Thursday, May 20, 2010

Morning devotions asked the question: "Does God change his mind and can we change God's mind?" It was a good discussion, with appropriate scriptures, but it's something we won't find out for sure until we get to heaven.

After devotions Grant and Fred finished the water pump and post for the Wilderness Campers who will use the area next to the bridge for camping. We had our pictures taken for Kidder Creek and Mount Herman on the new bridge. After that Grant and Fred did weed wacking and yard work. Bob has been doing vehicle maintainance (e.g., oil change and filters) for the past two days. The women prepared for our final dinner together this evening.

We will be packing up this afternoon and leaving early in the morning. We leave with new friends, new technical skills, and a great sense of accomplishment. We have experienced the rewards of being willing servants of the Lord.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

This morning's devotions were on the role of a Missionary.

No pictures today. Since the bridge is complete, the men had a new project today. They were to locate a buried water line and put in a post and a hand pump. They dug the hole and located the waterline. Tomorrow they will install the post and the pump. The women went to Yreka to the Thrift and Antique stores, and had lunch together at Grandma's.

After dinner, the men were summoned to an emergency. A lady that lives here full time had gone looking for her dog. The couple's shephard had been missing for several days. They had been asking around to see if anyone had seen him. She found the dog with his chain still attached to him in Kidder Creek. The chain was wrapped around the brush at the edge of the stream. She climed more than 100 feet down a steep bank to free the dog. Once the dog was released, the dog drifted down stream. We don't know if the dog got out or not. He hadn't returned last night. But, the lady got herself stuck in the stream at the edge and could not get out. Her husband came for help because he could not get her out. One of the men climed down the bank below her and helped helped her up over the worst of the rocky area. Then the other men hoisted her the rest of the way up the 100 ft incline by rope. She was borderline shocky, but the men checked on her later and she was fine. Thank you God, and we pray the dog finds his way home.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Grant fished for his supper last night. He only caught one small trout and threw him back. So, we had hot dogs for supper instead. The men finished the bridge today. They did a great job. It will be there for a long time. Sandy and Carol mowed lawns on riding mowers again today. Sandy ran out of gas twice – and had to walk for more gas both times. You’d think she would learn. What will the guys do tomorrow? Guess we will have to wait and see. It’s supposed to rain.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Morning devotions were on Phil 4, and the cure for worry.

Work for the men continued today on the bridge. The handrail is complete on both sides, all except for some routing on the handrail for the stairs. The women cleaned the cabins and bathrooms that were used last week for a Junior High group that came in for the weekend.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Grant scrambled eggs on the grill outside the trailer.
We attended church. The sermon was on Ezra and the condition of Judah and Jerusalem when those that had been captive in Babylon for 70 years returned and found the remnant deep in sin, the city in ruins, and he tore his robes and prayed. The pastor’s point was that we can offer up prayers of forgiveness for others. The church is planning to go to different towns in Scott Valley and walk through the town and pray for its residents. They will be starting with Fort Jones after church next Sunday.
After church we had lunch with the other SOWERS and then had a free afternoon. I took pictures of the two other SOWERS couples on the project. At 6pm we had dessert at the home of a couple from the church we had been attending in Etna.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

We drove to Fort Jones where we attended a quilt show, an Artisan's Fair, and a Flee Market. In the afternoon and evening, we relaxed, read books, and played Scrabble.

Friday, May 14, 2010

So much for sleeping in. We woke up at 6:30AM without an alarm clock. We set out for the Scott Valley Drug with an 1800’s soda fountain in Etna. We walked through a number of the shops. It’s a very small town. Then we attempted to drive up Rail Creek road to Kangaroo lake, but about halfway up we ran into snow clear across the road. We had to back up a narrow winding road for about ¼ mile before we could turn around. That’s our trusty little dog friend King looking out the window while we were trying to figure out how we were going to get turned around. Next we drove to Gazelle Mountain. We came around a corner and saw Mount Shasta in all its glory. I also photographed a store from the 1800’s in Gazelle. We returned to Etna and took a photo of statues of horses and rider. It was a nice day.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Morning devotions were from I Cor 12 on each of us in the body of Christ having a different role to play and each role being important.
The men ran a little short of materials today and the plastic fuel pump on the generator broke and needed repair. Grant suggested JB Weld. It did the trick. They completed the vertical spindles for the hand rail on one side and laid down the deck – all but a board and a half.

The women cleaned bathrooms and cabins. We are having dinner together tonight – Chicken Enchiladas.

We are off for 3 days! I get to sleep in tomorrow. No 6:30AM alarm tomorrow… YEAH!!!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Morning devotions were on the importance of faith.


The men completed the steps for the bridge, installed the vertical supports for the handrails, and about 12 feet of planking. I learned today that the women are only supposed to work 3 hours a day. This morning we cleaned the floor in the Timberline mess hall. The last camp had a lot of snow and mud so the floor was covered in dried mud. We swept and mopped the floor. Then we cleaned the girls bathroom/shower.


Tonight we will be having dessert with Tim Lloyd, who has been our Kidder Creek Camp host.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Morning devotions were on Jesus healing the paralytic and stating that his sins were forgiven before healing him. At that time, the average person, even those that believed, thought they had no chance of going to heaven. They were aware that they were sinners, but thought, because of the Pharisees teaching, that there was no hope for them. They thought they couldn’t do enough to become righteous and be saved. Because of Christ’s work, we often take our sinful nature and need for confession and repentance too casually.


Today was a beautiful day, in the low 70’s. It was the first warm day we have had. The men worked on the base for the hand rail and the stringers for the steps. The women worked in the office on name tags, mailbox labels, and a picture wall for the summer staff. The picture wall consisted of wacky pictures of the staff, attached to colored paper puzzle pieces. It was lots of fun.


