This week's visit goes two directions. The first is spring break in Iowa. The second is a work trip near a double spring in Missouri. The Missouri work trip then goes in two directions. The first is about the work accomplished. The second is about the relationships made.
BJ and Cassia's kids have been great help all month while BJ continues to be careful following back surgery. John has just finished power washing the cattle manure from the skid loader. Now someone needs to power wash John.
Cousins are helping Grandpa and Uncle Mike pick up sticks on an area of the field that Mike has just cleared.
Grandson Gideon is helping Kasey, Alex, and Karl put floater tires on one of the sprayers.
Floater tires are wider and don't pack the ground so much when spraying directly after planting.
Kids are often on computers these days. Some busy playing games. However these cousins are playing a different kind of game. They are watching an on-line farm auction and guessing what the farm equipment item will sell for before the auctioneer says sold.
We have been spreading fertilizer this past week in the mornings while the ground is somewhat frozen on top.
We are all looking forward to spring. It's the time of year for fresh starts. A farmer gets about 45-50 chances in his lifetime to plant a crop and trust the Lord for a harvest. Every year is unique. Spring is an optimistic season.
On Thursday morning Mike, Kurt, and I left early for Dora, Missouri southwest of Branson to a place called Majestic Outdoor Adventures. On this land is a spring (more like a river) coming up out of the ground at 100 million gallons of water a day. This spring flows two directions and exits into an existing river in two different places.
Our family was invited to go with Kurt and Emily and their church, Pella II CRC. Approximately 24 adults and 12 kids went to help clean up for 3 days bringing along equipment to help get the job completed.
On April 28 of last year this community experienced a flood. Torrential water came through their property for a couple of miles and destroyed cabins, trees, fences, and fields.
This is Shelby and Sharee with kids, Gunnison, Autumn, Josh, and Cade. They use this 1500 acre property to minister to folks using the outdoors and God's creation.
As folks arrived on Thursday we all went right to work. This is Calvin and his crew pulling dead logs out of the timber.
Corey hooked on to a trailer and hauled away debris that many hands loaded him with.
Brice and Matt would pull up to a tree pile and mulch wood with the chipper Brice pulled down.
John and a group cleaned up a cemetery that had been covered with flood waters.
Glenda, Sharesa, Allison, Emily, Taylor, Katie, Kala, Lisa, and the rest of the gals did a marvelous job of helping with the outdoor cleanup as well as preparing meals. Coffee was ready by 6 am and breakfast was at 7.
We would take a break mid morning for water and snacks. The kids all did a great job of helping and 10 month Nora would watch the action in her stroller. Shelby and Sharee and their family helped right along side of us. They even stayed home from school on Friday. Since the property is surrounded on three sides by Mark Twain National Forest I think Mark Twain's quote is appropriate, "Not to let school get in the way of education".
Along with the fact that we accomplished a ton of work, we became one big family. We ate together. We had devotions together. We shared life together. And folks that previously barely knew each other developed relationships and became close friends.
On Saturday afternoon many of the crew went canoeing down the river. A couple tried fishing. A few went hiking. And we coasted our work week to a finish.
Since we have an 8 hour ride home on Sunday we had our church service on Saturday evening. We sang with Calvin accompanying us on his guitar. Shelby gave the message on working,giving, receiving, and loving. Everyone including the kids shared what they most appreciated about the work trip.
As we loaded up for home after a successful 3 days I realized we had received more than we had given. We have new friends in Shelby and Sharee's family. We experienced gorgeous country. We became closer as a group. We have a joy in our hearts from helping others. Folks that's what church is all about.
No matter which direction spring takes you in the coming weeks remember we are Christ's hands, created to work (one direction) and to have relationships with God and others ( second direction). I mentioned Rosie last week. She is elderly and in assisted living in a wheel chair. Having lost her husband and children she gets few visits. When Jan and I go to see her on Sundays after church she always has the same three requests. Pictures, hands, and The Lords Prayer. She asks me to show her pictures on my phone as to what we have been up to (work). She asks Jan and I to hold her hand(relationship with others) She asks that we pray the Lord's Prayer together (relationship with God). Have a good week.
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