Memorable Day...

The team started early by loading on a ferry to spend some free time, the last full day in Puerto Rico, on Coffin Island. Coffin Island is a gorgeous nature preserve with white sand beaches and crystal clear water. Some of the team hiked the 1 mile long trek up to the light house, which is in the center of the island. Others did some spelunking into a 30 foot cave. Most of the team took some time to swim and even did some snorkeling. And still others, took advantage of the time to unwind and read a book. The day ended with a great deal of activity (sorting, washing, and packing); preparing for the 8 + hour trip home on Saturday. Many clothes and linens will be donated to the nearby residents of the barrio.


Our flight (#53) leaves San Juan, PR at 2:39pm, arrives in Baltimore at 6:45pm. Flight #577 leaves Baltimore at 9:05pm and arrives in GR at 10:50pm.

We can not say enough how appreciative we are to those who followed the blog and wrote many comments of encouragement. We are especially thankful for the many who prayed that the team’s efforts would be used by God in a mighty way. Thank you.

Beautiful beach on Coffin Island

The team leading worship last Sunday

Sam and Johnny presenting an object lesson

Dan offering a message

Good night from Puerto Rico !!!

Finishing Strong…

The team finished the work projects strong.

Dave and John finished putting on the transmission pan and also fixed the front suspension on the 15 passenger van. Together Dave and John put in approximately $1,000 worth in parts and mechanic time on the camp vehicles this week.

The rest of the team worked on creating a gravel run off, with indoor/outdoor turf, around the water slide.

The screen crew completed the screen work by installing 15 screens inside the chapel.

The tree painting team painted a couple of dozens trees to protect them from boring insects.

After lunch the whole team gathered together for one last major project. After tilling the entire back yard of maintenance Dave’s house, the team picked up several hundred of pounds of tile buried 1 foot underneath the surface. The team rallied together to rake and smooth out the huge ruts. Being completely covered in mud and dirt the team did the dance of joy in the ocean to clean off….clothes and all….

Tomorrow the team gathers first thing in the morning at 6:30am to take a ferry to Coffin Island, a nature preserve. There they plan to make their second attempt at a relaxing day off. Then it is back to camp to pack for the trip back to the states on Saturday.

Thanks again for your continued prayers. It is evident that God was protecting the team as they handled many hazardous tools, dealt with “natural” disasters, and traveled some very suspicious roadways.

Another local that routinely found its way into our beds...

In Our Own Words...

Kathy M. – Finished painting the 2nd roof (but we forgot to do our dance of joy) Shoveled and spread stones around the water slide. Helped dig the trench and filled in the trench for the water slide. Tried to keep
Kathy D. in line – but I failed.

Shari – Picked up past power washed – paint chips, filled screens and brought to dumpster to dump paint chips. Folded up screens to re-use for next time. Picked up other paint chips from Dave’s backyard. Helped move gravel and place around waterslide/pool. Helped fill in water pipe trench for the water slide.

Amber F. – I started the day off by building screens with Doris. After just one screen this morning, I got transferred to peeling dried paint out of the 5 gallon bucket. ( A job I thoroughly enjoyed by the way!). I was interrupted half way through the project to spray the dorms with insecticide. My day of chores was pretty chopped up, but a lot was accomplished.

Dave – I spent the whole day working on the camp van. The transmission pan had a small hole in it because of rust. I also worked on the suspension with John M. Made another parts run (second for the day) and swung by to pick up a lawn mower while I was in the area.

Aubree – In the morning we finished the second roof.  Then I helped dig the trench and placed the gravel around the water slide.

Sam – I finished painting and painted trees and scraped out paint buckets.

Kathy D. – I started the morning by picking up paint chips and putting away the screens from the house that was power washed yesterday.   Then starting shoveling gravel around the water slide and helped dig the trench for the pipe.  I also helped people keep cool by throwing COLD water on them!

Johnny M. Jr. ("Skippy") – First, I painted shutters. Then I shoveled stones. Then I dug a trench. Then I plumbed w/pvc pipe. Then I buried the pipe in the trench. (by doing a nice dance). Then I spread stones around the slide.

Mike – Painting, painting, and more painting and finally FINISHED the painting project. I guess tomorrow I get to lay in the hammock ;-)

Amy – Digging water line trench, painting trees, picking up paint chips, shoveling/raking rocks.

Justin – Waterboy, dug water line trench, got screens from Sosa’s aluminum (in Ponce) with maintenance Dave.

Erin – Tons of painting with Mike, digging trenches.

Lexi – Primed and painted, painted trees, shoveled rocks

Lauren – Painted/primed, helped Doris with Screens, shoveled rocks.

