It’s been a bit since we did an update, as always plenty going on. We continued to work on maintenance on Calvary Relief vehicles, trailers, and tools as we’re always doing. I had more work to do on the diesel, got the tank selector valve and switch replaced. The tanks now switch but the front tank fuel level isn’t working so I monitor that by mileage and always use it first in case I forget! We also did some work on the timing, but it still needed more dialing in. I also had to replace the 2 batteries.
While we were still home, we did some projects around the campus. One day we got over 2” of rain in less than 2 hours and this resulted in one of the buildings getting flooded. While it was still raining, I was able to divert some of the water but not before some of it got into the building. I immediately got our equipment running to get it dry. It just needs some cleaning and it’s good to go. I talked to the company that takes care of the lawn, and they’ve installed a good French drain and rerouted some downspouts in that area and we’ll see if that takes care of the water issues going forward.
Hamilton, Alan, and I redid some of the downspouts and drainage between the main and youth buildings that are prone to flooding and that is holding up well! We still have a contractor working on some things at the front of the main building that is causing some water issues.
We also got to do some emergency water remediation when one of our pastors and friend Jim discovered that a pipe had been slowly leaking in his kitchen ceiling for quite some time. Hamilton, Eric, Jim, and I were able to get over there, tear out the cabinets, walls, flooring, clean, and set up our drying equipment before we headed out. He’s almost got it rebuilt now.
We took off for our trip up north and besides a major car crash right beside us before we even left town, we didn’t have any issues heading out. The truck clipped our mirror, and he was either trying to take someone out for road rage or had some kind of medical thing, because he swerved around the car in front of him and sped up and took another car out before flying across a median, 4 lanes of traffic, and into a ditch on the other side of the road. Thankfully no one was hurt.
We had a great overnight at a state park in WV where we got to do a couple quick tube floats down a fast river. It was cold, but one of our favorite things to do! We made it to Ohio in time to get the camper set up in Thom’s drive, eat dinner, and then head to Bible study.
CC Silver Creek moved to a new building that really looks great! It’s an old elementary school that is being used as a community center among other things. There will be lots of ministry opportunities in their new location and they’ve already reached out to every household in town! They’ve had a few new people show up and they’ve got more outreaches planned. Please keep them in your prayers. We spent over a week with them after the Philly Pastor’s Conference and I was blessed to teach that Sunday. Here’s a link if you’re interested in watching, https://youtu.be/mF_XIeXLnQg?si=rn9JhdkrUs7V_9SM.
The East Coast Pastors Conference was once again filled with some great teaching, worship and fellowship with many we know. Only men attend this conference, and Mary Jo joins the church volunteers helping serve the 1800 men in attendance! If you’re interested in listening to any of these teachings here’s the link, East Coast Pastors Conference 2025.
I connected with a friend of a friend while at Thom’s and we were able to dial in the timing, change the transmission fluid, and install a fuel pressure gauge. My starter also went out during my stay, and I was able to install a better one and my truck now starts up so fast I can’t let go of the key quickly enough!
We were able to spend some time with my mom while in Ohio and then were able to get away for a few days of camping on Lake Erie, which was a great time! We got to float on our tubes in Lake Erie and even had some old friends show up and hang for a bit. This was an area that I lived in for several years in the 80’s.
As we headed back to FL we were in some major construction and a beam on the bottom of the trailer fell off. This had happened once before, and we found out that it wasn’t welded back correctly. We found a shop to do emergency repairs and also needed 2 of our tires replaced. Then, the next day one of our bearings gave out. That took 4 hours to repair on the side of the road by the time I disconnected the trailer, found parts, and got it back together. I ended up picking up all 4 complete hub sets with a new hub, brakes, and bearings and will get the rest installed soon. When we got home one of our tires went flat so I had to get a new one for that to move the trailer back into its spot. I’ll need to replace the 4th tire but will wait until we’re ready to go on the road again!
It’s also time to check and more than likely replace the brakes and bearings on the diesel. I’m looking into a better braking system using hydraulics rather than vacuum and may need to do that soon. The turn signals also quit working the other day and trying to trace that down and think I found the issue, waiting on parts!
When we’re away from home I monitor my trailers. I discovered that our 5th wheel temp had risen over 100°! I got Jim from church to go over and see what was going on and both of our AC’s had quit working. He was able to turn them back on but also noticed that our fridge was off and everything left inside was gone and our furnace fan was running. He disconnected the power to the fridge and furnace and cleaned the fridge out for us.
I know that if the trailer loses 120vac, when power comes back, the AC’s turn back on to what they were before the power outage. But if the 12vdc system loses power and comes back on the AC’s do NOT come back on.
I have no idea what caused the 12vdc glitch. I just replaced the 12vdc system and batteries a year ago and increased the capacity. If we’ve got 120vac power, then the 12vdc system keeps working/charging. Even if the shore power goes off, there’s a separate inverter system that keeps everything running for 2-4 hours, and then the 12vdc system can run for a few hours before shutting down. There were no power outages during this time. The 12vdc system had worked fine since it was replaced and upgraded, seemed to be working fine during our short time home before heading to GA and is still working fine now. Spiritual warfare??
