Almost Done

There aren’t too many indications the September 2010 project here at Canaan Acres is about to end except to look at the calendar. The weather has stayed hot all month long but there are a few leaves beginning to sport their fall colors. Actually, the weather has been perfect to do about anything outside. Time has flown and some of the projects are either done or about done.

The kitchen and bathroom floors are now done in the house. The hexagon shapes were a challenge but the results are perfect. Many miscellaneous jobs were worked on by the men this past week. Some examples are weed eating the property, pulling weeds and cleaning up the entrance, patching some cement, building and installing information signs around the camp and painting also. The women continued to paint.

Every RVICS group has a unique personality. This group is pretty social. We have enjoyed our pop on the porch times as well as our official social times. In just 4 short days our times here will end and we will, once again, be saying our good byes. Four couples plus our single man (from this group) will continue on to Tennessee for their next work and two new couples will join them.

For the first time, we will not be doing any other fall projects but will head back to Indiana. We will miss it but are looking forward to starting up again in January 2011 in Florida.

Keeping Busy

Yes, we are keeping busy. However, while some jobs are now finished others are still a work in process. Don (mostly working alone) has now finished laying the bathroom tile. They were small and the hexagon shape was “interesting” to work with. The kitchen tile has, also, been laid. The grouting will be done in the coming week. Many of the men worked on in repairing doors and door jams on some of the cabins and other buildings. Some landscaping work was done. Most of the grounds equipment and a pump have been repaired. Those that haven’t been fixed are waiting on a part of some nature. The women painted and painted some more. One lady is helping out in the office.

Before every day of work, we begin with devotions. Every member of the group leads our time together at least once during the month. This is a special time for everyone as we gather to share, pray and sing together. Oh yes, there is a set seating arrangement for this time. We have to put our brains in gear early in the morning as to where we sit. The woman sits in the “passenger seat” (right side) beside her husband. That is because we hug the person (not our spouse) next to us and give a kiss to our spouse on the other side. It is always good for a laugh.

As I write this, we are actually at home in Hartford City. This is a first for us to come home in the middle of a project. It is good to get a little rest but we will be heading back to Canaan Acres on Sunday for 2 more weeks of work and fun.

Typical RVICS

Can I say this is a typical RVICS project? A lot of the women’s assignments from month to month deals with painting. The men start something and, usually, see it to completion. This month is following a similar pattern. The women have finished painting the entrance doors to the cabins and have begun to paint in other places in the camp. The men are progressing on the house. This week (after the demolition) they shored up the porch floor, laid subflooring for tile and are beginning to lay out the pattern for the floor tile. One of the RVICS men is repairing lawn mowers and other equipment used in grooming the grounds.

However, there was a break in the men’s routine one day. Smoke testing was done in the camp’s sewer lines. The men tracked the smoke. As you can see in the picture, they had to meet to plan etc. Ha!!

Some of the places we work are not suited for bicycles. This place is ideal for riding to and from one place to another. The truck gets a rest. We don’t always get to bring them along but are glad that we have them this month.

Part of the fun in RVICS is socializing in our free time. This is the perfect time of year for roasting hot dogs and with all the fixin’s around an open fire. We are building friendships, as well as fellowshipping.

With perfect weather to work outside, this will be another good week. What a beautiful time of year.

Back to Work 9/2010

Once again the calendar says summer is over and it is time to hit the road for another RVICS project. Even though I said summer is over, when we pulled the RV out of Hartford City, Indiana, and the first couple of days here the temperatures were still 90! In a “metal box” it felt really hot but, like home, we do have an air conditioner-----No, we aren’t roughing it.

Canaan Acres Christian Camp in Louisville, Ohio, is our home for the month of September which in the beautiful rolling hills and farmland in northeastern Ohio. This is a small camp for the East District of the Ohio Nazarene Church. Later this week, we are to learn more of the history and use of the camp from the camp director.

Our team is normally made up of only couples. This time we are a group of 6 couples plus the adult son of one of the couples representing 5 different states. One of the things we enjoy is meeting new, Christian friends. This time there are 5 new people we have not worked with before. But, it is great to re-unite with friends that we have had to say goodbye too previously. Six of the individuals are old friends!

