Closing Days

As I sit down to write, we are  down to our last week on this RVICS project.   2013 is rapidly coming to a close as Thanksgiving is past, tomorrow is the last day of November and Christmas is getting closer.   As we look back on this past year, we have once again been blessed beyond measure.   God has been extremely good to us and blessed us beyond measure.

On Thanksgiving day, our RVICS "family" gathered together and had a traditional meal with all the fixins'.   It is good to be able to gather and celebrate with friends when family isn't close by to visit in person.   We call it a traditional meal but with couples representing different parts of the USA, we find slight variations in the way we prepare them.   What fun it is to taste them.

COLD---this was the theme for this past week!   When the temperatures drop in the low 20's that is much too cold for an RV.    With the coldness, it certainly makes one think winter is here.   Since the weather was terrible, all of our work was done on the inside.

The team members are finishing a few of the things they started.   The activity center/gym is now just about ready to open for use.  The ladies are about done painting a good portion of the lodge---main room, hallway and trim.   The men cleaned out all the old flooring in the office area and director's apartment.   Even battling the damp conditions (drying was an issue), the new flooring is mainly done in the apartment.   "Fall" cleaning was done by a few of the ladies in the kitchen along with helping clean motel rooms etc.

The goal whenever we arrive at a new place/project is to make it a better place for the ministry of Christ.   We feel the goal has once again been met.

Come Thursday, we will move our RV to Florida, enjoy a day with some friends and then head home for a break and family.   January 2014, we will be back helping out again.

A Full Week

All weeks have the same number of days, hours, etc. but this week was overflowing with activities both work and fun.    With the RVICS schedule we follow, we work for the ministry for 4 days with set hours and we have an official time for a group social (even though we often do other things as well), usually take a tour as a group to a local place of interest and have a Bible study one evening.    Time always passes by very quickly and this month is no exception.  

When I was preparing to write this blog, I jotted down the different accomplishments this week and was amazed.   The men painted walls etc. in the activity center/gym, moved and installed a new water heater, installed a new vanity, faucets in sink and tub in a house, power washed sidewalks and took off and put back up door to push/pull in the correct directions.    The women started and ended in the same room!    No, we aren't slow but it is a big room and the wood soaked in the paint.   When we begin again in there next week, it will be only to finish some of the second coat.  A couple of the ladies helped the staff with cleaning of rooms etc. plus Sharon helped the guys out in the gym doing some trim work there too.

This is a month of celebrations for the team.   On Wednesday evening, we all came together for a pot luck meal.   It was complete with a birthday cake and homemade ice cream.  The caked was to celebrate Sharon and Henry's birthday.   Earlier in the month, we honored the Bolles and Dunmyers in marking anniversaries.   Celebrations are always fun and it is good to mark these special times in our lives.

Christmas is getting close--can we miss the ads everywhere?!   On Thursday evening, we drove to Mobile for a Christmas Spectacular put on by the University of Mobile in a large church.    Even though it was a warm evening and nothing like it is in Indiana around Christmas, it was a good time by all.   These students are real pros with both the music and production.

Friday was a free day for the two of us.   Since the weather was perfect, the timing was right to pay a visit to the Gulf coast.   What a great day with picture perfect weather and scenery.    The Gulf was beautiful as usual.   The villages we drove through had fishing boats in their harbors.   Also, this is a large area for building ships.    It is always good to see new cultures and way people live that is different from home.   This is our third location to work in Alabama and each is distinctly different from the other.

Thanksgiving will be this coming week.   We will begin the week working but will have time off to stop and remember all we have to be thankful for too.

Using All of Our Talents

Even though we are a group of retirees, most of us are still learning many new skills.   Also, many of us had jobs totally unrelated to the work we do with RVICS.    For example this team has a former architect, engineer, store manager, retired military, office workers etc.   With each new skill we learn, we say we are adding to our resume.   Needless to say, we are are still learning from good teachers (other team members).   

Over the years the ladies have become very proficient at painting.   When joining RVICS, many women have never painted a day in their lives but find they are really good.   Painting is going to be central to our work at Whispering Pines Camp.   This week, we painted a dorm room and walls in a new gym/activity center.   Office work was done as well.

The men were found scattered about in different locations working in small groups doing many odd jobs.   Plumbing in a sink, installing walls in the gym/activity center, building a double door for a shed, power wash walks, resolved and repaired electrical problems at a paint ball pavilion,  removed old carpet from a house were some of their accomplishments.   Not too shabby for the first week on the job!!

