Spring Team #3!

This week we had five different groups joining the ministry for the last spring short term week! I had three returning students who worked on the bus last year! Team Berkeley rocked just like last year! Morgan, Rachel, and Julia returned. Our new addition, Gabby, was awesome! Please see some pictures from the week.

We installed metal panels in the bathroom areas, built a front shoe storage/couch armrest, covered the area below the dash, caulked both the kitchen and bathroom sink, and built out the hot water heater closet. We are praising the Lord for all the work completed not just in the bus, but over all the Reservation. 60+ volunteers means that ALOT of work was done! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

I will post more pictures and a great video later this week!

Spring Team #2 Tiny Bus Progress

A picture is truly worth a thousand words! We are so thankful for the work completed this week! 

Callie and Caroline helped us this year just like the last year! It was really cool because they were the *FIRST* team to work on the bus. Look how far we have come! Praise be to the Lord! This year, Steven and Kristi joined us as well. With the painting done, countertops installed, walls completed, and bunk beds ready to go, the space is really looking like a home! 

Spring Team #2!

The amazing team from RUF at Pitt are back this spring to help us in the community. We’ve been working full time on the bus the past week. Tons of painting, countertop installation, and applying linseed oil to the pieces of furniture that we are leaving natural has been done already! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Winter progress on the tiny bus!

The tiny bus is coming right along because of a few volunteers that have been building the bunk beds, kitchen cabinets, and sofas for the tiny bus. Please see the pictures below!

Sink cabinet 

Pantry which will hold the microwave. 

7’ sofa that can double for sleeping if needed! 

View upon entering the bus!

I painted out the kitchen cabinets today in a sage green color. I’ll post those pictures after we install the white countertops and sink. It’s so fun to see this project go from my mind to paper to reality! It has already taken so many volunteers to make this a reality and it will take a few more before we cross over the 🏁 . The plumbing has been roughed in and we are searching for an electrician now. This warm winter weather has them all busy, busy! I bought the flooring last week as well as the 19 gallon water heater. I chose a light brown vinyl Flooring by Rhino. It has a wood look and is super durable which is what we need most. 🎉 I am really happy to be picking out the finishes now. It seems like there is a light at the end of the construction tunnel! ☺️🙌🏻

Fall Update!

Hi You all!

It has been too long since I last updated! We have been plugging along on the tiny bus, home school preschool, and ministry events over the past several months! Please find below some updated pictures of life here on the Reservation.

In September, we were able to have a family vacation on the Olympic Peninsula. We went to Ruby Beach, Hoh Rainforest, and Lake Crescent. A very generous family allowed us to stay in their cabin on Lake Sutherland for several nights. This was such a blessing after a busy, busy, summer of ministry!

We returned mid- September to the fall ministry events. Tollie and Zeke started his K-4 preschool year, also!

Zack has been spending much time in the community this fall. The firewood ministry as well as general mercy ministry has kept him busy. Zack and two local men have been helping two members of the BYGE. They have installed insulation, walls, and a ceiling in the shed where they live. These living conditions are very typical on the Reservation, but they still bring us to a halt mentally and emotionally when we see it. Once you have a relationship with those in inadequate housing, it becomes more than just a statistic or common knowledge.

We have been truly blessed by some skilled volunteers coming along side us to work on the tiny bus project. The space is becoming formed and we are able to envision how this home will help people in need of emergency housing.

We have been celebrating the fall season with Kingdom Kids and Hope Fellowship. Pumpkin carving, Trunk 'N Treat, and water color sessions bring smiles to so many faces!

Yesterday morning was our Thanksgiving celebration at Hope Fellowship Church. Elk and turkey were served side by side by staff and members of the BYGE.

The Discipleship Groups attended a NEWSBOYS United concert last night! Zack had a 90's flashback during several songs! Events like these are few and far between for youth in our community. We are very THANKFUL for this opportunity to take them!

pic cred: Chuck Clevenger

We are thanking the Lord for all the great things HE has done!

Electrical Plan

Roger and I sat down with the floorplan and chose the locations for the switches, electrical outlets and lighting. Please see below. I'm sure a "real" electrician would balk at these plans, but it works for us!

Skoolie Build Days Eighteen-Twenty!

A group from a church here in Washington state came to help with the tiny bus build. We have painted the entire bus, framed up all interior walls, covered the holes in the ceiling with sheet metal, tweaked the floorplan a bit, and removed the cracked rear window. We also bought the refrigerator, twin mattresses for the bunk beds, and bins that we will build around for the closet and kitchen storage.

Driver's side walls are up!

Megan! Our amazing roof painter:)

Paint, paint and more paint! We choose Swiss Coffee for the roof and Sweet Almond for the body. After the first coat, I could see that the color wasn't as dark as I wanted. I took the paint back and had them add the same tint. So, we actually have a custom color on the bus body! Sweet Almond (X2)

The whole crew this week!