54 Doors---and More!

Yesterday marked the end of another month of RVICS work.   It is hard for us to believe that this project is now over!  Major upgrades were accomplished but the to-do list was still long.   However, other camps, churches etc. have needs also and help is needed there too.

The ladies work can be abstracted into one work---Painting!!    We all have the clothes to prove it too!  But, that isn't the full picture of what the 4 ladies did.   Doors seemed to be large part of our assignment.   Out of curiosity, a count was made yesterday with the actual total coming out to 54 doors and frames with a brand new coat of paint.     This was not the total of our work.   Painting the outside of the lodge and all the trim on the lodge was done.   To finish off our work, the inside of the newly remodeled room was given a couple of coats of color too.   New, fresh paint is always a good welcome to any place.    It was a joy and lots of fun to work with these ladies.

Not to be outdone, the men have a nice list they were able to mark off as done.   Painting was there too because they painted the very higher spots.   A variety of electrical projects were repaired and a room was totally remodeled into a beautiful new spot.   Old lightning was pulled out and new lights installed in two of the rooms of the dining hall/meeting.   It was a hard job as they were working from scaffolding.   The men meshed well together and used their skills they have picked over the years.   It is hard to believe the men didn't make a living doing this but that just isn't the case.

Laughter was at the heart of this group and it flowed freely.   That always makes for a good time when the works gets hard and everyone is tired.    In some cases, strangers became fast friends.   AT the end of each project, it is difficult to say goodbye and each of us went in a different direction.   This was no exception.

As for the Snows, this ends our winter projects for RVICS.    When we are away from RVICS for a little while, we are anxious to get started again.   Come September, we will be excited, refreshed and ready to pack up and head out again!   We love retirement and are thankful to God for the experiences He gives us.

Continuing our Ministry

This has turned into another busy week that sped by much too rapidly.   It was another time of worship, play and work.   What was different about this week (for Florida) was how cold it was!   We can't say we say any snow but the temps we very close to it.   However, we are well aware of the terrible winter up north and at all our homes, we can't complain for the short term.

Back to the work, the ladies painted all week long with just some touch up spots to finish the Lakeview Lodge.   The men made major headway on the porch conversion to a motel room.   That job will carry over to the coming week plus, some other jobs will most likely be added to the schedule.   It is wonderful to see things taking shape for the better use by the camp.

Play was fun again this week.   We toured a neighboring town's murals.   For the northerners, many towns in the south paint large murals on the sides of their buildings depicting its history.  What a way to relax and stroll the streets at a leisurely pace.    Also, we had a lasagna supper for the group and one of the staff with a 5 month old baby joined us.   Yes, we are all grandparents and loved the time with the little one.   Yes, one of us even tried to coral some wayward chickens coming into where the RVs are parked.

Every week, we spend the first half hour sharing in group devotions.   What a great way to begin our work day.   Once a week, a member of the staff comes and shares a Bible passage and, often, a testimony.   It is always an enriching time sharing together.

It is hard to believe but we are down to 5 1/2 work days.   Once again, Monday will bring smiles to our faces and we start the work, worship, play cycle all over again.

Lakeview Lodge

After alluding to the work we are doing here at Lake Swan Camp, finally, we are on the last "lap" of this project for RVICS.   This past week, the ladies have been doing the finishing work on the outside painting.   Come Monday, with just a few random spots to finish, we will probably be able to say the job is done.

For past pictures as to how far we have come on this (this is our third time to work on it in 2 years) see other blogs posted when we were at Lake Swan Camp.   However, the following are a sampling of the final results.

When the work started on this old building, there was nothing but a flat wall.   Now, the porch etc. takes in the full view of the lake ----aptly called Lakeview Lodge.

This is the example of one of the dorm rooms.   Doesn't look like the typical camp room, does it?

One of the motel rooms located in the Lodge.

The best part of the project is seeing it being used.   Every weekend we have been here this month, it is being filled.   It is wonderful to know RVICS fingerprints show up in the work.   However, the best part is seeing it being used for its intended purpose.   Right now, cars are filling the parking lots across the street and that is a very good thing.

