Lake Placid Florida

We arrived at Lake Placid Conference Center on Friday the 7th and the first two weeks have flown by.  We are here with 7 other Sower couples and around 20 couples from a ministry connected to the Nazarines called Roamers ( R Ver's on a mission).  We have devotions together each morning before setting out on our projects. 



The wagons are circled in. 

The Conference Center is located on the grounds of an estate originally built in the 1920's by Melvil Dewey the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System.  The lodge is an original structure and houses the dining rooms as well as some lodging upstairs.

The architecture is magnificent and has a Spanish flair with many arches and wrought iron railings and window frames.

The first weekend we were here there were middle schoolers everywhere.  They have a large auditorium and the kids were having a great time.  As the groups were arriving Friday night, it was good to hear them talking, clowning around, and getting acquainted.  The Gospel is going forth and lives are being changed as a result!

Our team comes from Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Canada, Rome Georgia, Florida, and of course, South Carolina

Jane has been painting mostly.  In this picture they are putting the finishing touches on an office for the Chef that was remodeled by the January Sower team.  The men on our team have been remodeling a large bathroom in one of the dormitories.  There are eight shower stalls and all of the flooring was removed and the toilet, sink, and shower dressing areas are being fitted with ceramic tile.

The Conference Center hosts various groups from Ladies Retreats to large youth groups. They have a ropes course, zip line, soccer/football fields, basketball courts, and pictured here, a water slide and of course, the lake.

This past weekend there was a group of married couples here from Miami for a retreat . 

Anyone for Frisbee golf or basketball?

There was also a group here last weekend from Latin American countries, sponsored by a ministry in Fort Myers.  These children were enjoying the playground.

The lake is beautiful and usually very placid.  The lake originally had a different name, but the town renamed it Lake Placid due to the influence of Mr. Dewey who was from Lake Placid, New York.

The boats are ready for an influx of folks this weekend.

There is usually a gentle breeze coming off the lake.  We have had marvelous weather since being here.  It appears the cold wave we had last month is not affecting us as much as the rest of the country.

The cross on top of the bell tower can be seen from across the campus.  It is exciting to see the ministry vision the staff has.  Folks are brought face to face with the good news that Jesus Christ is the answer to all of life's issues.

We will be here for one more week and will be heading back to Summerville.  We will be home for March and, Lord willing, will be heading back to Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East Maryland for April.  Jane's Dad will turn 91 at the end of April and we will be able to be there for Easter as well.

We appreciate your continued prayer for us.  Safety is always on the forefront as we work.  We are so thankful for the opportunity to serve our Lord with Sowers.

Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane

Movin on ...

 

The Happy Campers have finished our project at Pioneer Village in Wauchula Florida.  We had a great experience and made some special friends.  Our work was rewarding as both Jane and I were able to get a deeper understanding of God's calling on this ministry and how the three spokes of Sherry White Ministries work together.  Lydia's House, Mercies of David, and Pioneer Village. 

The first two serve as group homes for women and men coming out of destructive lifestyles while Pioneer Village provides life skills through interaction with the animals and working the soil, as well as a place of restoration for the families.  We saw the process in action and were very impressed and moved by the dedication of simple folks responding to God's call to reach the "down and out" with a hand up, not a handout.

Our sower partners, Vernon and Reta Esch were great team mates. Jane and Reta worked at the Mustard Seed, the thrift store located in town.  Vernon and I did a number of tasks at the farm.  In one of the outbuildings we built shelving and rewired some electrical outlets and lights in the workshop area. 



We installed windows in the cabin as well as insulation and T111 paneling in the ceiling.

We had the privilege of working with Bud Bowling, a master carpenter and volunteer.  Bud and his wife Gariann are from Oregon and have come to Pioneer Village for a number of winters.  Gariann works in the office and Bud has built many of the structures and is putting the finishing touches on the first cabin.

Dedication of "Heaven's Cabin" on family day.  The cabin is named in honor of  Heaven, the daughter of one of the graduates of the Lydia's House program.  Heaven and her mother will be the first to stay in the cabin later this month.  A dream come true for both Heaven and her mom, but equally important, a milestone of hope for the future ministry to people in bondage. 

Vernon and I finishing the repairs from a plumbing leak at Lydia's House

Lydia's House entry foyer.  The house is uniquely appointed for serving up to 20 ladies.

Reta, Jennifer, and Jane at the Mustard Seed thrift store.

We will miss the Chickens foraging around our yard.  Won't miss watching where you step :)

Will also miss the fresh eggs and vegetables but most importantly the fellowship we enjoyed here.

And so we hitched up and moved on to Bonita Springs arriving just in time to welcome

Bowen Kole Eckert

He was born on Saturday, February 1st weighing 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 1/4 inches long.

His first name, Bowen, is Jane's family name and his middle name, Kole, was Mark's great, great, Grandfather's name, George Conrad Kole Sample.  Mark revisited the family Bible on Sunday to see the entry of his birth and found that he was also born on February 1st, 1854

Mark's Grandparents

Four Generations of guys

Bill and Lillian are Mark's Mom's Parents

We will camp out here at Rachel's for the next week.  We report on Friday, February 7th, to the Lake Placid Conference Center in central Florida.  Not sure what that project holds in store for us but we are confident that as we go with a servant's heart we will enjoy whatever God has in store. 

In the mean time we are enjoying the birth of our fifth grandchild.  We will be able to visit him on the weekends from Lake Placid, which is about two hours from Rachel's. 

And the hits just keep on coming as we learned at Christmas that our daughter, Maribeth, will have our sixth grandchild and fourth granddaughter in late May or early June.

We are truly blessed!
Thanks again for joining us in the Journey...

Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane