Galatians 4:19

The concrete guys have been working this week to place forms creating the blocks where the steel beams will attach. So, when you look at these pictures, each of these holes is a place where the building will be anchored.

It put me in mind of the purpose of forms. The forms create the desired shape for the concrete. Instead of oozing wherever the prevailing forces guide it, the form shapes the concrete according to its intended use.

In Galatians 4:19, the apostle Paul writes about his labor toward the end that "Christ be formed" in the Galatian Christians. Maybe it is that Christian ministry is about helping people take shape in a way that Christ be used. One way to look at it, is that we are the shell of the form and Christ becomes the content. Another way is to see that we are the geletinous mass being formed into the image of Christ.

Either way, it seems evident that Christ needs to be at work in our lives and ministry to transform us while transforming this world.

Forms being placed for the blocks anchoring the building.

Readiness and Anticipation

The words "readiness" and "anticipation" characterize where we are today with the Missions Building Project. The demolition and site preparation is completed. The steel building package has been delivered. What you see here are the dig outs for the footing. We are still working on some scheduling with the concrete contractor, but we plan to pour these footings starting late this week or the early part of the following week. A part of this will be the proper placement of the bolts that attach the building to its foundation. So today, all lays waiting in anticipation and readiness.

Close up view from above of the building site.

Here the view is drawn back to see the building site in relation to the rest of Camp.

Giant Tinker Toys

The last few weeks have mostly been about preparing the site and getting some of the final foundation details ironed out. It was pretty exciting today as the building package arrived. It took four trucks, but now we have a yard full of pieces. We also got to work with the men who will be putting the building together.

Still need prayer and support for some more details to get worked out -- specifically prayer for the various contractors' timing and for continued mild weather. But we know God is good and the different pieces of this project will come together at the right time.

First Truck

Building Pieces All Laid Out

Starting to Unload

Last Piece

Last Truck Goes Out

A Clean Slate to Work With

End of the Week and Things are Leveling Out

Here are several views of the site after this week's activities. The site is pretty well cleaned up. Now we are working on creating the runways for the equipment and setting up to start digging the foundation trenches. Thanks for your prayers and support as a lot of things are coming together now.

Power on the Move

What's happening today includes Tillamook PUD arriving to move the power pole across the road from its current location. It was necessary to move the pole as the existing power lines were too close to the building. Here are a couple of pictures of TPUD at work.

Still Working on Demolition

We had a great Friends of Wi-Ne-Ma Day on the 13th. Good turnout including a number of those who worked on the original Missions Building. Here are a few more pictures to show where we are this week.

Looking Forward to Friends of Wi-Ne-Ma Day

This was the scene on Friday, the fifth day of demolition of the Missions Building. They brought in a "tub grinder" and it is grinding the waste wood to be hauled away by the semi-truck load.