Southwind Younglife Camp

Our second project in this set of 3 projects finds us at Southwind Younglife Camp near Ocklawaha, Florida, Actually, it is in a very rural area in the middle of Ocala National Forest. This forest consists of many live oak trees and pines that are covered with Spanish moss. There is lots of wildlife around. We have seen coyotes, peacocks, sandhill cranes and other water birds, wild hogs with little ones and, we have been told, bears. Our RV is parked under thick live oak trees.

As well as the animals, we have been told that many homeless people, including families, live in the forest. We are guessing that the mild winter climate is better in the wintertime. This month our RV is not parked at the camp but at an RV park about 6 miles away. A guest at this park has started a quilting ministry to give guilts to the people living in the woods.

Southwind Camp is a beautiful oasis for campers that are involved with Younglife. Younglife is a ministry for youth from middle school through college. We, also, were told of a ministry they have for handicaped individuals. They ran a camp one week specifically for them. This included renting a lift to take them to the top of a very tall waterslide! They never get to play in that way. The staff ended up being just as blessed by them as the ones they were serving.

Once again we are a group of 5 couples. However, one couple from last month didn't come with us but another was added from New Hampshire. For Sharon, it is fun---sewing! We are patching and re-sizing cotton covers for mattresses. There are many to do. Don started by taping walls for painting. The men didn't have to actually paint them because some other volunteers were doing that. Their big project for the month is building a new deck. They have started the process but have a ways to go before conpletion.

As a bonus, we saw the night launch (last one scheduled) of the space shuttle very early Monday morning! Even though we are approximately 50 miles out, we could hear the faint rumble of the engines but definitely saw it for a long time.

We are looking forward to another week of work beginning Monday.