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Published: September 12th 2009
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Isn't this elegant?
Even with all that's been taken apart inside, it's such a magnificent house. I am inclined to put on a long dress and play make-believe in that house! I'll try to get more shots of the rooms, even in their state of disrepair.
In the background you can see the water tower...the low building between them is the Ranch House where we have our devotions (and use the internet) and we're parked behind there. (The Shepherd’s Staff)
Hey, Dorothy, we’re in Kansas! And it’s certainly different than any place we’ve visited so far….but haven’t I said that at every place we’ve visited so far! We only have three couples right now, as the other two have medical situations which will delay them a week or two; Glenn and Joyce are the leaders, and we originally worked with them in British Columbia, at Ness Lake; Wilmer and Marilyn worked with us last January through March, in Florida. The other two couples are new to us.
Shepherd’s Staff is a ministry that serves other ministries; it provides facilities for the smaller area churches to hold retreats and other functions, as well as offering programs of its own. Because there are no mountains, or water, or other attractions around, Shepherd’s Staff focuses on the creative arts side of worship~~it teaches puppet ministry, creative Bible lesson skits, art in worship, and that type of thing. They also have a low ropes course, place for trap shooting and a paintball park, so they’re equipped to handle all ages, for the day, or for extended stays.
Total overnight capacity is 120. I think the Lonesome Dove Hotel sleeps
60, and the Ranch House (where we have our meetings, and where we use the internet) has two dorms (his and hers) that sleep 26, and several of the other buildings have dorm rooms. It’s widely used for area meetings~~the Gideons meet here monthly; Christian kids’ groups use it, just to name two. (read that as
all I can remember are these two!)
Rexford is listed as having 157 people here, but I’m not sure where they are. There’s a high school, (the grade school is in Seldon, about ten miles east of here), a post office, a private counseling practice, and that’s it. I mean that’s ALL of the businesses. All the other buildings on the main street of this seven block long, six block wide town belong to Shepherd’s Staff. Some they’ve purchased, but others have been donated to them because they need such extensive repairs (enter: RVICS). The house we’re working in was originally in Gem (that’s a deceptive name) which is just a couple miles from here. The last remaining relative didn’t want the house go to ruins, so she donated it to this ministry.
Our work assignments are some of the most interesting
And this is how they got that way!
See all the nails above them? There was a wainscot ceiling in here which they removed before they could begin the plumbing. There was a fine layer of coal dust on the top side of the boards...pull down the boards, get the dust for free!!The house had no plumbing (of course!) so they're starting from the first pipe...which went into the two manifolds which they made. we’ve worked on (by we, I pretty much mean me!) We’re all working in the Victorian house, and have divided up into three teams: Bob and Wilmer are plumbing the both floors of the house, Glenn and Marilyn are stripping and papering one downstairs bedroom, and one upstairs room, plus the downstairs hallway, and Joyce and I are scrapping and sanding the woodwork in the kitchen and hallway…two of the three rooms that have painted woodwork. The house is so gorgeous and I’m happy to be part of the restoration process. It has been painted outside, and has the landscaping, and most of the wallpaper has been stripped off, and the some of the new flooring has been laid. I’ll add pictures of this work process.
This area is dotted with farm communities; they grow corn, milo, sunflowers, and millet primarily, and soybeans. We’re parked about a block from the grain elevator, and it’s running fulltime right now…taking in and shipping (by train) out. There are also a few very large feedlots in this area.
In the Small World category, I was in Colby (5000 people, 23 miles from here) getting a haircut (a great haircut, I might
Thinking about working;
apparently they had to do some planning before they could begin the plumbing! The lady in the picture is Joan, who is the project director, and also leads our weekly Bible study...wonderful woman! add) and there was a young man sitting in a chair near mine. He heard that I’m from Montana and asked where? Sidney. He said “I’ve been there.” Well then~~where are you from? He said Missoula, but then he said really he’s from Stevensville. I told him I have some friends who live there, and I mentioned their name, and he said he lives about two seconds down the road from them!! Weird, huh? I didn’t ask what he’s doing here, although there is a community college. But I don’t think you’d leave western Montana to attend college in Colby, Kansas. No, I’m quite sure you wouldn’t!
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Lisa
non-member comment
Dad looks like Hitler!
That house is really beautiful- any chance you can tow it back to Billings for me?