Life in January Without RVICS

The past few months, we have found that out plans aren't always what God has in store for us. Once again, we found are plans derailed with further surgery and down time for Don. However, we have been blessed to be able to travel south and, once again, enjoy warmer, better weather outside Indiana in January.

Our RV already was in the south as we were able to park it in Dothan, Alabama, after our October RVICS project. That was 750 miles that we didn't have to pull it. On Monday, we picked it up and headed to Palmetto, Florida, at an RV park. This is a great place for walking, biking, etc. We are so blessed and thankful to be here.

We miss our RVICS friends and, yes, the work. However, with God's care and protection we think this will be a good 6 weeks of restoration and fun.

Are we ready for the Goodbyes?

It is unbelievable that the end of our RVICS project is just 3 days away. This has been a wonderful team and hosts!! We can't say enough about our time here. Even the weather has been really, really nice.

This past week the men did FINISH the very long ceiling (2 layers). The ladies listened for the celebration but, apparently, there was no time as they hurried onto other things on their "to do" list. That list included laying carpet and trim (whole room), building a platform for the choir director, squaring the interior door walls, installing weather stripping on outside doors, building a temporary wall, mending a fence, building a box for keys, more electrical work, etc----YES, they did it all this past week!!

Painting (the above room), sorting children's materials, stuffing "envelops", sorting clothing at the crisis pregnancy center and volunteering at a local elementary school were on the list of the ladies' accomplishments for the week.

Having worked hard all week, we had to play hard too. One evening we had a campfire and carry in with invited guests. Another evening, we, once again, had a campfire but with ice cream and a guest. Our time socializing as a group is always a special time. However, this time, we have had the privilege of sharing our time with many from the church. For example, one of the church members fixed an entire lunch for us. Another lady, brought each of the ladies a potted plant. These are very special people and ALL of us were very appreciative. AND, it isn't over because the church is fixing lunch for us tomorrow.

Whenever we are ministering at a location, it is good to see the camp, church etc in use. We do that here by attending the Sunday School and worship services. Friday evening, the church hosted something they called "Slime Time". The guests were mostly children of the community and it was packed. Games, food and, of course, candy were the main attractions. It required many hours of preparation. In fact, some of the RVICS group volunteered to help but the church members were enough that we weren't needed. It was a great night for everyone.

Come Tuesday afternoon, the first couple of our team will pull out for their home and then the rest of us will follow the next day for home and other RVICS projects. Goodbyes are the hard part of what we do. But, we have wonderful memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Come January, we will start the process all over again-----------

Our Prayers Have Been Answered!

Yes, we are now whole. The last couple who has been constantly in our prayers arrived safely Thursday evening. We are so glad they have now joined our team! This is an added blessing for all of us.

What a week of work and, yes, play. Believe it or not, the very looooong ceiling the men have been laboring over is getting closer to the end! All are very thankful that there might be a end time for this job and there just might be some celebrating. Shoulders, arms, backs etc are complaining on all of them! Plus, they worked on it a few 90+ degrees days. A few of them have done some other odd jobs the past few days, such as installing a shelf and doing electrical jobs. The list is still long of our jobs too.

The women aren't bored with their work. Some days, they have been doing multiple tasks. Painting, office work, cleaning containers, cleaning sanctuary chairs, attaching ribbons to tags (for balloons) categorizing and sorting library books, etc were many of the jobs performed this week. It is exciting to help with some of the ministries of the church.

Once again, we were able to visit a home and fellowship with one another and a couple of the pastors. This is the place people can really get to know one another. Doughnuts is another avenue to use. A traditional get together for RVICS is something we call "Pop on the Porch". Yesterday, we had doughnuts to go with the pop. Oh, the tales we have heard at Pop on the Porch.

It just doesn't seem possible that two of our weeks are now in the past tense. There is only about a week and a half left here. However, we are looking forward to that time as well.

Yes, we are having fun!!

As I begin so many of my first blogs, we have begun! This has been a very productive week of worship, work and play.

The week began with worship with the members of our hosts---Dothan Community Church. There is no way a visitor can leave and not feel the genuine love and welcome of these wonderful people. This is our second work trip and we are enjoying our time here as much as the first time.

