Volunteer Work Camp 2011 - 5

We will never walk alone again.

I've been part of many work groups, camp experiences, and other extended youth events in the past 22 years.  This year's Volunteer Work Camp has been one of, if not the best one I've ever been a part of.

Our last work day split the group into a few different projects.  One group headed to Benton Harbor to work with a local Hospice agency in putting together an estate sale.  One of the people in hospice care had recently died and without any family, the agency worked to help get her estate settled.  There was sorting, cleaning, and helping ease the stress of folks who had just a few days to get things settled.

The other group stayed at Tower Hill to work on continuing projects.  We demolished and removed a rotting wood flower bed from the front of the dining hall and also moved several (10?) yards of dirt from the tennis court drainage project.  The work was grueling - and every person worked hard all day, as we have all week.

The evening wrapped things up for our camp experience.  We had chances to give encouragement and appreciation to each of the campers (something that began the night before with a candle-lighting experience) and also shared communion together.  We invited people to come for seconds if they wanted.  It was the first time I've ever served the whole loaf of bread at communion. -- Go spread the feast!

One more evening at the beach.  One more bonfire.  One more walk home in the dark.



But we will never walk alone again.   


* more pictures from the week are here

Volunteer Work Camp 2011 - 4

Senseless, brutal acts of kindness.

No Internet service yesterday at Tower Hill.  Here's the first of today's posts.

Thursday was a day off at Work Camp.  But our theme continued.  On this day, we relaxed.  We ate lunch out at Redamak's in New Buffalo, spent the afternoon at the beach, climbed Warren Dunes' Mount Baldy (and jumped off the steeper slope on the back side) and visited the clay pits of the stream that empties into the Lake.

We also found ways to do senseless, brutal acts of kindness. 

It's not customary to see senseless and brutal attached to acts of kindness.  We talked about how the line in the "Small Rebellions" song first lets us notice that we can be kind instead of cruel.  We also talked about how senseless, brutal acts of kindness go beyond simple kindness.  They may be the kind of kind things you do that go beyond the norm.  They're the things that make you go outside your comfort zone and beyond what you would do easily.  We invited everyone to think about a time when they'd performed a senseless, brutal act of kindness.

Renee (one of the high school work campers) wrote this.

My friends and I are sitting and laughing, sharing nachos and half-eaten desserts.  Life is good.  We are five friends enjoying a break from schoolwork to eat lunch and tell stories.  Although we don’t like to be mean, the table of special ed. Students next to ours is a bother to our average teenage lives.  The students at the table there drool or walk funny or laugh too loud.  We like to pretend that they don’t exist to ignore the guilt we feel for being so “normal.”
There is a girl I know, Sara, that sits at this particular table.  Sara is short, and walks with a large limp.  She carries her medical equipment with her everywhere.  She is hard to look at because her features are distorted and her mouth hangs ajar with drool falling down her chin. 
Poor Sara, even the students at the neighboring table pretend she doesn’t exist.  The teachers are impatient with her because she only shouts noises and she can’t see unless she angles her head right.
On this day, Sara is limping along, pulling her supplies with her backpack strapped on as well.  Sara is walking past our table using our chairs for support to walk.  We are surprised to see her walking past us, because her table is on the other side.  We whisper and move away from her helpless grasps. 
I am wondering where she is going and why she doesn’t have a teacher with her.  At last I realize that she is headed towards the stacks of extra chairs.  I notice her table hasn’t bothered to offer her one.
I hesitate a moment, then, without thinking, jump up and walk towards Sara.  I ask her, “Sara, do you need a chair?  Do you want me to help?”  She nods viciously.  I grab a chair and walk with her back to the table.  “There you go, Sara,” I say. Sara does the sign language motion for ‘thank you.’  I say “You’re welcome, Sara,” and a warm feeling spreads through me.  The small act made me feel like a better person.
Just then, I remembered I was in a crowded cafeteria.  As I turned to walk back to my table, I noticed everyone was staring at me.  High School students don’t normally help people who are different. They whisper, laugh, and avoid staring at the “special ed students.”
All the staring began to burn through my skin. I could feel my face becoming cherry red.  I sat down as quickly as I could and wished I could hide.
When I looked around at my friends, they looked shocked.  I asked, embarrassed, “What?” (Even though I knew why they had their mouths wide open, or so I thought.) Instead of the bashing I was bracing myself for my best friend Cathy told me I inspired her and my other friends echoed her with nice things.
I felt brave and accomplished.  The act was small and Sara probably could have managed by herself, but I felt great and knew I had done the right thing.
At the time it felt painfully embarrassing to have done something so different, but now I realize it was probably very special for Sara and it was kindness that my friends admired me for.

