Members of Deep Run Mennonite Church East's Shelter for Life Committee:
Front Row (L to R): Todd Detweiler, Mike Kulp, Ron Dise and Don Rice
Middle Row (L to R): Ed Wyse, Henry Rice, Loren Myers and Dean Myers
Back Row (L to R): Garry Detweiler, Dale Ruster, Rich Leatherman and Mark Schmidt

Our Shelter for Life House Project entered a new phase on Friday, 2/2 when the first truck was loaded with lumber, 38 wall panels, sub floor and roofing plywood, metal roofing, rough plumbing and rough wiring materials, buckets of hardware and a job box full of tools. The use of a truck tractor and 53 foot trailer and fuel for the 1300 mile trip was donated by Hatfield Quality Meats. The truck was driven by Dale Overholt, and left early Saturday morning and arrived in Louisiana Sunday afternoon. Ten minutes after the truck arrived our first crew of eight arrived. Work began Monday 4/8 morning and by 11:00 AM the truck was unloaded. By the end of the day Thursday 2/8 the deck of the house had been built, all of the wall panels had been assembled and half of the rafters were up. The goal for Friday is to get plywood and tarpaper on the roof.

On Monday, 2/12 a second truck will be loaded at Mark Schmidt’s. This truck will have doors and windows, kitchen cabinets, insulation, drywall, siding, plumbing and electrical fixtures, paint, carpet, laminate flooring and everything else needed to complete the house. A second crew of seven men will be in Louisiana the week of 2/12. This crew includes two electricians who will do the rough wiring. Others will install the standing seam metal roofing and exterior doors and windows and work on the exterior deck if time permits. The second truck is scheduled to arrive at the house on Thursday 2/15. The final task for the second crew will be to unload this truck which includes getting four tons of drywall up into this house which is 14 feet above grade.

The rest of the work will be done by volunteers who come to the Pointe Aux Chenes, Louisiana MDS site for one or two weeks. If all goes as planned, our two crews will have the house weather tight and will have completed the rough plumbing and rough electrical work. Please pray for safety of the second crew as they travel and as they work this coming week. Also pray for Dave Overholt as he drives the second truck this week. Weather may be a factor, as snow is in the forecast.

Cash contributions to this project to date total about $54,000, including $10,000 from the DRE Foundation Fund. Estimated expenses at this time total approximately $52,000 with a $3500 allowance for the cost of a lift. However, recent communications with MDS personnel at the site indicate that local codes may now require a different type of lift with a cost of about $10,000. If the higher cost lift is required, our total expenses may be in the area of $58,500 and additional contributions may be needed. Thanks to the congregation and the community for their generous support of this project so far. We will keep everyone informed as costs are finalized.

The Shelter for Life Group