One evening after work, we gathered for our "official" team picture.  For Don and Sharon, we have worked with every other team member somewhere along the line.   While others, this is the first time they met.   We are a very diverse group from New Hampshire (2), Pennsylvania (2), Florida and Indiana.   When our month here is finished, we will all head out in all directions for our winter work.

"Sweet Home Alabama"

New month, new location and a new RVICS team!    After a month at home, once again we traveled to another RVICS project.   Five other couples have, also, driven many, many miles.   Two of the couples drove around 1500 miles to come.   Actually, at 850 miles, we are "close" to home.    With many projects, we work with "new" to us couples but this month we have worked with each one previously.     It is good to meet up with old friends again.   One member of the team, actually had retired from RVICS a couple of years ago and have returned to work this month!

This November finds us at a ministry and place that is new to us at Whispering Pines Camp in Citronelle, Alabama, which in a half hour north of Mobile   Our RVICS "village" is now all set up on the spacious lots and the hosts have made us feel very much at home.   In fact, there is a red maple tree we can see from our RV that is loosing its leaves---just like home.   (However, fall is very late in our part of the world in Indiana and our maple trees were still green when we left HC.)   The centerpiece of the drive is a magnificent magnolia tree that is estimated to be 200 years old.   Oh, the stories it could probably tell of the storms etc. that have gone through.   This weekend we have seen the camp in use when about 100 girls arrived Friday evening for a retreat.   What fun to see the 3rd & 4th graders (I think) out enjoying the facilities here and hear them singing praises!

Come Monday morning, we will begin working.   The men will start with a house on the property that needs some major renovating.   Paint brushes will be pulled out by the ladies to put some green paint on some dormitory walls.     Let the fun begin-----

It's October---

A month has passed and today marked the last day of our official work here at Village Creek.   It is hard to believe because these 4 weeks have flown.    During this time, we saw many ministries in action and, today, learned of even more ministries.    The friendships we made with both the staff and fellow RVICS will last a lifetime.  We came as strangers and leave as friends.  Even though, our paths may not cross again here on earth, we will be guaranteed to see one another another day in heaven.

Even though it was our last week of work, that didn't mean we didn't get anything accomplished. Far from it. The men saw the fruits of their labor being pulled to its new home on the camp.    Tim, maintenance, even took a ride in the back end of the shed, waving out the window as it went flying by. Yes, it held together perfectly.  Yeah!!  They started and finished another large  job this week in designing and building 5 large feeding troughs for the horses.   Also, they did some wall patching in a man's bathroom.   Two of the other men worked on tractor and did some electrical work. Busy week.

The ladies donned their paint clothing and spent most of their week in a ladies' and men's bathrooms painting.   Oh, what paint can do for a room!   For our last day, we cleaned a room and sorted many library books, puzzles and games that had become disorganized through use.  It feels good to look back and see things better than before.

No matter where we travel, there comes a day when we have to pack up and head home.   Tomorrow is the day, we move from this location.   It was a great month of beauty and work for all of us.    Along with the normal memories, we will take the special beauty of this place and visualize the soaring eagles flying above.

In about 4 weeks,  after a month of rest (?), we will start another adventure all over again with smiles on our faces-----

Making Memories

Like every RVICS project that we serve, we make all kinds of memories.    Many of our memories are the work we did and the ministries we serve.   However, many of our memories are of fellow RVICS members on our team and, just plain, being tourists in areas we don't call our home.   This location near Lansing, Iowa, is no exception.   RVICS is structured so we may get to know one another better other than our work skills, as well as, tour nearby sites.   One night is set aside for a "social" for our team and Friday's are "tour" day.    Neither has to be elaborate or expensive but all end up being special.

This month, since we didn't know much about each other when we began, we had mixer or get to know you games.   Another social, we viewed a video.   This week, Milo had gone fishing (they certainly were biting and he was hauling them in) in the pond and we had a fish fry (grilled).   The weather was great and a perfect evening for eating out and having a camp fire!

Since we are an "older" group, we aren't always able to do lots of climbing, hiking etc.   This team was certainly an exception to the rule.   After visiting a museum and eating out the first week, we literally hit the trails for the last two tours.   During those hikes we found burial mounds, cliffs that overlooked the Mississippi River, among other things.   For both hikes, we packed lunches and  literally "ate out" and it was wonderful.   How often can you picnic next to waterfalls with no one around?

