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.