ANNA TELLS OF KEVIN'S SHOP

I thought that I had given Marilyn a post for this week and I hadn't.  So on Monday, I am coming up with the post you are reading today.

Thought I would tell you about Kevin's Shop. I think you will note in a previous post a while back that he wanted a shop.  He did repairs, but didn't have a place for all he tools or where he could bring things to be repaired into.  While he and his wife Bridget were gone to help folks, I think in Oklahoma, a group of Old Order Mennonite and Amish got together and built the shop for him.  Was he ever surprised when he got back.

Now he and Jean's son, Michael work there.  They do all sorts of repairs there.  Michael is in training, but Kevin says he has done great jobs and learned fast, that he is now on his payroll.  Kevin feels in another year or so, Michael will be able to open his own shop.  In this area, there is a lot of work to be done and they don't feel that it will be one against the other.

Inside of Kevin's shop are all sorts of tools hung on the walls.   He and Michael know what each tool is and what it is for.  They work on all sorts of repair.  They work on washers, dryers, wood burn stoves, gas stoves, farm equipment, sewing machines and even a car, once in a while. The are jacks of all trades.  On big equipment, they go to owners homes.  They have a wagon if they have to bring something back to the shop, but they prefer to repair the big items in homes or barns.  Sometimes they have had to work on farm equipment in the field.

Sometimes Kevin goes to auctions, junk yards, peoples homes and buys items that people want to get rid of .  He repairs them and resells them to make extra money.

David has taught Michael how to do wood work, so sometimes he makes items that are needed.  Like Michael is making two chairs, one for each of the sewing machines and stands we bought.  Kevin says he can do refinishing but when it comes to building something - that's Michael's job.

In addition to the shop Kevin also has a farm.  I asked him if he gets behind in farming working in the shop.  Kevin smiled - he said he has nine brothers and sisters to call if he needs farming help.  Michael also works on Jean and David's farm plus the land that Edward and he farm.  Michael said Edward and David usually give him a hand in farming if he gets behind.

All the time at the shop was not work.  Kevin and Bridget held a picnic for their customers.  It was sort of a thank you for all the work that they had given him and Michael.  Elmer and I were invited and went - it was a great picnic.  Also, one day Elmer took something to the shop and came home laughing.  When he got to Kevin's shop, the door had a sign: "Gone Fishing".  It seems that Kevin and Michael had all the shop and farming work caught up and they couldn't resist taking time off for fishing.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Anna