TIME TO TOUR

 Thursday night we all went to Oriental for dinner at Bruntley's.  We are eating a lot of good seafood.

 Friday morning we all went to New Bern to Tryon Palace.  It was built by British governor William Tryon and was the capital building when New Bern was North Carolina's capital in the late 1700's.

 We toured the palace and some of the homes and then went for lunch at Sting Ray Cafe.

 More fish. Soft shell crab is in season, I haven't been brave enough to try it yet. They served crab fries which are french fries with old bay seasoning.

 New Bern is famous for

 The drug store where it all started.

 Saturday Larry and I went to Morehead City. Route 306 goes across Ratton Bay, but instead of the bridge there is free ferry.

 It runs every 30 minutes. We just made caught this ferry.

 It takes 20 minutes to cross. A ferry going from Cherry Point to Minnesott.

 We drove to Beaufort and went to the Maritime Museum. A lot about sea rescues and pirates. This area is known for both.

 Sunday evening Jim, Liz, Larry and I  went back to New Bern to the Tabernacle Baptist Church and heard a hand bell choir and soloist, Craig Cooper.  Craig had sung at the Vandemere Methodist Church last week and has a great voice. It was a beautiful concert.

 Bern means bear and there are painted bears all through out the town. It is fun looking at them.

WEEK ONE

 We arrived in Vandemere on Saturday afternoon, April 21.

 This turn was a little tight.

 See the pink ribbon on the pole, that is how high the water was after hurricane Irene in August 2011.

 The camp use to have buildings here before the hurricane.

 What a beautiful view out our front window.

 The Vandemere Methodist church is a few blocks away.

 That tree took out some of the church building.

 This pole is across from the church, again the pink ribbon shows how much this area flooded.

 Monday and Tuesday we worked at Billy and Carolyn's home, about 20 miles away.

 There have been teams working at the house since Feb. and we were doing the finishing touches.

 From left to right. Jim and Liz our NOMADS leaders. Billy and Carolyn the home owners, and Larry and I.

Our work day is from 8 to 4. We take a break at 10. Lunch is at 12 with another break at 2.

 Billy and Carolyn were delighted with their beautiful home and so excited to have a stove once again.

 Each morning we have devotions at the church. Left to right is Ken and Karen, Larry, Gary and Jeanne, and Jim and Liz. Our team for the first week.

 Wednesday and Thursday we worked at this home, only 5 miles away. Randy owns this house but he is away working on a shrimp boat for three weeks at a time.

 Liz and I had to lay the floor in this closet. My first time to do this .I'm enjoying learning new skills, using new tools, making friends and waking up with a purpose in the morning.

 The finished floor.

 Our next project was to put a temporary sink in here.

 Liz and I made the top for the sink and put it together.

 Jim and Larry made the stand for our sink. Now Randy can wash his dishes when he is home.

 Gary and Ken got the shower stall ready to use.

 Ken put the plumbing in the sink.  He got PVC solvent on the new floor. He was so upset. Nothing would take it off, so he had to cut it out and replace it with another piece.

 He did a great job!

 The shower door goes in next. It took a few heads to assemble.
 Now Randy will be able to take a shower. Cold water only since we threw out the hot water heater.

 Ken put up some dry wall in the back room.

 We moved the trash from the back porch to the front yard.

 Jeanne worked hard outside cleaning up. The house is almost able to be lived in now.

 Randy's sister Melanie stopped by. She is who we were working with while her brother is away.

When we are done at each home we give the owner a Bible that we have all written in. A tearful moment for all.