TIME FLIES

Okay, when you see this picture you will think my brain has flown away. When I first looked at the picture I couldn't think of what it was but after a moment's hesitation I finally figured it out. We were sitting at the breakfast table when we saw 2 deer sauntering behind out RV. Quick get the camera. What you see is the result of two moving deer with the photographer trying to catch up by moving at the same time as the deer. Somehow the camera's shutter control didn't work as fast as the moving animal and man. Interesting but wouldn't want to try it with anything with details that you think are important.

Time seems to go faster each month. We work here tomorrow and next week Mon. and Tues. and then head to Louisiana already. As always, looking forward to see what the next camp and the work are all about. Dad continues to do every kind of work that there is here. Seems these camps function well with the rfesidents but extra maintenance just doesn't get done. And as always, we will not get done with the jobs listed. The three of us women are doing sewing and will do that until we leave next week. A resident hall needs drapes so we are trying to sew 10 panels of 54 inch wide drapery material and line them. It took us several hours to get it figured out and start sewing. I enjoy getting back to one of my former loves, feels good. We have no directions and none of us have been sewing for the last 10+ years so the process is interesting.

Last weekend's tour took us to the Clinton Presidential Library. You know by now that we enjoy going to these Presidential libraries even though we don't exactly agree with some of the president's decisions. This one was no different. It is a beautiful building which was hard to catch on picture. The usual displays were of President Clinton's accomplishment and, yes, as we view the displays we do have to admit that every president left some positive mark on society. (altho I have to qualify that with my doubt of the present president) The artifacts always interest us. This picture gives the idea of the elegance in the Clinton White House. Hope you can make out the lavish china, crystal and silver ware. And I guess if one was entertaining important people from all over the world we would expect/want them to do it up well. Wonder, tho, what happens with all the stuff that is replaced when a new president comes in. I guess they don't worry about that, that is only a conservative Dutchman's mindset. I had never known the conflict presidents of earlier times had concerning gifts given to them from other countries. George Washington even wrestled with that. It was decided way back then that because it was poor policy to refuse these gifts and some thought it might influence the president by keeping the gifts that the gifts would be accepted on behalf of the people of the United States. So all those beautiful items we saw really belong to each one of us.

One item that really caught our eye was the piece that the glass blower Chihuli made especially for the Clinton White House. Obviously no picture can do it justice but you can get an idea of the intricacy and beauty of the piece. I wonder how the piece was moved. It now sets on a metal plate built into the floor.

Right next to the Presidential Library was the Heifer International Headquarters. We walked over and were given a tour of the building. It is on the top 10 list of "green" structures in the U.S. Very interesting but since we are going to tour the Heifer Ranch this Friday I will try to tie them together and write more next week.

We are becoming more and more intrigued with the work at this Ranch. Since we eat with the staff and residents at some noon meals we are getting to know them quite well. Love, discipline, love, structure, love and more love day in and day out 24/7. And then educate them as well and these kids won't come exactly current with their grade level. Much of the teaching has to be hands-on because their reading skills and comprehension aren't up to par either. We are so happy that we can play just a minute part in making the ranch have a little more "curb appeal" and working fixtures so to speak. What a privilege we have.

Love you all, Mom/Dad Marilyn/Wilmer Pa/ Ma (for Cindy's benefit or it could be landlords then as well.) Whatever!

How We Live

Yes, this is one activity that still makes us smile and we can still enjoy. We were in Hot Springs last weekend when we found this busy little pancake house. We walked most of the Historical District and found this one to be the busiest so that was all we needed to walk in. Actually we had to wait for a table. Not knowing what they served outside of what we saw on other peoples plates I asked a "local" what the specialty was here. She said no one goes away hungry because they serve large portions but she mentioned the pancakes that were as large as dinner plates very good. We ordered just one apiece with fruit inside and they were big and adequate for our meal. Reminded us a little bit of the Original Pancake House in California that we have gone to on occasion. That explains the smile on the Dutchman's face - food.

The main reason for going to Hot Springs was to actually see and feel the water coming out of the rock steaming because it is so hot. We didn't think it was worth close to $100.00 to get the real feel but we did experience it in a small way. I have no problem believing that there is healing in those waters. This spring to the left was located right behind a hotel that "catered" to real patients but allowed us to "touch. The whole east side of the street is filled with hotel/motels which must have access to the springs inside the building. They are rather old buildings but they still seemed to have lots of people come for health or pleasure reasons.

