Our Trip to Iowa, PT 1

Our family just got back from our vacation to Iowa. We had a great time away from work and home here in California! But we did find ourselves busy every day with something new and fun! Lots of "FIRSTS" on this trip!
To begin, none of us had ever been to Iowa, so that was first of our "firsts". It is a very beautifully green state (at this time of year), with lots of corn fields and dairies. Soft rolling hills and colorful gardens seem to splatter the countryside.
We had also never met in person the Bontrager family whom we stayed with for a few days before camp started, although they feel like family to us now!! We enjoyed getting to know each of them, hanging out around their farm, doing "choring" with them, and their wonderful hospitality. And we ate really good while we were there- too many good cooks in the kitchen! (Thanks for all of the lovingly prepared great food, Bontragers!) Included in our visit with them was a fun tractor-drawn hayride out to their campground on their property, where we had a good time fellowshipping with other families from the church and we ate a yummy potluck-style BBQ!
Among the odd jobs we helped out with around the farm was laying down a new roof on one of the barns. Actually, we didn't have time to finish before we all had to leave for CAMP, but the guys did get a good start on it( Good teamwork!). Most amusing was watching their Dalmation climb the ladder up to the roof! Silly dog!!
We also built a closet for their boys room, Ben repaired some wiring problems in their bus, Amy washed and rode the horse, Mikki helped feed the calves, the boys went fishing, TJ enjoyed climbing their silo- about 80-90 ft high. We watched a baby calf be born! We had a fun time playing music and singing together.
We had the fun experience of riding in an Amish buggy with a friend of the Bontrager's. That was a real treat! (Thanks, Sam!) I had thought to post those pictures, but decided against it, so as not to offend our Amish friends who may not like their pix being posted.
We also had Cheese Curds, for the first time. They are made fresh at the local cheese factory. I call them "cheese squeekies" because they squeek against your teeth when you chew them!

It was our privilege to be "roadies" for the Bontragers, who performed Sunday morning at a church on the way to camp. We helped them carry and set up their equipment, then sat back and enjoyed watching them do their thing! So sweet to watch a family ministering together!
Later that day, we finally arrived at Village Creek Bible Camp, where we would spend the next few days enjoying the company of about ten other families, as well as many fun and unusual activities! More on that later...