WE HAVE LANDED for next 6 months

After working on Thursday a.m. on the duplex , at Rust College, painting the woodwork (Judy) and making various other minor touch ups and helping Cliff and John install the new sub-flooring in the bath room and kitchen areas. Then we had Lunch with Dr. Beckley, the President of Rust, along with 3 other key Administration men. Judy and I then went and started getting the 5er ready for travel and hooking up ( this is becoming easier for us now, as we are becoming PROS )lol. We pulled out of the campus gate at 2:30 pm and headed to Tupelo, Ms where we drove pass Elvis Presley's birth home. Then we drove to Jasper, Ala. were we camped at CAMP WAL-MART, lol (no electricity so we roughed it). We then got up Friday morning and headed to Ga. On the way we passed by Talladega Speedway ( just saw it from the interstate,, didn"t take time to go in,, darn) . About that time Judy spotted a billboard advertising CAMPING WORLD (the ultimate camping and camper supply store) so when we exited there was a Cracker Barrel restaurant, so had lunch first, then on to CW for a brief visit, 2 hours and a few bucks latter, we were back on the road. We arrived at Pine Mountain Camp around 5:30 p.m. (we thought, forgot that NOW we are on Eastern Daylight Time) we semi settled in for the night and ENJOYED NOT DRIVING FOR A WHILE lol. We meet with the campground owners The Jennings on Monday for our assignments... just maybe I might be able to get the pictures to post here, since I will have FREE TIME !!!!Shuuuuu don't tell Judy that i have free time. Judy says that she ready too start Cooking again!!!!

It's Tuesday----2 days left here at Rust

We were in the duplex today; spreading paint onto the walls ......Judy was doing cut-ins around the corners and woodwork, while John rolled 7 walls and 2 closets,,,,we are pooped but it is laundry nite again. eck!

HURRAY HURRAY!!!!!!!!!

Monday: We are in our final 4 days here at RUST COLLEGE, today the NOMAD CREW ( of Millers,Gaisers and Longs, finished the single family house by applying the final coat of paint. Tomorrow we return to the duplex to finish tearing up floors and replacing the under laying, while the rest work finishing getting walls prepped for painting. Over the weekend we took a tour of WALTER HOUSE ( this is where General Grant's family stayed, while he led the Union forces at Vicksburg). What a lovely house inside and out with park like grounds. Tonight Judy and I traveled around looking at history, we found the old train depot that was targeted by the confederates to be destroyed, ask us more about the history and beauty of this neat depot!! if you are interested. We also went into the main oldest cemetery here; again we found beauty and elegance,along with 90 graves of unknown confederate soldiers. {I haven't forgotten about pictures, but am having trouble getting transferred into the puter. sorry but I am trying}

Free Friday!!!!!

Today was an off day from NOMADing,,, so Judy and I took the 5er to near Memphis, Tenn. for some minor repairs. While the 5er was in the shop Judy and I went Memphis sight seeing (Memphis Botanic Garden -which was a bust ,,, they were between blooming seasons) Then we went to the Memphis Zoo- which we would highly recommend if you are an animal person, They had a marvelous cat collection which was well displayed in natural habitats. The zoo sits on 70+ acres in mid-town Memphis and well laid out with (easy access to the freeways-for those so challenged by traffic driving) We got back to the RV shop and found all the repairs made. (JUDY found a new ESCALADE 5er she liked) but the RV salesman would not trade her even up LOL) We got back to Rust College and re-hooked up (John actually did better this time got the entire 5er level and no water leaks or sewer spills) We are going to try to get to a Black Methodist Church on Sun.. We hope everyone is finally getting a taste of nice weather and that ya'all have a beautiful weekend...

2nd week of Rust College completed

We have finished the 2nd week here at Rust College.... all the priming is done, and the final coat has been started. Judy applied the paint on the lower sections 5 siding boards high on 2 sides of the house, while John applied the final coats on the upper sections as far up as he could reach from a 12 ft step ladder on 2 sides. In the evenings we have been playing dominoes some with our NOMAD crew. Please pray that the weather continues too be good so we can finish up the outside work next week.. and while you are praying please remember us on Friday as we take " our house" to the repair shop for some minor repairs....also for safety in doing so...the weather today was in high 70's and mostly sunny. I believe that I might have a sleight farmers tan on my neck and arms,( where the paint spots weren't covering)

Primer Day

Wednesday: Judy spent the day putting primer on the house, as high up as she could reach while staying on the ground.. John scraped fascia and trim broads that had not been replaced previously...then he steel brushed the front wall ,, that needed smoothing out so it could be primed... then the last hour I spent premiering the front porch area....We located several pecan trees on campus with fallen pecans on the ground so we spent an hour after supper gathering nuts.. Then we went to a joint Lenten service at the Episcopal Church....Then we retired early as we were pooped.

