Saturday, November 21, 2009

Taconic Retreat and Conference Center

This camp is near the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York - just East of the beautiful Catskill mountains. We were privileged to work there during a lovely time of year- October 2009.

Over the course of the month, the camp hosted large groups each weekend visiting the camp for spiritual and physical renewal.

Our work consisted of construction for Scott, and a little kitchen and housekeeping for Cynthia. Scott replaced and stained damaged hollow core interior doors in the camp's Miller lodge and Guest Cottage with solid raised panel doors. He also added chair railing, door and window casing, and various trim work where needed. One day he replaced porch railing for an elderly resident who lived on the camp property. He enjoyed working with Pete Demarest, the camp's maintenance director, who also drives a large tractor-trailer hauling sound gear for large auditorium concerts. He joined Pete on one trip to Madison Square Gardens to set up for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show.

Sadie and Emma enjoyed that fact that other kids lived at the camp. Director Todd Hoffman and wife JanElle have 5 children. Office manager Veronica and husband Rob have 2 children at home (2 are grown). We all enjoyed a special time of fellowship with these families.

During the month, we attended Valley Community Church - a lively and growing church of about 150. They have a beautiful sanctuary and fellowship hall. As a family, we did 2 songs one Sunday. Then the following 2 Sundays, Scott joined the praise band. Pastor Mike and Dawn Ginese have a recording studio in their basement. Their son Jonathon helped us record 6 songs onto CD - something we'd been hoping to do all year.
Thanks be to our Lord who provides all we need!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Preston, Connecticut

While working at Windsor Hills Camp in New Hampshire, we got acquainted with Rev. Rick and Sherry Nason and family. They came up to camp over Labor Day weekend. We enjoyed campfire sing-a-longs, daytime hikes, and a casual Sunday service in the woods. When we left New Hampshire, we drove to Preston, Connecticut and parked at the church where Rick and Sherry are pastors. They live in a home behind the church. We had a great time eating together and singing and playing instruments. On Sunday, the Prowell family sang and played a concert during the worship service at Preston Church of the Nazarene.
Here is Sherry and Rick by their van. They are packing up after the weekend in their camper.
This is Kristi Hoover and children at their camper. Kristi is Rick and Sherry's daughter.Sadie with Tori canoeing at Windsor's pond.Not far from Preston is Mystic, Connecticut. They have a seaport there and we stopped and looked around.