Faced with yet another weekend filled with personal frustration trying to reach the end of the seemingly endless list of household projects, I was grateful when David (my son, see picture below) asked me if I would like to help him with a project this past Saturday.
It meant that I would have to finish my Saturday chores early in the morning before heading downtown OKC to help with his project. But what the heck.
7:30 am I donned shorts a long-sleeved T-shirt and sunglasses and went outside. I started the mower, cut and trimmed the yard, watered the plants and then had a bowl of cereal (Raisin Nut Crunch) before we headed downtown.
I was a bit nervous because I didn't quite know what to expect nor what I would find to do when we arrived.
Once we found parking (which was not easy since the Annual Festival of the Arts was going on just a couple of blocks away) we made our way to a building currently under renovation. We met Tim (see picture below) who I can best describe as the driving force behind this undertaking. I shook his hand and asked him what he called the place and he said, we call it "Refuge".
http://refugeokc.wordpress.com/
My son took me upstairs through what at first seemed a labyrinth of stairs and hallways to a room that he proudly declared to be, "the room he has adopted". Over the past four weeks he and some of his Fraternity buddies have come down and poured hours of labor into making the room ready to remodel.
You see this particular building was recently a drug house and someone chose David's room as the target for a Molotov cocktail. When the young men first started the renovation the room was completely charred black. When we walked in this past Saturday, the walls had been scrapped and the flooring had been removed.
We spent the day with several volunteers from the University of Central Oklahoma (see picture below - thanks ladies!) and some teenagers from out of state making a few more baby steps toward the apartment's completion.
The one small closet in the apartment had to be stripped of plaster board and the lathing because of the fire. The bathroom still needed to be cleaned of soot and we spread over 15 gallons of wall texture on the concrete walls to prepare them to receive paint.
For the hours we worked there I forgot all about the projects that needed to be done at home. And I was actually happy working with some other volunteers. HomeOwnerGoneMad had found a refuge in this volunteer labor.
I want to challenge the readers of my blog to join me over the next few weeks to help complete this apartment renovation. We need some labor and some supplies in order to meet the May 30th deadline.
Here's a list:
- We need to rip out and replace the Sheetrock in the ceiling (about 6 sheets)
- We need to install new Sheetrock in the small closet (about 3 sheets)
- We need to rip out and install new counter tops for the small kitchen (we need the counter top)
- We need laminate flooring for the kitchen (about 10 x 12) and perhaps some sub flooring to make the installation smooth.
- We still have more texture to spread on the walls before we paint.
- We need paint for the walls
- We need a bathroom sink faucet (it's a unique fitting)
- We need tile for the shower floor (about 3x3 - it's a small shower) and thin set and grout.
- We need a closet door and entry door (I'll have to get the dimensions)
- We need a Futon (the living/bedroom are one in the same)
- We need pillows
- We need sheets and blankets
- We need a bookcase
- We need books
- We need a CD player and Cd's (with appropriate music)
- We need a couple of window blinds
- We need an area rug or two
- We need a dual electric burner
- We need dishes (set of four; bowls, plates, cups)
- We need eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
- We need dishtowels
- We need pots and pans
- We need a microwave
- We need a dish drying rack
- We need serving dishes
- We need measuring, cooking and serving utensils
- We need a can opener
- We need storage containers for left over food items
- We need a scrubber for dishes
- We need a shower curtain
- We need a shower caddy
If any of this touches your heart, please leave me a comment. I would welcome your donation of time or any of the above listed items.
Join me and my son as we work with others to create a refuge in downtown OKC where the needy can find their permanent eternal refuge in Jesus Christ.
Trey Bowden
