Praying and practicing patience

Yes, I know, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the wind is blowing, the air is warm and yet not a speck of dirt is being moved at our construction site.  Like so many things in life, the construction process requires patience.  

You see, the ground is still too wet underneath from all the rain we've had in the last week or so. The next step in the dirt work is to compact the soil and then test it to make sure it will hold up the building we will construct.  If it's merely mud, Flintco cannot conduct the soil tests to ensure we're building on a firm foundation.  Like the story of the man who built his house on the sand only to have it collapse when the storm came, rushing through this stage of construction would have dire consequences later on down the road.  We want this new building finished because we're already bursting at the seams, but we also want it done right so it will last and that takes time.  As soon as the weather holds, we'll see some actual construction progress.  Until then, let's keep praying and practicing patience. 

What a wild weather morning!

Whew!  It's 11:30 AM and we're finally in the clear from the powerful storms that swept through southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas this morning.  The rain has stopped, the sun is coming out, we have power again (hopefully for good this time!) and all is well in our little corner of the world.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were not so fortunate and are even now dealing with the damage, flooding and power outtages this storm left in its wake.

We don't have any updated pictures to show of the construction process today because not much has changed and the whole area is such a quagmire from all the rain we can't get close enough to take any anyway.  (I did find a picture from yesterday, when the sky was blue and the mud a bit drier.) We have, however, been assured by Ray, the construction project manager, we will see significant progress next week.  The forecast looks much drier and Flintco is planning to dig in (pardon the pun!) and make major progress on our new Worship Center.

As always, we appreciate your prayers and your patience as we all walk through this construction experience together.  May the attitude of our hearts and the actions of our conduct all serve to glorify the Lord who brought us together to be His body in this place.

Four weeks into construction

You might have noticed the view of the construction hasn't changed much from last week.  That's because of all the rain we've been having.  It seems we've entered monsoon season, which is slowing down the work. (It's hard to move dirt when it's in liquid form!)  Work is continuing behind the scenes and we are still anticipating an on-schedule completion.

A big thank you to all those folks who are taking the time and effort to park at Wal-Mart and leave our few remaining parking spaces for our elderly and those with small children.  Your sacrifice is appreciated very much!

Thank you also to the guys who have volunteered to drive the bus back and forth between Wal-Mart and the CLC so those who park across the street don't have to cross it on foot.

Most of all, thanks be to the God and Father of us all who has brought us to this place in this time to fulfill His purposes for us.

Please continue to keep our construction crew in your prayers as they are all quite anxious to complete the work they've begun.