Friday our tour took us to Little Rock for the Arkansas State Fair. It was interesting how different cultural parts of the fair featured Arkansas projects and that is what makes such fairs, etc. so interesting. Of course, we had to eat there and the attraction for us was a huge grill with humongous pork chops on it. Sharing was definitely a must, it was very good.

Our day wouldn't be complete without a trek up this hill to make phone calls. Wilmer is the blue speck in the corner of the picture in case you didn't notice. Weekends are usually easier but still with the dense growth of trees and the winding and curvy terrain that isn't always so good either. I am so thankful that our internet usually works. Sitting beside the road in this position guarantees we have gotten through to someone. So glad the hill is doable for us to access a signal.

We have been attending a Baptist Church that we think is very good for us. The preaching
has a lot of theology for us to discuss later, the choir is very good and we like the S.S. Last Sunday we even stayed for a dinner that had the purpose of raising money for Glenhaven. One ethnic food item was corn bread with actual corn in it. Some of you may have that all the time but it was new to us. Very moist and delicious. So good to learn from others.

Dad has been continuing with maintenance work. He does plumbing, electrical, wood working, etc. He always says he is a shade tree expert of every line of work. I think he has some of those down fairly good by now. The weather here has been terrific for working. It really cools off at night but days can't be beat. And yesterday was the first rainy day we have had here. After a week of painting for another gal and myself we finally got into the school however it was to organize a teacher/Principal's storeroom. Our first job was to organize the things on the floor. That was about half the work. Actually she came into the job quite suddenly and the former teacher hadn't been as organized as she could have been. We sorted, carried, marked, packed for a couple of days and today we started giving it a good housecleaning. It is fun to see what a difference we can make by helping someone who has such a huge work load.

Another one of the horses and small lake. It has a purpose, the young people/residents who are here have various hobbies or crafts but probably don't get to display them for some time and the Ranch tries to match them up with some activity that can be worked on at the Ranch.. One girl took on a wild horse. She worked for many months and now is able to walk beside it, give it commands, do some fancy work with the horse. She is going to a show this weekend so the staff person helping her wanted her to perform for us before the show so the horse would get use to noise, lights. etc and Jess could get some experience. She did a nice performance for us. At one point the horse got a stubborn streak in its head but she kept her mind on the rules under such circumstances and went on to complete the drill. It is beyond imagining what all the staff does for the residents here. They house them, feed them, school them, work them, play with them and most of all they love them. Such a job is not about instant success but about changing lives and changed they will be when they leave here. One staff member got a letter recently from a resident who had been here 20 years ago. His life is now on track and he wanted to thank the staff that was here 20 years ago. He said he did not remember much of the Ranch except for the love he was shown. Those letters make it all worthwhile.

Done rambling about our life style at the moment. Its good for us and we pray we make a difference in someone else's life as well.

Love to you all,

Mom and Dad Marilyn and Wilmer

Glenhaven Ranch

This month finds us at Glenhaven Ranch near Russelville, Arkansas. A lot of changes - weather, project people, camp staff and camp purpose. This Ranch is totally dedicated to young people between 13-15 years of age with a few younger and a few older. It is a resident Ranch with all the residents living with house parents. The residents can go home once a month, if they have a home to go to. Probably some dysfunction in the home or trouble with the law brought the kids here so most of them are here against their will. As in the Ranch in Orlando, FL that we worked at 2 years ago the structure is tight, discipline is strict and Bible study is mandatory. We have not seen one instant of rebellion from the residents, we see young people who we hope finally get to the point of wanting to make their life count for something. The average stay is 1 1/2 years with some staying on for 5 years. Several of the staff were here as residents when they were a little younger. A wonderful place filled with love and a desire that the young people would commit to being good citizens as well as have a foundation built on God's love. Love has not been evident in their lives up to now so it is a hard concept to grasp. Who loves me?

