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Final Post

This will be the final post on this site....all future posts will be on the PrayerIsland website. Join us there.

The Master's Gardeners

The Master's Gardeners

As we approach Prayer Island dedication day, I reflect on the amazing way this has all come together. God brought into this project just the right people who had a heart for it, who gave of their time, resources, and their sweat to make it happen. I am so thankful and can joyfully tell others of how God is so good to meet our needs, heal our broken hearts, and love us through others, as He did through this project. Prayer Island is indeed, sacred soil. Memorial Island, will be a special place to remember and honor my son. Even with this loss, it is God's grace and provision that I can proclaim his faithfulness to give hope and peace through tragedy. This will be a place of hope and that hope will be shared daily. In this garden, God himself will cultivate the broken heart, and we will see evidence of the beauty that arises. Evidenced will be a fragrance that others will sense and will please the Father.

Many will be called to just come and sit in the presence of the Lord on the island. That is our number one desire. For those who also feel called to also come and spend some time as a volunteer gardener keeping the weeds under control, that also can be a spiritual exercise (The Practice of the Presence of God, Bro Lawrence). I'll create a volunteer list and calender to sign up for those that feel led.

Again, many thanks to ALL, and blessings back to you.

Love,

Dean

Sod is down

Is God faithful or what! Delayed by rain on Monday, sod was delivered and installed on the islands yesterday. I haven't had the chance to see it yet but mom sent me photos which I made into a video for you to check out. Enjoy.

Sod removal

Wow, what a great day yesterday. KK and the crew, along with Betty, Chicky, Tuff, Laurie and Zeke, really transformed the island. 99% of the grass that was there has been removed in preparation for the sod which is coming on Monday. Laurie and Zeke worked on painting the Swans. Chicky pressure cleaned the gazebo in preparation for painting. Tuff and Betty pitched in all over the place. Saturday, weather permitting, we'll pain the gazebo, trim a bit more from Memorial Island, cut down some more of the dead fronds from palm trees, and continue to level out the ground for Monday. ....... God's garden!

20 days to go

Count down is on. 20 days until dedication.

Meet with Dan Jones today and go look at sod for the island. While we have several projects still going on, this will be the most major to complete. We'll need some prayerful support that all will fall into place and that we will have all the help we need to get it done. If anybody feels led and want's to spend any time at the garden doing ongoing weeding etc, you are more than welcome :). Several of the men at the camp have given of their free time to help us and that has been a blessing. Betty, Laurie and Zeke also worked hard in the heat, even with their colds. Chicky and Jennifer are working on a special idea; an engraved copper leaf wind chime that will have the names of all that have contributed to making prayer island and memorial island possible.. Here are some recent photos from this past weekend. Enjoy.

Dean.

Update

Work on Prayer Island continues to roll along. Countdown, 40 days until dedication and memorial service. Projects yet to complete: Completing the tool shed (great job guys!), repainting the gazebo, trellis covered seating area beside the gazebo, repainting the swan fountain and installing a solar fountain, preparing for topsoil and sodding, installing more solar lighting and the entrance banner (? + fence and gate). Just completed a full fertilization of all the plants. We need to put in a few more small crown of thorn plants and repair the cross. Still need to make or purchase more benches. Would like to put a few water lilies in planters for the front and back areas of lake Elijah. We need an outdoor ceiling fan with light for the gazebo. Other than that, we are about there. A tremendous effort on the part of so many and I know that that energy and love will live on at Prayer Island.

Most recent weekend photos:

Week in Review

What an amazing week again.  The irrigation system should wrap up this morning thanks to the very hard work of  Aaron  from NC as well as the men from the camp who helped out and the faithful and extremely hard working Betty Gordon.  

Next on tap;

  More mulch to go out this Saturday. Weeding, edging, clearing of memorial island. 

Within the next few weeks;  till the current soil/sod, bring in more topsoil, getting ready for sodding. 

Within the next 6 weeks; laying sod, making more benches, repainting the gazebo, creating new seating space and arbor next to the gazebo,  setting the entrance banner (? gate), and getting ready for the dedication on Sept 13. 

