I arrived late for breakfast to find a teary-eyed member of the RSU #20 kitchen staff. She was standing at the ready behind mounds of eggs and sausage patties. “I don’t want them to go,” she said. Like so many others, she has been astounded by the way these teens conduct themselves – showing respect and gratitude, sharing an encouraging word, cleaning up after themselves and lending a hand. I could not agree with her more!

Group Workcamp Director Jeff and I were interviewed by a reporter for Bangor Daily News this morning at one of the sites. The article can also be read online.

The teens make the best interviewees by far – well spoken, full of enthusiasm and proud of their accomplishments. They had finished their assigned work at the site, and were going to be heading out soon to go help on another site. In a scene that will be repeated all over Waldo county in the next two days, they exchanged gifts and heartfelt good-byes.

It reminds me that there will be an end to this week, and just for a moment I know what that kitchen lady must have been feeling.

Picked up Rachael (my daughter), Ashleigh and Hallee at one of the sites where they have been helping to paint. They were needed in the afternoon at the school to help dole out snacks and drinks to the teens returning from their work sites for the evening – plus, they just want to hang out there and soak up the workcamp atmosphere.

After lunch back at the Troy Howard cafeteria, I seemed to spend much of the afternoon looking for stuff. Our beloved “Blue Shirts” – local volunteers – have been doing an amazing job all week making everyone feel appreciated, welcomed and supported. Many times a day, people stop me (and others) to say what a great job these people have done, and how much it means to the campers, the youth leaders and the Group staff.

The closing program tonight was pretty amazing, and had a profound effect on all who were there. Our local youth who came to observe (and in some cases participate) were deeply affected. They are beginning to ask how and when we can go to a workcamp. We shall see!

So many lives changed, through this wonderful week of sweat, joy, reflection and renewed faith.

Our local churches can be very proud of their young people. These dedicated and caring teens have played an active role in many aspects of the workcamp – in the week leading up to the workcamp, and during the camp week as well.

Swanville Community Church (SCC) teens collected food items to add to the huge outpouring of canned goods as part of the workcamp’s food drive. They joined with youth groups from all over the country to gather canned goods and other imperishable food items as part of a massive food drive countrywide. The food will be delivered Saturday to a local food bank at the conclusion of the workcamp.

SCC and Faith Temple Church of God teens worked on homes prior to the start of workcamp. They mowed lawns, trimmed, cleaned, and hauled away debris.

SCC teens helped load and unload hospitality items, cases of soda and snacks, and whatever else was needed for the Hospitality team.They have also helped greet and serve refreshments to campers as they arrived for the first time at Troy Howard Middle School, and throughout the week when the campers have returned from their work sites.

They have also attended each evening program during the week. Some of our teens have played on the worship team at the evening programs.

Some are beginning to consider the idea of having their own workcamp experience in the near future.

They have been outstanding!

The Republican Journal (local newspaper) did a story on us, which can be seen here.

Patty gave Belfast Police Chief Trafton a tour of the school and took him around to some of the work sites. Later Camp Director Jeff, Patty and I went out to one of the sites to be interviewed by WVII Channel 7.

One of the youth groups visiting here for the week asked if there was anyway to get live lobster and have a lobster feed for 30-40 people at the school. Gracious and accomodating as ever, RSU #20 allowed us to set up cookers outside the school and provide that service for them. The kitchen staff had the afternoon off to get a well deserved break from all of their outstanding work this week. A couple of our local volunteers, Ed Owen of Faith Temple Church of God and Ross Bartlett of Safe Harbor Church, had some contacts with local lobstermen and soon they had some low priced – and even some donated – lobsters. Others in the community offered the use of cookers and grills. Ed also provided smoked pork sandwiches for those who were a little iffy on the whole crustacean thing. There was more than enough to feed those who asked and to share with Group staff and others. Ed had to finish there by 3:00 so he could run down the street to Faith Temple in order to cook up a full scale seafood chowder feast in the late afternoon for another forty workcampers. Thanks Ed!

Tonight we got to see some of the campers perform as part of the Variety Show portion of the evening program. There was comedy, song, dance and an incredible drama that I will remember forever – very moving. I saw grown men weeping. Grown men I know personally. Okay, I won’t tell. Anyway, a very talented bunch of teens.

There were some incredible God Sightings shared by some of the teens.

There are wonderful friendships forming. Bonds are being made teen to teen, teen to resident, teen to adult, staff to local volunteer, and in every other possible combination. It is profound and palpable.

Good night, all.

