August 5 - Progress Everywhere

It Is Getting Exciting - 
No matter where you look you can see the finished product taking shape. Inside and out, in big open areas and in back corners, one step at a time, inch by inch that which started out as an empty grassy field is looking more and more like a church. Our church. Outside walls are being painted. The building committee uses the porch on a lovely evening to plot the next steps.

The plotting is no longer about putting foam blocks together or raising trusses. Now it is about finishing colors for interior surfaces. Janelle displays the samples for review by the committee.

On the opposite end of the building, Peter the painter daubs the final color on the trim pieces.
A view of the nearly finished east wall. Pete noted that it is important to get the peaks on the gable ends done before Steve Redman, the lift owner needs it for his own business.

Inside, Aaron polishes the floor up close to the walls so the trim pieces can be installed. When done in this order the big floor polishing gear will not need to get close to the new trim. Save some nicks, maybe.

While near the ceiling Bill seems to have lost his head while hanging support wires for the ceiling grid work.





















The Humboldt Window - 
Through a rather circuitous route, we acquired a window from the original Minneapolis church on Humboldt Avenue. The design folks figured it would add a nice touch to our new church to establish a physical link to our ancestral church building. Almost like discovering the original acorn from which the family tree grew. Bill recovered his head and is touching up the trim work for the window housing.

Phil, the taping wizard, adds mud and tape to the window framework.
























Action in the Dining Hall - 

Ed uses both hands and both tools to give Wayne driving directions to some location unknown to me, but hopefully known to Ed.

Mark demonstrates proper serving technique in handing Brian a ceiling panel.















Speaking of Brian - 
I saw lights and heard noises coming from the hole in the ceiling that leads to the up-ladder mechanical room. My curiosity was aroused but not enough to entice me to risk a ladder climb. I figured if I waited long enough someone would come down and educate me on the high level activity.

Brian was measuring for gas piping to be installed to fuel the upstairs furnaces. It seems that copper water pipe joints can be soldered, but gas lines must be brazed. Of course I acted like I knew what he was talking about.

Brazing is like, high temperature stuff. Heat the pipe to about 1,200 degrees or so and then rub on the sil-phos brazing rod. Brian pre-warms the rod under his arm while the torch raises the copper pipe temperature. Sil-phos is a compression of silver and phosphate mashed together in the manufacture of the brazing rod.

 Here we see the joint brazing process as the rod is melted and the liquid form then seeps between the copper pieces. Apparently the liquid wants to go where it is really hot as it seeks the heat while it seeps.

 I am very impressed with the final product. I hope he measured correctly both upstairs and down below where the assembly was done. Well, if it doesn't fit, it may be a nice decorative sculpture. Perhaps a rather modernistic piece to contrast with the antique Humboldt window.

Out Front, The Portico -
The portico plan is taped on the window in the front entrance door. It is black and white and red all over, just like a wounded zebra. Sam seems to be able to decipher the red, hand written markings on the paper and convert them into wood and steel structures. I admire his gift.

The plan calls for 7 bolts to be run through the rafters on either side of the beam with nuts firmly affixed on the threaded end. Sam was not sure if all the bolts were needed to keep the roof from coming down or rising up. He decided they are to keep the roof halves from splaying like a hockey goalie doing the splits to make a save.

Sam and Justin (I think I have the name right) add the pre-cut, pre-drilled posts to the portico assembly.

Earlier, Sam found this task a bit boring.

Friday evening found Sam out moon lighting.

As the end draws nearer, the regular, all volunteer army of workers is looking a tad weary. The months of part-time, labor has a way of eroding even the stoutest hearts and minds. Yet God has given the strength endure to this point and we pray that He will continue to bless this project to its completion.