Monday, May 10, 2010

Morning devotions was on being servants. About 2/3rds of the time that servant is mentioned in the Bible, it is a reference to God. God doesn’t consider being a servant a demeaning term. In fact, Jesus said, “If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be a servant to all”.


It was raining this morning, so rather than working outside on the bridge, the men worked inside on shelving in the barn. There was a metal image of a cowboy embedded in the concrete in front of the barn that Grant liked. The women stayed in out of the cold and rain.


Sunday, May 9, 2010

We went to church. The focus was on the Lord's Prayer and on ways we quench the Holy Spirit. It was Mother's Day and the mothers got a 3" pansy plant which I plan to plant at home. After church we ate dinner with SOWERS couple, Fred and Marilyn. Then we went to the Siskiyou County Fair Grounds in Yreka for a Home and Garden Show. Among other things, they showed how to cross pollinate Irises. I bought two Iris plants to plant at home and practice what I learned. We also got some local honey and local bees wax candles.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

After breakfast, we left out of Etna headed towards Sawyer’s Bar along the Salmon River. The Marble Mountains were spectacular. I wanted to take a 360 degree panorama shot at the summit. The Salmon River was very rocky with waterfalls and rapids in abundance. We had lunch in the town of Forks of Salmon – a really tiny little hole in the wall place that is off the grid and runs it’s store (with ice cream) on generators. We ate outside at a picnic table. We continued to Cecilville along the Salmon River and then back to Callahan on Hwy 3. I think this whole area is more remote than where we are living in Jupiter, outside of Twain Harte. Everyone is off the grid using solar and/or generators, but the post office does deliver mail and the county does plow the roads, which are paved.


Friday, May 7, 2010

Today was a free day. Grant and I did our morning devotions in Jeremiah. The Jews sought God in their fear through Jeremiah, but then refused God’s advice and warnings. It reminded us of the United States today.


After breakfast, we drove to Yreka to Wal-Mart and to an RV store. Then we drove west along Hwy 96 along the Klamath River toward Scott River Road. We drove along Scott River through Scott Bar and on to Quartz Valley, then through Greenville and back to Kidder Creek Camp. Home in time for dinner and showers and laundry.


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Bob led morning devotions on when we get our new bodies at Christ’s return. We talked about Old Testament saints, and the dead in Christ as well as those living at Christ’s return.

It was in the 20’s last night - little cold. I had on 4 layers of shirts under my coat. The project for the day was to build and install two A frames, with cross braces, to support the span of logs across the bridge. Near the end of the day, Grant stepped off into the air, and came down on the log on his hip. No permanent damage, but he is sore. He also lost his drill into the creek. We gathered together for dinner in Fred and Marilyn’s trailer to share a meal of Chicken and Dumplings. We’re off now for three days, and planning to take a side trip for fun tomorrow – Friday.


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Grant led the devotions this morning in I Cor 13 on love. The Holy Spirit gives us the spontaneous love we show to others that often amazes us when we look back to see that we were more loving than we would have thought we could be because it came from the Holy Spirit.
Our first task this morning was to remove the forms from the concrete. Then we notched the first of the two 32 ft logs and hoisted it across the creek with the crane. Just before we broke for lunch we put the level on the log across the creek – it was perfect. The guys gave themselves a high five. After lunch, they notched and placed the second log. Sandy debarked rough sawn 2x6’s. We will be meeting at 7pm tonight for games.


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Morning devotions by the Kidder Creek camp host, Tim Lloyd, mostly from Luke 10 and 11 and James 2 on hearing and obeying and placing mercy before justice. First the forms were completed for the second concrete footing. Then they were hand carried down the stream and across another bridge by a paddle wheel. The second set of footings was put in place using a line level across the creek to get the forms square and parallel to either other. The concrete was poured at 1pm. The concrete for the second footing had to be loaded into a tractor bucket across the bridge further down the creek and hand shoveled into the footing. Leftover concrete was used to make stepping stones. The women did yard work today. Two women mowed lawns with lawn tractors. The third woman raked leaves and pine needles. Tomorrow then men get to use the crane to lift the 32 ft logs across the creek. That should be a sight.


Monday, May 3, 2010

Our morning devotions, at 7:30 am, were focused on how encouraging one another can make a big difference to the one being encouraged. Work started at 8am. First the men gathered tools and supplies. Grant cut the wild blackberries that were in the way of construction. A backhoe was used to dig the holes for the concrete footings (2 ft x 7 ft). A crane was used to prune the trees. The framing was completed and rebar placed for one of the two concrete footings. The other will be completed tomorrow morning. Concrete will be poured tomorrow at 1pm. The women debarked one of the 32 ft trees that will be used as the cross beams to span the creek.



Sunday, May 2, 2010

Today’s sermon was on Romans 12, focusing on our spiritual acts of worship. After church, we went to the Scott Valley Rodeo Parade in Etna, and then we went to the Rodeo. It was fun - very small town.Everyone knows everyone else. This is farm and ranch country, with mountains in the background, everywhere. We still haven’t seen the site where we will be building the bridge. Tomorrow…


Saturday, May 1, 2010

Grant fixed the hot water heater this morning. It was making hot water but not delivering it to the sink. Then we spent the morning setting up a privacy room on our trailer. The privacy room gives us a “living room” outside our trailer. It also cuts down the breeze which is helpful since it’s in the 50’s outside during the day. It’s a little cold for me. Yes, our little trailer is just 17ft long. It looks like an ant next to the neighboring rigs. Then we went to Yreka to do a little shopping. The snow capped mountains are absolutely beautiful in this area. Church is early tomorrow morning because there is a rodeo in Etna tomorrow. We will be attending church with the other two SOWERS couples and then going out to eat afterwards.