The first picture is where Laurie and I have spent the working portion of the last 2 days. No, we do not call it a dungeon for nothing because it is a pump house with a dirt floor which angles precariously in various degrees and has a fine sand topping which is slippery if your feet aren't firmly planted in the dirt. Also the pump and various accessories are all over the place so only a small portion of flooring is available for us to stand on. We are to paint the ceiling, walls, shelves, doors, etc. So after I have set the stage of the pump house we can still say that we are having fun (of a sort, doesn't take much to make us happy, right?). I have decided it really doesn't matter if you work in a "pump house" or in a surrounding that is very nice. It still is painting and if we can have fun doing it so much the better. This project is a challenge but also a simple job because anything we do will be such a huge improvement. Again, I trim and Laurie rolls. We don't have to be scared of spilling. In fact I filled my little pail too full yesterday and before I noticed it paint was running out of the bottom of the handle (it is a patent something like an overflo in a sink or tub). Just hadn't seen that little item quick enough so I had a trail of paint from pail to wall. I guess on dirt floor such things don't matter.

As some of you know our cell phone doesn't work down in the valley where we are parked. We do have Internet for which we are glad because it does give us some mode of communication with all of you. So after lunch I go up the hill and do some calling. The place I sit has a nice view which you see in the picture. There is a little lake a midst the trees and the white peeking through the trees is where the RV's are parked. Not the most convenient situation but workable.

Dad continues to be the oldest male working on the project but he will pit his strengh and agility against any of the others and he will win. He is doing mostly plumbing so far but they have a lot of little electrical jobs (one of the men is a former electrician) and they have other general construction jobs as well. The Ranch staff that we work for is a Hawaiian and a fun guy to be around. He is so dedicated and works so hard that it is easier for us to have the desire to do a good job and do it well.

I skipped a lot of the fun stuff we did last weekend but the internet is giving me fits so I will sign off for now and try to blog again within the week.

Thanks for your love and we love you all more than we can say. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the work or play or challenges or responsibilities that come your way each day.

Love, Mom/Dad Marilyn/Wilmer

WE ARE HEADING SOUTH

I don't often have pictures of this guy because I thought I must show you what the men do on project. This picture would only get better if he had his hard hat on. At least he calls it on even though it doesn't get much further down than the top tips of his ears. Lots of head and lots of gray matter - need space to hold all that knowledge he has accumulated. This is the building he worked in most of the time. I kinda generalized the last time about just what they did. After changing windows, removing walls and then finding out the other half of the Camp Leader (wife) wanted them back in again, improving fireplace and leveling the floor they did get a lot done. The walls that one of our team mudded needed painting but that will wait for another group to come and finish.
We do spend a lot of time praying when on project but these men had another purpose for being "on their knees". Now you know why the knee pads. The glue was put on one day with hopes it would have turned clear the next so they could lay the tile. However, the cool weather slowed down the progress so heaters had to be brought in so the glue was in the right stage. It was hard work but it really made the room look complete as so many of you home project people know. Clothing may look similar from day to day and clothes do not have a high priority here. For those of us who paint and wipe their hands on their clothing, like I do, we usually wear the same things pretty much all month and then pitch them and go to goodwill and buy a replacement.
Of course you know had proud we were of the rec room. This is the south end looking out over the lake. We finished the day we left except for the "mop" boards. That isn't the politically correct name for them but it is the only way I know them. Wow, did we think the room looked nice, that is, nicer than when we first saw it. Again, we painted the floor with 2 layers of paint as well. Hope the paint lasts awhile. Seems tile would have been better but in a non-profit place paint is more doable.

Actually I am writing this from Branson, MO. We left Grand Rapids, MN on the 29th of Sept. for Arkansas but with a stopover in Sioux Center for 2 days. We had a lot on the list to do but many things were added. We planned it so we could be home for Brian's Outstanding Alumni award banquet on Saturday night. We planned to visit Cindy and we did and we also found a couple landlord duties as well. Herb celebrated his birthday on Friday so we could get in on that. We went to the Chinese Buffet - good food and a buffet - doesn't get any better than that. Then Kaye scooped up peach pie and ice cream at their home. Brian, Donna, Becky and Tekoa came to our house on Thursday night. Enjoyed all but to see how Tekoa is advancing so fast was great for us. We voted absentee, very important this year. Visited with the realtor and heard houses are still not moving well at all. That is okay with us. The uncertainly isn't so handy but we do like coming home to a house. It was kinda a whirlwind but wouldn't have done it any different if we could have.

We are in Branson for a conference by Dr. Jeremiah. What a powerful speaker, Also included will be programs by Guy Pinrod and Mark Lowry. Beautiful weather here and hope it stays nice as we work our way down further south. Love you all. Have a great fall. Until next week, Dad and Mom Marilyn/Wilmer.