Labor Day was not a day off but indeed a day of labor. The women began by cleaning some cabins. The men began with demolition work on a house the camp acquired on the property (or at least abutting the property) which they wish to rent. The picture of the house (above) does not really show all the work that will be required to get it into “shape”. However, lots of work doesn’t bother any of the men! They were anxious to get started on it.

It is great to be back to work with fellow Christians. What a bond we have together whether we are working, playing or worshipping. We are looking forward to the next 4 weeks!

Spring is Here!!

The grass is turning green and the trees are beginning to bud here in Dothan, Alabama. It is getting warm enough to spend some of our free time outside without the very heavy, warmer clothing. Forgotten is the extreme weather we experienced driving down here the first part of January! In just 4 days, we will be packed and ready to head back north once again for springtime in Indiana. Can we be saying goodbye once again to new friends?!

This week was another productive week. The stairways are now finished. Don has been painting new bathrooms, utility rooms etc and now has 6 rooms completed. The floors have been installed in all of those rooms too. The new water fountains are installed and working. The men are now finishing up putting new sinks in multiple rooms and the plumbing that goes with that job. In just the short time we have been here, much as been accomplished.

Sunday was a special day for the women. Seven were baptized in the new robes that we had been sewing. However, after the baptismal we decided that sew on the Velcro. The iron on just didn’t hold after being in water and we had to re-sew them on by hand. That should work!! Now, all 17 of the robes are on hangers waiting to be used. Our last sewing project was to make coverings for the new acoustical panels to be installed in a room that has a bad echo. We finished them on Thursday morning and they look great. However, when they were checked the guy who had cut them out, he discovered one of them was the mirror image of what it needed to be! Sooo, on Monday morning we will be doing one of them again.

This was a week of celebrations. On Wednesday evening, the church held a dinner in our honor. That was a very special time for us. These people are so thankful that we came to help them. On Thursday evening, we spent our last time together as the 6 couples who have worked together these past 3 months. (One of the couples left yesterday to go to a family function.) We had a cookout that we all contributed food for. In addition to our group, we invited Chester (associate pastor) and his family, Steve & Ann Loveland (a church member who has worked alongside the men) and a retired RVICS couple, Richard & Barbara Walker. Yesterday for our tour day, we drove to Marianna, Florida, and date lunch with the 3 RVICS couples working there. We have worked with all 3 couples before and it was great visiting with them again!

Sunday will be our last day to worship with these wonderful people. However, we know that we won’t be forgotten nor will we forget them. When we travel this way again, we will stop in for a visit.

Right now, we are looking forward to seeing family once again and having a full summer. But, we know, that come September we will be more than ready to do it all again!!

Wow---what we are getting done!!

The title of the blog says it all----Wow!!! Much has been accomplished this past week. The list of things to be done was very long when we arrived at Dothan Community Church and some items will be undone when we leave. However, the church and our RVICS team feel very good about the differences we are making in our work. The goal of the church is to have enough of the new addition done that it will be in use by the end of summer.

The men have been working multiple projects. One of them with a church member dug ditches with a backhoe (one did this in his past life)and laid a new main line to the church and new water lines to the RVs out back. The new lines are now working. Don painted more bathrooms plus with another man hung dry wall in the new stairways. Others have been building and installing the new stairways. Hopefully, both of them will be finished when we leave.

The women have their sewing machines buzzing. The church has requested 17 baptismal robes be made. Five of us at a time have been working on them. With many projects we don't see our work actually being used. This morning we will see those robes being worn because 5 people will be baptized!! One lady, at a time, is still scanning slides. We will be doing that on the very last day too.

With all the work, we haven't missed out on playing either. Monday night found us pooling our resources and enjoying a lasagna meal. What fun!! Friday night, a retired RVICS couple treated all of us to a meal at the Golden Corral. Lastly, yesterday we met another RVICS group that is about 30 miles away and spent the day at an ag festival. We have worked with all those with the other RVICS group. That was special to end the week in that way.

With the blooming of the spring trees etc, there is a new spring in our steps. We are once again looking forward to the coming week.

Springtime!!

The sunshine is back and brought the nice, warm springtime weather with it. It seemed to lift everyone's spirits. Even with all the tiredness and stiff muscles, there are smiles on everyone's faces. We are all enjoying our time at Dothan Community Church.

