Jackpine Work Weekend

  This past weekend we went camping. There is a family camp called Jackpine Retreat that we always like to go to in September and this year there was also a work weekend planned before it so that whoever could come could work together to get things ready for it.

   Jackpine Retreat is something that I have attended since I was a baby. I have missed 2 years in my life time but hope not to miss anymore if possible. :-) I loved it as a child and my kids love it too. It is rustic camping in Northern, MN in often chilly September. You can expect to get cold, often wet but there is something about it that warms our hearts. It is a time for Christians to get together and fellowship, to sing around the campfire, to encourage one another, to listen to God's word shared together. We can unwind a little bit from the normal busyness of life and grow closer together through shared experiences that can be challenging.

 The work weekend was not very cold (though the nights did have their chilly times) and we did some sweating during the day but it was fun to see things get cleaned up and more organized. Rotted buildings were torn down, dead trees were cut down and firewood made and stacked, brush was piled and some of it burned and things were cleaned up and painted.

 Lucy and Megan did some painting in the morning and then decided to take on a building project. They aren't probably ready for a carpentry job yet but they had fun and practiced some building skills.

 Water was enjoyed by many.

Sometimes you need to spend a little time regrouping before you tackle the next project.

 Old nails were pulled out of lumber.

 A new outhouse was set in place.

 During a rainstorm we did some relaxing and waiting for supper under the shelter.

 At normal Jackpine Retreat each family/group prepares their own meals except for a group meal for Sunday lunch but at the work weekend we organized meals and all ate together. That was fun. On Saturday we had 29 people there.

Games were played a little bit too.

 On Sunday I believe there were 15 of us still there and we had a nice service around the campfire. Aaron led some songs and Ben L. share some neat thoughts on Unity/Being One Body and then spoke of what Jesus did for us and then we shared communion together.

  I do feel so incredibly blessed to be part of the body of Christ and to be able to spend time and work together with other parts of the body.