Team,

We had a very busy week as a few very important milestone took place.  We worked side by side with the electrician digging trenches in the gravel so that he could run all of his electrical conduit and A/V conduit across the space.  Once he was done we then filled it all back in and leveled out the gravel. Next the pest control company came on-site and pre-treated the entire slab area for termites.  

The concrete team arrived on Tuesday to put down plastic and lay down the wire mesh and rebar rods connecting the existing slab to the new slab.

We had a going a nice cooked breakfast on Tuesday to celebrate our joint accomplishments and a send off for Bonnie and Gordon.   Such great people to work beside.  They will be surely missed.  We just pray they have a safe journey back to Montana. If you would like to send them a thank you card, please contact JT at rejoiceelca@gmail.com.  

We built temporary double doors in the office wing to better lock down the building.  The doors were all recycled from existing doors we had on site.   Great work guys!

Next the team worked on putting up the metal studs in the fellowship hall along with insulation board around the existing concrete block pillars.  Now it’s ready for the electricians to do their work.

Then on Thursday the site was hopping with activity.  Concrete pump truck was in place and then the concrete trucks began arriving.  I believe it was around 38 yards of concrete that was poured, raked and smoothed out which took hours and hours to do.

Attic doors were built from recycled boards and trimmed out.  Both look really nice.

Then on Friday we worked on cutting the PVC a trim boards for the conference room curved roof.  All of the pieces have been cut to fit and will be installed soon.

Next we worked on Saturday to re-secure the Narthex roof trusses.  They are tided down in several areas and supported in several places to also secure them.  Winter winds could potentially attempt to lift them up.  

Then we installed tarps to also close in the Narthex and protect it further from the wind.  The tarps are used billboard signs made of heavy material.  For their size and weight they were relatively inexpensive.  It was kind of exciting to open each one to see what advertisement was displayed.   Thankfully nothing political or sensitive, but we displayed the reverse side.  Lol.   We then went inside and built wood studs to support the tarps from the inside. Lots of staples, staples, staples and countless screws secure them in place.  

Saturday night we had a very nice dinner hosted at Brian and Jane’s house to celebrate Mission Builders and to wish Steve Schenk safe travels home.  Just a nice way to show our appreciation.  

Even though the Mission Builders team have left the site, the work will continue with the Rejoice Fellowship volunteers.  All of us have been working non stop since the beginning of July and it’s been exhausting but rewarding.  We have a laundry list of things that have to be completed before Spring and I am confident with help from the congregation we will be ready for Mission Builders in the Spring.  

During the 20+ weeks we broke a few tools, bled a few times, misplaced a few tools, laughed all of the time, got wet in the rain, got drenched from 100+ temperatures and one guy wore out his construction boots!

Like I say every week.  None of this could have been possible without your commitment to the project.  Thank you for your time and talents.

Thanks
Steve

Team,

We spent a lot of time this week continuing to install the 3 layers of fire rated drywall.  It’s a tedious job but completely necessary.  Each layer the seems have to be offset and caulked with fire rated caulking.  We have questioned the need for this and wondered if it really worked.  Steve Schenk put together 2 samples and attempted to burn them and it was amazing to see how it passed the test.   So we are now believers.
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A larger floor opening had to be broken out in the warming kitchen. Another fun job hanging on for dear life to the impact drill as it often sends you spinning and wraps you around the drill.

We built the soffit structure that will house the air ducts in the conference room.

We also got up on the roof to re-secure some of the water resistant roofing paper.  Still trying to get a roofer on contract.   You would think that would be an easy process but not the case as we have standard asphalt roofing and rubbering roofing for the curved roofs.

We removed the A/C cabinets from the wall in the fellowship hall and built studs and plywood to in fill the space.  Insulation to come later.

We started installing the metal studs in the fellowship hall.

Plumbers were very busy digging trenches to run their sewer pipes under ground. 

Site contractors dug across Quarterfield Road as they work to install the new fire hydrant.

We spent time moving temporary support posts on the front of the church in preparation for the concrete slab pour.

We spent a few days cutting and installing furring strips in the conference room pop up.  Thankfully the scaffolding is still in place!

Concrete contractors insulated the foundation, sealed the foundation and back filled the foundation. 

It’s really hard to keep track of what we do everyday and even more difficult to take pictures all day as we are just working hard.

So proud of the team and your accomplishments.  As Steve reported on Sunday the amount of volunteers hours you put into this project is over the top.  Congratulations to each of you for a job well done. 

Thanks
Steve