Our home group and some added friends went on a small mission trip this past weekend to The Ponderosa Bible Camp. Chris and Gina Dorough are friends with the missionaries that live at the camp, Jeff and Ann Nelson. Jeff and Ann run a non-profit Christ centered camp while raising 11 children of their own. They also run a Public School Ministry where they teach the Bible for an hour a day to students in Dekalb County, AL. 
Our team members included, Todd and Shirley Stone, Chris Dorough, Brain and Stacy Woodall, Josh and Amanda Bush, Tim and Laura Hamm and Joey and Marsha Roach. We all arrived late Friday evening where we were greeted by the Nelson family. I can’t tell you enough how this family blessed us over and over again this weekend when we as a group went to serve them with our work. 
Saturday morning was a day of work. The women team members painted 12 bunk beds and 6 counselor beds. The men team members constructed 6 counselor beds and wired cabins with new electrical outlets. That afternoon it was a complete team effort to help clear space in the woods for a new zip line. The men and even some women wanted a turn to run chainsaws and blowers. 
After a full day of work, Jeff and Ann took us on a tour and shared their passion with us. Their passion is sharing the gospel with children every summer. They keep costs very low so that each child has a chance to come to camp. I was amazed at Jeff and Ann’s love for the camp and for the work it takes to run and maintain the almost 82 acres. Jeff and Ann took us into their home and not just feed us with food but fed us spiritually. As a mother of two, I wanted to bottle what it took to mother 11 in the way I watched Ann mother. Our home group grew closer through working together and we all walked away changed and stretched. We are praying about a summer trip to revisit the Nelson’s and their camp. Marsha Roach
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