Work is what brought us to this location and work we did. It was a very hard but rewarding week for the men. It will be mostly (if not all) ceiling work for them. They finished wiring and put in insulation. Now, the 12 foot sections of dry wall are being put in. The above picture is of their survival of another work day. I say survival because we are the "babies" of this group! It is very difficulty work for us retirees! The women spent most of their time at the local crisis pregnancy center stuffing envelops and cleaning baby bottles (used for donations). Also, we did some sorting and cleaning at the church.

Through all the week, we balanced our time with play. The Lovelands (church members) hosted a meal one evening at their lovely home. Another evening, gathered to talk and play games. To finish the week, we went to a botanical garden (yes, from a Hoosier there is such a thing in the middle of October). The flowers were still beautiful and the butterflies were plentiful. On Saturday, Don and I finished our week by going to the showing of Courageous! A must for everyone to see no matter if you are grandparents at this stage in life.

This coming week we will doing much the same type work but the pictures should look a little different---progress!! Also, we are continuing to pray for our missing couple that they might finally be able to leave their Pennsylvania home and head south to join their group.

Another Stop for RVICS

Whew----The wheels have now stopped turning again and we have landed in Dothan, Alabama, at Dothan Community Church for the month of October. After we left Michindoh in Michigan and a couple of days at home (getting caught up with life), we hit the road for a couple of days and are now ready to begin work the first thing tomorrow morning at this location.

This has become one of our favorite stops. RVICS was in on the very beginning of a children's addition onto the church a few years ago. Work is only done when the funds are available. Much of the work has been done by volunteers of all ages. When we come through, it is so good to see the progress that is being made on the building. Last spring, we stopped and found that parts have been completed and children are enjoying. It is beautiful! Today, our group, also, enjoyed one of the new rooms. When we leave, the church will be closer to utilizing this facility than when we came.

So far, we have 5 team members from Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana. One couple remains to join us in a week. Our prayer is that they will arrive next week. Then, we will be complete.

With a long list of items to complete, we pray that this will be a very productive month.

Back in Hartford City

Yes, the September 2011 project is now over. That just doesn't seem possible. We left feeling sad in many ways. It is always hard to say good-bye to new friends. Once again, we had not worked with any of our co-workers previously. Also, it was sad because we had not completed any of the jobs we were assigned to do. The building the ladies was painting still has painting to be done (too many morning rains). The house, which shows major work done, still has some work to be done before the staff person is able to move back in. The dry wall project in the cabin wasn't totally finished either (too damp for the mudd to dry). Michindoh has many, many volunteers but it is becoming fall/winter in Michigan and they are becoming fewer. We know that the work will be completed in God's time.

Yesterday, we arrived back home. After some quick chores etc., we will once again hook up the truck to the 5th wheel and head out on Monday morning. We have many favorite places to work and we are headed to one on them for the month of October. We will be leading in the month of October at Dothan Community Church, Dothan, Alabama. It is exciting to see what God will have in store for our team of six couples.

Please continue to pray for our group as we all travel and work at this new location.

Still Working and Having Fun

Our time at Michindoh is quickly coming to a close. We are definitely seeing progress as we finished our third week of work but there is much more Rains have definitely slowed some of our outside work. However, there was always “Plan B” when that happens.

The men about have the outside of the house completed. This past week the inside was finished and is now ready for painting (inside work!) and just basic putting things back together. The ladies are still working on the outside of the Calet that they are painting. This week, there was only 1 day that we were able to paint outside. Will we get it done? We did do all of the painting on the siding the men put on the outside of their house and that is done.

It definitely wasn’t all work and no play for us. For our social on Tuesday evening, we joined another RVICS group at a central location for food (ice cream!), fun and catching up. There were 28 of us there and it was great seeing many that we have worked with previously and meeting a couple of other couples that we had only known by name. Also, 5 other RVICS friends stopped by the conference center for a visit. The friendships that we are developing by working and living side by side will last a life time!

Fall is closing in and many of the other volunteers have left for warmer climates. There is just a hint of color but in a couple of weeks it will be blazing with color (after we leave). Deer, turkey and birds are just some of the animals that we run across when we bike or walk.

Before it is time to pack up and leave, we look forward to 4 more days of work and, hopefully, completion of some of the work we have begun.