Moving on

With our last MMAPer friends leaving Shocco, we too must say goodbye to the beauty of the dogwood blossoms and the fresh caught bass.

I don't remember ever seeing dogwood before but they are just a magnificant work of God.  He does such good work, doesn't He!

Rick and Helen on their way to Kentucky.  God bless your journey.

One last look at the dogwood before we depart.

Hello Living Water Ministries.  This is the home of the camp director.  We arrived safely about 6:45 Thursday evening and set up camp.

This will be our major project.  Looks pretty good from the outside, but believe me, there is a ton of work to do on the inside.  Wiring, sheetrock, heating and plumbing, and of course my favorite, painting.  There is also a trout stream which borders the east side of the property.  May just have to try our hand at fly fishing.  More to come.  Thank you God and all who made it possible for us to be out here.

Strange!  I can't seem to get to sleep well here.  No TRAINS!  At Shocco there was a train coming through about every half hour all night long. Some claimed that some of the conductors tied off the whistle 20 miles east of Taladega and didn't untie it until they got 20 miles past town. We have the Great Smokey Mountain Train Ride just a couple of miles from here but they don't run at night and we can't hear them anyway.

Time to relax and reflect

We have completed our last week of our second project month.  Here are a few more photos of the work and some of the fun and relaxation of Shocco Springs.

The final pieces of carpet in a room.  The rooms will all be carpeted with carpet squares so if one is destroyed it can be picked up and replaced.

Some of the older buildings are really showing their age.  The porch roof on Crestview and Pine Lodge both deteriorated and leaked.  Subsequently, the ceilings rotted and need to be replaced.  We took parts from Crestview and repaired Pine Lodge then added a new plywood ceiling to Crestview.

The ladies were also busy helping in the store, pricing and rearranging items to get ready for the summer.

But the ladies did take time to tour some of the old homes in Talladega.  These stately homes come from the 19th century.

In the town square stands the Talldega court house, in itself a beautiful structure.

Then, of course, they had to sample some of the local hospitality at a downtown eatery.

Spring is here and the flora and fauna is beautiful.  God is such a great designer.

The dogwood are in full bloom.

Not sure what this is but isn't it beautiful?

The wisteria is in bloom and is not only beautiful but smells good too!

Some of the local critters are moving about on the streets and sidewalks.

And the painted turtles are catching the morning rays.

Some of the meals for the week are reading and eager to bite on a plastic worm of all things.

Only one week of work left at Shocco Springs

Next week (3-21 through 3-24) will be our last work week here.  We have met and worked with some really great Christians and have been able to spend time with them working, dining out and playing cards.  Have you ever played 'hand and foot'?  We know how now!

One of the men has had problems with a rash from something and he ended up in the hospital for a few days.  He also had a skylight which was cracked and leaking.  He had ordered a replacement before he went to the hospital and I told hin that when it came in I would put it on for him.  Here I am.

Our resident wood carver continues to carve at nearly every break and during supper.  Billie has collected a flower garden and a hummingbird to drink at the garden and a rooster to protect it.

Isn't he grand!

In the evening we find things to do together.  One night we all played cards.  These two couples are playing Shanghi Rummy.  We had never heard of it before and we watched to try to get the hang of it.  At the same time, at another table, we were playing Hand and Foot with another couple.  It was lots of fun (easpecially since the guys won).

Yesterday (Friday) we went up the road apiece and visited Pell City.  While we were there we stopped at Aunt Aggies and had lunch on the porch.  (You snow lovers eat your heart out).

Keep watching in days ahead.  The next assignment is Living Waters Ministry in Bryson City, North Carolina.  We'll leave the light on for ya!

Do you remember Camp Granada?

It has been raining for the past 24 hours and everything is beginning to reach flood stage around us. Here is a picture of the placid little lake just below our camp.

The lake is high enough that the ramp to the boat dock is under water.

This is the lake bypass!  Normally just a trickel.

But, here is the amazing thing of the day.  One of the men in the group carved this hummingbird while leading us in a 30 minute devotion.  Wonderful isn't it!

One can almost see it take flight.

P.S.  It looks like Bob is UP to something again!

New friends

We may not have any other Sower couple here with us but we do have a group of fellow Christians from MMAP (Mobile Missionary Assistance Program) here for this project month.  They posed for us after this mornings devotion.

Couples Left to Right

Larry and Linda Dixon, Gary and Nancy McCombs

Bill and Marty Reed, Rick and Helen Wiebe

Back to work at Shocco Inn

Today we started work on our second SOWER project.  We are still in the same place but each month's schedule is a project month.  Since we are the only SOWER couple here (the other couple had to cancel ) we are the group leaders for this month.  WOW!  Now I get to take orders from Billie.

We are back at the same building that we were in last month, installing new lights in the showers and bathrooms as well as new smoke detectors in each room.  Since there are no other guys to work with me, and since I can't work alone (safety with ladders and electricity and all) I have a new very able bodied helper, in fact she is the HELP MEET that God gave me 45 years ago.  Cool isn't it.

So far, she has only finished 3 rooms, maybe I will even help her tomorrow instead of just stand by the ladder and oogle at her.  Isn't she a beauty.

She has really caught on to the tools of the trade.  Maybe I will watch another day!

Our week of rest

One of the real blessings of this minisrty is the week of rest after the work.  We chose to stay at this location for another month so we had a week to see the area and make a trip to Newnan, Georgia to visit Billie's brother Doug.

We were also reacquainted with Doug's daughter Ginger and her children.  She is pictured holding her youngest child Victoria.

Later we were blessed to be able to spend time with Doug and the children at his house.  Pictured is Favian, Jr. and Victoria.

We spent some time driving around Talladega looking at the blossoming trees.  We believe these are flowering pears and are beautiful.

On our way to Walmart we came across this magnolia tree in full bloom.

Then someone decided that we needed to grill.  I DIDN'T THINK "SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED" really meant that there would be 1, 384 pieces to a portable grill.

After all of the assembly excitement, the lake was calling.

Ah!  Minor success at least.  We have one evening meal from the lake.

Today, it has been raining off and on all day.  In fact, it started in the middle of the night.  But, for some ducks it doesn't make any difference what it is like outside.  It is still God's wonder all around.

Next week it is back to work for three more weeks.  Wish all of you were here.

Farwell Dear Friends Till We Meet Again

Bob & Patty head for their next assignment in central Tennessee

Cornie and Wilma depart for a project in eastern Tennessee

We have mixed emotions as these dear SOWER companions depart to seperate locations.  We will miss them but will long cherish the memories of the time we spent together at Shocco Springs.

The end of our first project!

Well!  We have come to the end of our first SOWER project.  We have had a great time working and getting to know the people here and the group we are here with.

We will be staying here for another project month but the other two couples will be leaving for Tennessee. 

Our group leaders. Cornie and Wilma Dykema are headed to eastern TN then back to Vermont and the farm for the summer.  Great leaders!

Bob and Patty Carrington are headed to central TN, and if the snow melts in northern PA they too will head home for a short spell.  Great workers!

Then there is yours truly.  We will be here for another month (I guess we didn't learn enough the first month).  Really, this is a great place to work and learn about what we are doing and we relish the extra time here.  We just learned that the other couple who was scheduled to be here has had to cancel, so now we will be here by ourselves, alone together!!! 

(The view from the back end of our home)

It will be a tough assignment but we will persist!

Shocco administration building.

OUR GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!!!!!