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.