After hitting the road running on Monday, none of us let up with our work the whole week. There was much accomplished. The men are doing numerous jobs with laying of tile (both stone and vinyl) on floors, installing a vent in the new kitchen area, installing some plumbing and water fountains and painting a couple of bathroon areas. The women cleaned a closet, cleaned and repaired the chairs in the sanctuary, sorted and filed historical documents, covered 3 panels with fabric and scanned slides into a computer. What a productive week!!

Also, this was a good week because we were able to pull the lawn chairs out and soak up the warmth of the sun. "Pop on the Patio" came back! This is a time after work when everyone sits outside together and just relaxes and talks. With all the cold and wet that we experienced the past couple of months, this hadn't happened but a couple of previous times. We miss those times of just doing nothing and talking when we can't have them.

The schedule is filling up for next week. Our list has gotten smaller but isn't done yet. We have fun things to look forward to for the weekend but are looking forward again to Monday.

Dothan Community Church

This is the third and last stop of the set of RVICS projects. Dothan Community Church in Dothan, Alabama, has been one of our most anticipated. The report is true. These are some of the most loving people in the world. They definitely live the word of God.

The church was started 22 years ago by 2 recent Dallas Theology Seminary graduates. Dr. W. Charles Lewis grew up not far from Dothan, one of many children with a single mother living in poverty. (His father had been murdered.) A godly woman at a nearby camp had a powerful impact on his life turning him toward Jesus. The second graduate was Chester McFarland. They describe their relationship as David and Jonathan but being this is a southern church it is important to know one is black and the other white. Today, they still minister together and have added to their staff. The congregation has grown to around 200 or so. Just guessing, it is probably it is 85-90% black.

After starting in Dr. Lewis’s home , they moved to this facility in 2001 which is an amazing story in itself that involved Tony Evans and Andy Stanley. Approximately 5 years ago, they started a major undertaking in the building of a children’s wing onto the church. RVICS have been involved with this from the very beginning. This wing is 300 feet long, very wide and tall. They are doing the work as the money comes in. In other words, cash only with no loans. It is now totally enclosed and finished on the outside. The inside will be completed in sections. The church members have started completing the first phase in this addition. The RVICS men are continuing in this work. Today, Don and the men are installing a ventilation system for a cook stove, water fountain, putting drains in the floor and other misc. jobs.

The women got off to a very good start today. Sharon and another lady are doing computer work----hard to believe! We are scanning slides into a computer. This will be a major job since there are, at least, 1100 to 1200. Some of the ladies, cleaned and sorted a closet and have begun to thoroughly clean and sort nursery items.

Even though we are working with the same couples that we have worked with the pior 2 months, this is the first time that we have been 6 couples at once. What fun!

As you can tell, we are really enjoying it here. We will have more later.

Finishing Well

We are now just one day away from saying goodbye to Southwind Younglife Camp. Today, the sun was shining and the temperatures actually felt more like Florida should this time of year.

The women finished their work just before quiting time. This allowed the women time to take pictures of some of the men working. Also, we had a group picture taken outside of the dining hall. Oh yes, they fed us a excellent meal today served with tableclothes and cloth napkins.

Tomorrow, we end up here. The packing has begun for our trip on Wednesday as we all travel to the next project. Our next blog will come from Dothan, Alabama.

Our Wintertime at Southwind

Wow---when I logged on to do this blog, I noticed that I have done only 1 blog for this project and we finish this project in just a few days!! Time is flying because this, also, ends our second project of 2010. The dynamics of our work and socializing are totally changed also. We haven't even had our "mandatory" group picture taken yet!

Lake in the Forest (an RV park) is our “home” for the month. This time of the year it is totally retired northerners parked here. The RVICS family is scattered throughout the park and are sharing all the amenities. There have been no campfires for sharing with one another, only shared space for our social times and Bible studies. We are referred to as “the Christians”. For the most part, we notice lost people. All we have seen these retirees do is walk their dogs, sit around campfires and drink booze. So sad when that is all there is to life.
Working at Southwind Young Life Camp has been the most unusual RVICS project that we have done to date. With our work, since the men work all day, they have been packing sack lunches and staying at Southwind. Since the work is so physical, the men normally catch a quick nap before resuming their afternoon assignments. That hasn’t happened either. Verizon cell phones are the only phones that work in this area. Cell phones are our life line between the group and to the world in general. About half the group are without service. Also, many of the group have experienced sickness that comes with winter. Even Sharon was classified as injured. On the second day she pulled a hip muscle but didn’t miss any work. That muscle is getting back to normal now. Our group leaders drove the 1075 miles from here to Smithville, Texas, for the annual RVICS meetings this week. Shirley is on the board of directors. They will return to us on Monday.

Don and the men are hard at work on the huge deck. They are afraid that it won’t be near done when they leave. It is always good to see a job to completion. Sharon and the ladies have nearly finished changing the size of mattress covers, have hemmed rags and other misc. jobs. The last week Sharon and Esther have worked on shin guards for use with the weed eaters. Vinyl is very difficult to sew. The results were worth it though.

As with many parts of the US, Florida has had a very cold January and February (not our coats in pic). We have dealt with frozen water, coats and gloves. However, last weekend we had some R & R time away visiting our friends from Hartford City, Larry & Gaylene. What a wonderful time we had on the Gulf Coast, hiking, sitting on the beach, playing games that included shuffleboard. On the way back to Oklawaha, we played tourist. The weather cooperated too!

On Tuesday, we bid this area goodbye and head about 300 miles mostly north to Dothan, Alabama, and a church. We are very excited about working there since we have heard nothing but good things about it. About a year ago, we visited it. We will fill you in about our time there later-----------

Southwind Younglife Camp

Our second project in this set of 3 projects finds us at Southwind Younglife Camp near Ocklawaha, Florida, Actually, it is in a very rural area in the middle of Ocala National Forest. This forest consists of many live oak trees and pines that are covered with Spanish moss. There is lots of wildlife around. We have seen coyotes, peacocks, sandhill cranes and other water birds, wild hogs with little ones and, we have been told, bears. Our RV is parked under thick live oak trees.

As well as the animals, we have been told that many homeless people, including families, live in the forest. We are guessing that the mild winter climate is better in the wintertime. This month our RV is not parked at the camp but at an RV park about 6 miles away. A guest at this park has started a quilting ministry to give guilts to the people living in the woods.

Southwind Camp is a beautiful oasis for campers that are involved with Younglife. Younglife is a ministry for youth from middle school through college. We, also, were told of a ministry they have for handicaped individuals. They ran a camp one week specifically for them. This included renting a lift to take them to the top of a very tall waterslide! They never get to play in that way. The staff ended up being just as blessed by them as the ones they were serving.

Once again we are a group of 5 couples. However, one couple from last month didn't come with us but another was added from New Hampshire. For Sharon, it is fun---sewing! We are patching and re-sizing cotton covers for mattresses. There are many to do. Don started by taping walls for painting. The men didn't have to actually paint them because some other volunteers were doing that. Their big project for the month is building a new deck. They have started the process but have a ways to go before conpletion.

As a bonus, we saw the night launch (last one scheduled) of the space shuttle very early Monday morning! Even though we are approximately 50 miles out, we could hear the faint rumble of the engines but definitely saw it for a long time.

We are looking forward to another week of work beginning Monday.

Lake Aurora Project Finished

Can the month of January be torn from the calendar? Yes, it is and, also, our time here at Lake Aurora Camp is now done. We finished the work yesterday. The rains slowed us down the last couple of days this week. However, (mostly the men) finished in pouring rains yesterday. The playground that they were working on is ready for children! As a bonus, they, also, installed 6 large concrete pads for the "tees" on the frisbee/disc golf course. The painting the women was going to do on a couple of bathroom floors was cancelled because they were wet. Instead, we cleaned and sorted items in the gift shop.

Normally, in our past work in camps, we have been able to observe the use of the facilities on which we are working. This was different because the RV parking is separated from all the activities. However, we did hear the singing around a campfire etc. a few times. Also, the RV park is full of volunteers both working at this location plus another group working with a church in Lake Wales to assist relocated Katrina victims.

The past week we have had a persistent visitor. A bright red cardinal wants to come inside the RV. He flies around hitting the windows and sitting just outside the windows. He had visited our neighbors for 2 weeks but must have given up on getting into theirs and was trying ours.

Come tomorrow, we will pull out and head north about 100 miles. It will be good to see new things, start new work for a camp and meet new people.

Finished projects

When working RVICS projects at the various camps, churches etc, there are times we do not see the completed product. Last week the men saw the completion of the siding on the café and the roof on the shelter for the pump. After these things were done, one group of men started working on replacing the soffit for the bathhouse in the RV park. Don and a couple of guys started work on an old pontoon boat. The goal was to replace the decking. However, before it got that far, they found that it had holes in the tubes and that it wasn’t actually sea worthy and the idea was scrapped. Now, they are building swing sets to sit around the camp.

Since the weather improved (got warmer) the women could now start painting. Last week, we painted doors and cabins. With 2 groups of cabins completed we have moved on to the last ones. They are proving to a little more difficult and are taking longer. When these are done, there is more painting awaiting us.

On Friday, we experienced a special day. Every year in January they have an RVICS reunion of all the RVICS people in Florida (working different projects in the area and retired RVICS in that are close). This is the first one that we have had the privilege to attend. Lake Aurora Camp was the location this year and since our group is here we acted as hosts. Don gave the devotional for the occasion. It was great seeing people that we have worked with the past 3 years plus putting faces to name’s of people that we have heard about. It will definitely be a highlight of this month here.

It is hard for us to believe but there are only 6 more working days left. We are looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow.

A Week of Contrasts

Week one at Lake Aurora is now history. It was a week of contrasts. On Monday we piled on multiple layers of clothing to keep warm working on our various projects. By the time Saturday rolled around we were in "summer" type attire. We much prefer the more summer type temps.

As you can see by the picture above, the men did finish the fence work that they were working on at the Gold N Bough Cafe (breakfast & lunch only) that the camp runs on their property. A couple of men are still putting on siding on one side of the building.

Three of the men have moved on to other work. We are surrounded by orange groves (and juicing factories). There are numerous citrus trees on the property too that help supplement the income of the camp. When the weather turns extremely cold, water is pumped onto the trees to keep them from freezing. We were told that a single pump can pump up a million gallons of water in a day! The picture above is the diesel pump on this property (huge thing). The shelter that is built over it needs extensive repairs with the rafters etc. This isn't fun work but is necessary. Don will be busy for a few days working on this.

Sharon and the ladies pulled multipe staples from walls, tables etc around the property last week. Before that, we sewed potholders for the kitchen out of towels. This saved the camp many dollars. Do you know how much a single potholder costs ----$9!! Tomorrow, we will once again dig out the paint brushes and begin painting.

What will this week bring? We are excited to find out what the Lord has in store for us.

Beginning 2010 Project

January 6, 2010, found us heading south from the snow & cold in Indiana to the sunny, warm environment of Florida. As it turned out, the cold and nasty weather followed us south (no sun and no warmth). God was gracious to us in giving us safe travel (in some cases) in unsafe conditions. However, it is good to be here as we begin season #4 with RVICS and our 13th project.

It is hard to believe that in our 3 years of retirement that a year of it has been spent in the RV and working. This month finds us in Lake Wales, Florida, at Lake Aurora Christian Camp & Retreat Center. Orange trees are all around with a few lemon and grapefruit trees. What a treat to have picked fruit straight from the tree. It is delicious!!

RVICS sent 6 couples to work here this month but 1 couple is arriving late because of illness. Hopefully, they will be able to join us in a couple of weeks. We are all northerners in the group----Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and, of course, Indiana with 2 of the couples new to us. What fun to meet, work with and get to know fellow Christians. There is, also, another organization here working, as well as, 3 other independent missionaries. They are, also, doing service work for the camp.

There is fence work to be done. The last couple of days Don and the men have been moving and rebuilding a fence. The holes are a little easier to dig than the ones that he dug in Wisconsin this fall. Sharon and the ladies worked in the chapel removing staples---yes, staples---the first day. Tuesday, we all got our sewing machines out to make potholders out of “orphan” towels left behind by campers. That was fun but we had lots of broken needles!

Today, we begin anew with more on the list to do. We will fill you in later on the rest of the week.