Youth Haven Desert Ranch Eloy, AZ PART II

It had been a while since our last post - too busy with work!! 😄😅

 

We left Glen Eryie in mid January headed back to Youth Haven Desert Ranch, Eloy, AZ (link) where we had parked our RV for a month while we visited family and grandkids during the Christmas season up north.

 

 

 

We arrived about 3 pm Sunday and proceeded to check in with Dennis Korneychuk  of CWCf  who is lead for the project here at Youth Haven. He gave us the 10 cent tour and informed us of the work schedule for the week ahead.  With the formalities taken cared of we headed for the RV to get it hooked up to the utilities so we can call it HOME for the next month and a half as we undertake this  project.

 

Monday morning we met Dave Dean, Camp Director and his lovely wife Sandi, who by the way is a full time volunteer for the Camp. We were soon to discover what a humble and hard working couple these guys are!! Dave is an Industrial Electrician by trade and it shows by his meticulous attention to all the electrical needs in the camp. Sandi's background involved the elderly and she is a whirlwind of activity; starts working at 6:30 AM and usually ends about 6 PM - she puts the Energizer Bunny to shame :-) . Together these folks are amazing, an honest to goodness role model for staff and youth that come  and serve at the camp. Their love for our Lord is evident in their soft spoken ways as they serve with a missionaries heart.

 

Dave and Sandi Dean

 

The scope of work is to basically build an extension to the existing gym, a 16 x 65 foot enclosed structure. The concrete slab had been poured the week prior and I had been tasked to do the framing layout. Steel studs are being used due to termites being prevalent in the area.

 

 

All framed up

 

 

Who reads instructions anyway???

 

The CWCf Crew (L-R) Bob Hauer (Alaska), Don Anderson (Wyoming), Donald Sparks (N. Dakota), David Dean, Youth Haven Camp Director, Dennis Korneychuk (Wyoming)

  

Next step was to put up exterior siding, soffit and windows. Install trim and paint outside. While all this was being done, Dave of Youth Haven aside from attending to his official "Camp Director" duties was installing receptacle and light boxes, laid out conduit and set up main electrical panel board. 

 

Looks like an ad for Lowes

 

 

Watch your head up there

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Putting in the fiberglass insulation on walls and ceiling was an itchy affair indeed! Drywall was hung and taping followed suit. Donald Sparks who is a certified oil field welder and inspector by trade has been such a great asset to the project as he took to the tasks that he was not at all familiar with. He had such a jovial and lively attitude that made the whole building process fun!   

 

Donald working while we watched on :-)

 

 

 

Ceiling done!!!!

 

Donald the "glue expert" and Bob "the man"

 

Which way does this go on again ??

 

 

Using the drywall Jack was a lifesaver

 

Keep it straight now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Drywall all hung; taping was the next order of business then texturing.  

 

 

All taped and sanded

 

 

Primed and ready for Texture

 

Looking good from here

  

 

 

Texturing the "old School" way

 

 

Harold was the indispensable "3rd hand" while texturing

 

The wives were busy too with other projects assigned to them.

 

Scrubbing gym walls

 

This is how its done :-)
 

Sewing bean bags and other crafts (Carol T, Sandi D, Carol M)

 

 

Vernita , Matt (Camp cook), Darlene helping out at the kitchen

 

Someone had to clean the dishes :-0

 

 

It was not all work at the Ranch - there was always time for Fellowship by sharing a meal, taking day trips to town and going to Saturday night Christian concerts. 

 

 

 

Dennis and Don

 

 how do like my hat

 

Pot luck dinner to welcome Judy Sparks

 

 

Impromptu Dinner at Culvers - had a yearning for ice cream !!!!!! 

 

Saturday night Free Christian Concert in Cassa Grande

 

 

The girls took to visiting the local sights one Saturday afternoon

 

As the weather started to warm up and the assigned tasked were all completed; it was time for us to head up north again. We sure had fun working and getting to know the Staff, the other volunteers and visit the local spots of interest. We look towards the next opportunity that our Lord will present for us to be able to once again participate in future projects at Youth Haven Desert Ranch. Till then we pray for continued blessings and for the youth that come to the Ranch that their lives will be enriched and that they too will hear the Good Word. To the Staff of Youth Haven, we pray for sustained energy for the coming summer season, a witnessing of great harvests of saved souls and new direction in their life of service.

 

 

 

 

 To GOD be the Glory ALWAYS !!!!!!