What’s Up

The Farmer and I have not had our camper out for over a year now. I guess it’s been two years this April. We didn’t plan it this way but this is where we are at right now. We are with a group called SOWERS and normally we go twice a year to serve at a location that we select for a month. We did travel to Big Sandy, Texas last April and served at Alert Academy. We did not take our camper there, due to issues with our pickup. Some wonderful SOWER friends allowed us to stay in their very nice rig. It was delightful to be with old friends again and make new ones. It was a blessing to our hearts.

We didn’t go in the fall as the Farmer was hauling corn for a neighbor for four months. This took from September through December. We had our hopes high to serve in Texas again this April but alas, that was not going to happen. The Farmer needs a new knee before he can do much work. We leave this week on Thursday to finally visit with a surgeon and see what, where and when he can get his knee replaced.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” -Saint Augustine.

Our nineteen foot camper sits in our Quonset and hasn’t seen any action except at Christmas and other holidays when all the family comes home. Then it becomes our extra bedroom along with our little Tear Drop camper.

At this time we do not know how long it will be until we can roam again with our Dutch ovens. We have used the Dutch ovens on our farm here and have cooked up some good things for company. The Farmer’s bride even got second place in our church’s Chili Cookoff in one of the Dutch ovens. The Farmer wasn’t much help as he was hauling corn.

“Life is made for good friends and great adventures.” – Anonymous

We have been busy following our grandchildren as they continue to grow up. We go from football, track, cross country, soccer, vocal presentations, piano recitals, wrestling, and volleyball. They do keep us on the road. Because we will be homebound for a moment, I am planting a bit of a garden. We will see how that grows.

Well, that is our sad story. Really we are truly blessed and grateful to our generous Lord that we are in good health and knees and other things can be fixed. However, we are really missing our SOWER friends and our SOWER projects. Just thought I would update you on “Wherethedutchovensroam”. Those Dutch ovens are at home on the prairie right now. Come see us and we will get them out and do some cooking.

God bless you all friends.

Living Waters Bible Camp

Work is now underway for our SOWER group at Living Water Bible Camp. We have four couples here and one single man who lost his wife a few months ago. Three of the people that are here we already met in Texas in March. It is delightful to see SOWERs you are now familiar with. There are 170 mission projects and places to serve across our nation and in Canada. SOWER stands for Servants on Wheels Ever Ready. Retired couples with a camper can join and work at these camps and projects. It is RVing with a Purpose. There are around 800 couples who are SOWERs either active or alumni.

We are in a cottage right on Grand Lake near Weston, Maine. From our cottage we can see Canada across the lake. Tomorrow we will take a little breakfast cruise and will go very close to the Canadian waters. This facility caters alot to Canadians so it has been a difficult two years for this camp and for the people who work here for the summer, who are across the border. Many of their summer homes are here left unused.

This place is very active and full with kids and families of all ages enjoying water skiing, wakeboarding, horsemanship, crafts, wall climbing, fishing and Bible study and worship. We have been able to attend church every evening with a dynamic pastor from Kansas (of all places.) He preaches the Word and speaks the truth about the days we are living in.

Putting insulation and boards on the ceiling of a new lodge is the project some of the men are working on. This new building will house some kitchen staff and be such a wonderful blessing to them. The men cannot complete the bathroom in the lodge however due to rules and regulations for sewer for this county. The kitchen staff is excited to move in anyway.

Painting is the word for the women many times in the SOWER world. We are painting the outside of the Camp Office building. There is enough painting to do on this place that it wil keep volunteers busy for many months. We have a good time doing it and love teasing each other and the camp staff. There are also some crafts for us to help with when it rains. One of the women is working in the bookstore every afternoon also.

They feed us well here both physically and spiritually. The views are out of this world. The loon call every night is eerie. The speakers amazing. The love of God and children is evident. Here at this camp it gives us hope for the future. Hope that young people will continue to love God and serve Him and their nation.

SOWER Roundup and Friendships

Texas Roundup of SOWERS in Big Sandy, Texas

Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
Amy Poehler

The SOWER Texas Roundup was held at the Alert Academy in Big Sandy, TX just before we headed home from our assignment there. Sixteen other camper couples joined us for three days of fun, games , instruction and fellowship. SOWER stories of projects and experiences filled each moment. New friendships and connections were carved. Acquaintances became true friends and talented people were discovered. These retired couples join forces each month to serve the Lord God in many and varied ways. The mission is the same; make a difference in some way in the lives of those they come in contact.

Gail Fieler had some great game ideas and everyone participated. Peeps were shot with rubber bands, jelly beans were balanced on a popsicle stick and rolled down a board. A talent show was enjoyed by all. One couple had a hole in their bucket!

Thompson’s with “A Hole in their Bucket”

The SOWER couples also collated bound booklets of the book of John and of Romans. We were able in two hours to collate 1400 booklets. These books of scripture will be sent to the Philippines. Some were collated earlier in the Thai language to go to Thailand. Fertile fields will receive these seeds from this group of SOWERS.

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Collating Scripture Booklets for Overseas Fields

Following this wonderful Roundup for SOWERS we embarked on the journey home. Our hearts were warmed by new friendships and experiences. One woman that I hadn’t met before became an instant heart sister in the Lord. We were kindred spirits. Praising the Lord for this opportunity.