One more work day left.

Volunteer Work Camp 2011 - 3

Push against the current.

A rainy day three brought new challenges to Volunteer Work Camp 2011.  Delivering paving bricks to build outdoor firepits and delivering and setting up dvd players to cabins kept the group busy and damp for most of the morning, and then in the early afternoon we all tried to work together on a stairwell and hallway painting project.  Close quarters helped show some of the weariness of a group that has been working hard all week and it almost seemed, for a moment, that the peace and harmony of work camp might become a clanging, dissonant chord.
And just as we were finishing work for the day and the skies began to clear up, these simple words started bringing a sense of relief and joy.

Slip n Slide.

Tower Hill has a great . . . hill for setting up a giant slip n slide.  Folks released a whole bunch of tension as they ran, jumped, and slide down plastic streaming with water and dish soap - enjoying every last bump, bruise, and soapy, dirty water splash.

The tension release helped the group get into a discussion about what it means to push against the current.  One expression involves staying away from the things that are harmful even though "everybody's doing it."  And another significant expression is about standing firm on issues of justice and equality even when it may not be the popular or easy thing to do.  It is heartwarming to see a group committed to justice and kindness. 

I also know that we don't always act the way we're committed to.  Thank God for grace.  Thank God for second chances to push against the current.

Volunteer Work Camp 2011 - 2

All of your people matter.

We took the daily theme to heart at Volunteer Work Camp 2011.  Though muscles are sore and folks are already feeling the wearying effects of the work, kindness and respect have been present, evident, and thriving. 

Yesterday we spent time landscaping and sorting through clothes at Polly's Place, a shelter for pregnant women in Niles, Michigan.  This is a place where we've worked in several other years and the volunteers loved being back at a place that really does communicate that hearts in every form still matter. 

Our other group spent the better part of the day digging a drainage ditch around a tennis/basketball court at Tower Hill.  6 inches deep and 18 inches wide through root-filled ground.  Sore muscles have definitely arrived!

After a swim in an ultra-cold Lake Michigan, a "Everyone Matters" Bible study relating to Lady Gaga's "Born this Way," and some fun at the rock climbing wall, we had our evening sunset bonfire at the beach. This time we even had some guests with us, as folks from another camp were walking the beach and came and sang campfire songs with us.

Thank you, God -- for continuing to remind us that all of your people matter.

Volunteer Work Camp 2011 - 1

This week I'm a co-director of the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ's Volunteer Work Camp.  We're working at and out of Tower Hill Camp in Sawyer, Michigan.
This year's theme grows out of the Jars of Clay song, "Small Rebellions" and the adults and students at the camp are paying attention, as we work, that every one of God's children matters.  We've already noticed such kindness and goodwill -- from campers, with folks we work with, from the camp staff . . . everyone!

Our first work day involved working both with the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan (Part of the downtown beautification project -- we mulched, raked, watered, and cleaned) and right at Tower Hill (we cleaned the beach, put up new street signs, painted tables, and worked to beautify the camp!)

We're also spending time at the beach, having a nightly beach bonfire with campfire songs (yes, I love leading songs with the guitar!) writing notes of kindness and encouragement to campers, filling up a "Small Rebellions" wall mural with 'rebellions' we've noticed, and having a continuing conversation about how showing kindness, love, and encouragement really do matter.

We're also exhausted after the first day.  More energy is coming for the rest of the week!

Illinois Conference Annual Meeting 2010

This past weekend I was at UIC for the 46th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. Our biggest order of business was approving our new Illinois Conference Minister, Dr. Jorge Morales. But that isn't all that went on!

This year we moved to a shorter, 2-day meeting instead of a 3-day one. We also, for the first time in my memory, held our meeting in downtown Chicago. I think the loss of a day changed the financial impact of the meeting - which is very good. I think meeting in downtown Chicago got us to stretch our comfort zone of where it is good to meet -- which is very good. I also think that UIC was an excellent venue to have a meeting -- again . . . very good. (They have a bowling alley downstairs!)

And with the very good comes the challenges.

