Simple Solutions - Van Dweller Window Coverings
Greetings sisters in Christ,
We are thankful for another day and for a bonus, we have sunshine! All day yesterday during our travels and into last night it was cold and rainy. In situations like that it reminds you to be thankful for food and raiment and the added blessing of having a van roof over our head with warm blankets. Praise God for the simple things in life.
Speaking of simple things, I wanted to share how brother Jim used his creativity to solve a problem we had with our van. When we decided to downsize into our cargo van and started costing out how to convert it, we looked at RV windows but had a hard time handing over hundreds of dollars for them so we chose a unique option. Boat (porthole) windows:
They were a fraction of the cost (under $30 at the time we bought them) and very durable. Jim added a screen and a security measure on the outside as you can see with the metal mesh.
They work great and the only issue we had is when it rained, we had to shut them which is not good when you're in a hot climate and don't want to roast to death at night. (We avoid running our generator at night.) After a bit of thought, this is what Jim came up with for window coverings which work great and cost very little!
He used a piece of corrugated plastic (a left over piece from our gospel signs), some heavy duty magnets and a bungee. They only take a few minutes to install, it keeps the rain from coming in and we get fresh air. (He only puts them on when there's rain in the forecast for the evening.)
As I've mentioned in posts quite some time ago, when we began this journey we thought about insulating the entire van, having wood walls, making cabinets and counters (you know those cute vans that look like a cabin) but instead we opted for the most simple, less cost options. Jim did insulate the roof so that we wouldn't have condensation dripping on us and it would offer some insulation against the heat and sun but the rest was super simple. He made a basic plywood bed platform with storage under it, we used a big metal utility shelf (that came with the van) to hold all our food, I have a little spot on one shelf for my small propane stove, a plywood floor and a plastic table that can be removed. We did nothing with the walls because I can hang blankets up with magnets when we need more insulation.
(He is thinking of cutting the roof out and building it higher so we can stand up. The older you get the harder it is to keep bending over but that will be low cost also :-)
Many people get wrapped up on the details of the van, what it should look like and how to do it more so than the reason why...to proclaim the good news, the gospel.
I wanted to share this because there might come a time when some of you may have a husband that feels called to become a traveling evangelist, even if for short trips and I don't want you getting wrapped up in the expensive tiny house mindset that you see on the internet like youtube and facebook. Brother Jim encourages brothers to keep it simple, low cost and not get wrapped up in the details of the van itself but instead to get going and focus on why...to 'go' and preach the gospel.
It won't be long and we will all be dust, right alongside all our possessions.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Genesis 3:19
Let's all keep that in mind no matter where we live, in a house or van.
I hope you have a joyous day today sisters!
Love to you all in Christ Jesus,
Sister Deb
We are thankful for another day and for a bonus, we have sunshine! All day yesterday during our travels and into last night it was cold and rainy. In situations like that it reminds you to be thankful for food and raiment and the added blessing of having a van roof over our head with warm blankets. Praise God for the simple things in life.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:8-9Speaking of simple things, I wanted to share how brother Jim used his creativity to solve a problem we had with our van. When we decided to downsize into our cargo van and started costing out how to convert it, we looked at RV windows but had a hard time handing over hundreds of dollars for them so we chose a unique option. Boat (porthole) windows:
They were a fraction of the cost (under $30 at the time we bought them) and very durable. Jim added a screen and a security measure on the outside as you can see with the metal mesh.
They work great and the only issue we had is when it rained, we had to shut them which is not good when you're in a hot climate and don't want to roast to death at night. (We avoid running our generator at night.) After a bit of thought, this is what Jim came up with for window coverings which work great and cost very little!
He used a piece of corrugated plastic (a left over piece from our gospel signs), some heavy duty magnets and a bungee. They only take a few minutes to install, it keeps the rain from coming in and we get fresh air. (He only puts them on when there's rain in the forecast for the evening.)
As I've mentioned in posts quite some time ago, when we began this journey we thought about insulating the entire van, having wood walls, making cabinets and counters (you know those cute vans that look like a cabin) but instead we opted for the most simple, less cost options. Jim did insulate the roof so that we wouldn't have condensation dripping on us and it would offer some insulation against the heat and sun but the rest was super simple. He made a basic plywood bed platform with storage under it, we used a big metal utility shelf (that came with the van) to hold all our food, I have a little spot on one shelf for my small propane stove, a plywood floor and a plastic table that can be removed. We did nothing with the walls because I can hang blankets up with magnets when we need more insulation.
(He is thinking of cutting the roof out and building it higher so we can stand up. The older you get the harder it is to keep bending over but that will be low cost also :-)
Many people get wrapped up on the details of the van, what it should look like and how to do it more so than the reason why...to proclaim the good news, the gospel.
I wanted to share this because there might come a time when some of you may have a husband that feels called to become a traveling evangelist, even if for short trips and I don't want you getting wrapped up in the expensive tiny house mindset that you see on the internet like youtube and facebook. Brother Jim encourages brothers to keep it simple, low cost and not get wrapped up in the details of the van itself but instead to get going and focus on why...to 'go' and preach the gospel.
It won't be long and we will all be dust, right alongside all our possessions.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Genesis 3:19
Let's all keep that in mind no matter where we live, in a house or van.
I hope you have a joyous day today sisters!
Love to you all in Christ Jesus,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...