An additional treat has been the eagles in the area.   There are none in Hartford City!!   One afternoon from our back window, Don watched an adult bald eagle "encouraging" another eagle to fly.   The little one was on a light pole and jumped back and forth on it to avoid getting knocked off.   They soar over the neighboring hills and occasionally come lower where we can get a really  good look.

As an additional treat for the RVICS team, the camp set up a time for us to ride the horses on a trail that included woods and creek crossings!   Since it had been 45 years or more since I had been on a horse, when Sharon was starting out, her thoughts were "Why am I doing this?"   As they say, " all's well that ends well."   We did survive but it was an experience.   Don's horse was pretty jumpy and not the calmest one there---but he was large and fit him!   One time, the horse jumped sideways a good distance when a deer spooked it.   Fortunately, Sharon's was an old, slow moving one.

Since we have just one more week of work here, we are closing in on some of the things we have started 3 weeks ago.   The shed is now done but may require a second coat of paint.  A "bin" which actually is used for housing in a ministry was dismantled and will be shipped to Africa.   The vacated house is now ready for new occupants.   The week, also, found the women washing, drying and putting away many lost an found items left behind.   The men have been doing some repair work on a paddle boat, vehicles and farm implements plus installing a hot tub that was donated.    In this last week, the ladies will do some more painting.   The men will probably be building some feed troughs for the horses.

More memories will be made in this last week here, we are sure!

Changes

Week number 2 at Village Creek Camp was a different experience than our first week here.    It is QUIET!!   After all the hustle and bustle of families attending a conference our first week, our time felt (yes, there is a feel to it) very peaceful.     The scenery is becoming very fall like in many ways.  The leaves are rapidly turning something other than their summer green.   Behind our RV, the water bubbling in the creek is very visible since some of the brush is becoming bare and very relaxing to watch.   A team member just showed up with lots of fish he just caught, not from the creek but somewhere else!   Plus, can I add, we can see eagles occasionally soaring on the hills out our back window!!   How pleasant fall is becoming.

I guess my mind is on the beauty as I write.   On Fridays, the RVICS team takes a break from their work and "tour" the area.    Today, we spent our time at the Effigy Mounds National Monument and had a picnic lunch at Pikes Peak State Park, both right on the scenic Mississippi River.  This time away helps relieve our muscles for a day and puts our minds on other things.

YES, we did get work accomplished during week 2.   The men are making progress on the shed but often get discouraged in what they think is the slowness of the work.   It won't be long before it will be usable for what it was intended.   Once again toward the end of the week, we experienced hot temps with high humidity.   Sometimes, that makes everyone move slower.

The women moved from one kitchen to another.   Well, we weren't cooking but painting and cleaning.   A house on the property has been vacated and needs preparation for the next incoming occupants.   In all, we painted in 3-4 different areas.  Also, when it wasn't raining, the much neglected flower beds were spruced up.    Next week, we should be completing many of these assignments too.

Already plans are being made for a productive and exciting week 3.   With RVICS there is always more work, more fun and new experiences just around the corner.

Hot to Cold--Week 1

Our first week is history but one word stands out in describing it---HOT!!   Record temperatures in the upper 90s were set for the first several days of our work.     Water (while we were working) and AC (after work) were some of our best friends.   However, all things come to an end and the low temperature on Saturday morning was 55 degrees colder than the high of 2 days previous.

Since our arrival, this camp was been abuzz with activity for all age ranges.   This week families overflowed all areas of the camp for a home school family camp.   After they left, the weekend found a more advanced age group enjoying what the camp as to offer.   With RVICS, we don't always get to see the ministry of the camp but that is not so this month.   Village Creek offers both just rental of the facilities and, then, they have a staff that minister to other groups.   They have a wonderful, productive ministry.

On Monday morning, as we began our work, the men were directed to the maintenance barn to draw up plans for a shed for the storage of archery equipment (the original one was destroyed in flooding in the spring).   As the drew the plans for a 8'X12' building, others rummaged through the supplies looking for what was on hand and what would have to be ordered.   Finally, the construction began and is well under way.  Hopefully, this coming week, it will be completed.

All of our ladies have done their fair share of cooking over the years.   This week, we learned a different way of baking etc. as we spent our time in the kitchen preparing food for over 250 people.   For Ann and I, we both have baked our share of breads but not for more than a couple of loaves.   Yes, it is different when preparing multiple loaves at a time.   We would we had much to learn in baking cookies in large quantities too.    Linda and Loretta spent their time on the vegetable line chopping and dicing.   They nicknamed themselves Lucy and Ethel (not sure who is who) as they related to the I Love Lucy show in the candy factory!

