July 9, 2009
It's over a year since we hosted the camp in Spring Grove. It is great to recall all the wonderful residents, campers, and staff that were part of the camp.
Sadness sets in each time we read the newpaper and find that a resident from that camp or the camp in 2005 has passed away.
My sights are now set on Bridgeton, NJ and the service we can provide there. Good friends Steve and Sally are there already in the midst of the set-up for the week. Kathy and I will be traveling Saturday afternoon and the rest of our youth (Brandon, Cody, Cole, Devon, Evan, Jena, Kayla, and Shelby), chaperones (Joy and Mark), and friend Austin will make their way east on Sunday following our morning worship at St. Paul's.

Saturday....

It was sad walking through the school this morning. All the campers had gone. Andrew Beach was the only one in the cafeteria eating breakfast. Darlene and I got a cup of coffee and some donuts and sought out the summer staff for our final meeting.

We are feeling that the camp was a success as all 51 projects had been worked on through the week. We have a few to follow up with to see about completing. There is a paint site and two ramps that will need our attention.

What could we do better in 2011? Any suggestions? We do know the travel distance was a very large issue. The number of buses in this camp caused long travel times.

Thursday ... next to last day of camp

I can't believe the week is almost over. So much has happened on the sites that I've visited these days. Today I got soaked by crew #57. Luckily the theme for the day is forgiveness.... I am hopeful that Friday will be a solid work day and that all of the sites will finish by the end of the day. Most will I am sure! My favorite element of the camp has been interacting with all the different youth, although I didn't seem to have all that much time to do that as in past camp years. What really gets you "up" at work camp?

Monday June 16

What a great day around York County as the crews made their way out to their sites. My coaching sites were wonderful. The following households were on my "route" and benefitted from the work of the campers: Aumen, Bollinger, Brown, Freeland, Church, Guise, Howard, Moreland, Rodriguez, Sneeringer, Young. Much more good work is to follow!!!

Ready or Not!!

We're pretty well ready for this upcoming week. The sites have been visited and the residents are excited and nervous. It was good to meet the staff last night. The campers arrive at noon and the fun begins!!!

Set-up - Wednesday

A pretty good day again. Weather is a bit cooler and less humid...speaking of Less..he (Les) is making quite a mess in the school with all the ladders he has managed to locate. Les L., ladder locator loquacious!!!

We have about 5 more sites to visit with paint and some supplies. We're going to deliver a load of footer blocks tomorrow morning to a few sites in Red Lion.

I've met so many dear people in these three days of set-up. Add those to the visits we made this past winter and we've got quite a list of homeowners who will be affected powerfully by the upcoming week. Thoughts and prayers go out for Barry Firth and Enerlinda Rodriguez as they battle their respective conditions. We were so hoping Enerlinda would be able to experience the workcampers, but her heart and ankles keep her from being home. A friend will be at her house during the week of camp. She, and her campers, will miss out on the homeowner/camper relationship. She would have loved them so much, and they would have loved her right back.

Set-up Week...day 2

We've had a very good run on site visits yesterday and today. Other than a broken tire, a few incomplete paint orders, lumber at the wrong house, and directions a bit difficult to interpret we've been most successful. Lots of good help (Dennis, Jean, Sandy, Doris, Darlene, Diane, Chip, Skip, Austin, and of course Steve!!!) ladders are coming in thanks to LLLL and his helper Jim. More help tomorrow with Jane and Bill and Steve and Sue.