2010 Life Builders Work Camp~June 27-29, 2010

June 27-29, 2010 at Life Builders Work Camp Ministry in Smithers, Fayette County, West Virginia

 The five church groups arrived at Valley High School, in Smithers, West Virginia, with no incidents on Sunday.  All were glad to arrive after their long rides.  After settling into their rooms, they investigated the school building to learn where things were, such as the shower rooms, rest rooms, gym, etc.

That evening the speaker for the week, Ben Murray, shared his life story.  He shared about his growing up, his Christian journey and about his life now.  Monday evening’s Gathering Time centered on Christ’s life and his sacrifice for us all.  Tuesday evening the focus was upon renewing our minds and being transformed.  The emphasis was that to be transformed it is not us who does the transforming.  Rather the transforming is done to us.  The example of a butterfly was used.  When a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, neither external force nor the creature itself does the transforming.  It just happens.  So if we want to be transformed, we can’t do it, God does.

Monday morning groups headed off to their work sites with the guidance of the interns.  As usual for a Monday morning, it took a little bit of time to get situated, figure out what is to occur at the site and organize who is doing what.  But after that was set, it was right to work.

Some of the work being done this week so far is tearing out and replacing floor that was damaged by leaky roofs, installing a ramp for a homeowner, fixing a wall that had water damage, sanding and staining doors, fixing and painting a porch swing, installing siding, fixing the installation of windows, and many other more projects.

Pictures from Monday and Tuesday can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/cpD1Ro

The week has been going well.  A good amount of working is getting done.  Now tomorrow after breakfast the groups meet for the day’s Gathering Time then it is off to work till lunch.  After lunch till the evening the groups will have time to relax and enjoy the some activities in the area.

2010 Life Builders Work Camp~June 24-25, 2010

June 24-25, 2010 at Life Builders Work Camp Ministry in Smithers, Fayette County, West Virginia

“She cried,” was said by various volunteers about their homeowner.  Monday she needed to leave and deal with some family matters.  She returned home Friday to see the many changes to her home.  She had tears of joy to see the new porch, roof, and other improvements to her home.  This made an impact upon many of the youth who worked at her home.

Another story told about the week is about a homeowner who on Monday barely showed his face to the volunteers.  By Friday, he was sitting in the living room having conversations and joking around with people.  It was evident they had impacted his life that he was willing to speak with them as he did.

The work assigned for the week was wrapped up on Friday and brought to a point where it can be picked up this coming week by another group attending Life Builders Work Camp Ministry.

Thursday and Friday’s video of the week can be viewed at www.youtube.com/theworkcamppeople.  Pictures of the week can be viewed at http://bit.ly/cI0BhG .

On Friday evening, Garrett Lowe, the speaker for the week, focused his message on what Jesus did for human beings.  A portion of the evening was playing a recording called “7 Places.”  The recording talked about the seven places where Jesus bleed and how all seven times that Jesus bleed relates to a method which we sin.  It had an impact upon a number of the people.

Overall, the week was a great week.  Many things got done, relationships were built, and lives impacted for the glory of God.

2010 Life Builders Work Camp~June 22-23, 2010

June 22-23, 2010 at Life Builders Work Camp Ministry in Smithers, Fayette County, West Virginia

Wednesday morning the groups worked at their sites until their lunch break.  Then they had their afternoon and evening to do various things in the local area.  Three groups went whitewater rafting on the New River.  The other group found a swimming hole nearby.

After supper they sauntered back to the housing facility.  With the time they had left they played games, wrote care cards, or just spent time with others.

Because of having off Wednesday afternoon and evening, the Gathering Time is held in the morning.  The main emphasis by the speaker was about circumstances.  He referred to the quote “You can not choose your circumstance, but you can choose how you will respond to the circumstance.”  He then went on to share various lists of how to live like Christ, i.e. the Beatitudes, fruit of the Spirit, etc.  Garrett Lowe, the speaker, then had people choose one which they struggle with in their life.  They were then to write it down on a stone.  That stone was to be put in a container and then pick up another persons stone.  The challenge was that during the day they were to carry the stone with them and pray for the person’s need.  They don’t know who the person is, but God does.

The weather for the week has been hot, highs in the 90’s, humid, and chances of thunder storms.  The past few days have had strong storms go through the area.

Today, Thursday, was back to working a full day.  There was roofing, drywall installation, building a deck, and painting among other things.  Videos of the week can be viewed at www.youtube.com/theworkcamppeople.  There you can see some of what was done through out the week.

The focus of the evening’s Gathering Time was “Story,” especially one’s personal story.  Garrett then shared his personal testimony, telling about how he sought forgiveness with a situation in his life.  The group was then challenged to know their own story and share it with others.  As part of the time together, Garrett sang a song he wrote that reflects his spiritual journey called “Bunk Bed.”

One of the things the campers are asked to do are write Care Cards.  Care Cards are for people to write encouraging notes to others through out the week.  The cards are then placed in an envelope, and the envelopes taken down Friday night.  They are then given to the group leader to distribute to their youth at the leaders discretion.

The groups have been mingling well during the week.  It is great to see the teens breaking down walls that some put up between churches.

2010 Life Builders Work Camp~June 20-21, 2010

June 20-21, 2010 Life Builders Work Camp Ministry in Smithers, Fayette County, West Virginia
The four church groups arrived at Valley High School, in Smithers West Virginia, yesterday afternoon for their week of Life Builders Work Camp.  Christ Lutheran Church, Niantic, PA; First United Methodist Church, Ephrata, PA; Florin Church of the Brethren, Mt. Joy, PA; and Hopeland United Methodist Church, Lititz, PA are the four groups who are attending this week.

After a leader’s meeting, all came together for the Camp Gathering Time.  After going over some guidelines for the week, Garrett Lowe lead the group in singing some worship songs.  After which, Garrett, the speaker for the week lead the group in some various discussions.

Garrett first had everyone mingle and get into pairs, then triples, and so on, until there were six people in a group.  Upon getting in a group, a question was asked which the answers were to be shared with those in the group.

Eventually, when there were groups of six people, they formed a circle and Garrett had a few discussion questions for the groups to discuss.  The questions focused upon the theme of the week, “Be Prepared to Center Your Life,” especially on the Center aspect of the theme.  An interesting item he shared is that to center your life on something, you need to start at the end and work backwards.  Meaning, you need to start with the goal and then decide what steps need to be taken to get there.

Ice cream was then served after the Gathering Time.  It cooled people off and gave them a time to socialize with other people.

Monday morning, many were up early and ready to get to their work site.  Each staff person guided a group to their work site after breakfast and having group photos taken.

Some of the work this week include: removing and building two decks, removing and placing skirting and some cleaning out of a trailer; another group did some drywall work, painting, and spackling; while another group did some general clean up and landscaping.

During the evening gathering time, the emphasis was on perspective.  Garrett challenged the group to consider our perspective of God, and God’s perspective of us.

He then gave the group an assignment.  They are to find a rock that is not too large, with a flat surface on it.  The rock is needed for Wednesday morning.

After the Gathering Time, some people played games, others wrote care cards, and some went to local restaurants for some evening snacks.