Today is Sunday and a day of rest.   Tomorrow, we will begin a brand new week with brand new experiences.

Dirt, Unbelievable Beauty and New Friends

The calendar now says September (How did it happen so quickly?!)  and, for us, that means beginning another season with RVICS.  We love the summer and being at home, visiting with our family and doing many fun things but it is always good to reconnect RVICS.


Our adventure this month brought us to Village Creek Camp, Lansing, Iowa.  Adventure is the very fitting word because you can't get here (easily) from Hartford City, Indiana.   There is a very long bridge (over islands etc.) that crosses the Mississippi River to get into Lansing but it is under repairs with a 9 foot width.   You do not want to drive an RV across and we didn't.  The final 3 miles was done of the dirtiest gravel road we have ever driven.   Everything we owned was white when we arrived.

However, the drive here was spectacular.   Old Muddy looks totally different in the north country than it does in the south.   It is wide here but dotted with marsh, islands, water lilies, etc.   Our camp is nestled in a valley between hills as this area is known as Little Switzerland.  We are even provided with a little creek running directly behind where we are parked.   With fall coming, the leaves turning should just add to the scenic quality.

As with nearly start of every RVICS project, we are meeting new couples we have never met before.   This is always a treat and soon they become permanent friends.   This team is smaller than some with just 4 couples but 1 of the couples being new to us and another couple brand new to RVCS.   Already, we are getting to know one another and it will be a good month.   We are the "outsiders" being Hoosiers with all the others having Iowa roots.   Also, the staff have been not
hing but helpful is getting us settle in.  It will be good to come along side them to help them make this place better.

If you think of us working, please pray for our safety and health.   It appears we will be beginning our project on Monday with highs in the mid-90's.

Where Does the Time Go?

February 2013 is nearing its end.   We have no idea how it has disappeared so quickly!   However, we do have many visual reminders of the work we have completed and many memories to carry with us.

When we arrived for our assignment just a 3 short weeks ago, Lake Swan was wanting floors and ceilings completed in 5 rooms with them all painted by the women.   With a dozen hard working (albeit old and in worldly terms, elderly) individuals, this goal has been met and exceeded!  The men have now branched out with framing for doors and windows, some more demolition of some inner walls, rebuilding of some inner walls and hanging of a couple of doors.   Plus, they have 2 more days of work yet this week.   The women, still with paint brushes in hand, tackled a chapel in the main building, utility room and office in the snack shop.   The next couple of days will find them competing the final coats on all they have started.

Along with the familiar aches and pains we accumulate from our work, there are so many fun times we wouldn't miss for the world.  Along with our work skills, we bring our individual personalities with us.   With every group, there is a different mix in what we enjoy and how competitive we are.   This week, we all showed our very competitive nature in a couple of games provided by our social committee.  For the first time, we witnessed a rousing game of Chinese checkers.   Yes, it was a rousing game with all the men involved.   This was after DeGals and beaten DeBoz in a game of Guesstures.

Every winter in Florida, a reunion is planned for all RVICS that might be in the area.   This past Friday, 55 retired and active RVICS, met for lunch and an afternoon of catching up with new and old friends.   This is such a special time for everyone as we become very close with each other working, worshiping and getting to know each other in a way that doesn't help very often.   In the end, we share much in common.

This March, we begin our 7th year with RVICS and look forward to many more years of service.   However, this March we felt the need to step back and take the month off.   We are looking forward to a little bit of relaxing and visiting with friends from home.  However, there are more RVICS projects just waiting to be done, new friends to meet on down the road----------

Fun TImes

All of our group of 12 were here this week!!   This has been an unusual project, in that, we have been missing 1-3 people the first week of work due to family needs.   However, we finally were united as a team and even got a picture of all of us.   Yeah!!  

It is hard to believe but we are over half way done for this assignment.   This is a hard working group and the “to-do” list has shrunk a little bit.   (The list will still be long when we have to pack up and leave.)    But, the men are working on the flooring and framework for the new doors.   Every day we see progress from the day before.   The ladies have just a little bit of painting to do in the bathrooms to finish up their work in the building.   For a couple of days  this week, the ladies had a nice break and got out their sewing machine to make some curtains to cover some doors/windows to block out light.   Those are now done.   On Monday, we will be pulling out our paint brushes etc. once again.

