At the end of each project we find ourselves reminiscing about the past 4 weeks, this time it was at New Life Ranch in Oklahoma
. In spite of our first impressions of a muddy, soggy place to park and a rainy day we got won over by the friendly, helpful staff at the Ranch and the impact they make on young and old alike who attend the Retreats and Camps at New Life. I was fortunate to do data entry the whole time we were there so could read the response cards and get a good idea of how the camp had effected the attendees: Sooooo positive. Life changing. New commitments to God. Drawing nearer to God. What a blessing New Life is to the people who come. It was a joy to work in that setting. So our feelings were something like the picture to the left. We enjoyed the setting but it was time to move on to another day leaving some new found workers/friends and making new ones at the next project.
. In spite of our first impressions of a muddy, soggy place to park and a rainy day we got won over by the friendly, helpful staff at the Ranch and the impact they make on young and old alike who attend the Retreats and Camps at New Life. I was fortunate to do data entry the whole time we were there so could read the response cards and get a good idea of how the camp had effected the attendees: Sooooo positive. Life changing. New commitments to God. Drawing nearer to God. What a blessing New Life is to the people who come. It was a joy to work in that setting. So our feelings were something like the picture to the left. We enjoyed the setting but it was time to move on to another day leaving some new found workers/friends and making new ones at the next project. We arrived at Camp Tajas on Friday. Tajas is Spanish for Texas which means friendly. Our first impressions here make us believe it is a fitting name. But before we got to work we took some time Saturday to see sights in Austin which is about an hour from the Camp.The camp is listed as being in Giddings, TX although it is out in the country.
This picture is self explaining. Why do we always try to see State Capitals? We saw both 
Chambers and a doorman explained the Texas Legislative process which was interesting. Dad, of course, could ask intelligent questions and the man appreciated someone being interested in the process. We then saw the LBJ Library and Museum. We also tend toward the Libraries and feel like we may not have totally endorsed the man who the library was build for but we like to honor the office of the President. And we remarked after seeing it that every president has initiated some positive legislation. And as we reminisce about our life we hope that positive feelings may emerge about us even though feelings differed at times. (broccoli soup) We really made the run to Austin to figure out just how to get to the airport. On the 18th I will fly to Sio
ux Falls to be with Cindy and Lex as another court hearing will take place. Please pray for all of us and for the "situation" involving the molestation charges. If all goes well, I will fly back on the 21st.
Chambers and a doorman explained the Texas Legislative process which was interesting. Dad, of course, could ask intelligent questions and the man appreciated someone being interested in the process. We then saw the LBJ Library and Museum. We also tend toward the Libraries and feel like we may not have totally endorsed the man who the library was build for but we like to honor the office of the President. And we remarked after seeing it that every president has initiated some positive legislation. And as we reminisce about our life we hope that positive feelings may emerge about us even though feelings differed at times. (broccoli soup) We really made the run to Austin to figure out just how to get to the airport. On the 18th I will fly to Sio
ux Falls to be with Cindy and Lex as another court hearing will take place. Please pray for all of us and for the "situation" involving the molestation charges. If all goes well, I will fly back on the 21st.This picture isn't great art, necessary, but it does show how the women will use their creative touch by painting boards to be used to finish a new building. We first sand them with an electric sander and then prime them and later will paint them. Oh I forgot, I think we have already moved the bulk of the hundreds of boards to 3 different places as they need drying before sanding, before priming and before painting. That is the creative part. We must have a dozen saw horses with boards at various degrees of dryness.
This is also n
ot a stunning picture but it depicts a small portion of the boards that we have been moving and working on. The ones in the background are drying in the Texas sun. The others we had already moved a time or two. I am not poking fun of the work. Sometimes the question arises as to the importance of painting or doing dry wall or pounding nails. At times it seems like it is a long way from mission work which they call what we are doing. I think the prime example of how we are working with and assisting the mission work of a camp or school or church was shown at New Life Ranch and others as well. We are doing things to enhance the work of the Staff people and doing things that they just don't have time for. Sometimes we improve, sometimes we build, sometimes we prepare boards to be put on buildings or sometimes we work in the office. The project people continually say the volunteers are what make the physical camps 
and what allows the staff to do more of what they are equipped to do. We are support people. That is why we continue to be involved with RVICS. And you wouldn't believe how amazed most of the people are that "old" people who are retired do such work and even the staff is surprised we can get as much done as we do.
ot a stunning picture but it depicts a small portion of the boards that we have been moving and working on. The ones in the background are drying in the Texas sun. The others we had already moved a time or two. I am not poking fun of the work. Sometimes the question arises as to the importance of painting or doing dry wall or pounding nails. At times it seems like it is a long way from mission work which they call what we are doing. I think the prime example of how we are working with and assisting the mission work of a camp or school or church was shown at New Life Ranch and others as well. We are doing things to enhance the work of the Staff people and doing things that they just don't have time for. Sometimes we improve, sometimes we build, sometimes we prepare boards to be put on buildings or sometimes we work in the office. The project people continually say the volunteers are what make the physical camps 
and what allows the staff to do more of what they are equipped to do. We are support people. That is why we continue to be involved with RVICS. And you wouldn't believe how amazed most of the people are that "old" people who are retired do such work and even the staff is surprised we can get as much done as we do. I had to show this picture to show you that we are back in green grass and trees with leaves on them. I don't think they have a colorful foliage time but we will take the green and the warm temps of high 70's or higher.
Hope and pray you are all well. Love you all,
Mom and Dad Wilmer and Marilyn
It's great to see a post again; sorry I didn't get to replying last week. It looks like you are learning a new job. Wonder why you have to paint boards before they are used? The mess is outside instead of in? Whatever...those boards would dry in no time in the Ridgecrest sun (and dry air!).
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your fellow workers and, Mom, I hope all goes well with your trip back to Sioux Falls.
LU
Kim
P. S. It's a real inspiration to us "young'uns" to see you "old" people refusing to completely retire.