Spring's Great Adventure: A Day (Or 21 Days) In the Life of a MMAPer

It’s the first week of August and we have been at Camp Berachah in Auburn, Washington (near Seattle) since the first of July. We have already completed one three-week project here and are beginning a second one. This will be our fourth MMAP project for this summer (12 total projects since we joined MMAP.). Last summer we spent two months at Camp Berachah, so many of our readers who follow our “Great Adventure” blog already know a little about the camp. For others (“newbies” to the blog,) you can find out all about the ministries at Berachah by linking to their web site at www.campberachah.org

At the end of August (or perhaps in September when we are on the road heading back to Arizona) we will share more pictures and tell you a little more in detail about the MMAPers we worked with and the things we did while at the camp in July and August.

However, for this blog update I would like to give you a snapshot into what it is like to be a volunteer for MMAP (Mobile Missionary Assistance Program.) I have a very explicit purpose for doing this:

M.M.A.P. NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS!

I’m not ashamed to ask each of you who is reading this blog to either consider becoming a MMAPer or pass on this information to your friends and relatives and anyone else you come in contact with that may be interested in joining us. Volunteering for any worthwhile project (short time or long term) is a great way to give back the many blessings you have been given….and doing so continues to bless you…PLUS, it keeps you young! Here's just one example -


The MMAP crew in July.

The couple second from left are Jerry and Mary Ellen from Henderson, Nevada. Jerry will be 81 this month. He and Mary Ellen joined MMAP in January of 1995 - a year after they retired. They have completed over 100 MMAP projects, worked with 256 MMAP couples, worked at 41 different project locations (including Canada), have been in 18 different states working on MMAP projects and visited almost all the other states. They say they wouldn't trade these past 18 years for anything! They are several of the most vibrant and peppy folks we know.

Founded in 1978, MMAP was started as a group of volunteers who felt led to do week-end projects at camps and churches that could not afford to hire help for various building and remodel projects. Over the years 1632 couples joined, and in the 80's and 90's there were over 250 active couples who traveled all over the United States, Canada and Mexico in their campers and motor homes, taking on three-week projects at Christian churches, camps, schools and youth homes. In those days it was not uncommon for these 250 couples to work on a minimum of 8 projects each year. MMAP headquarters was able to send out all these active couples each year to work on numerous projects.

The distressing reality today is that those numbers have waned dramatically. Many of the first wave of MMAPers have grown old and can no longer do this work. And because of a complicated set of socio-economic factors, new volunteers stepping up to volunteer with MMAP is not equal or greater to those leaving. (Unfortunately, this seems to be the case for many volunteer organizations today.) As of this year, our numbers have dwindled to only 90 active couples. Of these 90 couples, only 8 work a minimum of 8 projects each year. (Minimum requirement is that a MMAPer commits to three projects annually.) This past year, MMAP has helped on some great projects and we have been honored to be a part of it. But the actual statistics for 2012 was only a tiny fraction of the previous years' numbers. It is still marvelous that MMAP couples continue to volunteer for projects, but the sad fact is that the MMAP organization has to turn down more requests than they are able to accommodate because of the shortage of volunteers to man all the project requests.

Christ told his disciples (Matthew 9:37) that “the fields are white unto harvest but the workers are few”. Yet this does not have to be so. I know there are many of you reading this blog who can do what we do. If not, I’ll bet you know someone who can - they just need to be told about this opportunity. And I can state for an absolute fact - YOU WILL BE BLESSED!

Here are the basic things you need to know to become a MMAPer:

1) This is a non-denominational Christian organization. MMAPers come from all Christian denominations – Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopal, etc. And you must agree to the MMAP statement of faith (which can be found on the MMAP web site at www.mmap.org )

2) You must be a married couple. This requirement is NOT prejudicial to singles. (If you are a single Christian wanting to do this type of volunteer work, there are other organizations available for you – check out the internet and GO FOR IT! You too will be blessed!!) This requirement is simply a common sense approach to the work requested by the various organizations that need MMAP volunteers. Most of the projects are remodel-type work that the MMAP men do. MMAP women are also encouraged to help out as needed - office work, help in the camp kitchen, sewing projects, painting projects – and in some cases for those women who are able, helping the men with the construction projects. However, MMAP wives are not required to work. Their primary focus is to make sure their husbands are cared for. But those of you who have kept up with this blog know I delight in helping out...and I have a blast doing it!

Always time to clown around while working in the kitchen at Camp Berachah. Here I am with Cindy (center) who works at Beracha, and. Jennifer (right) a fellow MMAPer.

When we were on a project in San Bernardino,I helped paint some Sunday School rooms. Who knew painting could be so much fun!

3) You must have access to an RV – Each project location provides full RV hookups for MMAPers at no charge. NOTICE – I said “access to an RV”. If you don’t own an RV, do you have someone who would loan you their RV for a time? If so….YOU TOO can be a MMAPer! (And again, this is not prejudicial to those who do not have an RV. You can go online and check out the countless other volunteer opportunities that offer their volunteers free housing. GO FOR IT!)

