Stories from Jungle Camp- Part 1

Well we have officially been set free from our month long isolated adventure known as Jungle Camp! There are a lot of details and stories to tell, but I won't try to do that all in one post. I will put up some photos and tell some of the story over the next few weeks or so.

When we first got up to jungle camp our house was a wreck. The shelves that I had labored over for many hours weaving one at a time we all sagging terribly. As were our counter tops. This meant that all the stuff Jeff had carried up there was barely being held up. What a disappointment that was. Also we did not get to finish everything that needed to be done, so we were scrambling for the first several days to make the house livable. We did not have a table yet to eat on, the shelves had to be fixed, we had no electricity set up yet, we did not have rain flaps (which help keep the house warm at night and protect against rain), we still had dirt floors (later got covered with carpet) and all of our stuff was everywhere. It felt and looked like we were living in a construction site. Our first night of sleep was awful as our bed was sagging in the middle. Also Carsten had a hard night, spending about 2 hours crying for no real reason that we are aware of. This all added up to make for a very overwhelming first few days there. Once we got things set up a bit better we were able to decorate and really make our house a home. Here are some pictures that help sum up our first week of living in jungle camp.

Our porch looking more like a work site

Celebrating Jeff's birthday!

Finally got carpet to cover the dirt floor

Carsten helping to start the morning fire

Rylan with two of the many caterpillars he found daily

Happy after being able to take my first shower 3 days in!

Moving up Day

Sorry for the lack of blogs these past several days, but life has gotten very chaotic very quickly. We have been scrambling to get our house finished (which it is mostly...) and then get everything packed to carry up there. It really feels like we are literally moving out of this house as we had to go through every cupboard and room to make sure we have all we need to live up there for a month. Jeff and one of our classmates are already in the process of carrying everything up there. One trip at a time! Not sure how long that will take, but I am guessing it will take longer than we hope it will.

So this is the last post for a month. I would love to post some updated pictures, but my camera is charging and I just don't think I will have the time later. There will be lots of pictures when we move home in July! Please think of us over this next month, especially the next few days as we all get settled into our new home!

Jungle Camp Building- Day 6 + 7

On day 6 Jeff completed the framework for our bed as well as the benches that will go around our table. I started doing some weaving, but was not able to be out there much because I was home with the boys. As for today, well today was a mandatory and much needed day of rest! So nothing was accomplished in jungle camp. For the next 3 days, Jeff will be going on a hike with all the men from our class and some staff guys. He will have the camera, so although I will be working on projects in jungle camp while he is gone, there will be no new pictures for a few days.

Master bed, which will be weaved with twine

Completed benches which will be weaved and have cushions

Video of the boys in Jungle Camp- Day 5

Here is a short video of the boys playing up in jungle camp.

Jungle Camp Building- Day 5

On day 5 we built the framework for a lot of our furniture. We will have to weave twine across the openings of each to finish them off. We got the counter tops framed, a set of shelves framed and Rylan's loft bed framed. Carsten will sleep in a pack-n-play underneath Rylan. It may not look like much, but it was a lot of work and still took all day long. Our sink is also in place and now will have to be plumbed, but that will not come until next week.

Jungle Camp Building- Day 4

Today we got the stove lit so that it could help start drying the clay. We will still need to put a layer or two of clay over the stove as some cracks will develop as it drys. We also put up all of the middle posts for the walls. We will attach plastic and screening to these poles. We began putting the framing up for our bathroom and kitchen counter. Every project is just so time consuming, but we are making good progress!

Jungle Camp Building- Day 3

Today we spent most of the day working on our stove. First we had to build a cradle to hold the stove. We started on that yesterday, but had to make a few modifications as we went along. Once the cradle was mostly built we had to put a layer of plastic down and then pack in 3-4 inches of dirt under and around the stove. Jeff did the digging to get the dirt and I did the packing. Once that was completed we had to build the cradle up around the sides and the back. Later in the day we were ready to start putting clay around the stove. The clay is what insulates the stove. All of these things were very time consuming. The boys came up to visit a few times throughout the day. They spent the first half with a staff family and the second half of the day with Jeff. I was left to continue putting clay on the stove. It was yet another long and tiring day!

Packing in the dirt

Rylan found a frog when he came to visit!

Beginning the first round of clay

Very dirty after just a few minutes up in Jungle Camp!

Adding more clay

The stove at the end of the day