• Losing a day meant that the workshops offered were much shorter. I felt it in the one workshop I led (it started like a train wreck, as I had edited what could have been a 2 1/2 hour workshop into a 45 minute one - I took out things I should have left in and left things in I could have left out - it turned out OK, but it was also a learning experience for me.) and I also experienced it in a second workshop I attended. We tried to stuff too much into the short time period. If we follow the same pattern for next year, I'll have to remember that 45 minute workshops edited from 2 hour workshops don't work too well.
• Meeting in downtown Chicago is expensive. It also makes housing a little bit tricky. I (and many others) stayed at a UIC dorm that was about 6 blocks from the main venue. Not too bad, though the stormy weather Friday night made it difficult. Parking was a couple of blocks away from the dorms, too. I know that I'm spoiled by the venues with hotel, convention, and parking all in the same place . . . but I do like that way better.

• The Friday portion of the Annual Meeting was a little underwhelming. I started things off by leading the group in a rousing and energetic time of singing "Where Justice Rolls Down," but we definitely didn't sustain the energy throughout the rest of the day. I didn't notice it as much on Friday, however, as I did when things were far different on Saturday.
• I missed much of the business portion of the meeting Saturday while leading a delegation of youth on an adventure called "Two Tales of One City" We spent time learning about the many outreach ministries of Kenwood UCC and how they began. The most affecting statement I heard from Rev. Leroy Sanders was that 28 years ago the congregation voted not to begin a feeding ministry because "they didn't want that kind of people here." Rev. Sanders convinced the congregation to change their mind and it has been a transformative experience for all.
• After our time at Kenwood UCC we spent a couple of hours at Navy Pier. We experienced the need for community outreach and we experienced . . . fun. Two tales of one city. We also, in a very short time, formed new relationships with one another.
• Those relationships were evident as we came back during the last business session and then participated in the rousing, inspiring, powerful closing worship. Rev. Phil Hart's sermon, the liturgy, the songs, the prayers, the dancing, the offering, communion . . . everything was awesome. (OK -- the we had some trouble with the last hymn, but by the end of the song we had it down -- we'll have to do that one again next year!) I left the meeting inspired and refreshed - ready to tell a great story. What a great way to end!

There are several pictures from the event on the Illinois Conference Youth Initiative webpage and Facebook page.

Habitat/volunteer camp 2010 - 5

Endings
Yesterday was a 'day off' at Habitat/volunteer camp - involving some typical camp activities. We had lunch out at a Redamaks' restaurant (great food and great service too!) and then headed to Warren Dunes to climb the daunting Mount Baldy sand hill. After a day in the sun we had a chance to experience Tower Hill's giant climbing wall and then headed to the beach for another great bonfire. It was my last of the week, as I'm heading off this morning to Chicago for the Illinois Conference Annual Meeting.
There are some great memories from this week. We have worked and played hard, I leave pretty spent lots of time building relationships, and have become better people and followers of Jesus in the process. I'm looking forward to the next time!

*Update: There are many, many pictures to tell the story of the week here!

Habitat/volunteer camp 2010 - 4

3.
We were at three worksites yesterday. Some delivered food boxes to cars at a drive-up commodities distribution center for seniors, others worked at a local thrift shop (and came home with some formal dinner attire) and I was with a group working on clearing brush and trees as well as putting in an i beam and floor joists at a Habitat for Humanity build site in Michigan City, Indiana. Lake Michigan still hasn't been cooperative for swimming (rip tide warning in the afternoon) but we did have a giant hill slip n slide adventure in the afternoon and got to have a group archery event in the evening. Our nightly bonfire on the lake also returned as we sang (I love playing guitar at these things!) and talked about the many things love is and is not - as expressed in 1 Corinthians 13.
Today's a 'day off' and many of the campers are going to sleep in. I'll be heading out early tomorrow for the Illinois Conference Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Habitat/volunteer camp 2010 - 3

Everybody work.
Yesterday our group was at another two worksites. One group headed to Harmony House in La Porte, Indiana to do some landscaping and gardening. While we were working, a young boy inside was watching and anticipating. He came outside later and told us he was so excited for the playground being cleaned up!
The other group stayed nearby at Warren Dunes and worked on building a retaining wall to help keep the trail to the lake from disappearing. There was digging, measuring, cutting, attaching, and standing in the river, too!
Weather put a hold on last night's campfire, though we all relaxed with games, movies, and conversations.

