We moved north to a Nomads project in Williston Florida
about 2 weeks ago, and are just now updating our blog. Sorry for the delay.
Citrus trees are a big part of southern Florida’s economy,
but they are not found around here.
Instead this area is known for horses, cattle, and peanut
production. Williston is a small town
with a population of less than 3,000 at the last census. Although it is small, it has a very active
congregation and has hosted Nomads every year for quite some time. They also feed us well: at a local restaurant,
at the church’s fellowship hall, and at a number of private homes.
Our work started out a little slowly during the first week,
but we soon got busy with roof and gutter cleaning, pressure washing, woodwork
cleaning and painting. Last weekend,
some of us took a field trip to the town of Cedar Key and a boat ride on the
Gulf of Mexico. It was mainly a
bird-watching trip to see the many varieties that are nesting on the small
islands just offshore.
Before leaving town, we had dinner at Tony’s Seafood, winner of the title “Worlds Champion – Clam Chowder” for 3 consecutive years (2009-2011). It was yummy and we got some frozen chowder to take home with us.
Our second week had us building a storage rack for the community Thrift Store, and a wheelchair ramp at a private home, plus more pressure washing. Prior to dinner last Tuesday, we stopped to see one member’s home that was part zoo, part grotto, and also offered scuba diving in a spring. See http://www.devilsden.com/About_Devils_Den_JBS8.html
Today we went to The Villages, to meet with other Nomad
friends for lunch at a great deli and to see the Watkins’ new motorhome.
Tomorrow will see some of us taking another field trip to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park. She authored “The Yearling” and other books about the lives of the people of Florida. For more details, see https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-history/Marjorie-Kinnan-Rawlings