Things have been moving right along here on our new project. We have started on Mr. John Batiste’s house. We had driven past the house several times before realizing that we would be renovating it. I have to plead guilty to feeling pity for the two “pathetic souls” who appeared to inhabit the place. The wizened old man often sat in his chair in the carport just watching the world go by. A very unkempt thin woman in a ball cap would trudge from the burning pile just back of the house, or be sweeping, looking up as traffic went by. Both appeared very wary of strangers.
Mr. John is a 76 year old gentleman whose wife passed away one year ago in November. His home was damaged in Hurricane Rita (2005) and suffers from drastic disrepair. He had worked until he was electrocuted in midlife and only has a nub of a thumb left on one of his hands. Later, he had a stroke and he has lost the use of his other arm and hand. He manages to hold a cigarillo with his left nub. The only way he can light it himself is to leave his burner on the stove on all day, and light it from there.
John's sister, Miss Jane, is 73, and lives four houses down the road from John’s house, by herself. She often sleeps at John’s house, as her house was also damaged by Hurricane Rita and she has been without power since then. If she does sleep at her house, she walks over to John’s house every morning and spends most of the day there, sweeping and making sure he gets fed. She promised his late wife that she would look after him.
From the outside, Miss Jane’s house looks undamaged and is quite a pretty home. She keeps her yard immaculate. However, upon walking inside, it is evident extensive repairs are required for it to be liveable. Unlike Mr. John’s house with a concrete floor, hers has a wood floor and the wood is rotten. The SETIO people have advised that it has been condemned and the Power company will not hook the power back up. They have offered to build her a new house but she has refused.
None of our volunteers could understand this refusal until Miss Tiffany explained it to us. She was raised in Cheek, which is also known as “Cheeks” to the locals. The ancestors of the people of Cheek had been slaves. When slavery was abolished, they were either given land or worked for it and this land and these homes are all they had to hand down from generation to generation. If their home is renovated by volunteers, they own it and can hand it down with no strings. If they are built a new home, the government has a lien on it and when the owner dies, it goes back to the government.
Miss Jane is still hopeful that someone will come along and fix her house for her, and of course, the renovation happening at her brother’s home gives her a great deal of hope in that regard.
We are finding it a great blessing to be working in the house with Mr. John and Miss Jane there, giving us an opportunity to get to know them. These folks are wonderful people and just plain lonesome for company. Once they knew we were there to complete the job and not rip them off, they welcomed us with open arms and are totally enjoying having us around. John’s grandson helped us tremendously since we started, and he will benefit from our work in the long run. Miss Jane is an absolute delight and we love having her around. She was totally surprised and delighted when our volunteers helped her celebrate her birthday last week with flowers and other gifts.
So far, we have renovated the master bedroom. Our goal is to get it painted so that we can move Mr. John’s bed back in and he can sleep there for the three weeks we are shut down. I think we’ll be able to meet our goal.
It was a dirty job taking the walls out as well as an old tiled shower enclosure in the en suite which hadn’t been used in years. There was a lot of termite damage, and a couple of cockroaches and other insect inhabitants who had to vacate. Some of the 2 x 4’s were eaten totally away and had to be replaced before the gyproc could be put up. The new acrylic shower enclosure will not be installed before the new year, but it is out in the carport waiting its turn.
The whole house is required to be re-wired as well. That will le a big job in itself.
I drove to Newton last Saturday to spend the day with my friend, Patty. She was sure happy to see me. Spent several hours with her and then headed back to Beaumont. John was already starting to worry by the time I got home in the dark. It is a 2 hour drive, but I made some other stops along the way. I enjoyed driving and listening to my Country Legends radio station.
We attended Cowboy Church in Bridge City again last Sunday. It sure is an awesome church. There was one immersion baptism of an 11 year old boy last time we went, and three adult baptisms this week. They are doing a fabulous ministry there. The new church is bulging at the seams already!
We have discovered the “Cheddars” Restaurant and I have to say it is my favorite. The prices are reasonable and the food is delicious. There is WAY too much food, but you can always take a doggie bag. I wouldn’t mind taking a picture of their “onion rings appetizer” which is the hugest pile of onion rings I have ever seen; as well as the deep fried chicken tenders – a plate of monumental proportions which is quickly gaining more candidates for the World’s Biggest Loser!!! And their Potato Soup is out of this world.
It has been quite cool and rainy here. At least it isn’t 40 below!!!
Sunday evening we attended a choir concert at North End Baptist Church in Beaumont and on the list of people in the choir, it was very interesting to see the name “Linda Mack”. What a surprise. That of course was my maiden name. John was talking to an older gentleman when I found this name, and he went and located “Linda Mack” for me. She was just as excited as I to share the name. We had our picture taken together and exchanged addresses.
Our youngest granddaughter, Emily, turned 5 last week. How time flies!
Needless to say, we are especially missing Christmas preparations with our children and grandchildren, the concerts and other Christmas excitement at home. Only one more week until we pick Shari up at Houston Airport. I wish she could smuggle Abby and Gizmo into her bags… We are very much looking forward to her joining us for Christmas holidays. We will be spending Christmas in New Braunfels at Peggy and Steve’s time share and then bringing her back to Beaumont and Cheek to see what we are doing here. She is quite excited to be coming to Texas!
Well, I could go on here for another hour, but it’s time to got to bed. I have a large closet to tape in the morning. Warren and Carole Siemens are arriving tomorrow for a couple of days to get oriented for his stint as Project Manager in the new year. We look forward to seeing them again.
Good night.
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