4)You must be available to do a minimum of three projects each year. Some of you may still be working – but if you are available for three 3-week projects and time to get to them (which may only be a day or two travel time from your home,) YOU TOO can be a MMAPer. In the late spring and summer, project locations are scheduled in the cooler climates of the US. In the fall and winter they are in the warmer parts of the country. It’s a great way to get out of the snow and sleet if you live in the cold areas of the country, or (like us who live in Arizona) it’s a great way to “beat the heat” of the summer. This picture is our camp site at Camp Berachah this summer. We are enjoying the mild Washington weather while Arizona "bakes" in 100+ temps!

And these projects don’t have to be done back to back. For instances, if you can travel in your RV for five or six months, and you want to see our great country, you can do a project one month, travel and sight-see the next, go to another project the third…you get the idea. Or go to a project location wherever you can – then go back home for a few months – then set out for another location. Again – a GREAT way to see the USA and be blessed at the same time. (In the past four years of doing MMAP, we have traveled to 22 states, working 12 different projects at 8 project locations in 5 different states. I never dreamed I would be able to see so much of this glorious land of ours - "from sea to shining sea"!)

5) If you are (or want to be) a full time RVer, MMAP is certainly for you too. Many MMAP couples have sold their homes and live in their RVs full time. They go from project to project and intersperse it with sightseeing and visits to family and friends around the country. Many project locations will allow MMAPers to stay over the week between projects or arrive early to a project. Remember, you are getting your RV site provided free of charge at these locations – although many organizations ask that you do a little volunteer work during those days before or after a project. This year we arrived at Berachah the week before the July project started and Jim helped construct some yurts.

6) The MMAP work week is Monday through Thursday. Friday through Sunday is time to visit and sight-see. For those of you with kids, grandkids and other relatives in other parts of the country, it’s a great way to schedule a project close by and have your days off to visit with them. As you know, that is what we do when we come to Washington. This year we were able to celebrate 4^th of July at our daughter’s house and see the spectacular fireworks from their home overlooking Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

Fireworks over the bay - taken by our friend Chelle

7) In some cases, you can also have grandkids visit the camps where you may be working. Our MMAP friends, Jim and Jennifer live in California. They come to Camp Berachah for a project each summer and these past two years have brought a grandchild with them. Last year they brought their granddaughter, this year their grandson. Each child was able to attend a week of camp while Grandpa and Grandma were close by, then the kids’ parents flew up to Washington to pick them up and visited a few days with Jim and Jennifer. In May our daughter and her family were able to spend a weekend at our project in Warm Beach in a house provided by the camp. This month our daughter and her two daughters came here to Camp Berachah for a day’s visit with us and the animals in the camp’s petting zoo.

You can’t ask for better family memories!

8) Men – you DO NOT have to have specialized backgrounds in construction. Many MMAPers retired from desk jobs but are more than qualified to swing a hammer or paint a room or dig a hole.

Jim has no construction background but has learned a lot these past four years.

He says any job needs a “gofer” or manual laborer who takes instruction from a more qualified MMAPer (which are many). And MMAP is very careful to not take on projects that would be over the capabilities of the MMAP volunteers (i.e. no steep roof jobs, etc.). And MMAP will not put volunteers on a project unless there is a minimum of three men to do the work. In addition, many of the camps and other project locations provide some of their own staff to assist in the work.

9) At 7:30 am each work day starts with a 30 minute group devotional.

The men begin their workday at 8am.

They take a break at 10am. Here Jim and Jim enjoy fresh baked goodies from the Camp kitchen

Camp Berachah dining hall

Lunch break is from 12:00 – 1:00. Many camps provide lunch for the MMAP volunteers. The men are back to work by 1:00 and stop for their second break at 2:30, than are off for the day by 4pm. And again, many camps and locations feed us dinner (some only on the four work days – others, every day of the three weeks that we are there.)

10) If the MMAP ladies work, it is usually only in the morning (8 or 9 a.m. until noon) and we take breaks and lunch with the men. We always take time to go out for a “Ladies’ Day Out” at least once during the three-week project

and many times we spend some of our afternoons in Bible study

or working on a craft project.

11) Game times in the evenings (usually Thursday evenings after the men have completed their work week) are common

This was a rousing game time at a previous project in San Bernardino, CA

And sight-seeing on the weekends with the other MMAPers is part of the fellowship.

Here we are on a sightseeing boat trip during our project near McCall,Idaho

12) Since we all come from a variety of church backgrounds, worshiping together at the same church is not mandatory – however most projects usually start with all of us attending a worship service at an agreed-on local church the first Sunday of the project and the “mandatory” group lunch afterward. After that, each of us is free to continue Sunday worship at the same church (sometimes a great way to meet the locals) or go to another church of our choice. (While we are in our old stomping grounds here in the Seattle area, we take the opportunity to visit our daughter’s church, our former church and attend church with other old friends from this area.)

The church we attended while on project in Floville, Georgia

Combined lunch with MMAPers from Berachah and Warm Beach

13) Speaking of “friends” – the other couples you will work with on MMAP projects will become life-long friends even if you never work another project with them. We're fairly new to this adventure, but in the past four years we have worked with 23 MMAP couples. And we keep in touch with most of them. Some have visited us in Arizona and we have stopped by some of their homes throughout the country. We have extended our “family” and know that all of these sweet people pray for us - for our safety in travel and while we are working on project as well as when we are home. It is a group of Christian “brothers and sisters” that we can turn to any time for prayer and support.