Lisa – Picked up aint chips/screens. Filled holes with dirt. Killed red aints. Dug trench. Moved gravel. Painted palm trees. Cleaned up paint. Laundry, watered baby grass.

Amber V. – Watergirl, PVC pipe holder, painted palm trees.

Dwayne – Transported Team Effort (the group staying at the camp) members to Ponce. Did masonry repair on Dave and Pam’s house. Plumbed a water line. Hauled crushed stone with frontend loader. Dug up debris with back hoe.

Doris – Done screens for 6 days. We are all done fixing them. Praise the Lord!

Tiffany - Painted again!
Troyce and Dan – Built, repaired, and installed screens for Dorm A and B. Shoveled gravel for the waterslide. Picked up debris that Dwayne dug up….smile.

John M. Sr. – Re-repaired the Windstar mini-van (don't ask). Shuttled Team Effort members into Ponce. Dug trench (furiously) for water line to the slide. Crawled under the 15 passenger van to attempt suspension repairs.  Strolled past all the other teams to spy on them =)

As you can see the team was involved in many projects. It is good to see some of the major projects finally reaching their completion….fixing screens…painting….roof repair….

Sam priming the porch ...as you can see she is going high and reaching far to get the job done....

Aubree, Mike, Erin, and Johnny painting one of the outside walls.

The infamous falls before it got big, muddy, and very angry....

22 now becomes 102…

A team of 80 camp leaders arrived this afternoon. These camp leaders spent the summer leading work camps all across the states for thousands of teens. Some of the teams performed work projects and others service activities, like feeding the homeless in many inner cities across the US. For many, their time at Campamento del Caribe, PR is a highlight. Exhausted after a long summer they feel energized coming together worshiping, sharing, and evaluating their summer. During their stay they plan to use the camp as a base to serve the local community. This is yet another way Campamento del Caribe is ministering to the community. The leaders have commented how much they appreciate the camp. It is so rewarding to see the investment of FBC’s PR team being used in such a vital way.

The team continued the good work painting, repairing, building, roofing, and power washing.

• Aubree and Kathy M. were able to complete the first coat of patch work on their second roof today. Great work ladies as this is very hot work.
• Lauren, Johnny, Sam, Mike, Tiffany, Erin, Lexi, Shari, Justin, and Kathy D. made terrific progress on priming and painting the missionaries’ houses.
• Amy returned to power washing duties, this time accompanied by Dwayne managing the power sprayer.
• The camp’s maintenance director, Dave, expressed appreciation for Dave F.’s and John’s work on the camp vehicles.
• Doris, Amber F., Dan and Troyce continued screen duty. They were able to finish making/fixing the screens in the dining hall area.

We heard additional information about Sunday’s deliverance by the falls. One of the rescue workers that trekked across the mountain to get the 19 stranded people on the cliff’s edge was not even a rescue worker, he was a mechanic. He just happened to be working on the rescuers car when the emergency call came in. The actual emergency rescue technician asked his mechanic if he wanted to tag along and the mechanic said, “sure.” When the rescue workers arrived at the scene they had to deal with a situation they had never had to deal with before, rescuing swimmers from the other side of the river. The mechanic was also a native and told the rescue team that he knew of a way to get to the stranded swimmers on the cliff without having to pull them to safety through the raging falls. With one of a kind local knowledge of the terrain, the mechanic led the rescue team through the rain forest to the stranded group. PTL…Looking back one can see God’s invisible hand responding to the many prayers protecting the team.

John getting up and close to with a vacuum hose

 

Dave in a tight place checking on the oil pan

The rainbow that appeared the morning after the incident by the river...

Back to normalcy…

Working through scattered thunderstorms, the team returned to the maintenance needs of the camp. Dave and John continued to work on the camp vehicles. John focused on a complete tune-up of the mini-van, which involved removing the entire manifold. Dave set out to fix the front a/c blower on the Dodge 15 passenger van.

Sam, Lauren, Aubree, Johnny, Erin, Mike, Kathy D, and Tiffany worked hard to get paint on the missionary homes despite the frequent bursts of rain. Lexi, Kathy M, Amy, Justin, and Shari. had the “extra special job” hand picking paint chips off the ground with a heat index of 98 degrees.

Doris, Troyce, Amber F., and Dan continued their work building screens. Functioning screens are a high commodity at the camp. Besides the four legged natives, those with wings can drive a camper crazy not to mention the Denge Fever if there are no screens to keep the mesquites out of the chapel, dinning hall, and the dorms. The team built six screens today, some had to be completely fabricated.

Dwayne, Lisa, and Amber V. kept the grounds looking beautiful by mowing and trimming the 22 acres of camp property.

The team wrapped up the day at 7pm today with a time of sharing. Many of the comments tonight focused on how God makes us strong in our weaknesses. It was not difficult to feel weak as a result of yesterday’s events.

God bless and thanks for your continued prayers.

The picture shows five custom built screens covering the storm shutters on the camp chapel.

Deliverance...

No one knew today what adventures, lessons, and deliverance God would provide. The team led the worship this morning at a Grace Church in the barrio. Erin, Sam, Mike, Justin, John M. Kathy M., Amber F., Lexi and Lauren led the special music. Sam and Johnny M. gave an object lesson. Amy, Kathy D., and Sam shared their personal testimonies. Dan gave the message. Several individuals in audience commented on how the testimonies spoke to them personally. After the service there were many hugs and other expressions of love and appreciation.


After the service it was back to the camp for a quick lunch and prep for a day trip to the rain forest and the much anticipated jump off the 30 foot cliff. We arrived at the jump around 2:30pm. A good portion of the team scaled down the wet and mossy rocks along the falls, swam across the current, and traversed up the cliff edge for the privilege to jump off the 20 and 30 foot plateaus. Troyce demonstrated no fear by jumping off the 30 foot ledge five times. All were having fun until the water started turning brown. Julio, a full time staff at the camp, quickly encouraged everyone to seek dry land as soon as possible. In a matter of a few short minutes, the falls more than tripled in size. The current became unmanageable. Amber F., Erin, Lexi, Shari, and Sam, already at the bottom of the falls, started climbing the rocks along side the falls. Mike came down the falls to assist them. The water continued to rise. The holds and crevices quickly became submerged. Amber F., Shari, and Mike, ¼ of the way up the falls, became surrounded by rushing water. Unable to continue to climb they slide down the falls into the strong current. Thank God all where strong swimmers and were able to beat the current and make it to a large eddy. Once they reached the shore line they climbed a rock edge and waited on higher ground. Now safe from the rising river they found themselves trapped next to a slippery and steep mountain. The team was safe for the time being but was divided. Mike, Amber F., and Shari where stranded on one side of the river. Aubree, Lauren, Amy, Troyce, Dwayne, and Julio climbed the cliff edge along with 13 other Puerto Rican’s. Both groups found themselves trapped with a steep mountain behind them and the raging river below. The remaining portion of the PR team gathered on top of the mountain to pray.

John M. called Pastor John at 4:50pm and immediately initiated the prayer chain. The well trained Puerto Rican fire and rescue arrived in the high elevation quickly and started the rescue operation. With the rescue helicopter scrambled and in route the two rescue teams began their work. The first team set up the climbing ropes and scaled down the side of the mountain where Amber F., Mike and Shari waited. After about an hour and a half the rescuers were able to get a harness down to them and Mike and Shari were hoisted to safety. A rescue worker made his way to Amber and they clawed their way up the mountain, through the jungle, without the hoist and ropes (and with only one shoe). Finally safe, these three were reunited with the other group already on the mountain top having only a few scrapes and bruises to show for their experience.

The other rescue team began the trek around the mountain to help the 19 others stranded on the cliff edge. The group on the cliff was exposed to the open air and huddled together to keep warm. Once the rescue team arrived the group began to hike barefooted across the other side of the mountain. The rescuers made a temporary trail but the way was still tricky. The group climbed up the rock edge. The way turned into a wet, muddy path, full of leaves. On two occasions the make shift path was too steep to walk. The group needed climbing ropes to avoid falling back. At 6:00 this group finally made it to a road. Two hours after the flash flood the group arrived at the road where rescue vehicles were waiting. They transported the group back to where the other two groups waited prayerfully. Fortunately the rescue helicopter was not needed.

Later we found out that the heavy rains caused the dam higher up the river to automatically release. This created the flash flood conditions (which covered the main bridge up to the mountain; our only exit). Even though the river was still at flood stage as the team traveled back to the camp, the water had receded enough to pass over the bridge for a safe return to camp.

The PR team spent much of the evening processing the day’s events, showing their appreciation for one another, and thanking God for the positive outcome.

All in all an eventful day, to say the least. But the Lord protected us all and the sum of our casualties were a few bumps and bruises, Amber F.’s lost water shoe and Amy’s glasses.

Pictures to come....

Saturday in the Park...seems like the 7th of August...

John and Dave spent the morning giving the camp van a tune-up.  They hope to fix the blower motor resister Monday.

The rest of the team spent the morning preparing for tomorrow's Sunday morning service in the bario.  The team will be doing the entire service; including special music, testimonies, a message, and a children's object lesson (by Sam, John and Aubree).  Please pray that God will use the team to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

The team took the afternoon off ...to visit Ponce...and walked along the harbor port...fed the Tarpin...(be sure to ask Justin about the seagull that caught the sardine in mid air).

Troyce and Dan at Ponce's town square...every city has a town square anchored by a Catholic Church

Another day in Paradise...aka...Puerto Rico

More wind but still hot. But we are sooooooo happy with all the projects that we are finishing!! Today we finished seeding and fertilizing, powerwashing the second roof, ALOT more screens were completed. We are praising the Lord that nobody was stung by a jellyfish today (4 guys have been, the girls know how to stay away from them) and nobody was injured in the vehicular accident of one of our vans. It was VERY minor and happened in the camp's parking lot. Also, we are finally a group of 22. Mike arrived this afternoon and all were happy to see him (especially his kids).


Some of us went to the barrio (a very poor neighborhood) for the youth group meeting at 8ish. It was great to see Troyce, Aubree, Sam, Johnny, Lauren, Lexi, Justin, (Mike, Amy, Erin, too) interacting with the Puerto Rican youth. The ages of them ranged from 10 - 18 and there were about 15 teens. The evening started with an ice breaker of charades and then a bible story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The story was told through foot theater (faces drawn on the bottom of people's feet). Then we played a couple of games of tag and were done by 10pm.

As you can tell we had a fun and productive day. We are soooooo appreciative of your prayers. PLEASE don't stop the prayers. It is late and the mosquitos are hungry, so we are going to our dorms.

The Roof Top Trio...having some fun...Kathy is fanning the others.. Aubree is playing the role as Annie Oakley....and John is playing the role of Juan Valdez without the mule....

Another Day in Paradise

Good evening from Campamento del Caribe,

The team is holding together remarkably well despite the heat index approaching 100 degrees. 

Tiffany, John, Erin, Lexi, and Lauren worked in the heat to install 8 benches around the camp.  The places to rest will be appreciative to the campers.  It will be a place where they can take in the beautiful Caribbean coast while reading and sharing a heartfelt moment with a friend. 

John Sr., Kathy M., and Aubree finished their roof project only to happily climb off one roof and right back up another. 

Kathy D., Sam, and Shari also braved the heat index by landscaping the many holes dug out by the crabs. 

Please continue to pray for John and Theresa Marshall as they lead the team of very committed workers.  They recently finished up the busiest summer season they have every had.  Kids are coming to camp and they are hearing the Gospel.

Thanks for praying for the team's safety as they climb, cut, dig, pound, screw, staple, rip, spray, mow, scrape, and paint.

Amy, the anchor, is also dodging paint chips from Dave's mighty power sprayer.

Puerto Ricon Native ...

The team had a great day....roofing....power washing...landscaping...some carpentry...and fencing.

...a couple of team members were seen going over and above the call of duty...practicing green garbage disposal...by doing the soon to be popular dumpster dance....thanks Lisa and Amber Lee for making sure the garbage doesn't spill over the dumpster walls....

The roof team of Dave, John, Kathy, Aubree, and Dwayne endured 100+ degree heat and 90+ humidity to power wash and refinish a roof....Kathy was especially brave having traversed the nasty ladder on one good knee....the good news is she came down quicker than she went up....

Erin, John M. Jr., Lexi, and Troyce all have a fall back occupation as plumbers....

Amy and Dave did some house cleaning by power washing the missionaries' home... ask Amy about her new white freckles...that are also very tasty....

Amber Frueh, Doris, and Dan built some very strong screens to contain the natives...

Unfortunately, the new screens were not up in time for two native rats that visited the team in the dinning hall and, of all the places, the ladies dormitory....be sure to ask Erin where she slept...Monday night !!!!....good thing the bunks are piled three high.....(no I am not kidding)....

A typical morning in Campemento del Caribe

picture taken at 6:15am on Tuesday August 3, 2010

Our First Night

Hello Everyone,


We arrived safely and are preparing for a good day tomorrow.

The good news is that we have not lost anyone to the mesquitos....yet.

The evenings are very warm and the night appears to be the same.

Many members of the group have already discovered why they make SPF 100....

John and Therese Marshall have been so welcoming. We are very excited to see what Dave and Pam have in store for us tomorrow.

Thanks for your continued prayers that God will use our efforts for His eternal Glory.

The FBC PR 2010 Team

Travel-Baltimore to San Juan

Hi All,

We arrived in Baltimore two hours ago.  IT is 10:13am and they just made the first call to board the flight to San Juan.  The team is very excited to get to Rich Port...aka...Puerto Rico...We are anxious to serve and and be used by God for HIs purpose. 

Thank you all for you prayers that God will use us in a mighty way and that we will be open to His work in our lives.

FBCPR10