Re-Encouragements

Nate Shelton said just this morning, during our Devotion, that we were all there for a purpose. That our Floor Crew was laying "a foundation for God," that our Paint Team was "covering light across the dark walls," that our Landscapers were "spreading seeds of beauty" in God's world.

But in my head, I am thinking Praise God that more people will arrive today... and where is the trim paint? Once the decision is made (we went with Napery, for those who were wondering), we are anxious to take over the transformation of the current Mocha Trim. Andy (our Site Guy) explains that this Mocha trim has been in place for many generations. I agree it does add a certain "institutional" affect to the place.

Change is coming, and we are determined to bring this retreat center into a place nearing the current century. But where, oh where, is the paint? How much more time do we have? Now we're adding landscaping? Rachel, Judy and Ann are running out of food! We start flooring on the second room and are - way off schedule. Work is hard and the pollen count continues to rise. I am worried. Dan keeps smiling.

Flooring gets in the groove (no pun intended); Tom Rocca, Mission First-Timer, takes Mac, Dria, Jackson and Katie to Lydia Cottage where a mean and high pressure Ceiling Fan Assembly Competition is put in place. Losing team has to put together the last one on their own... no one wants to lose.

Andy (Site Guy Extraordinnaire) brings us a 5 gallon can of Primer and "un-intended task item number 6" finally gets going. I do not know if we can make it around this trim three times (1 primer, two coats of paint). Quietly, I count the number of doors that have to be removed, the number of windows that have to be scraped and the number of 2" brushes on site. I will confess, I am not encouraged. It feels a gigantic task, our bodies are exhausted and it is only Day Two.

Then I look around and find that Joe, Mason, Jessica and Tyler are the ones slamming hammers while Trevor, Debbie and Richard stand teaching. I think of Tom as he reminds the fan competitors to "read through the directions carefully." (What a Renaissance Man Tom is!) Rose(from our former New Orleans team), Karen, Abigail, Mason & Logan have brought fresh energy with their additions to our teams; Keith Thomas has a relatively large group of kids who are working - as one - in the Kitchen Re-Model; Jim Miller is coming to help Debbie lay down the corner round; Dave, Nate and Chris continue to drive the path through the woods and hard soil; the Gambles arrive with a smoking grill and dogs, burgers, beans and salad for everyone; Andy (Super Site Guy) arrives with the Trim Paint; Kelly's family comes by for dinner. I know that the MacPherson Paint Crew, Loyce (aka: Nanna), the Landscaper, and the Humphreys (Mission Experts) are coming tomorrow. Rumor has it that even Sam Henderson may be headed our way to also lend a hand. Suddenly, our little group is adding to its numbers.

Some would call these folks re-inforcements.

I call them re-encouragement.

We are getting things done.

Becky Jordan
Blogging for CRCSBFPCMT(Cherokee Retreat Center Spring Break First Presbyterian Church Mission Trip).