Heifer Ranch Perryville, Arkansas

This place is amazing!!!  Heifer International does so much.  It is fun to be here and learn about all they do.  Our work....not so much fun....No, it's not really so bad.   Our five member NOMADS team is tearing down a chicken house. It is 32 ft x 300 ft.  whew, let me tell you, that's a lot of rusty nails!

This chicken house is from the 1980's when this ranch was a distribution center for the animals. Now animals are gotten from places closer to where they will be given....saves some on the shipping costs.  The chickens that are here are free range now. 

This ranch was where Heifer International started.  It is now an educational center.  It houses 15 different kinds of animals- including water buffalo, camels, llamas.  It is a certified organic farm.  Studies are done to see how best to raise the crops and animals in order to teach the recipients.  

We are provided with lunch (wahoo) that is grown on the ranch.  There is also a global village where visitors are able to stay in houses or huts similar to those in various parts of the world.  They are given meager provisions and have to barter or trade with the others to prepare meals and get what they need to 'live,'  They also care for animals.  Neat.

Done at Clarence, MO

     We finished working at Camp Jo-Ota on Thursday October 22.  It had rained a lot that week, over 2 inches in one day.  ugh.   We completed the wall, mudded, sanded and painted one side.  The benches, made of rough log planks, were installed in the area we had cleared.  The carpets in a couple of cabins were shampooed (bunks moved and cleaned under).   The valves in several toilets were installed.  We left feeling we didn't quite finish anything, but a lot had gotten done.  There will be work to do for a long time.

     I will attempt to add a picture or two.  I just figured out how to do that.  ....

I think I did it....should've done this long time ago.  I'm so good at this computer stuff (not).

     We left on Friday.  The others were headed to their homes.  I came to my brother's in Kansas.  It's been fun visiting him and all his family.   I also attempted to clean  the Jambo's roof.  Look out below!!  The only thing that broke was my scrub brush when I threw it down from up above.

      Friday Oct. 30 I will leave here and head to Perryville, Arkansas to do a three project at Heifer Project.  I am excited about that.

Rain, Rain, Rain

     We have been in Clarence, MO for 14 days now and have had 12 days of rain.  The driveways around camp are muddy and our RVs are slowly sinking in their parking spaces.  We walk around backs of cabins to get to our places for work.  yuck.  Well, at least it's not the snow that there's been in PA.  It's been cold here, but hopefully it'll warm up some this weekend.  The acorns dropping onto the roofs of the RVs sound like gunshots while one sits inside.  Its nerve-wracking when the wind blows.

    So far we have built a new wall that enlarges the sanctuary, dry-walled, mudded, and sanded it. We also tore out a piece of the floor in a cabin and replaced it, vacuumed and shampooed the carpet. 

     Last weekend we went to Hannibal, MO (about 45 miles from here).  We toured the birthplace of Mark Twain and The Mark Twain museum, which houses several original Norman Rockwell paintings.  We then went on a riverboat on the Mississippi for a dinner cruise.  My brother joined us for the day's events.  It was a good, but chilly, day.

     One more week here.  Then we'll see if we can get out of the mud pits.  This Sunday at church is Round-up Sunday.  Everybody is to dress in cowboy attire.  YEEEHAA

Clarence, Missouri

      There was a week between the NOMADS Annual Meeting and the next project.  During that time I had a wonderful visit with a high school friend and then with a former deaf student.  It was fun to get to see them and gab on and on.  

     I arrived here at Camp Jo-Ota on Saturday.  This is a UM church camp.  Our team  has only 4 members.  One couple had to cancel.  We are helping to fix up the camp buildings and grounds.  It had been neglected and almost closed.  The new director has built up the camp's usage and it now has a full summer schedule and is regularly used on weekends by various groups in the off-season.  The grounds are beautiful, but the buildings are old and in need of a lot of TLC.  This will continue to be a NOMADS project for a long time.

     Today we tore down a wall to make the sanctuary larger.  In the afternoon we worked outside while the weather was nice.  We cleared an area to create an outdoor sanctuary near a small lake.I used the chain saw.  rrrrrrrrrrr

     

     

NOMADS Annual Meeting Columbus, IN

     This was a wonderful week of getting together with other NOMADS.  There were 360 in attendance.  It was similar to other conferences I've attended, in that it there were business meetings and seminars to attend.  The difference was that every day opened with Bible study and hymn singing.  And the seminars involved what tools to carry on the RV for projects, drywalling techniques, electricity and plumbing 101.  There was some excellent information.  Most of the fun was in meeting previous acquaintances and making new friends.  I met people I will be working with on future projects.  There was excellent food and entertainment, but, alas, not any shopping.

     Correction,  I did have to go shopping for a new gas cap.  I seem to have left mine at a gas station about 40 miles away. When I called it was nowhere in sight.  I got somebody to take me to an Auto Zone and an Advanced Auto Parts and neither had one that I could use and suggested  I go to an RV dealer (none are in the area).    We then went to Wal-Mart to get groceries for the potluck dinner and there was a cap that looked like would fit.  Yep, did the trick.  whew.

     It's been hot, muggy, and rainy all week.  Now, it's just rainy.  Everything has to be packed up wet.  Tomorrow I will be going to a nearby town to visit a high school friend.  I will stay with her a couple of days.  The Jambo will be parked in a UMC parking lot.  For the privilege of doing so, I will be talking to that congregation about NOMADS.  I'm glad for the opportunity to do so, because most people don't know about this group.

     After that I will be driving to Missouri to have a brief visit with a former deaf student.  From there I will head to Clarence, MO for a three week project.

     Happy trails.

On the Road

     Travel time again.  It was great to visit back in the DC area (Duke Center).  I had fun seeing friends and having numerous dining engagements.  I'm sorry I didn't get to see everyone.  Seems pretty difficult to do, though, I did get a lot of shopping done...again.

     I had a good time, too, at the Northeast Jurisdiction Reunion of the NOMADS.  The Ives Run, campground in Tioga, PA is beautiful and a good place for such a gathering.  

     I am now headed to Columbus, IN for the national gathering of the NOMADS.  There is a week of activities, tours,  and seminars planned.  Several hundred NOMADS are registered to attend.  Should be a good time.  I know there will be lots of food and vendors, for, yes...shopping. 

Pennsylvania

I'm back in the old area. I did spend the night in Walmart parking lot. It wasn't too bad. The next morning when I went to get gas, I found that the gas leaked out right near the point of entry. It only leaked as I filled the tank. So I was able to continue to travel.
I stayed a couple days in Ohio, visiting that old area. Now, back in PA, the Jambo is getting fixed and inspected. Seems there were some holes chewed in the hoses near where the gas goes in. I can't get away from critters. I have no idea when or how this would've happened.
Next week, while others in this area are enjoying the making of a movie starring Denzel Washinton, I am camping. The Northeast Jusisdiction of the NOMADS are having their annual get-together in Tioga, PA. I am looking forward to that.
Hope all have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.