More updates from Arizona!

Here is a message from Carol Sherman:

Travel here went smoothly and the drive north from Phoenix took us through some beautiful changing desert vegetation. The crew had a good meal waiting for us at 7 when we arrived and we managed to barely stay awake during the orientation talks. 

The back part of the sanctuary is our team's bunk area and we have comfortable mats to sleep on. Days are 100 degrees plus, but nights cool off enough for comfortable sleeping. We're getting to know the team of 16 from Crystal River, Florida and last night's group discussion on the beginning of Romans 12 was rich. At Denny's invitation, 7 or 8 of them joined us for morning worship today.

Team sleeping and living area

Bob, Rick, Brian and Jim are replacing a water-damaged ceiling in a hogan (a eight-sided traditional Navajo home 35 miles from the church; Jim has made a couple of runs to Tuba City for supplies.  

Working with the homeowner on the hogan ceiling

Rick Kirkpatrick cutting insulation at the hogan

Bob, Rick and Brian at the hogan

Black Mesa Church---also used for team meals

Mixing concrete for church basement

Carol, Maddie, Abby and Denny are doing hard manual labor in the hot sun at the home of Pastor JR's son, Al, who lives 100 yards from the church with his 18 month old and 4 year old sons. A team 3 weeks ago poured the foundation for a one room addition. We're stripping the forms, digging out big rocks embedded in sun-baked soil, and pounding soil into the empty trenches left behind. We've joked about it being good incentive to avoid being on a chain gang! We're going to a tent revival after dinner tonight. 

Worksite on Black Mesa for Carol, Abby, Denny and Maddie

Pray for tolerance of the hot temperatures and continued success as our Arizona team continues their work.