We are in the Rio Grande Valley

Hi. Yes we had a couple of inches of snow in Nebraska--had to clean off the slides and wait until 11 am before we could hit the road. The roads were wet but not slippery. The camper and truck sure were a mess when we got out of the slush. Got to Guthrie OK by night. It was still below freezing so no water on-board--we decided to stay in a motel for some hot water. We also plugged in the camper at another motel's camping spots. Started to warm up when we got to TX so we stayed just north of San Antonio Saturday night. We got to the Valley on Sunday afternoon--looked over our first project but can't stay there until Friday. The project should be interesting--the church looks like an old spanish mission with a metal building in the back yard. The camping facilities are in the same back yard--it will be interesting to get our camper through the gate and turned around. Today we got some of the road dirt washed off the truck and camper. Had a New Year party at the camp ground tonight--everyone went home by 9:30--that's old people for you. Beautiful today in the 70's--will be "cold" the next couple of days--only in the 60's. Thanks for your prayers. nlsower

We are back on the road

Hi everyone. B and C are back on the road--heading for Hidalgo, Texas. R and V are not going to any project this winter--I'll let them know when there are messages for them if they don't see the post.

We left on Dec 26, but only made it 30 miles to Raymond, MN--U-joint on the truck went bad. We made it back to New London so Steve, Kevin and Bob could replace the U-joint. Got going again on the 27th--made 400 miles to Nebraska City, Nebraska. Roads were dry all the way. Rather foggy so the trees were beautiful.

Sounds like there may be some snow to the south tomorrow morning clearing in the afternoon. It may be slow going.

This campground is covered with ice--sure is good to have 4-wheel drive or I may not get out of here. Bye nlsower (B and C)

We are back home!

Hi. I'm trying to find some pictures to put on the blog. Thanks for following us on our tour for the last 6 months. I will get some of our last photos organized and put them on the blog--hope to get that done in the next couple of weeks. Don't hold your breath--the job phone calls started even before I got home. I need the jobs so I'm not complaining--thank God for the work (money).

We (B and C) got home Friday at about 5 pm. It is sure different to move back into a house--lots more room than the camper. So I'm sitting in the camper doing my computer work--not because I can't stand to move into our house--it's because the cell phone reception is better on the hill instead of down in the valley. My cell phone is my Internet connection.

We had a great trip. Worked at five SOWER projects, each had its special ministry. Each project was unique with its special needs. Let me tell you God is at work across the continent--people are dedicated to telling the Good News. We are thankful that we could be a part of their ministry. Thank you for praying for us as we traveled.

We are planning to be home through December than we are thinking of working in TX for Jan, Feb and March 2008--don't know which projects will be available. If you would like to join SOWERS, let us know.

Glad the AC in working in the camper or I would be melting. Love to all and again thanks for your prayers. B and C. nlsower

May be in the US by the 5th

Hi. We should be in ND by the 5th. We are just into Saskatchewan. Roads are good and weather very nice--in the 60's with nice sun shine. See you. nlsower

We are on the road.

Hi. Just a short note. We are in Fort Nelson BC at the visitor center using their computer.

The travels are going well. We are enjoying the scenery and the wild life.

May get home by July 7th or so. See ya. nlsower

Fishing is great.

Hi Just a short note to let everyone what is happening.

The week when well--got several things done.

B's brother J came so B went fishing on Friday and Sunday--lots of fun detail when we get home.

I have to borrow a computer to get on the internet so not more pictures til we get back to the lower 48.

We are well. Bye nlsower

One week down!

Hi. Sorry about the long time since the last post. R and V have been busy getting everyone organized. Three of the men are remodeling a bath and mechanical area--tearing out the old bath and building two new baths and rearranging the mechanical room; moving the hot water furnace and hot water heater. Of course this includes breaking up the concrete floor with a jack hammer. Next week will include putting things back together. The other two guys have been replacing some rolled roofing and other odd jobs. The ladies have been cleaning and sewing.

Summer staff are arriving so the camp is gearing up for summer. Fun to see all of the activities that are available--private lake, wagon train camp area with 18 horses, plus all the traditional camp activities.

Pray for R and V as they are planning to leave on Tuesday--V's knee has been really hurting so they thought they should go home. B and C will be leaving about June 22. Continue to pray for safety on the road and project. Thanks.

