Our last work day! Despite the full day of rain, we completed all of the assigned projects at the camp site. The before and after pictures are of the playground area and one of the six sleeping cabins. Missionary Action Projects (”MAPS”) graciously treated the team to pizza in nearby Palmer, AK. Afterward, we participated in a belated birthday celebration for Milt with cake and ice cream. The ice cream was provided by our new friend, Mr. Clean, aka, Dave. Mr. Clean is a semi-permanent resident of the camp and is seen riding the lawn tractor. We’ll be packing up tonight for our departure Friday afternoon after some Alaska sight seeing. We fully enjoyed our week @ Camp Challenge, but most importantly the grace of God was upon us as we experienced an Alaskan Mountaintop high!

Thought of the day: “I tell you what!”

This is the 3rd day of priming & painting the cabins made up entirely of lady FCF’ers led by Brett and Scott. I believe they have been out working the men The rest of the group finished the retaining wall and playground. The Velocity girls, Brooke, Jessica, Paige and Sabrina captured the camp lawn tractor and hauled large rocks to secure the back fill for the retaining wall. Way to go girls! The playground team moved to assembling an obstacle course for the middle school campers. Dave tried out the rope swing with questionable success! Dea’s parents and friends of Crosspoint Church in Kilgore, TX have been doing an outstanding job cooking for us and the entire camp all week… the meals have been fabulous! Tonight the kitchen staff was treated to freshly grilled trout from Mark’s early morning and late evening fishing excursions on the lake! Mark also prepared the fish on the camp grill. Janet left camp today to reunite with her family in Texas for Jeff’s graduation from Air Force boot-camp. Milt is feeling much better today and our prayers were answered.

Team thoughts for the day: Kilz primer does not come off anything! Do you have any clothes left without paint on them? Look! there’s the golden eagle soaring over the lake.

The day started out in the rain but the work continued. By the conclusion of the day, painting was finished on the cabins and the playground was well underway. But just as important as the work that’s being done is the effect this time together is having on the lives of the team members. Throughout the day a number of team members including our youngest ones, have commented how good it’s been getting to know people in their church family who they either did not know at all before joining the team or who they had met but didn’t know very well. Together, this team is connecting, communication, contributing, cultivating and caring - FCF’s 5Cs. Our day ended with prayers for Milt who is not feeling well, a birthday surprise for Chris and a time of worship lead by Joe.

Team Thoughts for the Day: Serving God together brings joy! Happy Birthday to Milt, Chris and Pastor Randy!

Today was the team’s first work day! While some team members began construction of the playground, others scraped and applied primer to the outside of four cabins. The team was joined by a group of Jr. High students who will be at the camp throughout the rest of the week. The day ended with group devotions and some time by the campfire.

Team Thoughts for the Day: This time change thing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be! Why are Darren’s boxers hanging like a flag from the port-a-john? I’m so glad I’m here!

Today, most of the team was up by 6 am. Time change is an amazing thing! The air was brisk - we could see our breath. We attended the camp worship service, lead by Pastor Rod Stafford of Fairfax Community Church in VA. Rod mused at the irony of coming so far to see people who lived only 60 miles from him. Already, we are beginning to see how God has built together this team for this unique mission. Joe & Ruth will be camp counselors for the middle school camp starting on Monday. Several team members found their niche in the kitchen and cleaning in the dining hall. Paige, Jessica, Katrina and Sabrina worked with the children during the church service. Brad, the Camp Director, shared the history of the camp and how many of the local church leaders came to the camp as children, were baptized here and have gone on to lead as their children are now attending the camp. He said “God does special work here. This place changes people”. Our team feels privileged to be here.

Team Thoughts for the Day: Wow, what scenery. Walmart, please! Moose meat makes good stew. Why does it get brighter and warmer at night?

Our day started out at 8 am in the FCF parking lot and ended at Camp Challenge in Wasilla, AK. Along the way there was a flat tire (in the pouring rain), turbulence, lost luggage but also lots of laughter and fun. On the planes descent we could see the snow covered mountain peaks through the clouds. We arrived at our destination at 1:30 am (EST) and settled in for the night about 3 am. A long day but a very worthwhile one. Look for the team’s new book Seven Hundred Things to do on a Seven Hour Flight, in stores soon.

Team Thougths for the Day: Are we there yet? Would you like a turkey sandwich? FINALLY, Alaska! Moose!!! Wow, it’s bright here at 3 am!

By the end of our work day on Thursday, lights and ceiling fans had all been installed, tile was going up on the bathroom walls, the cement sidewalk was poured around the back and side of the building and the front of the building was ready for the sidewalk to be poured.

On Thursday evening, FCF KidStuf Director Kelly Suggs began a three phase workshop with the children’s ministry leaders from seven churches. The workshop will challenge each church’s leader to go on an adventure with God of developing a KidStuf ministry at their home churches.

At the same time, the rest of the group attended a special service at the work site where Pastor Ignacio reminded us that the focus of this church was on reaching the children and teens of the community. He thanked the people of Missionary Action Project for 27 years of service to God in the Dominican Republic and FCF for their support which has “helped them do things that were not possible for them on their own.”

Throughout the work week, we have seen how God has, once again, brought together the team that was necessary for the work that needed to be done. And while the work on the building was important, equally as important was the work with the neighborhood children as the team reminded them that this church is a place where they are valued and loved by God. Throughout the day, team members took time to play games, make crafts, sing songs and spend time with the children.

Today, some of the team poured footers and laid block for a small wall that will go in the front and on the sides of the building while others worked on installing pipe that will get the bathrooms working. At this stage, the cement is being mixed by hand - hard work! The whole team is working together well and is enjoying our time with each other and with the children in the neighborhood. At the end of the day, there was a downpour and some of the students on the team joined with a lot of the people in the neighborhood playing in the rain. After some down at the hotel to clean up and rest, the team was off to Ignacio’s house for dinner. Ignacio told us that attendance on Sunday mornings has recently grown by more than 100 people. There are now over 300 in this church that is only 3 years old. They will be offering two services beginning on July 4. Please pray for him, his family and the leaders of their church as they take this bold step that will allow them to continue reaching out to the surrounding communities.

We had an early morning start - breakfast at 7 and pick up at 8am. We missed Pastor Billy’s rendition of “Gracias Christo”, fortunately we got a chance at lunch. One van is out of commission so we had to ferry folks to the site (if you can call 17 people in a 10 person van ferrying !!!, probably more like “cattling”). Looking forward to the ride home when we are less “hygenic”. Had a nice start to the day with a morning devotional led by Sarah. Good encouragement for the younger folks to remind them that they are never too young to hear God be His instrument in this world. Actually, not bad advice for all ages. Building looks fantastic. First floor inside almost completely done. Our mission will be the outside walkway, getting the bathrooms ready, and whatever else comes up. Today was a two team effort.
One team concentrated on digging out the waste pipe trench that will extend from the bathrooms out to connect to the street sewer service.

Mission accomplished (after breaking through the foundation of the pillars). Remind us to talk to the April mission team about having to move all the dirt they piled up in the “carport” area. Anyway, trench to the street is done, just need to have the city connect us up and we’re in business (pardon the pun). Team 2 concentrated on clearing the the walkway around the church in preparation for the cement tomorrow. Apparently the neighbors are having some second thoughts about where the dirt is going - need to get the cement in quick before they change their mind again. Long day but we are ready for the cement tomorrow.