When we got home, I discovered that our water pump was on, and the tank was empty. Everything seemed fine inside, so I started to fill up our freshwater tank to do a couple of things before we headed to Savannah. Suddenly water started pouring out the side of the trailer. Apparently, the water pump started running when the 12vdc system went awry and then a water line broke and 30-40 gallons of water ran into the laundry, furnace, kitchen floors and below in the underbelly, which was why the tank was empty.
This was now our 3rd flood in this same area, not the biggest, but I had to tear out the kitchen and laundry floors, remove the two underbellies and insulation and dry the trailer out. Hamilton helped me and I was able to get it dried out, sprayed, and the underbelly temporarily reattached to keep the varmints out until we got back home and can work on it.
After this last flood in our 5th wheel and the uncertainty of how to ensure we can get the slides repaired and back correctly, we really need prayer about a new to us RV.
We’re praying about what we need to do as at this point it just seems like so much time and money that we need to put into fixing all these issues and I’m not totally sure how to do the slide outs and if we have the capacity to do them right.
We arrived to Savannah and got busy working at Nick’s house. One of the rooms got flooded from Hurricane Debby last August. We had decided to deploy to Sarasota that got hit pretty bad and then found out about Nick’s house when Debby came through a day later and flooded his yard and part of his house.
We changed our plans and went to his house to clean it out, dry it, and then spray it. While working through this, more flood waters flowed from west of there to the Atlantic and caused a lot more flooding, so we stayed there for over 2 months. During that time 2 other hurricanes came through the area, and we were able to help over 50 homeowners! Praise The Lord!
We needed to get to Sarasota to help with some things as well as our home was damaged when Hurricane Milton made a direct hit there. Nick needed to get some water mitigation done in his yard before we could put his house back together, so we promised to come back once that was completed.
We had to support the stud walls and do a slight lift to the load spots, cut the studs off and remove the bottom plate. We also had to cut the siding off the outside to the 2’ level. We then laid a row of cement block and water sealed it in place, put a new bottom plate on top and then scabbed on to the studs and load bearing places and then dropped the walls back into place. We also put a 1 ½” pressure treated sill for the door, cut the door and jamb down the same, and reinstalled it. We replaced the siding with z-flashing, caulked everything in with flashing on the bottom, 1x4 caulked at the seam, drywalled the inside, installed panel board and trimmed the inside. They will take care of caulking and painting it. We also did some roof, soffit, and fascia repairs.
For those of you who’ve been praying for our grandson Everett who broke his ankle, he’s doing good. They put a plate and some screws in it, and he’s got a cast that will come off in about 2 more weeks. Someone in their church just went through similar and had a scooter that he can rest his leg on so he’s getting around pretty good! Thanks for the prayers for him and keep them coming!
We had help from several folks from CC Savannah, CC Bluffton, and even from CC Merritt Island, FL, from 10-70ish years old! It was a great time of fellowship! Of course, the grandkids helped too!
My last Sunday there, I was blessed to teach at CC Bluffton in SC, a new church plant by some friends of ours. They’ve connected with a ministry that focuses on local ministry doing such things as back to school backpack supplies filled with not only things they need, but Bibles and tracks. They will also do a Bible study before they give out about 300 backpacks! They’re also having a Freedom Festival in the church parking lot with a bouncy house and having a cookout with free food on the 4th! We love to see churches reach out and serve locally in their communities! If you’re interested in listening to the teaching here’s the link, https://www.youtube.com/live/gEwz838irkg?si=PryHbLCYg1LhOBoo&t=3602
We took the last day off, Wednesday, and then headed back to Sarasota Thursday. We stopped and looked at a couple of RV’s on the way and then one on Friday. There’s a few issues with each of them and we’re praying about that.
Lot’s of work to do now that we’re back with maintenance and finishing up the electric at Brett and Shanell’s.
We’ve also been trying to help Trent and Rachel figure out what to do with their home that the government is forcing them to tear down. If they want to live where they need to live in order for Trent to continue his commercial fishing business, they have to build a home about 12’ higher than the current one! This would cost almost twice as much as what their insurance payout was. They’ve already spent money with a builder who told them he could do it for the money they received, and after spending almost $15k on up front work and plans that the county said they won’t approve and then saying since it’s been 6 months all the pricing has gone up, they’ve fired him and been seeking an alternative. We believe we’ve found someone and are working on getting a meeting with him this week. He’ll do all the cement work under the new home, build the columns, framing, roof, windows, exterior doors, and then we can take it from there with volunteers. I’ll also help push things along and keep everything on track. Please keep this in your prayers.
Our health is still mostly the same. Having some extra issues with my hernia of over 15 years I got while lifting a generator by myself that’s also keeping me from the exercises I need to do for my hip, leg, and knee issues. Still trying to figure out that light duty stuff! Please continue to keep our health in your prayers as well.
As always, lots to do and lots to pray about and we sure need them!
If you’re interested in growing in The LORD as you selflessly serve others alongside of Calvary Relief, please let us know! For more info on joining us, click here. Plenty of things to do!
If you feel led to help with any of the expenses with Calvary Relief, please click here.
If there’s ever anything you need prayer about or just need to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and let us know!
Here to serve and disciple until He calls us home,
Curt & Mary Jo