I may have trouble posting any pictures since I won't have V's computer. You may have to wait until we get home. Bye for now--miss you all. nlsower

News From Ak

Hi everyone. We have been very busy lately. R & V moved today to Solid Rock Camp since they are group leaders for the project during June. They have to get the tasks organized and also the RV campground ready. They may still have some time to work at Amundsen Educational Center to help finish the house the students have been building. Yesterday they finished at the fish camp so we all were invited to the camp for "supper" (I'm still a old country boy).

B is still working at the camp this week through Thursday plus a little at Diamond M Ranch and RV park. B and C will move to Solid Rock Camp on Friday. C has been working on her projects. It is hard to believe that in a little over three weeks we will be heading for MN.

Hope our project at Solid Rock goes well. The camping facilities are minimal--a little electricity and maybe some water but no sewer--we have to hook up and go about five miles into town to a dump station at the Fred Meyer Store (the store is like a Wal-Mart). The campground at Solid Rock has lots of trees so is rather dark and with the cloudy skies it could be rather depressing. The camp is really spread out and lots of hills. Pray we have a productive and enjoyable project.

We check the blog nearly every day for comments--so thanks. nlsower

Sights in Alaska

These are some recent pictures. Mountains at Homer, Harbor at Homer, Eagle by Homer, Moose C and B saw while walking by their RV park. My fellow beachcombers at Clam Gulch--or three bumps on a log and a pup. nlsower

Hi everybody

This week has flown by soooooooo fast. R & V have been working at Amundsen Educational Center in the mornings and at the AAA fishing camp in the afternoons. How is that for being busy? B has been working at the Diamond M Ranch and RV park. General stuff like replacing a shower, installing a light fixture, putting in outlets in a new entertainment center and replacing some electrical pedestals in the RV park.

We are enjoying the wildlife and the scenery (lots of mountains). Today we went to Clam Gulch to watch people dig clams. It was fun to see the tide going out. The tide changes about 25 feet this month. Clamming was slow so didn't see any being dug up. We then drove to Homer--saw lots of eagles and then a moose on the way home. V has a moose story to tell!!!!!!!!!!!!! Homer is beautiful with white mountain across the blue water.

Tomorrow, it is off to church--Kenai Peninsula Brethren Church.

The weather is great--cool mornings and pleasant afternoons. Lows in the 40's and highs in the 60's. Of course it doesn't get dark until midnight--it is 11:45 now and not really dark. But I must get to be so we can get to Sunday School tomorrow.

I miss seeing MN turn green in the spring--still rather brown here. Digging in the RV pedestals was a little problem since the permafrost in only down 24 inches--glad that was all the deeper I had to dig.

Keep praying for us--we are all well--just old age aches and pains--but who is getting old. nlsower

What we are doing

Hi everyone. We are enjoying a little break. We are parked at Diamond M Ranch just outside Soldotna. We have 3 weeks before we start the project at Solid Rock Bible Camp. Well after a couple of days of sitting around we needed something to do. B and C are going to stay at Diamond M until May 31. B is going to work for the Ranch--help get things ready for the summer season. B is also going to do some work at Alaska Christian College, also some work at Amundson Training Center plus maybe even some at AAA fishing camp. Well so much for nothing to do--who wants to be bored anyway. We met the Christian couple who is running the fishing camp at a visitor center along the road on the way up here. The camp is on the Kenai River and they need HELP--another couple was suppose to be getting the camp ready, but didn't do much.........we will help them out so we can go fishing along the river.

R and V are moving from Diamond M Ranch to Amundson Training Center on Monday. They will be working there and maybe at the fishing camp. Mark H will meet with us Sunday in church.

Diamond M Ranch is run by a young Christian couple who go to the same church as Mark. They are excited about having some help during May since their summer help doesn't come until the end of May. B's first job is replacing a shower that had a broken pipe (froze last winter). This shower is in the apartment attached to the barn. There are four dairy cows some calves, a bull, lamas, horses, beef cows with calves, about 100 chickens, two ducks, wild turkeys, five kids and lots of "good junk". They have activities for the guests several times during the summer with the primary goal of inviting the guest to church. They said they have been praying every morning for God to send someone who could help them. We were going to stay at Edgewater campground but when we pulled in there, the owner was gone. Also, I had an uncomfortable feeling that it wasn't the right place to stay, so we went down the road to Diamond M. God has taken care of every detail. C is planning to get some quilting done.

A moose went through the camp the other morning about 3 am--no we didn't see it. But the tracks are about 3 feet from R and V's camper. A lady (who couldn't sleep) in another camper said the moose just walked through like it owned the place. I would like to have seen it. When R and V went out to Solid Rock Bible Camp the other morning there were two moose grazing in the rv campground where we will stay for the project. Maybe we will see some moose out there.

