Sisters, OR

   I had a very good visit with my sisters, then headed to Sisters.  Here I worked one week at Suttle Lake UMC Camp.  Here I cleaned, hauled brush, cut limbs into wood cookies (used for name tags), and put together two end tables.
    The camp is on National Forest land and is beside the small Suttle Lake.  There is a 3 1/2 mile walking trail around the lake maintained by the Forest service.  I was able to do that and enjoy the mountain views.

     On the way to Sisters, I visited Crater Lake National Park.  It was foggy the day I was there, so I wasn't able to see the vivid blue water.  It was still a beautiful sight as the fog blew away and the landscape was more visible.
     I stayed at Collier State Park for two nights, which is near Crater Lake.  It has a beautiful campground and a very large logging museum.  I spent a couple hours there (between bouts or rain) looking at all the machinery and buildings.

California

The second week at Gleanings was another great week of work and making new friends.  Unfortunately, during that time my new bike was stolen by someone who crawled over the fence.  I feel perhaps, that I have started some sort of bike ministry, because I had gotten that bike because my other one had been stolen in Mesa.  When I left Gleanings, I stopped at Camping World to get another.

I then went north and visited with family.  It was good to be together with sisters on Mother's Day.

Next, I will be traveling north to Sisters, Oregon.  There I will be doing clean-up at a church camp on Suttle Lake.

Gleanings

     I am on the road again!  I left Mesa, AZ on April 23.  I returned to Gleanings for the Hungry near Fresno, CA.  I was here 4 years ago.  It was good to be back.  This is an awesome place.  They completed their RV park, so now there are beautiful accommodations.  Last time I was here was in February.  Now, there are not as many people.  The soup season is just about done.
     Again, I worked the soup line.  They make dried soup mix that is put in plastic bags and delivered to  places all over the world.  Two containers went out this past week, one to Kenya, and another to Israel. We worked one day bagging soup for Mexico.  I worked various parts of the line; scooping, sealing bags, adding spice.  When the bags ran out, we opened packages of dried mashed potatoes and dumped them into barrels.  There were two groups here; one from a baptist church, and another from a non-denominational church.  Both were from CA.
     Each person seems to have a special story.  One lady was blind.  She worked the soup line right along with us.  She has created a ministry and goes all over the world handing out canes to the blind in third world countries.  She also teaches how to use the canes and how to be more mobile.  She then hands out talking Bibles that are solar powered and speaks in that person's language.
     Being a small part of this global ministry has been very uplifting.
     I will be here one more week.  Then it's on to visiting family.
   

Mesa, AZ My Happy Spot

   After Globe I returned to Towerpoint RV Resort.  I've spent the winter here the last few years.  Love what the resort and area have to offer.  This was the earliest I've arrived. Hardly any people were here at that time.  I had the chance to experience some HOT days and the rains from the Pacific hurricanes.  I walked down my little resort street in calf-deep water.  The flooding only lasts a few hours around here.
   I helped paint the laundry room and grout the new bar since there weren't many here to do the work. Now that the snowbirds are returning, I am back to doing lapidary crafts and exercise classes.  I am not working here this year, as I have for the last two years.  Instead, I am trying to volunteer at the school for the deaf, which is not far away.  I've had to do the fingerprint background check.  It's been approved, but I am still awaiting the AZ card that I need.  Then I go for an interview at the school.  It's been almost 6 weeks waiting for that card.
     So far I have visited a copper mine, visited Taliesen West, (Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home), Old Scotsdale, and last weekend went to Tucson for the day.  I visited the DeGrazia studio/gallery.  He's a southwestern artist.  I really like him.  The studio and grounds which he did all himself are amazing.
Then to Old Tucson Studios.  Hundreds of western movies and TV shows were done here.  Now it's a tourist trap.  It was fun to walk around there and see the shows.

Arizona Reservation Ministries- Globe, AZ

     It took 4 days/3 nights for me to get to Globe.  It was perfect traveling weather.  While at ARM I cleaned the office, vans, and toys on the bus.  I also went out on the bus each day.  This is what I had done before when I was here.  I spent a lot of time here a few years ago, but this year it's just ten days.

The bus goes out each day to a different neighborhood on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. The team (now including Apache women) teach a Bible lesson, have a craft, offer a snack, and have some games.  This is all after school for an hour and is basically controlled chaos.  

     On Saturday I had the priviledge to attend a baptism that ARM did for those interested.  It was in the  river.  Awesome.  Then they provided everyone with sloppy joes.  Doesn't get any better than that!

     One day on the way to a neighborhood a large Diamondback rattler crossed the road in front of us.  Glad I was in a vehicle.

     Another day, I experienced my first monsoon.  The wind blew fiercely from every direction, it seemed.  The rain poured and hail pounded- fun in an RV.  Then it was gone.  It lasted about 20 minutes, but it closed roads for a short time as the water rushed through the washes.  

Now it's on to Towerpoint RV Park in Mesa, AZ.  Let the fun begin!

Branson, MO

     While spending time in Indpendence, MO I was able to visit various family members, tour the Truman Library, and attend the annual Santa Cali-gon Days.  During this festival the center of town is closed to traffic and for 4 days there are vendors, rides, and activities to enjoy.  The name comes from the three historic trails that converge in Independence- Santa Fe, California, and Oregon.
      I then traveled a few hours to Branson, MO.  The KOA was filled with members of NOMADS for over a week.  The 317 members came to participate in our Annual Meeting.  We had inspirational speakers, board meetings, seminars, entertainment, and lots of food.  We also were able to enjoy tours of area sites and attend shows.  What fun!!  It was great to see those friends- old and new.
      After the 10 days I spent in Branson, I was then on the road to Globe, AZ

Independence, MO

I am spending a couple weeks here. I went with brother to Ohio so he could get some medical things done. I had the chance to visit with several friends and some family. It was a great trip-medically and socially. We had good traveling weather and had a good time.  I did find that a car is a little more peppy than a motor home and got a little blue paper from one of Ohio's finest patrols.   Ugh.

After my stay here, I am headed to Branson, MO for the NOMADS annual meeting. That should be a  good time.