Habitat/volunteer camp 2010 - 2

Sore.
We had a hard workday yesterday. I was with a group that did landscaping/yardwork at Polly's place - a shelter for pregnant women. We moved branch after branch of recently trimmed brush to a giant burn pile (one we started!) and also tilled gardens, weeded playground areas, and moved playground equipment around. Another group of workers packed 1021 boxes of food for delivery to the elderly in the area. It was nice to get back to camp and enjoy a sunset on the Lake Michigan beach.

Habitat/volunteer camp 2010 - 1

This week I'm at Tower Hill camp in Sawyer, Michigan for the Illinois Conference's 2010 Habitat/volunteer camp. There are 30+ youth and adults from 6 different churches. We'll be spending the week working at several locations in the area. Wireless signal will be iffy, but if I get time and signal I'll post a few pictures! (update -- I did!)

Michigan campfire

Yesterday afternoon I made a 'pre-synod' trip to Michigan to connect with friends at this year's Illinois Conference UCC Habitat/Volunteer camp at Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center in Sawyer, Michigan. This year's camp was scheduled for the same week I was headed to Grand Rapids for General Synod 27, so I hadn't organized a group to go. Ultimately the camp had an abbreviated schedule, which would have made it possible, but in the meantime we'd planned a later summer work trip with the youth and adults from Union Congregational, so we missed this year. I did want to spend a bit of time with the folks, however, so I came up in the late afternoon, shared a meal and then we spent the evening on the Lake Michigan beach with a campfire and campfire songs! Good times - if only for a few hours.

I think these are most of the songs I played last night

• More Light
• Sanctus
• The Cheese Song
• Buffalo Boy
• Amazing Grace
• Twist and Shout
• Jesus is the Rock (and He Rolls My Blues Away)
• Have Love
• The Good Conductor
• Home on the Range/My Home's in Montana
• Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
• Open the Eyes of My Heart
• Day is Done
• Flush the Toilet Every Time
• The Cheese Song (grunge reprise)

I'm planning on being a part of the camp next summer -- June 20-26, 2010 - how about you?

UCC Illinois Conference Annual Meeting 2009 - 3

The 45th annual meeting of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ is over! Here are a few notables from the last couple of days

• Robust discussion during the business meetings. We passed several resolutions, addressed some issues of anger and resentment (no, we didn't resolve them) and were moved especially during the times our chaplain called us together to prayer
  
• Engaging and extraordinarily helpful preaching from Dr. Alice Hunt.
  
• A lively and contagious worship service this morning with preacher Nathan Elder and an opportunity for me to have fun leading music
  
• A sign of relief as we all head home.
  

Here's the song lineup from today:

Pre-service fun:

Hole in the Bottom of the Sea - Traditional

The Cheese Song – Kirk Moore

I Always go Potty in the Toilet – Kirk Moore

Change Your Diaper – Kirk Moore

Flush the Toilet Every Time – Kirk Moore

Worship Service

Something Beautiful For God - Bryan Sirchio

T.A.M.B.O. - Christopher Grundy

Masithi - Traditional

Hearts Full of Gratitude - Bryan Sirchio

More Light - Christopher Grundy

What Does Our God Require of Us (‘Speedwood” style) - Bryan Sirchio

Healing River (chorus only) - Christopher Grundy

Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ - Fred Kann

Sanctus - Christopher Grundy

I Am Welcomed - Bryan Sirchio

Lions – Lost and Found

May we continue to walk wisely with God, embedded in the sacred life.

UCC Illinois Conference Annual Meeting 2009 - 2

Living the Sacred Life -- day one is complete!  Here are some of my highlights of the first day of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ:

• Lunch with Jeffrey, Timoth and Jonathan at Bailey's Place.  It was great to reconnect with colleagues I don't see too often.  
• Ministry and Mental Illness workshop with Rev. Robert Dell.  Folks who are mentally ill have, for far too long, been forced out of or into the margins of the church.  Bob has been a friend and a mentor to me as I confront my own failures in ministering to folk with mental illness and as an inspiration to educate congregations and to reach out to those who are affected by mental illness.
  
• Taking "Immerse yourself" photos for the UCC General Synod's "Immerse Yourself" Photo Mosaic  I submitted several new pictures to the project today.
  
• Dinner at Jimmie Johns with Jeanne and John.  This year's meeting food prices are too high for my taste.  A few of us may spend less than the price of one day's food over the whole three days!
  
• Opening worship with preacher Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith.  This man is a gifted speaker and a person of passion.  I appreciate his words, his presence and his witness.  I loved it when he asked the question, "Is living the sacred life about saying we are holy or about admitting that we are filled with holes?"
  
