May 2014 – Hope Children’s Home, Tampa, Florida

Working here at the Children’s Home in Florida confirms what we thought this ministry (SOWERs) is all about.  Our physical labor here has been intense but extremely rewarding.  Wayne worked several small re-construction projects and was a great overall handyman for whatever was needed.  Some of the work included putting a passage door from the carpenter shop to the motor shop, painting basketball goals, drywall repair from a leak, pressure washing decks, repairing rotted wood on a door frame and re-constructing a back porch on a resident home for one of the staff.  Gail spent at least 6 hrs/day in the kitchen at a high paced speed!  Preparing 3 meals per day for approximately 120 residents/teachers/employees was an all-consuming project but fun and sometimes harried – she will be able to add several cooking projects to her resume to include deboning a turkey in a matter of 10 min. and washing cook pans the size of washing machine tubs!  Of course Wayne is finding new tools he needs to add to his arsenal like an impact driver and a vibrating tool. Whoops, scratch the impact driver, I went out and purchased a Ryobi impact driver (and a drill – they came as a package deal) this weekend.

Wayne also got some experience with putting up James Hardy siding, so he learned some new skills. The painting of some of these repairs will be left for some of the kids.  Just had more to do than time to do it.

We had our reservations about working a project all by ourselves but found that it was somewhat fun – Wayne was the Group Leader and Gail was the group!  We found that because it was May it was the end of a school year so the air was electric – kids excited about school coming to an end.  There was one day when they had divided all the kids and staff into four teams and had games for the day.  It was good to see the older kids and younger kids playing together and cheering each other on.  Just minutes ago the 7^th-12^th graders went to their “Junior/Senior”.  Beautiful kids – pic below.  A local company takes it upon themselves to provide this for them and they do not hold back on making them feel extra special.  The Juniors and Seniors are transported by a limo while the others ride the Home bus.  They do not know where they are going!  How special – I have heard it is a renowned restaurant located in downtown Tampa.

We have been able to ride some awesome rail trails on our bikes while visiting here – approximately 83 total miles over 3 weeks.  They cater to bicyclists here – their “rails to trails” bike trails are the width of a single car lane, wide enough for 2 bike lanes and a lane for walkers and roller bladers.  In addition, a lot of the streets have bike lanes.  I guess having a state where there are not many hills draws a lot of bike riders.  We were even able to ride out on the Dunedin Causeway to watch the sunset one evening.

Well, we have swept and folded the rugs, pulled in lawn chairs, loaded the bikes on the car and are ready to pull out in the morning for a quick trip to Camping World for a new awning to be installed on one of our slides then off to Ocala for a visit with Wayne’s siblings for Memorial Day Weekend.  We didn’t want to go all the way back to NC – not fond of traveling on holidays especially with a NASCAR race in Charlotte.

It will be somewhat emotional pulling away tomorrow, these kids need loving smiles and caring words.  They are happy and well cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually.  We are grateful that God has this Home in existence for these children otherwise where would they be?

Next…………to NC to work at the Harvest Time Bible Camp just outside Polkville for the months of June and July.  Should be just as exciting and busy, busy, busy!  Who said retirement is boring?  Not at the Fieler household, we are taking Ibuprofen every night just so our weary bodies can rest!  RV Crazy? I reckon, but so grateful God has allowed us to do this………..serve Him as long as we can.

Sunset at Tampa Bay Causeway

Field Day

JR High through Seniors

Rebuild of Screened in Porch

Bittersweet April 2014

We are now in Tampa, Florida having completed one week at the Hope Children’s Home project.  It has been a while since out last update, but we had a few computer problems.  We are the only Sower’s on this project but that’s because we chose to vacation for 11 days of April in the Cayman Islands with Sarah, Vince and Evangeline.  The Cayman Islands are everything you have heard that it is!  The water is so beautiful and the weather was perfect.  If you are an avid snorkeler or diver, Cayman Islands are calling your name.  We were able to visit the Botanical Gardens, ride a glass bottom boat, visit the Island Museum, watch windsurfing and sailboarding, and experience many “firsts” with Evangeline while we sat with her when mom and dad were diving!  She loved riding on the back of G’Pa’s bike and running through the water spouts in the outdoor mall with G’ma!  She ate her first gelato and slurped her first milkshake!  So much fun and beauty surrounded us for eleven days.   It was a bittersweet vacation because when we left Edith, Wayne’s mom, was literally struggling in the later days of her battle with cancer.  We never expected to come back to Florida to find her still living but she did and we were able to spend one more precious week with her and Wayne’s family before she passed on Wed., April 23^rd.  Watching her in the last days was tough – her family was so loving and gave her the most sacrificial care during those last months and days.  During those last two weeks of April we continued to help out at Camp Horizon, Wayne mostly as he was deep in a plumbing project for the lodge.  He was able to finish the tiling of the wall and floor of one of the bathrooms as well as some sheet rocking.  The last weekend at Camp Horizon, Wayne’s family was able to drive down for a cook out and a relaxing day by the lake.  We were thrilled that his cousin, Rick and Kelly came from Cincinnati and spent some time gator-watching from the dock.  How many pictures did you take Rick? J

Now here we are in Tampa at the Children’s Home – whew!  Gail has worked in the kitchen/cafeteria since Monday for an average of at least 6 hrs/day.  It’s hard continuous work but these children’s faces when they come through the line for their food is worth it all.  Many look you right in the face and say “thank you for fixing my lunch today”.  These kids are so polite and never take anything for granted.  They are well groomed, clean and very happy.  Wayne has worked various jobs this week from cutting a hole in the wall and installing a door, rerouting the electrical conduit that was on the wall where the door now is, well chemical checks, sheet rock repair, applying molding in the bathroom foyers of the gym and painting of the basketball goals for an average of 7 hrs/day.  Today Mr. Stan took us on a formal tour of the campus – we were “WOWed”!  The cottages that house siblings are grand – reminds me of plantation homes.  Dormitories were spotless and well kept, neat and everything in its place.  The kids were still in school as we toured their living quarters – we were told that school does not start until 9:00 a.m. in order that the children are able to do their chores before leaving for school.  They do not finish school until 4:15 p.m. – their school is on the same campus.  This is a top notch operation, after 45 years I think they have this well under control and everything works like clockwork.  Even the day care area was under control with 2 babies napping while others were doing crafts and watching an educational video.  Happy faces and even the teachers and house parents were smiling.  In just four days in the kitchen Gail has been able to experience “George Mueller” moments.  Everyday a van comes by with donations from 2 grocery stores, and 1 health food store.  A truck owned by the home picks up donations from individuals and businesses, brought to the Home for needs (clothing, toys and furniture) and then the remainder is taken to their 2 stores similar to Goodwill or Salvation Army.  The proceeds help to support the Home.  Occasionally the children are taken out for public appearances as advertisement for the Home and to greet business owners that support the Home.  These children come from all walks of life and it is a blessing to watch others devote their lives to help grow them spiritually, mentally and physically.  They are well loved and cared for in this place.

Florida is finally getting hot!  Next month we will return to North Carolina to work at Harvest Bible Camp during the months of June and July.  Our son, Philip should enjoy a reprieve from the yard work that he has been doing the past couple of months for which we are grateful and know that our home is in very capable hands.  Grannie and Grandpa need their Lily fix – the only downside to this constant travel, we are without either grandchild to help us laugh!  We will definitely kidnap Miss Lily for a few days and show her camp life at Harvest!  Hopefully we will get her on one of those horses before July 31^st!