On a Wheel and a Prayer

2010 May/June Camp LiWa  www.campliwa.org

We arrived at Camp LiWa (about five(5) miles NE of Fairbanks, AK) on May 12^th, about 3 weeks before the “official” SOWER (www.sowerministry.org) start date of the project.  We contacted the camp staff to let them know that we were in the area and asked if we might be of service.  The answer was a resounding “YES”, as many things needed to be accomplished before camp started in four(4) weeks.  So we went to work.     

Don installing cement board for the ceramic tile base in the new Ranch House Cabin.

The camp was blessed with two much needed new stoves for the kitchen. Here Jenny is “curing” the new grill.

Jenny and Becky(one of the camp counselors) painted the entryway to the lodge.

Jenny and Becky prepared meals for a retreat group. They look to be having difficulty in taking direction from the Wilderness Camp Director, Collin.

Jenny made a daily trip to the Food Bank with end, Kris, the camp Chief Chef. Fairbanks has an exceptional food bank for homeless. The homeless organizations get first choice of whatever is available on a particular day and the rest is available for other non-profit groups.

Don installed tile in five(5) different bathrooms and a kitchen/entryway in the new Ranch House Cabin.

The camp has a great Petting Farm and guess who got involved in animal care? Two young goats about to receive their twice daily bottle feeding.

Jenny putting a splint on the broken leg of one of the Petting Farm ducks. The duck recovered quite well and was able to join the flock of five.

We were joined at the camp by fellow SOWERs, Dave and Alice, from Palmer, AK, on May 31st for their very first SOWER Project.

Dave and Don installing new kitchen cabinets in the new Ranch House Cabin.

 

Dave and Don making trim boards for the Ranch House Cabin.

Dave and Don installing trim boards.

 

Alice and Jenny sprucing up the kitchen with a new coat of paint.

Alice and Jenny helped a lot in the kitchen. Kris, the Chief Chef, Jenny, Alice(SOWER) and Becky, Counselor/Cook volunteer for the summer.

 

The summer staff of the just the Wrangler Program of the camp. Besides the Wrangler Program, the camp has Base Camp and Wilderness Camp. Kids from Alaska, California, Russia, Washington state, and Kansas who gave their summer to help at the camp. The joy we had in our interface with these young people is difficult to express.

The staff and some of the counselors joined us for our daily devotionals at 7:30AM in the Lodge meeting room. It was truly a privilege to have them worship with us.

 

And here is why we do what we do. THE KIDS at camp. Here they are waiting for lunch.

This is one of the few times where we have had the opportunity to see a camp while it is in full swing of presenting the Gospel of Jesus to young people. What a grand and glorious experience.

Thank you for your interest and support.  Please continue to lift us up in your prayers.  Please pray for our good health and safety as we continue our journey of service.

 

Love, Don and Jenny

We left Nanoose Bay Camp at project end at the end of April and headed to our June project with intent of taking holiday for the month of May.  We ended up getting to Fairbanks in less than two(2) weeks and went to work at Camp LI-WA on May 12th.

We drove to the north end of Vancouver Island and boarded the ferry at Port Hardy headed to Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada.  It was about a fifteen(15) hour ferry ride.  We saved over 1200 miles by taking the ferry and considered it our Inland Passage cruise at minimal costs.

The ferry was quite large and very new. This ride was peaceful and pleasant, nothing like the one we were on to get to Vancouver Island.

On the ferry. Not a warm, balmy trip but, again, so peaceful.

The scenery is beautiful.

Scene as we traveled up the Cassier Highway.

The first glacier we saw as we made a side trip to Hyder, Alaska.

Stop where we had lunch as we left Stewart, BC. Ice was just coming out of the lakes.

Lots of WILD LIFE…

Yukon River where we stopped to take a lengthy hike along the river bank.

So much beatuiful scenery.

We spent one night at Burwash Landing. Delightful people and a relaxing and pleasant place to park for a night stay.

Two weeks of vacation travel through some God's Creation. We are truly blessed.

 We ended up getting to Fairbanks in less than two(2) weeks and went to work at Camp LI-WA on May 12th, a little over 2 weeks before the project officially began.(More to come soon)

Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement in our ministery.

Don and Jenny