Our project at Camp Tracey is now but a memory. We completed our work there on Tuesday afternoon. The men finished putting siding on a fairly large house. As the work progressed, the question was “Will we be able to finish this before we leave?” Prayer kept them safe as they climbed high scaffolds etc. The ladies finished all the work that had been asked of them. On the final day, more pecan pies were made for the students.

Leaving a RVICS project is the hardest thing to do. Over the period of a month lasting friendships are made. We always hope that down the road we will have that privilege of being together again soon. Since (for example) this past project we were from 5 different US states it is hard to visit often.

The “students” became very special to us. We ate with them and heard the stories of their “family” life. It was very hard to listen to because it broke your heart. We became like grandparents to them. Our prayer for them is that they might soon leave this camp and have a normal, stable life.

However, we had much to look forward to in leaving. On Wednesday we drove to Kim’s in Georgia and are now playing with Luke and Hannah! We can’t believe how much they have grown and changed in just a couple of months. Chris is in Hawaii for a few days and probably won’t get home before we leave. Since they are now possibly headed for Wichita in the near future we probably won’t have the opportunity for these stop ins.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support for our work. Right now, we plan on continuing this work beginning in the fall. Miracle Camp is on the list for September and we are hoping to be assigned to that project.

Time Is Flying By

Today is really beginning to feel like summertime in the south! We aren’t complaining because this has actually been a very cool week. However, it is reminder as to how close we are getting to finishing up our work here and beginning the trip north in a couple of weeks.

This week was much like the week before as far as our work is concerned. Don and the men worked hard on putting siding on the house. The house is very crooked which is presenting many problems/decisions. Sharon and the ladies worked on cracking the pecans all week. That project is nearing an end. One day, a couple of the ladies made 10 pecan pies. We shared them with all the campers, staff and all the volunteer workers. We can’t do that very often. Ha!!

The highlight of the week was an ice cream social that all the volunteers put on for the girl campers. We really have fallen in love with these girls. There was much interaction with everyone. The volunteers (RVICS, SOWERS and another volunteer couple) all sang songs to them. In return, the girls sang to us. Everyone thought that it was a success---with ice cream with all the extras you can’t go wrong.

When the campers turn 18 years of age, they have the freedom of leaving on their own. Bradley is an 18 year old that has been here for 5 years and has chosen to stay on. As a gift from him to us, he is washing all the vehicle of all the volunteers here. He is a success story of Camp Tracey.

Thanks for continuing to remember us as we are away.

Another Good Week of Work

Camp Tracey has been our home for a week. Time just continues to fly by. We are thankful to be able to spend this part of winter in Florida. Right now, the weather certainly is much better here than in the northern part of the US. However, it is pouring down rain today with the storms that come with it.

Once again, we had a productive week of work. Sharon spent 2 days of the week tutoring girls at their school. Don and the men are putting vinyl siding on a house. The ladies spent a couple of days cracking pecans. The nuts came from trees on the property. There is, also, a small garden where the students grow a few vegetables for use in the camp.

The RVICS couples love interacting with the students that are here. We are invited to eat lunch and supper with the girls or the boys (they eat separately). In talking with them, their lives are full of broken homes and troubled backgrounds. In talking with a girl yesterday, she calls Camp Tracey her home. An uncle (who adopted her) told her not to come back. It breaks your heart. They are here because of the trouble that they have gotten into. They have entered this camp because the family has sent them here or (in rare cases) a court has sent them. However, the good news is that if they are here for at least a year there is a 90% success rate.

There is an international flavor to this project as there are 2 couples of Canada that are serving here with a different RV mission group. It has been fun getting to know them. The men have worked separately but he ladies have spent a couple days with the RVICS ladies doing the pecans.

Thanks, again, for following our ministry with your prayers.