It seems in my blog I highlight our work more than our play.   We do have more than our share of fun.   It is amazing how strangers can come together and, in no time, be enjoying, sharing one another company.   This week was no exception.   Valentine’s Day was celebrated this week by a carry in and newlywed game.   What hilarity when you think we have been married more years than most people think possible.   I guess it is so hard because we have too many things to choose from for the answers.  Believe it or not, the Snows won---for the first time ever, I think.   The following night, Lake Swan hosted a dinner for us.   During our time together, a gift was presented to us by the camp director (We are sure “he” arrived via a couple of other RVICS couples and had traveled hundreds of miles from home).   Inside, a stuffed spider!!   There is a looong story there about how this spider has been passed from us to another RVICS couple of the years.   It is never known when/where he might show up.   The men have found it enjoyable to relax doing a game of horseshoes but the rules seem to go out the window but there is always a winner.   To add to our excitement this week, a ‘possum decided to call our trash can home.   Is that fun or not??

Even though, we have experienced cooler and wet conditions this week, we are still thoroughly enjoying the beauty around us.   A couple of sand hill cranes can been seen quite often eating near where we are working.   A trip to the lake in the evening is very relaxing and calming.    After the men’s work, weather permitting, we often pull up chairs and have “pop on the patio”.   This is a good way to relax the tired and very sore muscles.

It is good the weekend is now upon us.   For the next 3 days, we have we no official work are good to relax---and, yes, look back and remember the good week we have just had.

New Ceiling and Some Paint

After a week of working here at Lake Swan Camp, things are looking very different in the renovated building.   All the ceilings have been put up in the 5 rooms with a little trim work yet to be done.   In addition, the ladies have primed and started putting on the top coat of paint.   What a difference!   In a day or two, the ceilings and painting will be done in those rooms.   After that the men will continue with new doors and new flooring.   Wow, it is exciting to see the changes.   The camp staff is even more excited than we are.   In addition to our work, other staff and volunteers have installed the tile in the bathrooms.

This coming week will be our first week with all of team members here!   The last couple arrived on Wednesday after time with family for a funeral.    Another gal is returning today after being with her daughter for the birth of her first granddaughter.    As a team, we come alongside each other in both sadness and celebration!

With all our work on the camp facilities, we have seen the camp in use during our time here.   There is a church start up meeting every Sunday in an old chapel on the campus.   Also, groups have come on the weekends using all that is available here.   This is why we do this work.    The camp exists to come along the Christian community to spread the Word.

This afternoon, all is quiet.   The church has gone home and the group, also, has left.   It is good to experience some of the nice things about being here.   Down by the lake it is quiet except for the lapping of the waves on the beach and the wind blowing through the pines overhead.   It is good to be in Florida in the winter time in multiple ways!!

Present Meets the Past

Ten months ago, we pulled out of Lake Swan Camp just east of Gainesville to head back north to Indiana.   Last week, we returned for another month of work here representing RVICS with a different team members.   There are only 2 locations we have worked at over the years where we have been able to see continuation of a project that wasn't completed when we left.   When we leave here the end of March, we still will not see the completion of our work but definitely an advancement to where part of it will be usable.

In March 2012, the camp director had a vision for an 85 year old building to make it more usable and attractive for the year 2013.   Our team last year started with the tearing out of walls to  make better use of the space.   On our return, some rooms have only studs to divide them while 5 of the rooms have finished dry wall in place and were ready for painting.   The ladies picked up rollers and paint and began to add primer this morning.   The men are putting up the ceilings in the same rooms.   By the end of the week, there will definitely be a difference.   By the end of March, some of the rooms will have guests enjoying our labors.   This will benefit the camp greatly.

Since 2 of our couples have family emergencies, we won't be full strength until next week when all 6 should have arrived.   The majority of the group are new to us.   However, some we have heard their names for a long time and it is good to put names with faces.   Already, we have enjoyed fun times with a soup supper, church, and just plain talking.   

In April, when we left the azaleas were blooming and the lakes were short on water.   When we returned, we found azaleas blooming (too early this year) and more water in the lakes.   This is a pretty  and relaxing place with Spanish moss hanging from the trees and palm trees scattered around.   This will be a good month of both work and play for us and the ministry here.

Sharing With One Another

As I write this blog, there are only 2 more days left on this project here at the Florida Baptist Children's Home.   It has been a very good month with much accomplished with our official assignments and many personal projects have, also, been done.

