Tired, tired, tired. After team building and Bible study in the morning we headed to Rockford for service work.
The afternoon was spent helping at Northern Illinois Food Bank which is similar to our area food bank, Midwest Food Bank. Three hours of taking cans from large cardboard containers, inspecting them for serious damage, labeling them, and then packaging them in smaller boxes. I don’t think any of us want to see another can of corn or mixed veggies. They estimated we packed around 10,000 lbs of food to help those in need.
No foolin’ parents, the kids worked nearly non-stop for three hours with only an occassional break for the bathroom. We heard no complaining from anyone. A terrific day and awe-inspiring group.
We arrived back to LOMC for a dinner of turkey, stuffing, carrots and cake for dessert. Right now the kids are at the pool for a night swim and we can’t see how they have the energy.
Tonight is our final campfire and pizza party. This will be our last update until we arrive back at church around 3:30pm Friday.
A smooth journey to bed had us cooking out in late afternoon over a campfire. On the menu was foil dinners which consist of hamburger meat, carrots, potatoes and a bit of onion. Everything is thrown together in a foil packet and placed on the fire. It’s not gourmet, but after all the effort in cooking you’re so hungry it tastes pretty good.
The farm group reported doing much the same as the other group including painting a fence gate and clearing brush for a new fence to be installed.
8th graders were treated to ice cream tonight while the rest of the group had a strange snack mix and headed to campfire.
Rob has entertained us today with jokes about bacon as well as strange imitations of the goat voices we heard on Tuesday’s farm work.
Tomorrow we head up to Rockford to work at a food bank. Originally we had a half-day canoe trip planned but the river is too high to safely canoe so we added a day of service. How can it be Wednesday already? Only one more full day, sad.
A busy morning with both groups off at the dam and farm. After morning devotions the dam group carried rocks to the top of the dam to hold a drainage pipe in place. Wet but fun. We learned that since we started on Monday the level of the pond has risen 9 inches already! We hear the fish are happy to have the cooler water and new food supply in minnows.
The farm group just returned so we haven’t heard what they did today but they looked pretty tired.
Rain has fallen a little here and there and we hope it won’t damper our foil dinner cookout starting at 4:00pm. Tonight we take the 8th graders out for ice cream as a special treat to Jay’s Drive-In.
SALT has worked hard today. So hard in fact there was no time to update everyone until well after 10pm Tuesday.
The groups split up today with one group returning to the dam and the other group traveling to a farm where we met Pr. Ron (the farm has been in his wife’s family for years.) The farm isn’t far from LOMC and many campers throughout the summer have enjoyed helping out there.
The dam rebuilding group spent much of the day moving rocks in the effort to bring the dam back in order. Why are we building a dam anyway? The dam in Gale Creek diverts fresh water into the adjacent pond at LOMC providing a healthier environment for fish and other creatures while helping maintain a consistent water level. The group today put in a lot of hard work.
Meanwhile the farm group picked apples, painted a fence and cut down tons of rag weed and other brush along both sides of a fence that needs to be replaced. With the sounds of cattle in the background and corn field on one side, the group accomplished quite a bit.
A hot sunny day for everyone and meals included pancakes, PB & J, and fried chicken (not all at one meal thankfully). The group got needed time in the pool, somehow snuck in some archery,Bible study after dinner with Mr.Rob, and campfire up near Timbers Village. A special treat this evening, Pr. Zach led us in Holy Communion after campfire and bedtime awaited. Yet, the adults all wonder where the kids still had the energy to gallop back to their cabin?
Tomorrow more of the same as the two groups switch places at the dam and farm. Please continue to pray for us as we serve the Lord!
First off, God has blessed us with a group of kids that are working together and having fun doing it. We are having a tremendous time! (And it’s only Monday.)
The group enjoyed some team building featuring The Wall and the Whale Watch. It was a hot afternoon but the crew got everyone over the wall and didn’t quite complete the Whale Watch. Moving ahead we spent some time at the pool and had meatloaf for dinner. Mr. Rob had to sing at dessert time for a tradition known as “sing ups.”
Lastly we journeyed out on the pond for canoeing and paddle boating. The kids are at campfire while Norma, Rob, and Pr. Zach (our new Missouri friend along with Matt and Jack) take a much needed break. No worries, the kids are with the counselors. Tomorrow one group gets to work on a farm while the other does more dam repair.
After an oatmeal breakfast, morning devotions (with some great songs), and a few games, the crew headed to the pond. We spent some time clearing away brush which had us wielding all sorts of tools to get the job done. Then! Most of the group headed into the creek to help set posts in place and move rocks.
Marcus and Susan are our counselors for the week and they are showing us a great time! At the time of this posting, the crew (which has renamed itself “Bon Jovi”) is resting and changing out of wet clothes before heading to some team building.
A beautiful day at LOMC with temps in the mid 80s and super sunny. God is good… all the time.
We made it safely to camp and we’re in our cabin getting unpacked.
We cannot think of anything else to say but we’re having fun.
SALT campers who travel to LOMC next week need to make sure they bring a couple sets of grubby clothes that can get REALLY dirty. We’ll be helping LOMC rebuild their pond dam and clothes (including shoes/boots) are going to get extra dirty.Â
As a rule, don’t bring anything nice to LOMC anyway. We’re outside most of the day and anything can get grass-stained, dirty, dusty, sweaty and gross. Sounds like fun doesn’t it?
So make sure you bring a couple sets of dirty work clothes and prepare to be dam builders. Bringing a couple of garbage bags for wet, dirty clothes is an awesome tip as well.
Lots of action taking place getting ready for the HIGH SEAS Vacation Bible School. We are excited that LOTS of 6-8th graders are helping out. Way to go JUNIOR HIGH!!!!
Have a great week helping serve.