2nd Monday at Rust

On Monday John finished repairing a roof corner, then he and Judy power washed 2 outside walls in preparation for painting. On Tues, we had to make an unscheduled trip to Tenn, as Judy was with out any pain pills and Mississippi doesn't allow controlled prescription too be transferred in or out..We were back by afternoon work time,, we finished scraping some fascia and trim boards, Judy worked at the duplex taking out some flooring and she sprayed the outside walls down with bleach water.. John finished taking out the cabinets at the duplex.....then we went home and cleaned up ourselves and had supper (ECK !!!!) at the cafeteria . Then we did some laundry ... we start out each day with group devotional time about 30 mins. each family takes turn leading a day. Tues was our day . Please pray for all 0f NOMADS as many will be traveling too their projects the next 2 weeks as this is when the number of projects start increasing. Let us know if any of you are reading these just bye clicking on comments then go to the box and tell us hey... WILL TRY TO HAVE PICTURES UP BY FRIDAY and for those of you in Belle Paine, we have sent a Video of the " LIVES UNDER CONSTRUCTION" Boys Ranch for you too view

Wrap-up of week 1 at Rust College

We were busy people during the 1st week in Mississippi. Our projects consists of rehabbing 2 buildings that are owned by Rust College. One is a duplex where we are cleaning walls , tore out the old bathroom fixtures, along with the sub-flooring. took out the kitchen cabinets and some sub flooring is coming out also... the ladies took up the old carpeting and linoleum though out, it will be replaced. walls are too be repainted.. our team leader Janet Miller, repaired the holes in the dry wall.. The men spent most of the week working on the single dwelling outside. replacing siding, fascia, and trim boards.. We also replaced an outside water spigot. John took off some iron bars from the windows and helped with the other repairs. Judy and John took off all of the window shutters. and the old storm windows,,, It hasn't been all work as we were treated to a ' One woman show' by Sheryl Lee Ralph, an actress of TV and Movies, about AIDS in the black community.. Then on Saturday night we were the Campus BSU student choir perform some gospel sounds,,, quite interesting and different from what we are used too hearing... but heard some very talented singers. Holly Springs itself is an interesting town,,steeped in Civil War history... There are a lot of Antebellum Houses to look at. Including one where Gen. Grants' family stayed while he was commanding the Union Forces down here. Another where he held his headquarters... The Presbyterian Church lower floor was used as the stables for the Union Army. We have encountered some minor problems with our "home" so we will be taking it up near Memphis on Friday ,, to get the repairs done... maybe get to see Graceland while there. The couple from Indiana are John and Sally Gaiser,, very experienced NOMADS

RUST COLLEGE-DAY 1

we found that the drive over to Holly Springs, from North Little Rock, was very therapeutic for John. As the Interstate show helped with giving him some much needed confidence in handling the behind the wheel skills needed for navigation. There are 3 couples on our Nomad team here at Rust College. Janet and Cliff Miller, from near Dubuque, Iowa and John and Sally (last name will come later post) from near Bedford, Indiana. We are going too be repairing a home owned be the college and lived in by the administrative assistant to the college president. We took off some window coverings ( iron bars) , storm windows, and some rotting boards today. Judy will be doing some sort of office work in the Library beginning Tuesday.. PLEASE PRAY for her , as her stamina and pain tolerance has not been tolerable this weekend. Also we have been asked to remember our friend in Belle Plaine ( Terri Jo) father this week as more medical test are being conducted. We also have been asked to post our E-mail address as some have misplaced it; jw_long2002@yahoo.com. The phone number to reach us is 319-521-4458 (cell phone). Snail mail can catch up to us at: JOHN AND JUDY LONG 215 RAINBOW DRIVE #11532 Livingston, Tx 77399-2015 ***** NOTE in E - mail address it is jw_long Please hang in there i think I have finally gotten the Digital Camera figured out so pictures soon will be up here also

R&R @Little Rock

We arrived in North Little Rock and set up the 5er at Burns Park ( a very nice park and easy access to from the I-40 ) John wants to thank ya all for the prayers , as the trip over the 22 ups and downs ,around the 55 twist and turns went with not a hesitation on the part of our trusty Dodge Ram. We want to thank the Staff of ' Lives Under Construction' for their gracious hosipitality and the privilege of staying at one of Gods Most picturesques places.. Folks please continue praying for the Ortmans and the LUC staff as they have a great need in finding the funding needed too continue their ministry (especially critical at this time is in budget concerns for meat). We plan on sight seeing and visiting with Gary and Donna Auld (Judy's brother and sister in-law) on Friday and Saturday morning, than on to Holly Springs, Mississippi. We are anxious to get there and meet up with the Millers (NOMADS from near Dubuque, Ia; whom were our 1st personal contacts with NOMADS) will be our team leaders at Rusk College.

LUC-Boys Ranch yet

Hi folks: or as they say down here in the Ozarks " Howdy You all" The LUC- Boys Ranch is an awesome experience and really doing a fabulous job of changing lives. Judy is too get some gardening in the rest of our visit here. Today I had the opportunity too work with one of the most trobled boy with his studies...( most of the boys are home schooled til they catch up with the local public school system; then they join in the regular classroom) This boy i worked with on Monday usually does not stay on tasks and is very disrupted .. but through Gods guidence I didn't have any major problems and all the regular staff was dismayed at the co-operation I received from him. Another project i completed over the weekend was the painting of the Boys dorm shower room floor with a special paint,, I also helped transfer 22 large round bales of hay over 60 miles away back too the LUC Ranch so the cattle , buffalo and other animals have feed. Our plans now are too wrap up our projects by Thurs noon so please remember us in prayer as we are on the road again. ( ALSO THAT JOHN DOESN'T HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING OUT OF HERE 0ver those 22 ups and downs along with the 55 twist and turns.....we are going to try to get some pictures tomorrow as it is suppose too be really nice around 55 and only partially cloudy...REMEMBER that God does still works miricles Judy and I have witness 1st hand many such ones this past week...so please keep up the prayers that HIS works keep happening.