We are adjusting to Alaska price shock--for example, apples $2.99/lb; that's about $1.50 per apple--so much for fresh fruit. But Diesel is $2.85/gallon, that is a lot better than Canada where it was as much as $1.25 per litre. The only help is that was Canadian dollars.

Must close--Sunday school is at 9:30 am and service at 11:00--of course out to eat for Mother's Day. Continue to remember to pray for us.

B and C have a new cell phone number since there is no sprint service in Alaska--Call son P for number or email me. nlsower

Finally, photos of BC and AK

A planning session at the picnic table in Palmer AK.

The only electricity at a campground in Alaska.

Arrived in Soldotna, AK

Hi. We arrived in Soldotna today. We stayed in Palmer last night. We didn't go to Fairbanks so took the Tok cutoff. We skipped Denali Park since it was questionable if was really open--plus we have seen lots of animals and lots trees and mountain. Rained again today but the campground where we are staying is nice and dry. We checked out Alaska Christian College for RV parking--didn't look too good. We also went to Solid Rock Campground to check it out. It was rather muddy--hope it drys before we go to Solid Rock.

The long daylight is rather strange--light to at least 11 pm and light again by 4 am. Listen to the weather now and the forecast is for warmer for Friday and Saturday. Lows in 30's and highs in the upper 50's.

We are trying to rest up before we start working--don't know if it will be at the College or at Solid Rock during May. Must close. Thanks for the comments. nlsower

Still in Canada

Hi everyone. We are in Whitehorse Yukon. It is after 10 pm and still light. I will post some pictures when I have more time. We see elk, bison, deer, sheep, fox, moose along the road plus all the beautiful scenery. Rained some again today plus a little sleet over one pass--nothing on the road. Hope to get to Alaska tomorrow. Road have been very good so driving has gone well. nlsower

On the Alaska Highway

We are about 140 miles north of Dawson Creek. Travels are going great. Rather cool. Lots of snow along the road. It has been raining the last two days. The scenery is great. Fuel sure is eating up the funds.

We stopped in Prince George to look at a SOWER project. The three couples working there during May will be working with us in Soldotna AK during June. Lots of fun to meet them.

We stopped at a campground tonight but their water is still frozen and with the rain the sites were all mud, so we are down the road 4 miles at a restaurant that has electricity for us. A hamburger with french fries is $10.95.

Plan to be on the road by 7:30 tomorrow morning--maybe we will get 400 miles tomorrow.

Thanks for the prayers--driving on strange roads and uncertain weather is stressful. nlsower

Heading for Canada

We will be leaving for Canada tomorrow morning. Will be in Canada about six days so no cell phone or computer use. We have been staying in Tonasket, Wa with Sower friends, out in the hills so we are sitting in a laundry in town to get wireless for this. Will send more pictures soon.
rv & bc

Pastor Jo and Esther

Peaceful relaxation at Pastor Joe's

Yesterday was a day of relaxation--slept late, went for a walk in the apple orchid, toured the town and dined at the table of Eric and Esther. Of course we had to listen to some golf stories too. It is a good thing that these guys are christians or we would have had some doubts about the accuracy of their stories.

As the pictures show, we are looking over the valley--it is sooooooo peaceful. God's creation is so beautiful even the dry hills in the distance are "painted" many colors. This area gets only about 7 inches of rain a year. Temperatures for today are low of 37 degrees to a high of 68 degrees.

We plan to get moving north today--maybe by 10:00. Only going to travel 35 miles so we don't get too tired driving. We will stay in Elleningburg for a couple of nights--visiting SOWER friends.

Thanks Slave girl and poor Boy for the message--we don't notice any speling mistake etc--all we feel is the love and friendship radiating from the screen as we read your messages. Miss you too, nlsower

More pictures from New Hope

Picture #1 Steve (the school's buildings and grounds and bus driver and etc man) with two industrial tech students plus three "sidewalk superintendents" troweling the middle of the pour. #2 troweling the west half of the pour #3 troweling the east end of the pour--B is leaning on the form for the bench support. Another industrial tech student who helped wheel the cement.

Update as to where we are now. We left Grants Pass yesterday (Monday). We are camped along the Columbia River east of Portland. Today we are going to Yakima, WA. Will stay there a couple of days. Good travelling up Interstate 5 with beautiful green hills and valleys. Now we are in the dry brown hills.

