On the Road Again, This time to Thorton Colorado

It had been a while since we had participated in a project, personal commitments and life in general had to be attended to which took away from ministry time. A couple of weeks ago we were fortunate enough to have been asked to help a local church build a handicap ramp in Thorton, Colorado. Mountain States Baptist Church (click on link) had installed a new modular building on their site where they plan to hold the Youth activities as well as Teen and Adult Sunday school classes. 

 

 

 Since the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has very defined specifications and criteria on dimensions for handicap ramps, we had Joe Newton of CWCf (click on link) who had more knowledge on this area to come up with a suitable design for us. He had sent over a very detailed design based on submitted plans, but as you would have it when I arrived on site to verify dimension, there were a few discrepancies that had to be addressed. A meeting with Pastor David Etter and the local building contractor was arranged to discuss options and preferences on where the ramp would land and how the approach would look like. Once a concession was reached and consultation with Joe on the "new" design was approved, we were off and running. Ordered materials that was to be delivered Monday and we could get started building on Tuesday!

 

Nice new building as it stood without the ramps

   

Upon completion of measurements and layout, we started to build the frame for the landing which was to be attached to the building. To be within ADA guidelines, this was a crucial initial stage since it would determine the actual "fall" of the ramp.  

 

Pastor David, our forever smiling and # 1 volunteer attaching frame to building using his favorite tool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crew (L to R) Pastor David, Carol and Colton

 

Since the building timeframe had been delayed several times due to conflicting schedules, the volunteers that had signed up to help in the project had to go on with their life since summer was fast disappearing. We; however, were blessed to have Pastor David, his lovely wife Regina, 5 out of 6 daughters, Colton, Mark and Pat, Rich and Cathy. We had such a great time of fellowship as we worked alongside each other and enjoyed dinners at their homes. If you are fortunate to get a rib dinner invitation to the Etters home - don't hesitate with and answer - say YES and enjoy the outstanding rib dinner prepared by Pastor David!    

 

Mark and Pat working diligently despite the heat

 Mark who is part of the Deacon Board, took a day off from work to help us set up the deck. Both he and his wife Pat, spent a whole day with us despite the unrelenting heat of the Colorado sunshine. A skillful craftsman and enjoyable team as Pat's sense of humor and witty side comments just made the work light. Mark was tasked to finish the final piece of the ramp which was to shave and bevel the last 2 boards to get the required maximum approach lift of 1/2 inch. He is also trying to attach a metal piece to the edge to preserve it from getting worn down by actually users and maybe even unauthorized skateboarders. Pat had joined us for the second time and was a great help rearranging the slightly off camber boards. 

Cathy and Rich, amazingly talented couple but still humble in their Godly lives

 

Rich and Cathy, such an unassuming couple, we had met them while they tended to the landscaping needs of the church, their work is evidenced by the beautifully manicured surroundings, as plants and flowers galore. Rich would rush to our aid when we needed a third hand in the building process. We were invited to share a meal with them at their home and to say that this couple is talented is an understatement! They shared their past lives and showed us their amazing collection of real and model collectable cars, intricate train set (with realistic appointments that pertained to their life's story), casted antique hood ornaments of classic cars, and so many others. I am still waiting to see their life's story in book form and to hear Rich's Trans Am roar back to life.

 

Regina and Hanissa helping screw planks down

 

Hanissa making sure mom is doing it right

 

The Etter Family taking a short break to grab a photo 

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As most of you folks know, when we go visit or participate in a project - the work is incidental to the main objective which is to get to know, have fellowship and encourage the local folks and other volunteers. In our travels, we had come across some really amazing people and families coming from all walks of life and varied backgrounds who have one thing in common - the desire to live Godly lives and serve Him and His people in every way imaginable! The Etter family is no exception, as a matter of fact, they stand out as being unique in their life's service of fulfilling the "prime objective" which is to bring others to the knowledge of who our Savior is and to show just how much He loves all His children.  

 

Pastor David and his family initially served as missionaries from 1993 to 2014 in some restricted access countries of Northeast Asia. Their ministry was not the traditional church plant or bible study that you often hear when serving overseas, yes, they did these things too but there was a twist in their method of sharing the Word. They came in as business entrepreneurs setting up a western style restaurant, hired local help, invited the surrounding community and this was the platform where they brought forth and made known the wonderful aspects of who our Lord is and what He is all about. Because they were involved in the "business" end of things and spoke the local language (BTW they speak 4 different languages!), it gave them a certain type of credence and respect that other traditional missionaries have a hard time attaining. Earned Respect is an attribute that is not easily bestowed by the Asian culture to an individual; however, whenever an entity and its founders/workers are involved in a successful enterprise such as the ones that Pastor David put up, the granting of this usually greatly enhance the deeper involvement and access into the area's inner and influential circles. This paved the way for them to get into the "forbidden zone" of a restricted country. Using this business approach and with the help of a few like minded and forward thinking investors, they initiated the forming of a corporation that  eventually established a mid-level power generating wind farm with the hopes of helping the general area in its power requirements and succeeding acceptance of future opportunities to share the Word with others in that region.

 

With all this going on in Asia, they heard God's voice calling them back stateside to serve as the Pastor for their sending church. They obediently surrendered to the calling and assumed the position as of 2015. Since then, Mountain States Baptist Church has continually grown in size and depth of understanding God's word. They are actively orienting the church into the mission field by sponsoring and participating in both foreign and local ministries.     

 

The sign you see as you leave the church premises says it all - the mission field is as close as outside your front door and as far as the most distant and unreachable land. There are numerous ways to serve and the Etters are a testimony as to how God uses his children in the most unconventional ways to make His love known to all those who are willing to listen.

 

Everyone is gifted with talents and abilities that can be used to bring glory to God, it is finding out what those gifts are and allowing the Lord to present the opportunities and be willing to exercise them, whether it be setting up business in foreign lands, street evangelism, serving on boards, taking care of grounds, attending to the infants/toddlers needs and teaching youth and adult Sunday school, all are equally worthy in the eyes of our Lord.   

Regina, Pastor David and Carol under the umbrella for relief from the heat

 

Working while lying down?

 

One working and 3 supervisors - way to go !

The umbrella helped but.......

 

The only place I could find relief from the hot sun

 

 

 

Photo op with Pat

 

Our home away from home

 

When it got too hot we went indoors to build

 

Carol helping with the nursery divider

 

 

The "almost" finished ADA ramp

 

 

Missing are the metal handrails and last two approach boards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our time at Mountain States Baptist Church had come to an end despite the ramp not being completely finished - left to do were the special ordered aluminum handrails and last two planks for the approach which Mark was expertly executing at his shop.

 

When we get ready to leave a place, we are often told how much of a blessing we were to them and the project - WELL in all cases it is actually the reverse- we are usually the ones blessed as we are able to meet the local volunteers and see how God is working in their lives, we are the ones encouraged by their humble service to others and we are instilled with that inner peace with the knowledge that our loving God is at work in so many different ways, great and small, in every nook and cranny of this world!!!!

 

We pray for blessings as we continue to seek His comfort and guidance for those in Thorton, CO, for the congregation and leadership of Mountain States Baptist Church, for the many lives that their missionaries touch and for the many lives impacted by the sharing of God's word. 

 

 

We leave you with a picture and verse sent by Pastor David

 

To God be the glory !!!!