I got a call from Wayne and Lynn, need me to come over and set up their generator.

As I was driving down Kings Highway. This is at Angle Road. This is the road that Westwood High School is on the east side. Now I can understand why they lost their electricity. I wrote about that yesterday. 

This is a landmark. Big Al's Red Barn Store. 

This is still Al's 

I am heading north on Kings Highway. You can see that the tornado ran thru here. 

My friend Roy use to buy his lottery tickets here. I guess they are packing up and moving on. This was a Citgo Gas Station. I guess they are draining the gas out of the tanks. 

This is the Lakewood Park Methodist Church. They just put this new roof on last year. 

As I drove up to the entrance to Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, I was stopped by PSL Sheriff. Asking do I live here? No, told him that one of my customer's called and ask me to help him set up his generator. I am not really sure what this was. I think this was a mobile home. 

As I was driving around, I just got so overwhelmed. I was just so much damage. Plus, I even got lost.

 I had to pull over and get out Google Maps. Almost all street signs were gone. 

I got over to Wayne's home. We talked a little to see what has happen. Then went inside and rolled out their generator. Big their unit is 10,000 watts. This could run two homes or more. Hey, they got this about two or three years ago. The reason I know this is I put it all together and didn't start it up. The reason was built inside their house. Wayne told me that when we need it will be ready. I rolled it outside in front of their house. Meanwhile a guy (Jason) came over to see if he could help us. He works for FPUA (Water Department). I had him read the manual to see how much oil we need to put into the generator. I and him could not see that at all. I just started pouring the oil in and watched to make sure it didn't overflow. It took the whole quart. Hooked up the battery and tried it and the battery was dead. I pulled the rope starter, and it took a few pulls. It started up and even ran well. 

I bought two larger extension cords with me. I ran them out and got them in place where they wanted the cords at. I left them with lights, TV, Inernet, freeze and refrigerator. They are all set for a while. 

I left there and stopped at Roy's home. They must have gone out to dinner. 

Talked with a neighbor Vince and he told me that they were okay. 

I started home, thinking about the Crossing Community Church, I drove there and saw a couple of guys out front, I saw a sign saying free meals. I asked one of the guys there, is everything okay here? 

He told me yes. I saw the hurricane shutters were down. I guess they are ready for church today. 

This is Lawnwood Elementary School, across street from the church. I guess this is one of the power companies parking lots. 

Well, folks as I drove away, I just said THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE TO KEEP US SAFE. 

I read this morning 1 Timothy 2:3-6 This is good and pleases God our Savor, for he wants everyone to be saved and understand. (4) For there is only one God and one Meditator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus, (6) He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time.

I am still asking for prayers for all the folks that are still without power and water. 

Remember these folks are retired and might not have family to help them. 

Then looking on to the home destroyed where are they to go? 

I heard this morning on Facebook, that Wynn's (owners of the park) meet at the club house yesterday at 1pm. They went over some paperwork about if you lost your home you need to release back to the park, and they are selling their home at a discount to people. 

 

Jeanne and I are okay, I still have to tell you what has happen.

Well Hurricane Milton was coming to visit Florida. At first, he was heading towards Tampa. Then he turned a little more south. So, Sarasota was his heading. Meanwhile my family (cousins), they live in Largo. That is northwest of Tampa. That would be Debbie, Jon, Joyce and Greg were going to drive up to Melbourne. I have another cousin that lives in Winter Haven. I texted her a couple of times asking is her plan. She was saying she will be okay in home. I asked her a couple of times why stay? She was has a couple of cats and thought it would be okay. Meanwhile I was getting our house ready for his visit. I put our shutters and brought in hanging plants plus. Oh, I did go over to Spain Lakes Country Club and put s a couple of friends clam shells.

There is one customer that I was planning on putting in a new water heater and shower faucet. But it was not leaking to bad. I told her I would be back on Friday and buy the water heater and put it in on Monday. So, you can see what I am talking about clam shells (above). 

Okay so we are pretty much ready for Milton's visit. Boy all these pictures were taken on Monday Oct 7th. You can see we were getting a lot of rain form our friend Milton. 

Okay, on Wednesday afternoon I got a text asking me to pick up my cousin in Winter Haven. Okay it's 1 pm the storm will not be hitting Florida until midnight or later on this day. 

So, I told her okay I am on my way. I left and while driving I kept getting these tornado warning along route 60. Not seeing anything except a lot of rain. and a lot of traffic heading towards me. I got to her house at 3 pm an loaded her things up and headed back home. The rain was getting worse, and the roads had a lot of water on them. I just kept going and we made it back to my house by 6pm. 

Got her unloaded and went out and made sure our house is secure. 

Now Jeanne got a call saying the power is off at the school. So, we loaded up four extension cords. Got to the school and ran cords from the school generator and hooked up the freezers and one refrigerator. Did have to food a lot of food around to make sure it will be okay.  

We didn't get out of there until after 1am. Still raining but we got home and took showers and went to bed. 

