JUN 02, 1996

THE BASEMENT HOLE

I had a pretty good night staying at the Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Around seven in the morning, I got on the road and rode over to the local affiliate's sub-division on the northern outskirts of Sioux Falls. Along the way, I passed the state penitentiary and a monument to the Anson Family who had been massacred by Indians.

The sub-division was pretty unique. Interspersed between the newly built were houses that had been donated for free to the affiliate and moved from various locations around the area. There were a hodgepodge of different sizes of the houses.

Two newly built houses with full basements were being finished. There were also six houses on pillars that were being rehabbed. Also, there was a basement that had been poured yesterday in three and a half hours.

Most of the people working at the subdivision were from Our Savior's Lutheran Church who were finishing up the house that they sponsored. Their house would be dedicated on June 8th. The new homeowners had five kids already and one was on the way.

I worked mainly with the construction supervisor. My job was to help take apart forms for a new basement foundation that had been poured a couple days ago. The only problem was that the basement hole was mostly mud from a recent rain storm. I had to put on a large pair of hip waders.

It was really hard working in them down in the bottom of the hole and I almost got stuck several times climbing out of the hole. In the afternoon, I was invited to stay with the supervisor of the church group and her family.