A Very Good Month

This has been a very good month here, both for the work we are accomplishing and the good January weather in Florida. There hasn't been much change in our work assignments but we are seeing progress everyday. The weather has been (for the most part) very nice and making the outside work much more pleasant. (We can't complain or all of our neighbors in the rest of the US wouldn't really care after the terrible snow and cold they've had.)

Don and a couple of other men started working on some steps (replacing) to a house. All went well until the forms for repairing some prior work gave way. All wasn't lost and after much work, it was all salvaged. Today, they are making and pouring the cement into the actual steps. I checked a little bit ago and all was going well this time. Other men continue to build and install shelves in the donation center.

Most of the women have been sorting clothing and other things in the donation center. That will probably be the assignment for some time to come. Another lady and myself continue to work some in the pantry. Since the painting is now done, it doesn't take as long there. Today was a first for me---I planted flowers in January!! The pansies are really pretty and it is good to see some color again.

Can there be just a little over a week left on this project?! It doesn't seem possible but that is true. When you are having fun, time flies!

We're in a Routine

We have settled into a good routine as we started week #2 here at Florida Baptist Children's Home. It hasn't been hard to do with the pleasant weather etc. that we have experienced. When 49 states had snow somewhere in their borders, Florida was still decent. It makes for more pleasant outdoor working conditions!

We are greatly impressed with the ministries provided here. The on campus ministry is directed towards children from infant to 18. They are placed in a family situation in a "cottage" with a couple of house parents. Chores are assigned, public school is on the schedule with lots of love and play mixed in. It is fun to see the kids out throwing a football around and biking.

This is an oasis for these children as they are here as a result of a bad home life. Of course, we don't know their specific stories but runs the gamut of every type of dis functional home life. There is, also, a home for a few mentally chalenged ladies. Also, a sort of day care for adults (with the same issues) is provided.

Our jobs haven't dealt directly with the children but with things that help make the "home" work. There is a huge, in house, donation center. It covers the whole, 2 story building. Some of the ladies have been sorting items in there---an unending job. Some of the men have been building shelves and repairing some of the floors in the same building. A couple of days a couple of men, installed a tile floor in a utility room in a cottage. Don helped finish the garage. Then, a Don and another man have been re-building some lattice frames used for decorations etc.

Another lady and myself have "camped" out in the pantry. We are helping rotate floor. Today, we will put the last coat of paint on the shelves we have been painting.

Everything that is donated is fully utilized. This is kind of a central location for many ministries in the Lake land area to come and share in the abundance. We have heard the list of ministries that work together and there are probably 6-8 that are provided aid. In addition, the donation center is open to foster parents, adoptive parents that the children come with nothing. We know that it goes even further than these through other comments of the directors. All in all, an excellent ministry.

It isn't all work. The group celebrated Don's birthday last week with all the fixin's. For our tour day, we attended the largest RV show in the US in Tampa. Unbelievable is a good work to describe the show. However, we were very happy to come home to our simple abode!

Time to prepare for another day. It is a joy to do this work.

Yeah---We're back at it again!

January 2011 finds us once again on an RVICS project in Florda. A week ago we headed south from Indiana and drove down in perfect January weather. (That doesn't always happen!)

This month we are in Lakeland, Florida, at the Florida Baptist Childrens' Home. We haven't learned all the details of this place yet but are meeting with the director tonight to hear "their story". We do know that there are cottages here with house parents and about 8-10 children (all ages) per cottage. It is such fun to see them outside playing, laughing and biking. During the day, it is quiet as they go to public schools.

This month we are a RVICS group of 5 couples representing 4 states---Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Montana. Another couple (hopefully) will be joining us in a few days from West Virginia. Once again, it is great to catch up with 2 of the couples that we have worked with before and getting to know the other 2 couples.

There seems to be lots of work to be done and the staff had it all ready to go yesterday morning. The above picture is of the men doing their first work on repairing soffit and siding on a garage.

In the next post, I hope to tell more of our jobs and more about this place we are working. In the meantime, I need to prepare for work today------------

Almost Done

There aren’t too many indications the September 2010 project here at Canaan Acres is about to end except to look at the calendar. The weather has stayed hot all month long but there are a few leaves beginning to sport their fall colors. Actually, the weather has been perfect to do about anything outside. Time has flown and some of the projects are either done or about done.