A Normal, Busy Week

Our team of 4 couples just completed our first week of work at Lake Swan Camp.   This is another good team of hard workers who are all in the second straight month of work for 2014.   However, we have come in from different locations in Florida to make up this team for February.    For 2 of the couples, this is there first time here.   We are another diverse group coming from Michigan, Ontario, Canada and, a couple of us, from Indiana!

Normally,  during our work hours, the men and women work at different jobs and, mostly, in different locations of the property.   However, for a couple of days this week, all of us got out our paint brushes and began the job of painting the outside of the "new" Lakeview Lodge.  Wow---what a difference the paint made.  (Now, we want to paint all the buildings this color but that is far down the road!)   The women finished the walls on Thursday and are ready to start of the doors and trim work on our second week.   When all the painting is complete, I will put all the pictures of the building (both inside and outside) on a blog.   It looks sharp in both areas.

The men now have undertaken a larger project in transforming an old porch into a motel room.   The demolition is complete and the relocation of the wiring has been started.   Now for the hard part, putting in windows, walls and such where the roof line varies by 3 inches or so.   They will figure it out though.   Also, some electrical repairs were done on the property.   In a camping situation, there is always electrical work.

On Tuesday evening, the camp director met with our group and shared the history and future of Lake Swan.   Lake Swan, also, is a part of Billy Graham's history.   Not too many years ago, through no fault of the camp, the future looked bleak.   God had different plans and it is flourishing again.   It really made everyone want to work even harder.

It wasn't a week of all work.   On Friday, RVICS groups from 4 different projects in Florida traveled to The Villages for a winter reunion.    In RVICS, we work very closely for a month and, in a way, the team becomes family.   When we go on to other work or back home, it is hard to say goodbye.    These reunions bring hugs, smiles back and laughter as we gather together and celebrate our time together.   

Once again, come Monday we will start all over again.   Yes, the women with their paint brushes and the men their building tools!

Memories of Lake Swan Camp

With a new month, comes a new assignment with RVICS.   This may be a new assignment for 2014 but this is our 5th trip to Lake Swan Camp, Melrose, Florida.   I knew we had been here many times but was surprised to find it was 5 times beginning since our first one in February 2008. Over the years we have seen immense changes for the physical facilities.   Many times we work at a project and never return.   Just for curiosity, we pulled out all our pictures of the different couples we became friends with and the difference we have made in helping them to minister.  These are just a highlight or two from our time spent here.

In February 2008, we made our first trip here as "greenhorns" with this just our 4th assignment.  What we found was a beaten down RV campground.   Money was given to its improvement to benefit those volunteers to follow us.  At the beginning, at the end of the "line" of RVs (6 total) there wasn't enough power to run a toaster.   The electrical (and some other utilities) was totally made over to 50 amp service!  (With all the tree roots extra, the digging was done with much hard labor.)

2/2008

In 2011, we returned with RVICS.   The large job for the team then was to remodel the kitchen.   

2/2011

The following year, RVICS assigned us here again.  The main assignment on this trip was totally remodel the gift shop.   After it was done, we started what for Lake Swan has been a 2 year "re-build" of building for lodging.   Originally, it was 2 buildings brought in that had been used somewhere in WWII.   RVICS were the first to work on this "re-build" with some demolition.   Also, we were here when the youth from our church (UCC) came for there spring break.   They, also, got into cleaning up the mess the RVICS had made.

Gift Shop 3/2012

Beginning of Lakeview Lodge 3012

Last February when we arrived,  much had been done on the Lodge but it was still a long ways from being completed.  More was torn out but, also, the men put in ceilings, women painted etc. and it didn't even resemble what had been the original building.

2/2013

2/2013

The Lodge has now passed the final inspection and is being used.   However, the final picture will have to wait a few days.   Because, there is one last things to do.   The Camp told us since RVICS began the project that they should be able to complete it----that is paint the outside.   It is a very, very nice addition to Lake Swan and is being used as I write this blog.

Our team has assembled and are ready to begin.   It is going to be another exciting month and we will make a difference!