• The part just before we received the evening's offering when the worship leader said "We may have forgotten to get ushers."
  
• The relaxing Prairie Associate after hours gathering at the Grove Tavern.  Good times with some great colleagues in ministry.
  

Tomorrow morning starts early -- I have an appointment at 7 am!

UCC Illinois Conference Annual Meeting 2009 - 1

Hello Springfield! I'm at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center for the 45th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. This year's theme is "Living the Sacred Life"
This weekend, as we worship together, connect with one another, learn together and talk about 'business' we'll be focusing on Micah 6:8 --. . . what does God require of you but to do justice, love kindness/mercy and to walk humbly with your God

Here are some of the speakers for the weekend

Friday Bible Study
Rev. Jorge Morales - Illinois Conference Associate Minister - followed by a keynote presentation from Rev. Bill Moore and Rev. Jane Ann Moore, Owen Lovejoy Scholars
Friday Worship
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr. - Senior Pastor at Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, IL.

Saturday Bible Study
Rev. Tom Norwalk - Eastern Association Minister -- followed by a keynote presentation from Donna Dudley - Missionary to Angola in Africa
Saturday Worship
Rev. Alice Hunt - The president of Chicago Theological Seminary

Sunday Bible Study
The Rev. Dr. Rita M. Root - Interim Chicago Metropolitan Association Minister
Sunday Worship
Nathan Elder - a member of Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ in Quincy, IL and a recent graduate of Quincy High School.
And guess what? I'm leading the music during the Sunday worship service, too!

It will be great to connect with Illinois colleagues, spend time worshipping together, learning together and living the sacred life together. I'll post thoughts (and maybe pictures) of the experience. I'll also be posting regular short updates to twitter -- follow along!

Habitat/Volunteer Camp 2008 - 7

It's the last morning of the last day - work is done -- just breakfast and goodbyes to go

Yesterday we finished up the tasks we started

• Marshall Hall painting, curtains and even a tree mural (painted by one of the leaders) is complete
• The Habitat home in Michigan city is way ahead of schedule
• Part of our group went to Fernwood nature center -- weeding, mulching, finding snakes etc.

It's been a great week of working, getting to know youth and adults from all over Illinois (and Michigan!) and growing closer to God.

Last night's worship focused on the talents God has blessed all with. It was a challenge to use those gifts, some of which have been unleashed during this week, at home, school work etc. We spent time identifying gifts that each student and adult have -- it was a great "warm fuzzy" with God woven all through. We didn't get to watch the sunset because of the clouds -- but I'll always remember the night before -- a whole group of folks sitting on the beach watching a beautiful sunset over the lake.

Lots of songs -- I don't think I can remember them all . . .

• Pharaoh Pharaoh
• Something Beautiful For God
• Pass It On
• Where Justice Rolls Down
• Holy Holy Holy
• The Grand Illusion
• I Will Call Upon the Lord
• I Want You (Melvin - the student songwriters and band - made a second appearance)
• Down to the River to Pray
• Benediction

Breakfast, clean up and heading home today! I'm ready.

Next year, anyone?

Habitat/Volunteer Camp 2008 - 6

Yesterday's day off went by quickly -- but it sure was rejuvenating!

After breakfast -- we all simply rested for a couple of hours before heading north up the expressway to "exit 29" where there were a bunch of restaurants. Some of the group went to Applebees and I ate with 6 other youth at Steak and Shake. We had some great conversations about how to tip at a restaurant, reactions to this trip, school experiences, and even politics!

In the afternoon the weather was clear so we swam, climbed and layed out at the beach. At one point one of the leaders went up to the snack area and came back with a bag full of ice cream treats for everyone (she actually went twice) The sand and sun were hot, but the treats made it and the kids (and adults!) were overjoyed with the treats.

Today was also the day to make memory crafts -- signed t-shirts and thin log slices with quotes on them.

Of course, we ended the day with worship at the beach. This time it was about trust -- trusting God and trusting each other. Lots of songs, too
Here's a possible partial list:

Shut De Do
T.A.M.B.O
Made of Clay (and original written by and performed by campers!)
Buffalo Boy
The Star Spangled Banner
Beloved Let us Love One Another
Itsy Bitsy Spider
This Old Man
A medley of parts of Styx and Queen songs
The Cheese Song (third time?)
Open the Eyes of My Heart
What does our God require of us


Today it's our final day of work -- Here's the plan as I know it now

Habitat home in Michigan City
Nature Center - pulling weeds, etc (that's where I think I'll be)
Finishing the painting, curtains, etc at Marshall Hall right here at Tower Hill

Habitat/Volunteer Camp 2008 - 5

Well then, yesterday was one of those work days that had the potential to be a total bust, but I think we salvaged some work anyway. And overall things turned out pretty well.

