Day 5 – Wow It Is Hot Here

First – I have to answer some questions:

How come I see everyone in the water but the adults? Someone needs to take care of that!!!
 ---- Jeb and Mindy have swam with the kids and hang out down by the lake a lot – but Mindy usually takes the photos and doesn’t take the camera in the water.

Tom wants to know if someone saved Darby's toe for re-attachment when she gets home

--- Yes – it is in a Ziploc.  We will try to remember to bring it back to NM.

Today we finished up several projects.  We finished pulling the weeds and grass out of the playground area and volleyball and horseshoe area.  We also finished painting some gates out in one of the pastures and finished cleaning the bathrooms out by the horse barn.  We also got the large fence and gates panted (that we scraped yesterday) over by the horse barn.  After lunch we started a few new projects which we will hopefully finish up tomorrow.

Ava, Mindy, and Katy took several (6) loads of laundry (mission trip shirts, smelly clothes from the lake, etc) to the laundromat.  We hadn’t planned to do any thing but the mission trip shirts, but the smell of the lake clothes was getting to us.  Sadly (it was SO sad!) the laundry mat (closest one was 30 min away) had NO air conditioning and we were REALLY hot.  We actually had to walk outside to cool off (really!).  I would have preferred working back the ranch I think.  Ava said it was 150 degrees in there…and I agree. But…we have clean mission trip shirts and clean clothes…that will probably end up being swam in again! (by the way…there are no pictures of the work done after lunch because Jeb forgets to take photos!!)

In between the end of work and before dinner a rope swing was created.  Some people were really good at swinging on and others (darby) didn’t do so well.  But I think we can save her toe and she will live to work tomorrow.  The swing has been taken down.

For dinner we headed back to the ranch for a meal with the other volunteer group that is here and several of the boys that live at the ranch.  It was lots of fun and the food was great.  After dinner both groups and the boys played kickball and some other games for about 2 hours.  It was nice getting to meet some of the boys from the ranch and the other group.  We are now getting ready have our devotional time and start winding down.  There are lots of complaints first thing in the a.m. and promises that they want to go to bed EARLY…but they never do!!!

Day Three – Sunday (day of rest?)

We started off the day by worshipping at Gore UMC.  After worship, we loaded up and headed to Muskogee, OK (about 45 mins away) to eat lunch and hit the Wal-Mart SuperCenter.  We had lots of grocery shopping to do for the week.  (Still have to go back…but we made a good dent!).  After our shopping trip (and getting the tire fixed---remember the screw--) we loaded back up and headed back to the ranch.  On the way back we stopped at Webber Falls Powerhouse and TenKiller Dam and also took a little walk along a really pretty trout stream.  Evan even found a vine for us (only us brave ones…Evan, Mindy, Kendall, Katie, Patrick, Emilie, Jennifer, and Lindsey) to swing on . We also stopped to looked at dead armadillo (see pic) and dead deer…although it looked like a dead kangaroo!  (Just ask Sari)

Back at the ranch (well actually the lodge we are staying at is down the road from ranch) we just relaxed and hung out. Some people fished…and waded in the lake.  Others played games or just hung out.  We had a wonderful dinner (thank you Ava!) and then played some more.  We also were led in an inspirational devotional by Rev. Archey about Peter walking on water and learning to trust Jesus.

Now – we are just killing bugs, scratching bites, and having fun.

Tomorrow – we work!

Thoughts from the day:

“I like the lake” – Kendall

“do you really think people read this?” - Kendall

“Ha Ha Ha Ha….I am a fan of the rocking chairs” – Patrick

“Ewe – Spiders!” – Emilie

“Warning: Organized Waves Alert!”  “Pretty much I’m hilarious”– Evan

“If I were you – I would be conceded…” – Jennifer

“As Jesus always says…” – Sari

“That’ll do Evan!” - Everyone

“Shut the door Ava!” – Everyone

“Is that really a Kangaroo!?!” – Sari

“So where is the dam?” – Sari (as we sat on top of the dam)

“Oh my gosh I totally don’t care” – Mindy

“Verb conjugation” – Darby

“The red fish net is stuck in my braces”- Lindsey

"You will notice a picture of me...that is my 'Katie being good sport' picure" - Katie N.

Day Two – Gore!

Saturday we started the day with rain…lots of rain.  However, once we left Amarillo (after a much needed Starbucks run!) we drove out of the rain pretty quick.  We were just a few miles out of Amarillo when one of vans had a tire issue.  Turns out we picked up a screw – and had to change a tire.  Jeb and Evan did most of the dirty work and got us back on the road in no time…well not no time – but eventually!

While on the road yesterday we passed the “world’s largest cross”, the National Route 66 Museum, and lots of wind generators. 

We stopped by the OKC Airport to pick up Keith…our final passenger and then made the final push into Gore.  But before we hit Gore, we stopped in Henryetta for dinner.  And we even surprised Jeb with a birthday cake and cards for his big 3-0! Thank you, Becky the yummy chocolate cake.  After dinner we made a quick run into Wal-Mart to grab stuff for breakfast and a few forgotten items.

Then – it was onto Gore (just about 45 more minutes!)…just as the sun began to set.  We met the volunteer coordinator, Larry, and were shown the lodge where we will are staying.  It overlooks a lake!! The accommodations are pretty basic...but the view is amazing. 

Tomorrow we will go to church at Gore UMC and then do a few more errands in Muskogee, OK (bigger town 30 miles away) in preparation to start work on Monday.

So far, so good.  It is very hot and sticky here…and we are learning to love the bugs ;) (we are really trying to embrace the sticky-ness and bugs!)