On A Wheel And A Prayer

January 2008 Life for Youth

After months of planning, preparation and anticipation, on December 26, 2007 at about 2:00PM, we left

Eden Prairie

. 

The weather was not what you would consider balmy that day.

We drove south on 35W to just north of the

Missouri

border with the temperature  that night at 16 degrees.

We continued pretty much straight south and two days later the ice began to fly off the motor home.  We stopped for two night just southwest of

Pensacola

and stayed in a state park called St Joe’s.  St Joe’s is a peninsula in the Gulf.  The temperature went down to 27°F at night and got to a high of about 40°.  That was warm enough for us to put on the heaviest coats we had, along with ear bands, and stocking caps (still MN garb) and walk the beach.  Wind was blowing with gusts up to 35MPH.  We pretty much had the entire beach to ourselves.  Go figure.  I was colder than I have been in years.  We did meet one couple from

Canada

on the lea side of the peninsula.

January 4 at about 2:00PM we arrived at Life for Youth Camp in

Vero Beach

.  

The camp is 80+ acres of camp and kids activities.  In the high season of the summer, they have up to 700 kids a day that are at the camp.  Many of the kids attending would never hear the Gospel anywhere else but they hear the message of Christ at the camp in some way everyday.

There are thirteen (13) other couples here with us for the month, living in pull-behinds, motor homes and fifth wheels.  Christian friends from NY, GA, IA, MI, FL, all over the

US

.  Great and wonderful people. 

  Jenny has been doing landscaping in the prayer garden for several days. Loving being able to be working with nature. It is a beautiful place and even more so as the ladies work at it. 

      

I have been preparing floors for and installing ceramic tile in the chapel and several cabins.  We will be starting on our second pallet of tiles soon.  LOTS!

Jim and Ken as they toil with the tile.

Ken as he stands patiently waiting as I finish a cut so he can have the power cord to mix another batch of mud.

My duties today have been installing/reinstalling water heaters in cabins.  Always a new thing to learn.  Will probably be back on the tiling crew soon.

Thank you all for all of your prayers and support to enable us to do what we do here.

We will try to keep you updated a bit better as we get into a more manageable routine.

Love and God's blessings on you and yours,

Don and Jenny

I

December Departure Approaches

Lots of things have happened since the September update to this Blog.

Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer in October and underwent a bilateral mastectomy on November 5^th.  In early December, we received the best news ever when the surgeon (Dr. Todd Tuttle at UofM) gave us the results of Jenny’s case review telling us no addition treatment (i.e. chemo and/or radiation) would be needed.  Super big praise and thanksgiving to our Lord.

We cancelled our December engagement for SOWERS but are planning on departing from

Eden Prairie

the day after Christmas.  January-March will remain as earlier planned.  Here is where we are headed:

January 2008    Life for Youth Camp/Non-Denominational   

Vero Beach

, FL  Work projects will include Men: Building a staff house, tile and carpet work, painting, Mechanics and maintenance.   Ladies:  Sewing, painting, cleaning, landscaping. Their Web Site is www.lifeforyouthcamp.com.

February 2008   H.E.A.R.T. Missionary Training Institute/Evang. Lake Whales FL  Work projects will include Men:  Repairs and maintenance of

HEART

Village

, mechanic repairs,  Ladies: Painting, cleaning, library work,  sign making.  Their Web Site is www.warner.edu/heart.

March 2007  Island Community  Church / Christian School/Fundamental

Islamorada

,

FL.

  Work projects will include Men: Painting, construction, plumbing, general maintenance, yard maintenance,  Ladies: Light cleaning, office, painting, sewing, Substitute in School.  Their Web Site is www.islandcommunitychurch.org.

We have established a non-profit so as to raise funds to help us with this endeavor.  You can make a tax deductible contribution via Credit Card by going on line to https://cdprograms.newc.com/Templates/DonateNow.aspx?ProgID=5007434 or by making out a check payable to “On a Wheel and a Prayer” and sending it to our home address of 9696 Crestwood Terrace Eden Prairie, MN 55347.

Our request for prayers for safe travel, safety on the work sites, good health and mostly that all we do bring glory and honor to the Lord.

Thanks in advance for all prayers, your encouragement, and support.

God bless you and yours,

Don and Jenny

December 2007-March 2008 SOWERS Assigments

Jenny and I are excited and enthused to be able to work 4 months this winter. We have been accepted to SOWERS projects in southern

Florida

for December 2007-March 2008. The projects are as follows:

December 2007  Community Baptist Church/School in Stuart, FL. Work projects will include Men: Concrete work, playground up grade, painting, ball field preparation, remodel sanctuary, general maintenance, Ladies: Office, cleaning, painting.    Their Web Site is www.cbcstuart.com.

January 2008    Life for Youth Camp/Non Denominational  Vero Beach, FL  Work projects will include Men: Building a staff house, tile and carpet work, painting, Mechanics and maintenance.   Ladies:  Sewing, painting, cleaning, landscaping. Their Web Site is www.lifeforyouthcamp.com.

February 2008   H.E.A.R.T. Missionary Training Institute/Evang. Lake Whales FL  Work projects will include Men:  Repairs and maintenance of

HEART

Village

, mechanic repairs,  Ladies: Painting, cleaning, library work,  sign making.  Their Web Site is www.warner.edu/heart.

March 2007  Island Community  Church / Christian School/Fundamental   

Islamorada

,

FL

  Work projects will include Men: Painting, construction, plumbing, general maintenance, yard maintenance,  Ladies: Light cleaning, office, painting, sewing, Substitute in School.  Their Web Site is www.islandcommunitychurch.org .

You can contribute financially via Credit Card by going on line to https://cdprograms.newc.com/Templates/DonateNow.aspx?ProgID=5007434 

or by making out a check payable to “On a Wheel and a Prayer” and sending it to our home address of 9696 Crestwood Terrace Eden Prairie, MN 55347.

Thanks in advance for all prayers, your encouragement, and support.

God bless you and yours,

Don and Jenny

NEWS 04/10/07

Exciting News - - -

FIRST is that we have been accepted to work at a project in Stuart Florida for the month of December 2007, Community Baptist Church/School/Fund.  WORK descriptions - - Men: Concrete work, playground up grade, painting, ball field preparation, remodel sanctuary, general maintenance. - - Ladies: Office, cleaning, painting. Project’s WEB site is www.cbcstuart.com  Fellow SOWERS that have worked this project before say “It is a great project to work”.

SECOND, "On a Wheel and a Prayer" is now an official non-profit (501C3) organization. You are now able to contribute to our mission efforts by going to our on-line donation page: https://cdprograms.newc.com/Templates/DonateNow.aspx?ProgID=5007434. 

Any support, financially, in prayer or encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Keep tuned for more Blog (www.OnaWheelandaPrayer.com) entries.

God bless,

Don and Jenny