Friday June 3

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”  Ps 133:1

This is a prayer for the camp as so many factions have now hurt each other so the desire for retaliation and revenge is strong.  The vast majority of these people do not have the spirit of the Lord so forgiveness and compassion are in short supply.  And given the living conditions, I think only the Lord can provide them.  Humanly, it seems impossible. I was reading in Mark this morning, about the feeding of the 5000. And it struck me anew about the abundance provided – plenty for all to eat and even 12 baskets of leftovers!  With God, there is always enough and more, even tho’ I fail to see it at times.  No changing the reality – just my weak eyes and heart.

Friday morning up early for another 24 hour shift at Skala.  Tuesday there had been a rough day for me so I was a little leery and I had not slept well.  But God stepped in – spoke to my heart, provided a great breeze to help beat the heat, and gave us some purpose to the day.  Upon arrival at 7, I popped into a tent for a quick nap.  I was awakened by loud trucks and machinery.  A crane and two long flatbed trucks had come to take two of the units back to the camp as replacements.  It was quite a process and went surprisingly quickly.  I was trying to imagine these long trucks maneuvering around the hairbend turns and couldn’t. However. They arrived all intact!  The units are to replace some of the destroyed ones.  Then Bernie (clothing organizer, still nursing his broken heart) came in his van and we loaded up as many bags and boxes of clothes as he could hold.  Unfortunately, so many of the clothes are winter ones and not needed now.  I did a little organizing and tried to get some of the usable stuff to the front. However, the temperature and the huge mounds defeated me after a bit.

After that, it was quite quiet so two of us headed to my favorite village for coffee and a little break.  It is so incredibly beautiful there – I will miss it and the woman who owns the coffee shop.  We have had some great conversations and she was so lovely to me.  It’s amazing how much one can be drawn to a person with very little interaction.

It was a good break as Rachel and I enjoyed our coffee and some nut bread but mainly talked and process the previous day – so good and helpful.  A little soaking the feet in the sea and back to camp so the other two could go down.  Bernie returned for another load – this time for aluminum shelving units.  They all fit into his van and off he went again.  With the removal of the two front units, a lovely covered area was opened up out front.  There was the view of the hills and the sea and a great breeze.  I hauled two chairs out there and spent some nice time, eating lunch, cross stitching, listening to music, all with my feet up.  A servant’s work is never done!

Suppertime took us back to Sykamenia for my last visit there.   Sigh . .   When it is dark up here, the stars absolutely fill the sky!  The Big Dipper was right overhead.  I always want to sing How Great Thou Art at times like that.

An alright sleep on my cot and up early to meet the new crew.  And they really are a new crew today – their first shift. I feel like such an old timer!  All in the know and everything!  After this much time, it really does get more comfortable, even with the hard work.  I’m friends with the hotel staff and the food cart folks outside the camp, and some of the townspeople, like my coffee shop friend.  I know my way around and where the best pizza is – where to get groceries and so on.  Although I will be very glad to see my dear ones, I could stay some longer.  That is probably the best time to leave.

So back at the hotel – shower, breakfast, pack. Dustin and I will head to town soon to turn in our little faithful Kia and do some last minute buying.  Then off at 2:45 for the last camp shift.

Last things