The day began with an overcast sky, promising a bit of relief from the heat. Soon, however, the sun was out again in full force, and the word for the day was “muggy”. Sticky, hot and muggy. In the afternoon, toward the end of the work day, rain came down for a while in torrents. By dinner time, the clouds had burned away, and the sun was in full glory once again. Through it all, our fearless workcampers were hard at work on their respective work sites.

Group Workcamp staff (the “Red Shirts”), Swan Lake Workcamp local volunteers (“Blue Shirts”), and an army of dedicated teens and adults could be spotted all around the Waldo County area. Depending on the time of day or the circumstances, they might be seen purchasing last minute paint or building materials, sightseeing, supporting the local economy by dining or shopping, or doing something extra for their resident that wasn’t on any worksheet.

Special bonds are being developed on so many levels. Lifelong friendships and commitments are being forged. Resolve is forming in many hearts – the resolve to be a part of the solution to the problems of our day. Many eyes are opening to the possibility of what we can accomplish when we set aside small differences on behalf of the bigger picture.

There was another brief news story on the workcamp on the local NBC station, WLBZ-2. A reporter from the Republican Journal also stopped by the school, and planned to come back tomorrow to take photos when all the kids were around.

We continue to receive many excellent reports on the quality of support and service provided by our local volunteers and by the greater community. We remain in awe of the dedication and sacrifice of so many who are showing God’s love and care through myriad small acts of kindness that add up to an incredible experience for everyone involved. Thank you so much, everyone. Your efforts are making a lasting difference in so many ways!

It was a wonderful first day of work at the sites! After wakey-wakey, a hearty breakfast, the morning program and some training/safety videos, our 65 volunteer crews hit the road. First, they had to find their site (testing the accuracy of the directions our local site writing team had provided for them), meet the resident whom they would be working for and double-check that all necessary materials were already in place. Soon 59 sites all over Waldo county (and beyond) were alive with activity as campers began scraping, digging, climbing and otherwise prepping for paint, repair or replacement.

The weather was nearly perfect – sunny and hot. “Drink water” was the rallying cry throughout the day.

What is amazing to watch/experience is the response of these volunteers to the needs they encounter at their designated sites. As they begin to get to know these wonderful people, many times they see other needs or repairs that would help the resident. Rather than “I didn’t sign up for that” or “that’s not on list”, they show genuine Christ-like compassion, the kind that not only cares or feels for the other person, but acts on their behalf as well.

Patty, our community liaison, and Jeff Bettinger, the director for the workcamp, were interviewed at one of the sites by WABI, channel 5. Some of the teens and the resident were also interviewed.

Some went out later to purchase more canned goods to add to the growing mountain of donated items at the center of the gymnasium. Some youth groups brought a good deal of money instead of canned goods from their respective states, so they could buy the items locally, thus helping the local economy as well.

We thank God for the success of the day, the sunshine, and this incredible perfect storm of compassion, grace and hospitality taking place all around us!

After the morning service, many of us from Swanville Community Church headed down to the school to greet the workcampers as they arrived in vans and buses. It was a sunny, steamy day. Our hospitality team planted signs at intervals along the roadside, marking the way to Troy Howard Middle School. Others were enthusiastically waving and greeting the arriving workcampers as they turned into the school drive. A number of Swan Lake Workcamp volunteers were already at the entrance to the school building, with booths set up to provide name tags, welcome bags, snacks and drinks for the the arriving teens and their adult leaders. Dave Delano braved the hot sun to play piano and sing, and Dick Trask (aka Cap’t. Mud Flats) shared a bit of Maine humor.

A reporter arrived at around 2:00 from the local NBC affiliate and put together a story for the evening news.

13 Youth Groups have come from all over the country, including New York, Indiana, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, New Hampshire and Colorado. They will be split up into 66 crews, and will work on 59 separate projects in the greater Belfast area. They have also brought with them food items that will be delivered to a local food pantry at the end of the week.

Many of our volunteers attended the opening program at 3:00, as well as the evening program at 7:00. It was hot, loud, tiring – and an absolute blast!

Our intrepid volunteers provided a snack in the evening following the program, all homemade treats that had been prepared by local volunteers. De-lish!

Tomorrow morning, the teens will go out in their 6-person crews to their designated work sites and meet the residents and begin work on the homes.

Good night everyone, and get your rest. See you all in the morning. It’s been an incredible day!

Thanks to Maine Coast Welcome Center for allowing us to hold our raffle drawing there during the Belfast Chamber of Commerce’s “Business After Hours” gathering. A wonderful place to get your bearings if you are visiting the area (and enjoy some Scoops ice cream and many other wonders). They are located at 169 Searsport Ave., (Rte. One) Belfast, Maine.