The kitchen and bathroom floors are now done in the house. The hexagon shapes were a challenge but the results are perfect. Many miscellaneous jobs were worked on by the men this past week. Some examples are weed eating the property, pulling weeds and cleaning up the entrance, patching some cement, building and installing information signs around the camp and painting also. The women continued to paint.

Every RVICS group has a unique personality. This group is pretty social. We have enjoyed our pop on the porch times as well as our official social times. In just 4 short days our times here will end and we will, once again, be saying our good byes. Four couples plus our single man (from this group) will continue on to Tennessee for their next work and two new couples will join them.

For the first time, we will not be doing any other fall projects but will head back to Indiana. We will miss it but are looking forward to starting up again in January 2011 in Florida.

Keeping Busy

Yes, we are keeping busy. However, while some jobs are now finished others are still a work in process. Don (mostly working alone) has now finished laying the bathroom tile. They were small and the hexagon shape was “interesting” to work with. The kitchen tile has, also, been laid. The grouting will be done in the coming week. Many of the men worked on in repairing doors and door jams on some of the cabins and other buildings. Some landscaping work was done. Most of the grounds equipment and a pump have been repaired. Those that haven’t been fixed are waiting on a part of some nature. The women painted and painted some more. One lady is helping out in the office.

Before every day of work, we begin with devotions. Every member of the group leads our time together at least once during the month. This is a special time for everyone as we gather to share, pray and sing together. Oh yes, there is a set seating arrangement for this time. We have to put our brains in gear early in the morning as to where we sit. The woman sits in the “passenger seat” (right side) beside her husband. That is because we hug the person (not our spouse) next to us and give a kiss to our spouse on the other side. It is always good for a laugh.

As I write this, we are actually at home in Hartford City. This is a first for us to come home in the middle of a project. It is good to get a little rest but we will be heading back to Canaan Acres on Sunday for 2 more weeks of work and fun.

Typical RVICS

Can I say this is a typical RVICS project? A lot of the women’s assignments from month to month deals with painting. The men start something and, usually, see it to completion. This month is following a similar pattern. The women have finished painting the entrance doors to the cabins and have begun to paint in other places in the camp. The men are progressing on the house. This week (after the demolition) they shored up the porch floor, laid subflooring for tile and are beginning to lay out the pattern for the floor tile. One of the RVICS men is repairing lawn mowers and other equipment used in grooming the grounds.

However, there was a break in the men’s routine one day. Smoke testing was done in the camp’s sewer lines. The men tracked the smoke. As you can see in the picture, they had to meet to plan etc. Ha!!

Some of the places we work are not suited for bicycles. This place is ideal for riding to and from one place to another. The truck gets a rest. We don’t always get to bring them along but are glad that we have them this month.

Part of the fun in RVICS is socializing in our free time. This is the perfect time of year for roasting hot dogs and with all the fixin’s around an open fire. We are building friendships, as well as fellowshipping.

With perfect weather to work outside, this will be another good week. What a beautiful time of year.

Back to Work 9/2010

Once again the calendar says summer is over and it is time to hit the road for another RVICS project. Even though I said summer is over, when we pulled the RV out of Hartford City, Indiana, and the first couple of days here the temperatures were still 90! In a “metal box” it felt really hot but, like home, we do have an air conditioner-----No, we aren’t roughing it.

Canaan Acres Christian Camp in Louisville, Ohio, is our home for the month of September which in the beautiful rolling hills and farmland in northeastern Ohio. This is a small camp for the East District of the Ohio Nazarene Church. Later this week, we are to learn more of the history and use of the camp from the camp director.

Our team is normally made up of only couples. This time we are a group of 6 couples plus the adult son of one of the couples representing 5 different states. One of the things we enjoy is meeting new, Christian friends. This time there are 5 new people we have not worked with before. But, it is great to re-unite with friends that we have had to say goodbye too previously. Six of the individuals are old friends!

Labor Day was not a day off but indeed a day of labor. The women began by cleaning some cabins. The men began with demolition work on a house the camp acquired on the property (or at least abutting the property) which they wish to rent. The picture of the house (above) does not really show all the work that will be required to get it into “shape”. However, lots of work doesn’t bother any of the men! They were anxious to get started on it.

It is great to be back to work with fellow Christians. What a bond we have together whether we are working, playing or worshipping. We are looking forward to the next 4 weeks!