Don't Fence Me In

Drew wore himself out putting in a new fence at the Parsonage. Although the running footage wasn't a lot, the weight of each panel certainly was! Other members of the team removed a rotted fence and replaced it at the home of an elderly woman. Rewarding, but tiring work.

Volunteer Projects

We've accomplished quite a lot in our first three weeks here in St. Petersburg. One of the more ambitious undertakings was to turn a garage into a bedroom for one of the church families. The mom and dad had given up their bedroom so their son and daughter could have a room of their own as they approached their teens. A breezeway between the kitchen and garage has been their bedroom for several years. Our NOMADS team gave them the bedroom they'd hoped for! Drew was part of the framing and drywall team, while I came in at the end and laid the laminate flooring.

NOMADS Again

The holidays are over and the new year has begun, so it's time to hit the road. We're doing a volunteer project with the NOMADS in St. Petersburg, Florida. St. Luke's Methodist Church is our host and we're working on and in the church as well as at some homes of members' in need. I'll post the results of some of our projects as they are completed. The congregation here has opened it's arms to our team of five couples. We've been included in all the church activities and have been fed by some of their best cooks! I'm not quite sure whether they or we are the greater recipient of our volunteer efforts.

Holidays and Family Time

Our blog has been rather quiet for a while, as we've been spending time with family in St. Louis, Ohio, and Jacksonville. We're staying put in Jacksonville through January, catching up with friends and family, counting our blessings, and planning our travels for 2010. To all of you who follow our blog, best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and may 2010 bring you good health and happiness. From Buddy, Drew and Linda.

Deja Vu View

It's Fall again, and we're workamping at KOA. Sound familiar? But this time we're in the St. Louis area, not Tennessee. We happened upon this workamper job while visiting family and agreed to stay until the KOA closes for the season Nov. 1. The Fall colors are beautiful and we don't even have to leave the park to enjoy them.

Precious Moments

Yes, we've had some great moments visiting with the grandkids in the St. Louis area since August 12, but this post is about the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri. On a trip to the RV dealer in Carthage, MO, to have some work done on the motor home, we took the opportunity to drop in at Precious Moments for a tour. Inspired by Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in Rome, Precious Moments artist and creator, Samuel J. Butcher, designed and constructed the Precious Moments Chapel as his way of sharing the joy of his faith with the world. Each of the dozens of murals were hand painted by him. The mural “Hallelujah Square” celebrates the lives of real children whose lives ended too soon, but whose stories continue to bring a message of love, hope and peace.

Let's Hear it for the Boys

We just completed our volunteer work at the United Methodist Boys Ranch located on the South end of Tenkiller Lake near Gore, OK. We've been away from good wireless speeds, so I've gotten a little behind on my blogs. Drew and I worked in the residence buildings, painting and repairing. The Boys Ranch is for "at-promise" teens and pre-teens experiencing problems which prevent them from living at home or in foster care. There is an on-site school for the boys in the residence program. After "graduating" from the residence program, those youth in the independent living program are allowed to attend public schools. An unusual component of the Ranch is the Animal Therapy Program where the boys learn to care for animals (horses, cows, chickens!) and their skills are showcased when they host an annual rodeo. You can read more about this wonderful place at: www.circleofcare.org/site/03residential/umboysranch.html. Donations always welcome!