Another week at Living Waters

We have completed our second week here at Living Waters camp.  The trees here are really leafing out and the dogwood is in full bloom.  Right now it is cloudy and we expect rain soon so I am not going to try to get more nature shots until we have a good sunny day.

The ladies, Claudia above and Stephanie here (and benind the camera, Billie), are painting the bathrooms that we repaired last week.

Jack is fastening some sheetrock in the girls bathroom.

Our resident helper, Andy, is helping Gary hang lights in the new kitchen.  Andy is in charge of the maintenance of the camp and the construction of the new dining hall.

Gary is busy pulling wire for all the myraid of outlets, lights and appliances which will be installed in the new kitchen.

Yours truly, finishing a wall in the boys bathroom.

Our first week at Camp Living Water

We have completed our first week at the camp and just spent another Sunday with the congregation at Grove Baptist Church. This is a church much like the church in Watertown, only a bit smaller. They are excited about Jesus and are two messages into the pre-Easter schedule of four messages.

The congregation seems to be blessed with artists and there is to be an artist on stage each Sunday to paint a picture while the sermon is being preached.  Last week the message was about doubting Thomas and Liz painted this touching watercolor which depicts the conviction of Thomas.

This weeks message was about our part in the resurrection.  Kathy provided us with this depiction of Golgatha and the tomb.  We are so blessed to already be included with Christ in the resurrection.

Here is the church logo and a front view of the building.

It is as non-typical as it looks.

Yesterday we took a drive to the city of Cherokee which is on the Cherokee reservation and were able to capture some of God's creation on the way.

(The little flowers are quite blue)

We are constantly surrounded by the forest covered mountains.

Our April home

For the month of April we will be home at Living Waters Ministry camp in Bryson City, NC.  This is a much smaller camp than Shocco but they have the same goal and problems.  The goal;  Reach the lost for Jesus Christ.  The problem;  constant financial juggling.  That is why we are here.  We want to make the burden of maintaining and rebuilding these facilities a little less financially painful.

Home sweet home.  Ma Kettle is makin' the most of laundry day with sunshine.

Here is the whole group.  We are so blessed to have four wonderful Christian couples working together to make Living Waters a better place.  Right to Left.  Ma and Pa, Stephanie Conrad, Bill and Sandy Ellis, Claudia and Jack Jalo, Gary Conrad.  This is the end of the first week of work and we decided to stop for a hot dog around the campfire.

Here is some of the work we are doing.  The carpenters put up these solid 2 X 4's then the electricians and plumbers come along and make them look like Swiss cheese.

Gary likes making holes in new wood.

This is the project.  When complete, this will be a new, up to date office complex and dining hall.  The current facilities will then be renovated to become living quarters for 60 more campers.

One of the local attractions.  Ain't she a beauty.  How blessed can a man get.

Our first excursion into the Smokies was to a hiking trail which led to a waterfall.

Along the way we were blessed with the glory of spring.

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!