I will be working at the library this afternoon. Several have expressed the desire to see it and this afternoon is your chance. We begin PACKING for shipping next week! I write that sentence with great joy.
Dr. Ekwenye heads back to Nigeria next week carrying a new sense of hope and determination.
“Today, standing here at this time, I am not thinking of the many children in Africa, in Nigeria, that will go to bed hungry,” she said. “I am thinking of love, of hope, of kindness, of generosity.”
The story ran in the Tuesday, October 27th Times Free Press. A huge thank you to Kevin Hardy who wrote the article and did a great job. He summed up the project well. Kevin also included a nice video of Chi talking to the group.
It was nice to meet Leslie Onstott, a staff photographer. She took some great pictures of the open house and the library.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/oct/27/library-in-a-box-dreams-of-helping-nigerian/
Ken Snell from the North Atlanta Church of Christ brought Dr. Chi Ekwenye up from Atlanta on Thursday the 22nd. We had a hard time getting her to come into “The Cafe” at Clear Creek Church of Christ. She wanted to go look at the library as soon as she got to the site.
Joanne and Amy Ewing prepared a great spread for a short reception. We visited with Geoff Giseman from Shelbyville. He drove over with two new friends of ours: Mary Ellen and Buddy Koonce. Mary Ellen coordinated the collection of 13000 diapers for the ophanage. The church van was loaded down and now the container is with the diapers. It was enjoyable to see them.
We were so touched to see Mary Lillian and Frank Thomason. They came up from Dalton to meet Chi and see the library.
Kim and Will Honeycut, along with the awesome threesome: Simeon, Eli and Jessie, planned their return from vaction to be at the reception and open house. They have the ”World Next Door” free trade store downtown on Market Steet in Chattanooga. The Honeycuts also team teach a resource position at Calvin Donaldson School. They have been a trendous encouragement throughout this whole project. It was a joy to see such fantastic folks as the Honeycuts and Chi meet and visit.
Taylor Bowling became our official door greeter for the evening. Taylor’s parents, Laura and Jason, made so many parts of the library come together. Taylor’s sister Caroline was also very cute while Chi read to her in the library.
It was nice to see Carol Golden. She and Bobby have been a great encouragement. From cold beverages, fudge sundaes, helping with the shipping and literally powering the project with a borrowed generator; the Goldens have stepped in and kept us going.
Chi was very touched by Melinda Grohman and the Signal Mountain String Ensemble providing music for our reception. I was personally moved by all the Ensemble members who came to be apart of the reception.
It was good to see Buddy and Mackie Parks, Glenna Johnson, Exia Lane, Blayne and Laura Harbin, Sharon Sanders and Carol Fox. Exia was so kind to bring her bananna bread and pumpkin bread.
We were also blessed by Joanne’s aunt, Joanne Kerley. She brightens everywhere she is. I was glad she got to hear an meet Chi.
Steve and Marian May were also in the house for the reception. I appreciate them taking the time to be there, see the library and help out so much with the shipping.
Mary Grace introduced Chi to the group. Chi spoke with and about Mary Grace for several minutes. That was a highlight. Dr. Ekwenye talked about her work, the state of need in Nigeria and the children of Susanna Homes.
After Chi finished, we had a great ceremony naming the library after our good friend Greg Ewing. The library is now the Greg Raymond Ewing Library!
The second highlight was watching Chi get to see the library. Ken Snell prayed for the library. Then, Mary Grace took Chi through for the first time. Let’s just say we were late for dinner reservations later that night because of how long Chi wanted to soak up the library. It was awesome. It made all the long, hot days in August worth it.
Thank you to Melinda Grohman and the Signal Mountain String Ensemble for blessing our open house and Chi on Thursday. She and several members of the ensemble played for our reception during the open house. Chi was very touched that they would come and honor her with music.
Lorrie Allen and Larry Estepa hosted Dr. Ekwenye on the Mornings Show on Family Net TV/Satellite Radio. Chi visited the studio on Monday, October 19. Listen to her conversation on itunes.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=62163907&id=302180864
Read latest article about the project.
http://www.sigmtn.com/features/community/netarticles.php?articleId=1854
…But we got a ton done.
Jason Bowling and I spent last Saturday laying all the carpet. It looks fantastic.
Joanne, the kids and I got the last of the shelves up. We worked late into the night on Thursday to finish.
Mom and Dad were a huge shot in the arm today. They showed up at 8 A.M. and they didn’t quit until we finished at 6 P.M. I really appreciated their energy.
This morning, we got the truck. We got over to the storage unit. It took about 1 1/2 hours to load the books. We drove the short trip up to the construction site. I was going to pull right up to the container so it would be so it would be convenient to load right into the container. Then everything came to a screeching halt…
The rain had softened up the ground and the truck sunk right in the mud. We were quickly rescued by a nearby wrecker with a winch.
We were soon back to work. Mom quickly got our plan in order. The books look so much better on the shelf.
Dad checking out the stacks.
Mary Grace was glad to finish up a long day. She is excited to see the finish line on the whole project.
DONATE BOOKS FOR NIGERIA
Thank You for over 12,000 books!
You are invited to an
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, October 22
Clear Creek Church of Christ
5612 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tennessee
Meet Dr. Chi Ekwenye, director of Right Steps School, and see what your donations have accomplished.
Reception 4:00
Dr. Chi Ekwenye 4:20
Dedication Ceremony 4:50
Library Open for Tour 5:00-6:30
We all enjoyed a special visit from Lorri Allen and her husband Mark. They were so gratious to spend the day coming to visit us.
Lorri Allen is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years experience. She has worked as a reporter, producer, and television anchor—coordinating broadcast coverage in response to major events such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Lorri is also an author, speaker, and marathon runner. Mary Grace and her friend Olivia enjoyed meeting her puppies more than anything today.
Lorri’s husband, Mark, is her camera man and producer. It was fun to visit with him and plan his later attack upon the bbq of Chattanooga.
Lorri and Larry Estepa co-host Mornings on FamilyNet Television and SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 161. The program airs live Monday through Friday on FamilyNet from 7 to 9 am ET, following a 6 am start on SIRIUS. Check out their podcast or check your cable/Sirius listings.
The Allens came up to see our progress. Mark got some video of our work and the library. Lorri spent over an hour with us talking about the library and interviewing Mary Grace.
We had great weather today for our painting day. It was perfect. I was very worried that we would get rained out. The storms held off until evening.
It was nice to have the Bowlings, the Stovalls and Dr. Bob Wood. 
The group accomplished a ton of work. We finished all of the painting today. I have to say that it is with great joy that I will put up the paint brushes. The colors look great and Mary Grace seems to be pleased.
J.B. and Caroline Bowling got more paint on the desk that themselves. Superb.
It was good to see that Jason can still enjoy him some juice box.
Jason and I started putting down the carpet tiles. Mary Grace’s carpet plan really looks good. It is starting to look like a library.
