The Fuller Center Bike Adventure Natchez Trace team rolled into Houston, Mississippi yesterday after riding 78.7 miles. The Parkway Baptist Church welcomed us with open arms and filled our tummies with snacks and drinks and a delicious dinner.
Today, we woke up to a full breakfast before setting off on our workday. Our goal was to help put the finishing touches on a new home for the Parkway secretary, Tammy Whitt, who lost her trailer home after her husband died about five years ago. Her new house, which has been under construction for the past four years with the help of the Fuller Center, has three bedrooms and two baths.
Upon our arrival at the house, we found a tractor trailer sized pallet of turf parked in the front yard. The main goal of the day was to prepare the yard by pulling weeds, filling in irregular areas from a big pile of dirt, and laying the turf – first around the front and back porch – then onto the front lawn. An additional crew worked on pulling weeds and clearing the back yard of brush while another team did interior work on the windows, hung shelves, and put cabinets together. Two industrious Fuller Center bikers put the mailbox up.
The weather was beautiful but it did get pretty hot as the morning progressed. After lunch, while some people worked to finish projects inside the house, most of the team pulled together to get all the remaining turf placed on the front lawn.
The end product was a beautiful, welcoming home with a tin roof, front and back porches, and a beautiful flowered covered mailbox to greet Ms. Whitt and her family.
Tomorrow, we head out of Houston toward Kosciusko, MS. Word has it that we will have to detour off the Trace due to road construction. We pray for God’s blessings, safe travels, clear skies, and friendly motorists!