Don, thanks for the comment. We check the blog nearly every day for comments. It is a day brightener when we hear from friends and family. Gets kinda lonesome out on the road.

Well, its 5 am so I guess it is time to go back to bed--hope the trains don't keep me awake. Pray for safe travels. God's Peace, nlsower.

Some pictures from New Hope School Grants Pass OR

Picture 1, The school looking southwest. #2 The school shop (they need TOOLS). #3 A nearly completed bench. #4 The school's observatory--dontated by a man from CA because there is too much light polution in CA. Check out the school's pictures at www.newhopechristian.net. #5 A view from the front of the school, looking southwest. This time of the year the clouds do hang in the hills--everything is soooooooo green. #6 The front entry of the school--looking northeast.

Finished at New Hope School in Grants Pass

Hi everyone. We finished our project at Grants Pass OR yesterday. Today, we were getting ready to hit the road on Monday morning. R & V had truck serviced and did some shopping. B & C were rather lazy--did some baking and sorting tools and needle work.

R & B mowed the camping area--each had a riding mower so didn't take too long. This evening Steve from the school opened up the observatory for us. It was a little cloudy but we got a good
view of the moon and Saturn. Most of the stars were rather blurry. Lots of fun.

Rain is predicted for tomorrow but should be able to continue packing things up.

It has been very cool this week--highs in the low 50's and frost at night. It's colder than MN. Next week is suppose to warm up--great after we leave.

Thanks JC for the card. It was Grandma and Grandpa's day brightener. We love you very much and miss you.

We will be stopping in Washington to visit--two SOWER couples and Pastor Eric J (in Yakima).

Pray that we have safe travels to Alaska--we start our Alaska project on June 4th. We may stop at a SOWER project in BC maybe even work a little depending on time available.

Will post more picture later. Bye, nlsower

More pics from Or.

1. Easter Sunday. 2. Benny in his new raincoat 3. B holding up a redwood.

Pictures from Grants Pass Oregon

Hi everyone. We are having so much fun and working so hard that I have been neglecting the blog. Sorry, we still love you. The weather has been beautiful--lows in the 40's or 50's and highs in the 60's to the 80's. Work is going fine. V spent Monday and Tuesday at son's (M & V). C has been sewing flags (V helped Wednesday and Thursday). The flags are used in the classroom to signal the teacher. R and B have been working on the pump house (cementing in gopher holes under the tank), repairing lawn mowers (two done and one going to be use for parts) and preparing for concrete between the sidewalk and the retaining wall (the retaining wall is falling over so will add benches to hold up the wall).

Hope you can figure out the pictures.

Happy Easter. We are going to M & V church and then to V's mother's for dinner.

We look forward to comments................... Keep praying for us. nlsower

Hi from Grants Pass

R and V have been busy at son's place (M & V). Dismantling a shed and rebuilding another. Hard work, they come "home" all tired out. C has been busy catching up on letters, cards and cooking for the four of us. I have been working on my taxes and a little project for the school each day. Monday--replace a water heater; Tuesday--fix a brush chipper, Wed--fix a washout on the trail to the school; Thursday--remove a wall on a well pump house so the tank can be removed and the floor cemented ( the gophers push dirt into the house from under the tank and cover up all the valves etc).

We don't have sewer connection at this project, so we have to pump the black water about 150 feet across the street to a sewer outlet by one of the trailer houses. I'll tell the rest of the story when we get home. We just let the gray water run out into the woods.

We don't have TV reception so C is reading Time magazine.

I need to take some pictures so I have some to post. Bye, nlsower

A few more pictures

Pic 1 The view from the rear window of B and C's camper. The temp may have been 85 but the water was cold--no we didn't try the pool.

Pic 2 One of several flowering trees at the YWAM base.

Pic 3 Sample of the student housing.

Pic 4 B's project on the final day. Made good progress but didn't get done.

Pic 5 Mt Shasta on the route to OR.

Note about YWAM. Saturday about 26 individuals left for Fuji for a mission outreach. Also about 22 individuals left for Guatemala for a mission outreach. Some were from MN. Fun to see all these people finish their training and then go on an outreach. Felt good to be part of this ministry. nlsower

A few pictures

Picture 1--one of Carole's quilting students

Picture 2--Benny and friends

Picture 3--R doing sheetrock in a bathroom

Picture 4--The Hotel 66 rooms on floors 2, 3 and 4

Picture 5--Group of lost mountain hikers

Picture 6--Outside of R's project; moved window