The men have begun a big project in washing all the buildings and the painting of 2 of them.   Since this is a 2 month RVICS project (and not the usual 1 month), there will be 6 couples to complete what the January team does not.   (However, we will not be one of them.   Three new couples will come in and 3 couples will stay on.)   Monday, they will help set up for a banquet for the Board of Directors.   It is always good to end a tiring month with an easier job!

The women, not only, worked in the pantry and donation centers but had more of a variety of work.   The total cleaning of the library was accomplished.   Also, some table clothes were ironed for use at the banquet on Monday.   On Monday, we will iron some more and help set up tables for the evening meal.   We have all been invited!

This week we shared a meal and an evening with a different home for the children housed here.   It was another good, learning experience at a different home.   What a gift these parents have!

On this blog, I am always referring how we work together on our ministry but hardly ever mention how we minister to one another on our own time.   Needs are met in emergency situations but, fortunately, we don't have many of them.  For example, this month 2 of men have shared cleaning a huge RV and another making RV's headlights like brand new.   Also, John thought another couple (who had just been introduced to the Pegs and Jokers game) needed a game board and made them one.    We use and share our given talents in many, many ways.

On Wednesday, we bid Florida Baptist Children's Home goodbye for the second time.   As always, it is with mixed feelings that we leave but Lake Swan will welcome us with open arms with 5 new couples to experience new things.   We have much to be thankful!

A Very Full Week

Our ministry is not only service to the organization for which we are assigned but, in many ways, they ministry to us and our team.  This past week has been very busy with many different experiences.

Work---This was the week the concrete was poured and the sidewalk was totally finished.   This was a more laborious job (with the added heat) than what RVICS likes for the men to do.   But, a brand new sidewalk if now available for the children to use going to their buses.   Another job was begun.   They are now powering washing and scrubbing the outside of a house for painting this week.   The ladies continued to sort in the donation center and pantry.   This is work that is necessary every week of the year.

Ministry--Each of the team couples were invited into the residence home where the children live for supper.    What a delight to see the interaction of the "parents" and children.   Our hostess house had 4 girls and 4 boys from elementary school to high school.   These parents are indeed given talents by God for the work they are doing.  It is so good to do the work we do and see how it is used and benefiting their ministry.

Socializing--As every week, we did take time for just visiting.   However, this week, we invited the director of maintenance and his wife to a cook out with the group.   It was a great evening to be outside in January in Florida!   They, also, spoke of their experiences as working as house parents and other ministries they have had here.

It seems surreal but January is flying by for us.   Tomorrow, we will be our last full week of work at this location.   It will be another good week!

Welcome 2013

Christmas is past and a New Year has arrived.   Once again, we begin another calendar year with RVICS.   The New Year's Day found us picking up our RV where we had stashed it a month before and headed for the comfort of the southern US.   No, it wasn't hard to say good bye to the cold and piles of snow of Indiana.

January 2013 finds us in Lakeland, Florida, at the Florida Baptist Children's Home.   This is our second time to work here.    We have found this place to be an unbelievable ministry to hundreds, if not thousands, in the area.   As the name implies, this is a home for children who have been found in difficult home situations.   On campus, they live with a family in a home and function as a normal family would with public school, school activities, church, etc.   In addition, this has become a huge distribution center for donated  food and other items to other Christian agencies across the area.   They are truly the feet of Jesus.

Our RVICS group for the month consists of 5 couples representing Pennsylvania, Iowa, West Virginia and 2 of us from Indiana.   As always, we were excited to meet new faces and old friends.   In this case, half were new friends and half have become "old" friends.   After worshiping, working and playing together for a week, this is a great group!

We hit the road running last Monday and much was accomplished.   The ladies worked in 2 different locations.   One set worked in the pantry, dating, sorting and rearranging items plus sorting a half dozen large, chest freezers.   The other group sorted and put away items in the 2 story donation center.   Even though there are a few other items on our "to do" list, much of our time will be spent in these 2 areas the next few weeks.

When we arrived the Christmas decorations were everywhere on campus.   The first full day was spent undecorating everything and storing them away for next year.   The next 3 days the men found muscles they never wanted to know they had, tearing out an old, broken sidewalk.   A tractor for hauling away the broken concrete, sledge hammer and large pry bar were the tools used.    After some feet, it was found that some of the concrete was a foot thick.   A jackhammer had to be rented to help!    All of this was done in record high temperatures of 80+ for the week!   The good news is the old sidewalk is now gone.   This week the forms will be built for a new walk and new cement will be poured.

It is good to see progress and know that we make a difference.   This week, we will do it all over again.