Major Workday #2

What another incredible workday on Prayer Island.  Hundreds of plants went in.  Planting beds were raised up.  Memorial Island was partially cleared.  A lot of love and sweat again into this wonderful project for the Lord. Thanks again to all that came; Bart and his crew, Betty, Chicky, Mom and Dad, Amber, Gene and Nell.  Still more to come.  Pilings for the bridge will be going in this week.  Thanks Chicky for the donation of a lawnmower.  Thanks to Rick Wagner for the very generous donation of the plants and soil.  Dad rented a bobcat for the day; that came in very handy.  The solar lights on the swans worked very well last night.  Hope to work on restoring the swans to a fountain next week.  

Next major workday ??? maybe 3 weeks. Will keep you updated. 

Next big work day: Saturday May 30, 2009

Zeke says, "come on out"

       Saturday May 30, 9:30 am-

Work/Planting day confirmed. The plants have been delivered, soil will be brought in to the island, a bobcat is rented, and the next phase will begin this weekend. Very excited to get back out to the island and get my hands dirty. 

Please let us know you are coming so we can reserve your lunch and  bring enough drinks. 

Dean

Bridge from Prayer Island to "Memorial Island"

This is a sketch of the proposed bridge which will link Prayer Island to the smaller island. It was done overnight by one of the men in the SLT program and we are most grateful for the sketch and offer to help build it!  Mom and Dad are donating this love gift as a memorial....

Plant list for Prayer Island

Plant list for the island:

Viburnum Odo
Viburnum chino
Azalea (Formosa)

Tentative plan for the week:

Get a load of top soil delivered

This Saturday, weather permitting,  we'll get

together to work on the island and start preparing

the planting beds 

Anyone interested, give me a call :)  

Dean

Just read the latest issue of the Campfire online (click to read).  Check out the articles about Prayer Island.  Thanks Laurie for the article about depression and suicide.  Thanks mom and dad for your incredible love and support. 

Dean

Mission Scrubbed

Well, we prayed for rain!  It is not looking good for outdoor activities today on Prayer Island so mission scrubbed. 

May start on a prototype bench project though if Gene is available. 

Dean

Rosalia and I attended a suicide support group last night of "Compassionate Friends". Some were still struggling with a loss 5 years old, some, just weeks.  But we all were in a place we did not wish to have been called to, but still, God meets us where we are as we share in our sufferings and our joys. 

Update

This past Monday, Betty, Helen, John, Chicky, myself and some of the guys in the program worked hard in the heat to continue the work of clearing and relocating  plants on the island. The entrance with all the vines removed from the wall and majestic oak really looks great.  John formed up the steps to go down to the bench seating and yesterday poured the concrete with inlayed stepping stones.  I found the second snake so far while digging in the mulch, but God is protecting us with only non-poisonous ones. Thank you!

Dad, Roni and Vivian came down to West Palm yesterday and together we visited Morikami park in Delray.  Though the scale of what they have done on those 200 acres we cannot match, it is my desire to be a small part in helping create that extra special place at Dunklin where the same sense of peace and presence of God is felt even more so, as I do at Morikami. All of humanity started in a garden.  There is just something about returning to one that I believe is sacred. 

God is bringing it all together in a wonderful way and is sending folks who also are touched to be a part of this project. More on this soon. Gotta get ready to go out and get my hands dirty. 

Dean