Beautiful Fall Project

So after the craziness of being back in Oshkosh for three months of family, friends & fun-filled work and play, the Lord brought us to Camp Forest Springs in northern Wisconsin where we made a wrong turn on a road leading to the camp. With nowhere to turn around, we (Bill) had to take the car off the dolly, the dolly off the motor home, do a backwards “Y” turn with the motor home, reattach the dolly and head back towards camp with Share leading the way in the car. Other than that, the trip north was great. Love Wisconsin in September…as the Lord begins to bring vibrant colors to His creation.

Hayride tour for our group to view the expanse of the camp.

One of the first things we learned about this camp was that cell and internet coverage is practically non-existent. Internet worked pretty good up at the lodge and dining hall, but calls and texts were very limited. The good news: I was able to chuckle and wonder how that would impact our three weeks here. Some good, some not so good. But we  survived! J  In fact, the last week at the camp we found, totally by accident, a spot a short ways behind the RV parking area where several trailheads met, and cell coverage was good. Here’s where I was finally able to have an uninterrupted conversation

 despite the rainy weather.

Other than the internet/cell coverage challenge, this camp is amazing. Every staff person we encountered was more than friendly and to top that off, other staff members sought us out and made it a point of introducing themselves to us, welcoming us, and thanking us for what we do. It’s not that other places have been unfriendly, it’s just that the staff at this camp goes out of their way to meet and greet us. 

I told Bill when we signed up for a Wisconsin (home state) project, I wanted to treat it like any other. I wanted to explore the area we were in as if we had never been. I can now say that I have been to the highest point in Wisconsin. The hike up the trail wasn’t too difficult but climbing the tower was a huge challenge for me. For those of you who may not know, I’m not very fond of heights and I’m quite unnerved when I have to navigate over open slats.It took awhile for my nerves to calm down and my hands steady enough to take a few pictures. But, oh so beautiful!

Being in the northwoods of Wisconsin in September is a little bit of heaven for me. Fall has always been my favorite time of year and I have missed the color changes when we’ve headed south before seeing the fall colors of Wisconsin. We hiked many trails and crossed a bog on a boardwalk…God’s creativity is unending, always surprising, and just plain gorgeous! 

Now let’s get to the work we came here to do. The guys broke into two teams as two of the guys were electricians (and camps always have special projects for skilled electricians). The other three guys did what Bill loves most to do (NOT)…and that would be painting. I’m so proud of him for his willingness to do whatever is needed, especially when its his least favorite thing to do. The good news is that there were other projects as well. After painting one of the buildings they also replaced the fascia and then they removed the concrete slabs in front of 15 cabins and installed wooden platforms with grates so that the dirt would drop off and not be carried into the cabins. What a blessing to the camp as this was something they wanted done for, I believe, five years.There were a few raining days and on one of those they got to stop painting and help dismantle the old maintenance garage to make way for a new larger one. Now what man doesn’t like to help deconstruct? Bill was real happy about that opportunity. J

The ladies were kept very busy reworking over 30 duvet covers that

were turned into bedspreads. There was ripping, cutting, ironing, sewing, pinning, more ironing, more sewing, and final ironing. I stuck with ironing. We also helped with some mailings. One of which was three pieces to over 17,000 addresses. We had help! Or should, I say, we helped them. I was most impressed with the organization and helpfulness of all the staff members doing their part.

I learned some good lessons from my fellow VMMers. My favorite is the new meaning of WAIT. It’s always been a good word especially because the Bible tells us often the importance and the blessings of waiting on God. But the “new” meaning is almost as good, particularly for me: W.A.I.T.  or Why Am I Talking? So often, I wish I had held my tongue or wondered why I felt the need to share a particular story or opinion or just my thoughts. Now I can pray this simple word, WAIT, which, hopefully, will help keep me in check. To top that off, one morning when I was having my personal devotion time, I got out my prayer journal to write down this new meaning of W.A.I.T. to cement it even more in my brain and instead of writing Why Am I Talking, the words that came out of my pen were “What Am I Thinking.” I was totally blown away by God speaking to me through my pen in this way as in recent days, God had been working in my heart to renew my mind and think less about being a poor old “sinner, saved by grace” and more about “living and acting like a saint.” I love it when God surprises me this way and really drives His Truth in such a profound way. PTL!