The power went out around 3am. (Thursday) We are still okay and just slept in until 10am. I got up and got the generator out and four extension cords out and started laying them out to where they will run. Hooked up all four (4) of our refrigerators and one freezer. Thinking to make sure they are all cooled off. Plus set up internet and Jeanne's computers so she can do her grading for the school. They are due on Monday morning. I took down the two panels of the hurricane shutter off so we can look out and outside. Meanwhile talking with my cousin, she told me that she has power back at her home and there is no damage to her house. I asked about her brother and our other cousins. She told me that they are staying in Melbourne. Okay would you like for me to take you home? Okay folks it's kind of funny it's 1pm again. So, we packed her up and, on the road, again. There was a lot more cars heading west now. But I got her home by 3pm. WOW. this is the same time the day before. CRAZY. 

I got back home, (6 pm) and Jeanne and I went out to dinner at Moonshiners. There were a few folks there.  We saw some of Jeanne's family there and got caught up on how everyone if doing. Meanwhile had a dinner and headed back home and the power was back on. THANK YOU, LORD. 

Now this is Friday morning I started cleaning up our yard and just get things back in order again. 

I called a few of my friends in SLCCV. Found out everyone I talked to was okay. But have heard that four (4) people were killed by a tornado, that hit the park. 

Please keep that park in your prayers. I did talk with Carol's daughter. She was my customer that needed a water heater replaced. The good thing is Carol is okay. but she lost her roof. I will not be replacing her water heater. 

BUT SHE IS SAFE. BY GOD"S GRACE AND MERCY. 

This is our neighbor, Debbie. the tree alongside of her house spilt in half and there was a guy out there cutting it up and hauling it off. She is still without power. The tree took out her power. 

Thank you, Jeanne, for buying this generator back in 2004. During that time, Jean and Francis came to visit twice. So, this generator has been a life saver. Do you see the 120/240 volts 30a ac plug. Well today I am going to make up a cord for this and hook it up and test today and make sure we have power for the house without extension cords. 

Jeanne's Mom had this installed back in 2004. So, we have it all set up for us already. 

I knew it and looked up on how to hook up the generator to the house back a few weeks ago. We lost power because of tree that have not bene trimmed. 

After they got our power back up a few weeks ago. I came over here to see what happened. 

So, prayerfully I will get the cord and be done with it. 

The funny thing is I didn't take many pictures of anything. The reason is I have been a busy guy. 

It all worked out because GOD IS WITH US. 

 PRAISE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR ALL HE HAS BEEN PROTECTING. 

Today read I in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 He called you to salvation when we told you the GOOD NEWS; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Okay this is a update on Wayne's home.

My last blog I started cleaning up their yard. I talked with Lyne (his wife) Asking if I could just pull out all the bushes. She told me okay. This one bush was tougher than I was. I wrapped a chain around the bottom of it and backed up the F150. I did it three or maybe four times. Trying to pull it out of the ground. The chain just kept slipping off. I gave up and cleaned up what I can. I just got my little weed eater out and started trimming off the weeds.  

While using it, it would stop running. I would tap in on the ground and it would start up again. I did that for about 10 minutes and said there must be a break in the wiring. 

This is the motor itself. 

You can see the wire is fried. I trimmed the wire off and put a cap on it and all is well again. Simple fix. 

Oh, I texted a friend of ours, Troy. I asked if I could use one of the weed eaters that he over sees. 

I used their gas weed eater. It really did a great job. 

I am so happy I had a chance to clean out their yard. I made a couple buck and now they should pass inspection. 

This morning, we have an unfriendly storm coming to visit. Yes, Hurricane Milton is coming to town. 

As I watch the weather channel. I am in all of how much damage happen to the Panhandle. They are saying this storm is coming in with more force and vigor. All i know is our house has it's shutters up and we have our supplies. Even bought 12 gallons of gas for the generator. 

So, Lord I am giving You everything we have in Your hands. 

He is the only ONE that can do it for us. 

So, folks we will see what happens. 

 

This place needs to clean up.

Folks, my friend here are trying to clean up their house outside. It's hard sometimes to keep up with lawn work. Hey everyone, out there. It's very hard to keep up with lawn work and just life itself. 

Okay I started by spraying all the weeds. This way I will come back the next day and used the weed eater. 

Okay first of all I need to pull all the pavers (Straight Scallops) There were 56 plus pieces. I just used a shovel and popped them up and picked them up and piled them up on the back, behind the shed. 

Like I said earlier, sprayed all the weeds and grass that doesn't belong there. Like this corner you are looking at now. 

Okay not sure if you know this or not, these pavers weight around 15 pounds each. So, thinking I might have to remove these. The reason I am saying that is. If the folks that come over to their home and check this and say need to remove them. I will have to use my baby's big truck. My little Ranger 

But it not they are very nice sitting where they are now. 

I will give you a update in a couple of days what I did and tried to do.

This is what I read this morning.  There was one verse that reminded me of a teaching our old Pastor Bob taught many years old. Colossians 2:6 to 7

Title-Freedom From Rules And New Life In Christ.  

6) And how, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him. (7) Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. 

Pastor Bob taught about what is in your cup, when you hit the cup what spills out? 

It is with Thanksgiving, Kind and Loving. Ot is it impure thought, envy, drunkenness, wild parties. 

Folks I really hope and pray when someone hits your cup. that all good comes out of it. 

The sad part is your cup will be getting hit a lot more after becoming a Christian. 

So, folks don't give up, HE IS RIGHT NEXT TO YOU PLUS LIVES INSIDE OF YOU NOW.