jacksonville. Since it was a bigger cut of meat, we asked the Nomads team to join us for a meal on the Monday night before Pat and Fred were to leave. It was a pretty good send-off. And there was plenty leftover to share with the church staff the next day.
All winter long, we had been looking to cook a brisket for Fred before he had to head back north. Dave finally found one just after returning to Jacksonville. Since it was a bigger cut of meat, we asked the Nomads team to join us for a meal on the Monday night before Pat and Fred were to leave. It was a pretty good send-off. And there was plenty leftover to share with the church staff the next day.