While we were at the camp they were hosting a Primetimers event that included a Ladies Day. All the ladies were invited to participate in any of the sessions and several of the meals. What a delight and huge blessing. Jill and Stuart Briscoe were the speakers and our ladies chose to take a day off sewing to attend Ladies Day. Great idea! Did you know that your mission field is between your own two feet? J

In addition to inviting us to take part in events and meals already planned, the camp provided lunch whether there was a group at camp or not. What hospitality…as I said earlier, the staff at this camp is unbelievable. Our last week on project our entire group was invited to a different staff members home each night for a meal. That would be ten of us. What a delight to get to know the heart and soul of this organization through meeting and talking with dedicated couples in their homes. No wonder lives get changed here at Camp Forest Springs for all eternity. One little extra note is that one of the homes we went to for dinner was a couple whose wife was in the Mentoring Ministry at Community Church in Oshkosh that I was a part of for ten years. Love how God brings people back and forth across our path as we travel this great country.

Somebody had to entertain this little guy!

Great mini golf course at the camp.

And a ski hill

And a high ropes course.

As beautiful as this camp is, we did get away and visit some of my family (on my dad’s side) as we were less than an hour away from where he grew up. Our first stop was to visit my cousin who grew up and still lives on his family farm. I remember the old farm house as if it were  yesterday as many holidays and celebrations took place on this farm. My cousin has done quite a bit of remodeling over the years and yet I was still able to see in my mind how it was in my childhood. Great memories and now a new one of this  beautiful  home. He definitely maintained the beauty of the old but really enhanced the layout and made it their own. Going through his home, reminded me of some of the historic tour of homes we have taken throughout our travels. He had stories to tell about the changes he made, the decorating, the antiques, the some really special pieces. His home is truly a work of art and love and we so appreciated him taking the time to show us. (Bill actually never saw the old, but definitely loved the new.) 

In addition to that, he took us past the home where my dad grew up; his dad was a blacksmith and had a small farm but had died before I was born. (I don’t remember seeing it before but, I’m thinking, I either just forgot or, more likely, I was too young to care. J) It was quite a family history day as we also stopped at the country church where my parents are buried as well as many others from my dad’s side including my great great grandfather.  Hadn’t  remembered ever being shown that either. It’s amazing what becomes important to you as you grow older. (Not old, just older!!!)

We were able to celebrate our anniversary in a special way this year as it happened to fall on Bull Falls Brewery Oktoberfest celebration. For those of you who don’t know, this is owned by my cousin and is located in Wausau just about an hour from Camp Forest Springs. We had a wonderful time seeing more of my dad’s side of the family and, for me, experiencing an authentic German Oktoberfest. That’s my (much older) cousin singing. J  And, here's me and my younger cousin dancing the polka. 

After all that fun, we continued on to Merrill, Wisconsin where my dancing partner cousin lives and saw collections from all over the world. He and his wife were art teachers throughout the world for most of their teaching career. So in addition to all their own artwork (pottery, paintings, fabric art, wicker plant stands) they had lots of student art decorating the walls and floors. And, then there were all the various collections from all the various countries: Thailand, Korea, Mexico, Africa. But, wait, that’s not all…they have an art studio, a German room, a think tank room, a rendezvous room (they used to do that too), and a few other rooms I can’t remember. Their home, although quite large, was cozy yet very much reminded me of an amazing museum with amazing collections.

Sometimes we’re asked if we miss having a consistent “home” church experience. Well, we love our church back in Oshkosh and miss it terribly when we are on the road, however, God is faithful in providing us with wonderful places and opportunities to worship and meet with Him and His people. This time was particularly sweet. A church in Medford (about a half hour away from us) was one we had several connections with. Not only do some of the folks from Camp Forest Springs attend there but there are several connections to this church through His House Christian Fellowship (from where I just recently retired after almost 14 years). One of our campus ministers was their much loved and former youth pastor.  A His House alumni and dear friend of ours grew up in the church and was home visiting his parents and we were able to connect with him. Plus, we got to meet several people whose names were familiar because they have been faithful supporters of His House over the years. So it didn’t feel like a strange or unfamiliar place at all…in fact, we felt right at home. I love how our God blesses us in these unique ways.

As I finish up writing this, I find myself in our second home location: French Camp MS. We left northern Wisconsin on Friday morning with a stopover in Platteville to visit some very dear friends. Parked overnight in the local Wal-Mart lot, had a lovely dinner that evening and an unbelievable breakfast the next morning. Grateful that our friends transported us back and forth even though they were hoping we would spend the night in their home. We just feel more comfortable in our own bed protecting our home from those lurking in the Wal-Mart parking lot. J The real crazy thing about this is that the outside temperature when we woke up was in the mid 30’s with the inside our rig temp at 48 degrees. The good news is, I sleep really well when I’m covered with lotsa blankets. We arrived  in French Camp early Sunday afternoon with no problem. PTL! We are so very grateful when all goes well especially on these longer trips. Happy to say, we have been greeted very warmly upon our return. We do love it here at French Camp and continue to praise the Lord for His goodness in gifting and allowing us this lifestyle. 

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing!