We've had a good week as I think back to review our activities. Last Tuesday afternoon we were in the need of some more milk, so we decided to go across the road and visit our neighbors who own the dairy farm. We've decided to give fresh farm milk a try, since it's more conveinent, cheaper, and also has good, natural enzymes in it. We all arrived just as the Heylers were about to begin their afternoon milking. They have about 50 cows that they milk, and we got to observe the process as they went through their routine. It was very fun and educational, especially for the kids who have never seen where their milk comes from, . . . in addition to other natural cow functions! Needless to say, after about 45 minutes visiting in the cow barn, we all smelled like the cow barn as well. We did get our milk and also picked up some maple syrup that we had on order. It was a fun time at the dairy farm!
Wednesday morning comes early as I go to a young men's Bible study and breakfast at 5:30 at the home of one of the other staff members. Later that morning after our weekly staff meeting, I helped Nate fill up the coal bin in the basement of the mansion here at Three Springs. Thankfully, we had a conveyer belt to help shuttle in the dump truck load of coal that should last well into next winter. Coal is a very effiecient, and cheaper way to heat in these cold parts of the country, but it is also very dirty to have to work with. Afterwards I cleaned out the coach bus from our trip the previous weekend. This is just some of the everyday maintenance and upkeep that goes into running a camp ministry.
On Wednesday and Thursday I was involved doing other maintenace duties in the camp shop as I helped Nate refit our two new mobile chicken houses with some more heavy-duty axles and tires than we oringinally had on them.
I'm not naturally mechanical, nor did I grow up learning mechanical things (as most of you know my father), but I do enjoy this kind of work and am learning a lot as I am involved with many different aspects of hands-on, behind-the-scenes work that takes place in our ministry.
Our 8 interns as well as Jeff Rush, our executive director, and Phil Dunbar, our intern director, drove out to Arizona on Thursday. They are spending about a week out on the Navajo reservation working with some people who minister to the Navajo people there. Part of our intern program here involves exposing the students to different ministry opportunities in various cultural settings. They get to go to Indonesia for three weeks for a cross-cultural experience, and also make trips to Philadelphia to experience an inner-city environment, as well as a trip out west to Arizona. Pray for our interns as their year with us will be concluding in about three weeks. Many of them are still praying about where and how God will use them after they leave. A couple are staying on throughout the summer to help in various ways. Our next group of interns will come at the end of the summer, and we are looking to expand the program to 12 students. If you know of any high school graduate who may be interested in the True North program, please direct them to the Three Springs Ministries website http://www.threespringsministries.org/
Since our interns have been gone, we all have pitched in to cover some of the chores and responsibilities that they normally have. I helped feed the horses one day and cleaned up around the barn area. Others help tend coal furnaces or wood stoves, or help with kitchen duties. We all wear many different hats as we serve here.
Our group this past weekend was a couples group from a Mennonite church in Elizabethtown, Pa , near Harrisburg. Their were only 10 couples here from Thursday afternoon untill Sunday afternoon. It seemed a lot easier, compared to the group of 50 ladies that were here last weekend. This couples' retreat was simply a relaxing get-away, with no scheduled activities other than mealtimes.
Kathryn did a good bit of the hosting this weekend during mealtimes, while I watched the kids.
It's nice to be able to take turns, and share our ministry responsibilities.
We did all get out for church Sunday morning, but had to leave a little early to get back to prepare lunch. The group seemed to have a really good time and headed home right after their lunch on Sunday.
Sunday afternoon, we got a call from one of the Heyler bothers from the farm across the road, inviting our family over for cake and ice cream to help celebrate their daughter's birthday. (She was turning 24.) We were glad for the occasion to come over and spend some time with their family. This is something that we have prayed about - to be involved with our neighbors and the community here where we live.
That evening, Audrey was participating in a church Sunday school program at Oregan HIll Grace Chapel. Her class was singing with the older children in a musical called "Everyday Heroes", depicting different Bible character's lives. She really enjoys singing and performing!
Kathryn went into Williamsport yesterday on our day off, to do all the grocery shopping as well as a few other errands. The kids and I enjoyed playing outside in the warm weather and just being out of the house.
Thanks for your continued prayers for us and the work going on here. If any one would like to come up and visit or vacation, we would love to see you and set you up here at Linck Hill Inn. It's a beautiful place that would make a great getaway trip. Think about it!
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