Alot of Play and a Little Work

Floyd, Iowa is our late August destination. The Farmer and I are working in September at Cedar Springs Camp and Retreat. It is beautiful and green here. And well, the trees are stunning for a couple of prairie kids. The trees are so tall and the shade is delightful. The smell of the pines is breathtaking.

We met the other couple we are working with this month and they are a blessing. They have only been married 41 years so they are younger than we are. They ran a Boys Ranch for a number of years so they have so many dynamic testimonies of how the Lord has worked in and through them and the boys they helped.

The project here is a big one for four people. We are painting the exterior of the dining hall. It is red right now so we started the week with primer. Lots of primer! We are still putting on primer. We have put on 15 gallons so far. We think then it will take two coats of the new tan color to cover.

Because it is Labor Day weekend we have done some playing this weekend. The camp has quite a few here for Family Camp and there have been some great activities. There was a canoe trip down the river, a float trip, water slides, campfires, corn hole tournament and more. The Farmer went down the water slide twice with all the youngsters. The Farmer caused quite a stir when he fell on his rear and then his head as he sailed down the slide. His cowboy hat left his head and made its own descent down the slide. We both floated down the really lazy river. And the Camp Director, Brian has fed us all very, very well. Jim and Cathy our co-workers won the cornhole tournament and we were very proud of them.

“Time is like a flowing river, no water passes beneath your feet twice, much like the river, moments never pass you by again, so cherish every moment life gives you.”

–Unknown

Some precious friends that are SOWERS and are the Sponsors for this camp came to visit today and we enjoyed hamburgers, beans, salad and dessert together. We had all worked together at different times at Alert Academy in Big Sandy, TX. We shared some delightful stories and fun times of working together and with others. Mike and Jackie are some of our favorite people.

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”

– Jim Watkins

Last Tuesday night after work, we attended a testimony night at a Celebrate Recovery meeting at a local church. My goodness, God is so good and has rescued so many from some terrible situations. Jesus is in the rescue business. Their love for Jesus was so inspiring. When the Lord forgives you of so much, your love and appreciation for Him is very evident.

Luke 7:47 “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Thursday evening after spray painting all day, Jim decided to cook up a Shrimp Boil. I thought for sure he would be too exhausted to cook, but he started up a big fire, got out a big pot and put out a masterpiece! He’s got it down to a fine art for sure. Shrimp, sausage, lots of vegetables and some spicy seasonings and just the right amount of boil and Voila! Delicious!

Friday, the Farmer and I made a little trip to the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, IA. That hymn was an old time favorite of ours for years. We were excited to find that it was only forty miles away. William Pitts wrote a poem in 1857 as he rode by the area on a stagecoach. He had a vision of a little church in the midst of the town called Bradford. He wrote the poem about that church of his vision. He put the poem away and forgot about it.

Imagine his amazement when he returned to Bradford in 1862 and found a little church being built just as he envisioned it. In November of 1864 the church was dedicated and Mr. Pitt’s vocal class sang the song in public for the first time.

The world’s smallest church also beckoned us that day and we drove out in the country to find a little chapel that a family built many years ago.

We prayed together in the beautiful little prayer garden found at the Little Brown Church and were deeply blessed and honored to have been able to see this part of history of a country and a people that church was one of the most important structures to be built in any new town site. They still have church there and thousands of weddings. The bell still has a melodic tone that can be heard far and wide. It’s most important to note that one hundred and sixty one years later, Jesus is still loved here and served here and the Word of the Lord is preached here.