Big Day with Irrigation System install

July 3, 2009

Breaking News

Breaking News:   Dan Jones is back already  with a relative who is going to do the irrigation system !  May need all the help we can get today and tomorrow. Not yet sure of the plan. Still need to get materials, etc.  Will keep you posted or call Dad for the latest before I get it. I have to work at the VA today, but tomorrow, bright and early, to the Island.  :)

Dean

Philippians 4:19 

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

       Just look around on Prayer Island/Memorial Island 

and there is no doubt that God meets all our needs in a

 miraculous way, 

one after another!

Update

Update:  

This past weekend, Dan Jones, a member of the Dunklin Board of Directors, committed to providing the irrigation system as well as the sod needed for prayer island. Another answer to prayer in a most wonderful and generous way!  Other donations continue to come in and are applied to the costs to the island's "extreme makeover".  It is all looking really good and we haven't lost a plant.  The bridge is just incredible and beautiful.

The caps for the bridge came in but the company sent the wrong color. New order is on the way.   Everything is coming together amazingly though within this sacred space.  

On the calendar: This Friday July 3;  spreading out more mulch, mowing the grass, more clearing of memorial island, weeding. putting out more solar lights, pressure cleaning the swans to ready for painting and sealing.  Hopefully  will be getting the banner in the mail soon which will go up at the entrance. 

List of items still to get:  Solar pump for the swan fountain. 

                                             Several water lilies and special planters for the pond

                                             More and more solar lights

                                             Edger to trim the beds

                                             Storage shed for our tools

                                             Paint for the gazebo; to match the bridge posts

                                             Decorative blocks for the stone wall around the seating area behind 

                                             the gazebo 

Latest Pictures from Prayer Island

Prayer Island 6/20/09

Prayer Island Workday 6/20/09

Wow. Still trying to grasp how big God's blessing has been on this Prayer Island/Memorial Island project. Family, friends, Bart and his crew, men in the program, and extra hired help worked from 8:00 to 3:00 pm planting all the plants, making new planting beds, spreading dirt and mulch. As tired as I was, I stayed on the island until after 9:00 pm still working to adjust lighting, etc.

Sunday at 5:00 am, I was back on the island. What a special time for me. Father's Day, and the message I got was "all is well" . I know Chris has found the peace and joy that he could not find here, and as a father, even one grieving, I can still rejoice and be glad in what God has done for him despite himself. As I watched the sun come up from the bridge to memorial island, I just prayed that others can meet and hear from God in this sacred place as I did that morning, and in their soul, be assured, that all is well as He works out his plan and purpose for their lives.

Still trying to gather up all the photos to share with you from this day. If you have taken some and can share with me, please e mail them so I can add them. Thanks. Will update shortly. In the meantime, enjoy a few before and after photos.

Love to all,

Dean

Father's Day

As Father's Day approaches, I have to struggle with two opposite emotions. One, so very proud and grateful to have the father I do, who through tough times and easy times, has always been a compass pointing me in the right direction in life. And the other, tremendously crushed because I will not have the chance to hear in person, I love you dad......First Father's Day after Christopher's death. Please remember me in your prayers. 

Dean

QUOTATIONS

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.
Charles Wadsworth

You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.
Irish Proverb

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.
Francis Maitland Balfour


In my Father's house are many mansions.
Bible, John xiv. 2.


I once complained to my father that I didn't seem to be able to do things the same way other people did. Dad's advice? 'Margo, don't be a sheep. People hate sheep. They eat sheep.'
Margo Kaufman

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
Author Unknown

Saturday Big Day

Calling all those who are willing and free, who have an extra shovel as well to join us for the next big planting day on Prayer Island this coming Saturday. By tomorrow, we will have almost 500 plants donated and ready to be planted! When God pours out blessings, he really pours. If you can't make it, at least pray for a cool and overcast day with rain to fall about 7 pm.

Pray also that we get help with the irrigation system that will need to be updated to provide ongoing TLC to our special sacred space.

I am overwhelmed as I watch this all come together. More and more are expressing a desire to be a part of this project and I know that many will be blessed as they experience the Lord's presence in a special way in this place.

Just an idea

Wow, Plants delivered last week and more coming tomorrow from Eustis. Soil delivered also and ready to be put out into new planting beds.

Banner for the island has been ordered.
Here is an idea also for an entrance to the island.
What do you think?