Perfect Ending

This is our last day of work (and fun) here at Lake Swan Camp. Months always fly by but particularly this month. However, our time is over and tomorrow morning we will point the truck north and head back to Hartford City.

Our final week of work has been a very unique one. Lake Swan Camp has been the destination of our high school youth group of our home church in Upland, Indiana, for Spring Break (leaving the winter behind) for many years. This is our third trip to do a project here but the first time we have actually been here when the UCC youth were here. It has been so much fun seeing the camp being used by them to meet their spiritual needs to just being fun. As in previous years, the youth do a service project (aka work day) for the camp. Yesterday, they joined some of our RVICS members in doing work at the camp. Some of the pictures show them in their work.

At many of the projects, there is always an endless "to do list". The men added repairs and replacement of some of the swings on the playground. A small bathroom was added to the ladies list. Those 2 projects will be finished when we leave. However, there is a large fence to be cleaned etc. The work will be have to be finished by those volunteers to follow us.

Once again, we leave our fingerprints and, in some cases, a little blood behind but thankful for the opportunity to have been with our team members in just helping out.
On one hand, it is very hard to leave but exciting to look to the weeks to come. In our case to see our "kids" and grandkids soon!! In the fall, we will start all over again.

Finishing Some Jobs

This has been a good week with seeing the completion of a few of the projects that we had started. Whether we are at home or with RVICS, being able to see the results is always fullfilling.

As always, the men seem to get more done than the ladies. (They do work more hours!) One of the men worked nearly all week with electrical projects. The building of a part of a fence and gate (including digging the post holes) was accomplished by the others. All of the demolition has been finished in the one building. There is one less water leak too----that is not to say that they found another one that will get their attention come Monday.

A few of the ladies added painting to their list of duties this week. With the painting done, the gift/snack shop is once again open for business. It is a more pleasant place to shop now. Work was continued on the mailing that we have been working on since are arrival. The director was excited to tell us of his praises. Already, he is getting response to the flyers.

Life does continue even as we are away from home. It was sadness this week that we had to bid goodbye to one of our couples as they got word of the death of a close relative. We, as members of one team, in the course of a month experience both laughter, tears, good news and bad. They become our family away from home.

With 2 more days of work, we are looking ahead to being able to once again be back in Indiana and to see our family again.

Good Week!

Time is flying as we continue serving here at Lake Swan. This week was typical of the many weeks that we have spent doing RVICS. There was lots of work accomplished, lots of socializing and lots of play time as well.

The ladies are continuing to address and prepare mailings to market the camp. This project has been the least labor intensive we have ever done. However, that doesn't mean that it is less important than any of our other previous jobs. The snack/gift shop is nearly completed (maybe a day of work left). The lighting and finishing details always take longer it seems. The other men got into destruction this week. A "cabin" type building is going to be renovated and, of course, one of the first things to do it tear down parts of it! However, after taking out a wall, the ceiling dropped. Maybe it wasn't like they were told----"It isn't a load bearing wall". No major damage was done. Work will continue on this building the coming week.

This week we invited the staff to a carry in meal. This is always a special time to get to know them better. An added bonus this time, since it has been so warm, was to have it outside. On our various projects, many times a "theme" game has emerged for the team. This group has taken up horseshoes. It is fun to see the competitiveness of the men (and yes, a couple of the ladies). Our socializing this week, also, included a trip to the ocean. Great, fun group.

As before, tomorrow begins another week of work. Our time is rapidly winding down but we are cherishing each and every day here.

Beginning a New Year

Our RVICS projects had to be delayed a couple of months for the beginning of 2012 but we did arrive in Lake Swan Camp, Melrose, Florida, willing and ready to go. The other 4 couples came in from 3 different RVICS projects to join the group with Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Indiana represented. For the first time ever, we have worked with every member of the team previously. However, other members are meeting new couples for the first time. Great group!!

It is exciting to see everyone with diverse backgrounds come together and make a solid team of workers. Our commonalty is always our Lord Jesus Christ. They, all, thoroughly enjoy their work. After all, they are all retired and 100% volunteer missionaries. It would be easier (and yes) much less costly to sit at home etc.

Lake Swan Camp has much that needs to be down in the short month that we are here. The first week was very fruitful. The ladies are busy with the bulk mailings marketing the camp. From the stack of addresses we have, it will continue into next week. The men have been working up on a ceiling in the snack/gift shop. The usual prep work always takes longer than planned and the finish up work also. Monday will find them back at it doing the finishing work. When that is all completed, there is a huge job they will begin in totally renovating the “long house”.

We have done work here on 2 prior projects. It is always a joy to return. This year there is a new director and he is a workhorse with a real zeal for the ministry. His wife works alongside him and make a great team.

After we rest up this weekend, we will be ready and excited to begin another week-------