Busy, busy week!

Week one was very productive. After the week was finished, all of us felt muscles we didn't know we had. However, the women have all the AC filters cleaned in the window AC units. With the exception of a tiny spot (where a cabinet needs to be moved), the kitchen floor in the youth camp now sports a new coat of paint. The women have started painted a couple of bathrooms that will take some time to do. The men have a good start of installing new ceiling lights in the motel rooms. Plus, Don and Tracey are repairing (major) 2 tiny bathrooms in the rec field. From this, you can see where we are now beginning on Monday!

The Florida weather took a U-turn the past few days. Fortunately, we missed a major storm that came through but we ended up with very heavy rain but no damage. What was left were very cool temps. That will change soon and be back to comfortable, dry weather again.

The RV parking is full! There are 4 RVICS couples working for our team. Also, there were 6 couples representing Campers on a Mission here the first of the week. Two of those couples left and 3 other couples came in. We do no work with them but it is nice talking with them and getting to know them as well. Also, at a local Lowe's parking lot yesterday morning, we met another RVICS couple that we didn't know from Indiana! They had been delayed going to another project in Florida due to a death in their family. It is a small world!

As you can see from the above picture, this is another beautiful place. Don and I have been living on our bicycles since Blue Springs covers many acres with 2 different areas of buildings. It is good to go outside and enjoy nature in a lawn chair too. Two and a half weeks more to enjoy our time here. More to come-----------

Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center

This is our third new beginning of 2011---is that possible? We are now in Marianna, Florida, right next to the Alabama/Georgia state lines. The weather is still very near perfect here too!! This is great and far different than what we experienced last year! The spring trees are in full bloom and the grass is greeen. We really didn't think spring would have advanced this far north yet.

There is another new beginning for us this month. In January, we were commissioned to take the leadership role of a team. As leaders, we had to arrive early and get set up for the others in all areas. We have been very busy getting arrangements made.

Another couple will be added to our 3 couples this month. They are arriving this morning and we haven't met them yet but are excited to do so. Along with the RVICS, Campers on a Mission have 5 couples working here also.

Stay tuned to see our progress here.

Leaving Lake Swan

Before I move on to the next project, I wanted to show some completed work at Lake Swan. At the beginning of the month, they men were working on replacing a kitchen sink. They have been using it and it works great. When we arrive at a project our host has a list of things to do. On their wish list was a picture (only) from the internet with an idea to make cubicles for holding beach things while the owner is swimming etc. It worked!! However, one of the staff is now having nightmares of kids climbing all over it! After that was done, they still had time for some work on the new septic system being installed at the camp. There are always new things to add to their "resume". The women did some much appreciated window cleaning as they ended their work.

On a beautiful, warm Wednesday morning, we had to wave goodbye and hit the road again. It was a very good month.

February is Nearing a Close--

Our time at Lake Swan is down to 2 more work days! Impossible!! This has been a great month of work. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here helping this ministry that benefits so many. Spring has started to arrive, also. We are seeing pink blooms, red buds blooming and wild cherry blooms. A bonus, for out time here, is the wonderful weather we have experienced this time around.

The men saw the completition of their work in the kitchen. They, also, took a couple of days to repair a fence that a car rolled into the first of last week. The women finished their painting. How many windows are in the camp?---we don't know but the women are working washing and cleaning them all. We do know that with 3 ladies doing the work there will be more to do after we leave! There are more items on the men's to do list also.

Come Wednesday morning, Don & I will be pulling out and moving on to another project in another Florida location. This place will be hard to say good bye too but we know there are more ministries that need help and more people to meet.

R & R

Can we be half way done with our RVICS projects before it is time to head back to Hartford City? It doesn't seem possible but the calendar says that we are at that point. This was another week of doing very much of the same type of work we have done since we arrived. These jobs are more of the long term variety rather than many smaller ones. Since there are only 3 couples, it is taking longer to complete the jobs also. The men continued moving the sink and re-doing the plumbing associated with the move. Don and another guy are busy at work replacing all the suspended ceilings in the kitchen and dining room. (Don is finding muscles he didn't know he had by working over his head) The ladies finished re-making the curtains in the cabins so they fit the windows better. On Thursday, we began the painting of 3 rooms that is continuing into this week. It is amazing what difference little changes make in a room.

On Thursday, we headed south to the Tampa area for some great fellowship with friends from Hartford City and New Jersey. What perfect chamber of commerce weather to go with it! We had time at the beach, shuffleboard, biking, golfing (men but they gave us no score?), walking, and shopping (ladies) etc. To complete our weekend, we were joined by 2 other couples from HC. It is so good to relax and laugh---and we did alot of both!! Thanks to all that made this possible!!

We were tired but refreshed when we started work again today. This week will fly by too------

Merrily We Roll Along

One week of work has been completed here at Lake Swan. That just doesn't seem possible!! On some projects, our "to-do" list is very long and it seems we have barely scratched the surface of all they need before we leave. This month seems to be a little easier in regard to what they are needing. Also, since there are only 3 couples working this month, we are getting to work as a group instead of being divided into groups for different assignments. As you see, it has great variety.

The men completed lining and finishing the inside of the walk in cooler for the kitchen. Plus, they have moved a large sink from the middle of the room. Since a new sink will be put back on a wall, that required finding piping, cutting a cement floor etc. to put in the new water/drain lines. Also, one day, they tried putting together a scaffolding. After much trial and error, it was finally determined they had parts for 2 different scaffolds and other missing pieces. That makes for much fun and laughter! The women have enjoyed their time around sewing machines shortening curtains etc. for the cabins. The office workers have come to check out all the laughter.

Lake Swan is a special place for us to work. Our senior high youth group from UCC have traveled here for spring break for many years. It is a pretty place with a couple of lakes, spanish moss and live oak trees. Today, the sun is shining brightly and the lakes are reflecting the bright blue skies.

We feel so blessed meeting so many new couples in doing this ministry. Many of them become old friends whether we officially work with them again with RVICS or not. Since we have been at this location, we have reconnected (in person) with a couple of them. In both cases, it had been about 3 years since we last physically visited with each other, but when we got together it was if no time had passed at all!

Since the weather hasn't been the greatest these past days, we are all anticipating the sunny, warm conditions forecast for the coming week. After all, we are in Florida. Tomorrow, will find us back at it again, ready and happy to start another week of work.

A New Beginning

Yes, it is February and we have changed locations to Lake Swan Camp near Melrose, Florida. This is our second time here and one of our favorite places to work. This time there are only 3 couples in the group. This is about as small as we get but two couples were unable to make the trip.

We are ready to hit the road running in the morning. Don is going to find himself in the kitchen---not cooking though-----doing some upgrading and remakes. Some of it he hasn't done before. The women are going to start out using their sewing machines. About as soon as we arrived, they found some trees needed trimming in order not to scratch our RVs when they were pulled in.

We know that this will be a good month of work and,even though we are small, we will get much done.