April 3, 2012
Another lovely day in Tuscaloosa! It was not as HOT today, only 84 or so and we continued working on our two houses together. We are all enjoying being together at the site; normally we are divided into different work groups and don’t see each other during the workday. The metal roof on one house is essentially done and the arrival of Doug, Christian and Grant Ross helped mightily with schlepping the very heavy lengths of galvanized metal roofing. It was wonderful to have the whole Ross family arrive safely. The hardy board siding continues as well with great progress and everyone enjoying using the nail gun! Fletcher is leading the group installing a porch ceiling and soffits. They are a fun bunch! Peter, our Habitat manager, taught a group how to build window boxes, an activity that required much measuring, sawing, and drilling. By the end of the day Stephen and Calvin's new boots were finally dirty! We had a wonderful concert this evening by a young adult choir from Bevill State Community College in Jasper AL The choir director is an old friend of the Bastine family, our Wasik connection from Michigan.
MIKE’S STORY
Mike, sexton of the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, left the church in the afternoon of April 27, 20011 and got home around 5. His wife was making dinner. His stepson was watching TV and Mike had him change to the weather channel. Both guys went outside to watch the sky. They saw debris in the near area and ran into the house for shelter in the bathroom. The wall looked like it was going to fall in but the bathroom door opened to ninety degrees and supported the wall.
Mike’s entire family lives right within walking distance. It took about six hours for all of them to dig themselves out and find each other.
The trailer right across the street was the home of his wife’s aunt and uncle who are in their 80s. They would not leave before the storm so they were in the trailer when it was hit. Mike had to keep digging until almost dark to get out himself and was frantic when he was unable to see the trailer. All the family members started searching for the aunt and uncle. First the uncle was discovered walking up the street even as seriously injured as he was. He was able to be transported to the hospital and spent time in ICU. His aunt took a while longer and was discovered sitting on a hillside very dazed and cut up. They both survived being totally blown out of the trailer.
Mike, his wife and stepson just moved back into their home last week after almost a year. They were being housed at the parsonage of his church for this entire year.
Mike is so grateful for our help and does all he can to ease our service to his community.
As told to Carol Bunch and Ella Bastine, our cooks from Michigan.
The Siding Trio
Jill & Calvin
Measuring
James
Doug
The Last Piece
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