One week closer to Christmas!

We have completed the first week at YWAM.  There were a few things to fix and finish.

It seem like people get the sheet rock hung but never have time to finish it.  Oh, well it's a joy to work for the Lord.  Later I replaced a badly failing front door and put a garage door back into service by removing at least 20 pounds of mud dabber nests from inside the opener and on the wiring.  They won't get in there anymore, unless they figure out how to get through nylon screen.

Just a few details left on the house trim.  The job for the rest of the week was to work in the kitchen helping to prepare the daily meals.

But we did have time to prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth.  Kinda makes Alfa look a little like Rudolf doesn't it?

But at night it could be the star in the east.

The proud parents rest on the living room table with that Wonderful new baby!

And, the sugar plum castle keeps watch at night.

Merry Christmas to all and may the blessings of knowing, really knowing the One who was the baby take you safely into the new year.

Welcome to TEXAS!

By the grace of God we have made it safely to Garden Valley, Texas.  The weather is much warmer here than it was in Purdy.  We are set to start work on Monday, December 3.  Today, December 1, we decided to take a trip to the rose capital of the US, Tyler, Texas.

Here we are, home sweet home in the woods.  It makes it difficult to get a dish signal but we will slog through.

This view is across the pond from the center of the activity of YWAM.  They tell me that there are bass and catfish in the pond.  I picked up some worms today and will make an effort to reduce the population.

The chapel is on the bank of the pond and has a wonderful view of the lake out of a large window.

 

We made a trip to Tyler today and visited the Tyler Rose Garden and Museum.  There were still a number of roses in bloom and this is one of the best.

 

But it didn't have much of a rose smell.

This young lad is on a rock in the middle of the rose garden chasing the local frogs.

 

This one smells like a rose should smell!

The piece of equipment that allowed the rose growers to expand their fields and the number of roses they are able to produce is represented by this '37 Farmall A.

The Rose Festival which Tyler is noted for is a very big deal.  These gowns are from a couple of the maids in waiting.

Here is a view of one of the queens and her maids.

 

Check out this queen and her court!  They really do it up big.  They have been celebrating the Rose Festival since 1933 and look to keep things going for the future.

 

 

 

 

November project is complete!

We have finished the November project at Camp Barnabas and it was a great project.  We have had a good time getting to know all of the fellows (interns) and the Barnabas Prep students.

The sunrise is getting later and later---

 

---and the temperature continues to drop.

The leaves are building a wonderful portrait of God's creation---

---and they are fun to play in. 

 

On the serious side, Roger and Kay, the camp maintenance director and wife, wanted to give everyone a Thanksgiving feast.

The Sowers were glad to help with salad---

---sweet potatoes and green beans and corn---

---and the Prep Students and fellows were ready to dig in.

One major project was to tile the back splash at Jason's house (Barnabas CEO).

The space and the tile had already been set--

 

---so we went to work removing the outlet covers--

---and applying the adhesive.

 

When we were all done the space really looked good---

---even if we do say so ourselves.

 

Meanwhile, the ladies were busy making a special T-shirt quilt for the Teas.

 

They didn't say much for themselves but everyone else thought that it was wonderful. 

 

They also made a Christmas stocking for each of the Fellows and Prep Students.

After the last day of the project we were asked to come up to the Fish House (where a number of the students live) and when we got there we were showered with thank you cards which the Prep Students and Fellows had made for us.  Who ever said we don't get paid has never been here.  God is so good!

 

 

Completion of the October 2012 Project

We have come to the end of another project and will have a little time off to see some of the sites.  But the week ended with a flurry of activity.

The students of Barnabas Prep have written a play and have been practicing for six weeks.  Now it is time to perform.

I'm not sure how they managed it but they have written a play with Mary Poppins, Spider Man and a whole list of other BIG names and they are all at the rodeo.

Here you see the lovely Mary Poppins in her gown and with her escort.

Remember the poodle skirts.  Here they are!  The girls liked them so much they decided not to return them to the wardrobe room but will take them home with them.

The activities got quite animated.

As you can plainly see the students are really getting with it.

We even have a calf roping!!

At the end the contestants from the rodeo received their medals, even the calf.

With the change in temperature the trees are really putting on their wonder fall wardrobe.  God has such an imagination.

The colors are soooo different, yet they never clash.

Just AWESOME!

The Prep students and the staff took a little break after the big production but now they are beginning to return to campus.

When you drive through the gate of the camp this is the sight that meets you.

The maintenance manager and his wife gave us an evening of entertainment as the project drew to an end.  He even barbecued salmon for us.

And a fine meal and time to fellowship it was. 

But there were still a few projects to finish.  This is probably a lot easier than it was 200 years ago but it is still really tiring---

---and the kitchen still has to be spotless for the next ones to use it.

There used to be a window here, now it is a door out to the SHHHH (hot tub)!

One thing that doesn't ever loose it's significance is Inspiration Point.  Each name tag on the cross of a child who has attended Camp Barnabas and later passed on.

And finally, after weeks of no activity, the bird feeder is going empty about every three days.