CRAH ICE

Yesterday I worked with the Metal Studs crew again. Our biggest challenge of the day? The whole parking lot (and roof where we were working) was covered in ICE. I took a few pics, including a panoramic of the parking lot from the roof. And yes, I did fall down. On my butt. In front of a bunch of people. At least I wasn't the only one:-)

Warmth!!!!!

Today I worked INSIDE the assembly hall. They have it all closed in and they are using this huge heater to heat up the inside and dry out the ground. They are getting ready for the upcoming gynormous (yes that is a made up word) concrete pour when they do the entire floor of the assembly hall! Today we were leveling out the dirt for the floor. A brother had a laser level, and our job was to dig/move the dirt around to reach grade. Some brothers had some pretty nifty machines that compact the dirt and make it smooth. The great thing about today? We were not in the freezing cold! I actually started to get hot while I worked. That was a nice change:-) Here are a few pics including a crazy awesome panoramic photo I took with my camera's cool feature. I think I will periodically take a panoramic shot from the exact point I did here to show the progress. That would be an amazing photo album!

Its electric!

Sorry for the title- I just got "the electric slide" in my head for some reason (heehee). Yesterday at CRAH I helped with the electrical crew. I was assigned to do metal studs but our overseer sent us to help the electrical brothers because there wasn't much we could do with this bad weather. We were on the scissor lift most of the day feeding wires through various places into the ceiling. The whole day was fascinating for me- it was all new, since I know nothing about electricity! But I did operate the scissor lift which was fun:-) I snapped a few pics of the people I worked with.

Kaitlin's visit

My younger sister Kaitlin came to visit this week from tues to tues. It was so nice to hang out with her because I haven't seen her since June of last year! Definitely a fun filled visit- we went to D.C. and went to the wax museum- if anyone has not been, you have to go! It is so fun! We took some pretty crazy pics. We also went to the National Archives, House where Lincoln died, The Air and space museum, and saw a free concert at the Kennedy center. We went snow tubing with a group from my hall on Saturday- also awesome. And of course we did a lot of hanging out, shopping, and watching movies. Here are a few pics from her visit!

Metal Studs

Today I worked on Metal studs. It was so wonderful because I didn't get dirty at all! That is a rarity for me:-) We were up on the roof screwing in these clips to the studs and also using a special screw gun to shoot them into the steel. This screw gun was unlike any other I had ever seen before- it actually looked like a real gun (or at least to me- the only real guns I've ever seen have been in movies.) You held it like a real gun, it sounded like a real gun when you shot it- I was fascinated. It kind of scared me, but I think the little kid inside of me was like "cool! I want to shoot stuff!" It was extremely loud though. I think I might have lost some hearing today:-p
Then in the afternoon we were screwing together pieces of studs to make an L shape- we had to make 300 of them! It was really fun though. The weather was so nice today, and the people on my crew were fun.

One brother said something today that stuck with me and really gave me chills when I thought about it. He was talking about how we are building this assembly hall to last through Armageddon. We are making it hurricane proof, earthquake proof, etc. So in effect we are already starting the building work for the new world! Not only are we building a structure that will be used in the new system, but we are in the training for the rebuilding work that will happen after Armageddon. Isn't that amazing to think about? What a privilege to be able to work at CRAH! I wish I could be there every day and not have to work anywhere else;-)

Anyway, here are some pics of the day!

Cabin Fever

I have been sick this whole past week with a nasty head cold. I haven't really left the house at all. Today was the first day I have felt normal. Its amazing how one week of abnormal schedule can make you crazy. I have had terrible cabin fever- this video pretty much sums it up:

Cabin Fever

Last Year

So here is a sum up of last year (it is weird to say that... last year was yesterday;-)

A lot of good and bad things happened in 2008. I must say I grew up a lot last year. I learned a lot of things from my experiences. Here are some of the big things that happened:

1)I went back on the regular pioneer list Jan. 1st 2008 after a year and a half absence. Yay! Now that it is 2009 I am starting my 5th year of Regular Pioneering! Woohoo!

2)2008 was my first full year in Maryland away from all my family and friends in California. I survived:-) And I only went to visit cali once.

3) I gained and lost my first roommate. (learned a lot!)

4) I gained and lost my second boyfriend. (Learned even more!)

5) I have been able to volunteer regularly at the Crownsville Assembly hall build since the beginning in March/April- and still growing strong! Skills I have learned: Masonry, Carpentry, Concrete, Metal Studs, Landscaping, Rebar, Food Service.

I have really felt Jehovah's protection and support by holy spirit in 2008. What a privilege to be serving him! I am so excited for 2009- it is going to be an AMAZING year. We will finish CRAH this year. After that I will be moving back home to Cali. I will be going to two international conventions this year! One in San Diego at my families convention, and the other in Vienna, Austria! I can't wait to meet new people and see these new places.

In conclusion- a little note: Thank you so much to the friends here in Maryland who have helped me get through some of the hardships and homesickness, and a special thank you to my parents, who have been there for me in so many ways even though they are 3,000 miles away!