The weather led to a cancellation of a few of our work projects

Habitat crew went to Michigan City and then turned around and came home
The beach crew never left
The shelter crew arrived and didn't have much in the way of supplies. They finished 2 hours early
Most everyone (at different times) worked on painting the craft and gathering area of Marshall Hall right here at Tower Hill. We painted windows that had been covered by storm windows, prepared the interior walls for a new coat of paint, hung curtain rods and fireproofed the new curtains. We have a full day of work on that whole project on Friday.

Friday? What about today?

Today's a planned day off -- if the weather holds we'll be at the beach much of the day. If not it looks like bowling and/or a movie at a local theatre.

In the afternoon it was still kind of rainy -- so the camp set up a giant slip n slide for us - I was the only adult to try it out -- it was one of the highlights of the week. We also got to spend a bit of time at the archery range -- I wasn't too bad -- I hit the target most times. . .

We still had a great end to the evening with worship and singing. I played a few and Max also played. Then later Julie and I sang a couple of songs with some really ringing harmonies

Here's what I remember

I Like Cicadas
The 501 Song
The 'Tower Hill Camp' Store

I'm a Creep (Max and Julie sang this one)
Sanctuary
This Little Light of Mine
Amazing Grace

We extended curfew for the students by an hour to midnight -- it was about a half hour too long for my ability not to fall asleep standing . . .

Habitat/Volunteer Camp 2008 - 4

I put on loads of sunscreen yesterday -- and I still have a sunburn on my face and neck -- ouch!

We had a very hot -- yet still wonderful day at Habitat camp

• Finished the roof


• Lots more work on the Habitat home


• Projects and projects and projects at camp
  

The wind and the waves cooperated so that we could swim – I challenged everyone to a race out to the buoy and back. I should have just made it to the buoy – I won that part – but ran out of steam on the return trip.


After a rock climbing adventure for many of the campers (and none of the adults!) up a 35+ foot wall, we headed to the beach for what as become the regular daily plan, we had a time of evening fun, songs, worship and prayer. This time it focused on creation (and the need for humanity to respect and care for God’s creation!) I played some music and we had a few other song/rap leaders to!

Song list (as far as I can remember)

• Post-partum blues


• Lions


• God of Wonders


• Big House


• Cheese song reprise (Danny wanted to play guitar)


• Home on the Range/My Home’s in Montana


• Boom Chicka Boom


• A song with a cow and a foot

More work fun today

• Habitat site


• Women’s shelter


• Beach work (I've been told we're cleaning dead fish off a beach -- that's where I'll be)

Habitat/Volunteer Camp 2008 - 3

What a great first day at Habitat/Volunteer Camp 2008!

We worked hard -- everyone really giving a great effort. We began the day with encouraging devotions with Pastor Dan (that sounds like a Saturday Night Live Skit title!) and then we went to work. We

• Made significant progress on the roof and sides of a Habitat for Humanity Home in Michigan City, Indiana. (more work there today!)


• Put half a roof on a large shed/barn near our camp. (finishing it today!)


• Did what was described as "a million little jobs that all needed doing) at a women's shelter about 40 minutes away - (we're going back there Wednesday)


• Almost completed the wiring on one of the camp buildings that is being remodeled. (I think we continue work on that building Wednesday)

The rest of the day was exhilarating -- the water was too rough on the lake - so no swimming yesterday :( - but several of us went to the big sand dune (Mount Baldy) climbed up and ran (or fell) down. Then after dinner, we had a rejuvenating time of devotions, songs, worship and prayer at a beach campfire. I got to lead some songs (Pink Pajamas, Hole in the Bottom of the Sea, The Cheese Song and Have Love) and we talked about the relationships we've already begun to form after only one day. Everyone quieted down quickly at bedtime -- I think everyone was exhausted!

Today there's much of the same in store

• Work more on the Habitat home


• Finish the shed/barn roof


• Work on several projects (painting, cleaning etc) right here at camp.

If the weather holds -- we'll get to swim later too!