TKA Lotus Service Trip 2024

Hi everyone! The day started out warmer than the others, and after a warm quiche breakfast, we went to the main Rock N Water Camp to do some work for the final day. Here's what the kids did: raked leaves pruned blackberry bushes a few feet back on each side of a road (helpful so the rafts on the vans going down that road do not get poked) painted bathrooms washed and vacuumed the camp vans put a tarp up over an eating area washed supplies (including spider infested vests!) We took a break to have a 10 minute quiet time by the river and connect with God and rest in nature. The kids also had a chance to play a couple rounds of gaga ball before getting back to work. The owners of The Motherload rafting company down the road gifted us all popsicles as a thank you for helping them, so we ate those after a long day of work. The owners at that camp actually mentioned to us that our students restored their faith in today's youth. They asked the Rock N Water staff why we would help out ...

Hello readers! Today was another fun and productive day at camp. The other team went rafting and recovered trash along with the following crazy items: a couch (in a tree), a mailbox, a stop sign, and a road reflector. There was a large slide, but due to the size and metal in it, the teams could not take it with them. Crazy, though! Make sure to take a look at the photos of them returning to shore. The other team went to Cold Springs Church to put up an outdoor tent for their Easter Sunday services and do some yard work in the front of the property. We stopped to have a wonderful lunch provided by the pastor's wife and other ladies consisting of carnitas, rice, salad, and cookies. After lunch, we trimmed rosemary bushes in the parking lot, cleared A LOT of leaves and sticks, and helped clear the bushes that were bulldozed in front of us. (It was pretty cool to watch!) At tonight's campfire, we played a game before hearing from Mr. Pineda about reasons to read the Bible. It was a...

Hello! Today we had two teams working hard with great attitudes! One team went rafting and everyone came back safely! It was cold, but they did it. They recovered interesting items as they cleaned the river, including a grill, a dog bed, part of a kayak, two jackets, multiple golfballs, and a paddle. They gathered trash, and then they actually saw a picnic table up in the trees, which tells you how high the water was this season! The other team went to Christian Encounter Ranch where they helped clear the trail by raking and gathering branches in preparation for a 5k race! Students also uprooted, pruned, and cleared blackberry bushes along the trail. We also burned brush and wood. Christian Encounter Ranch is where students who have difficult backgrounds can stay 9 months to 2 years to get an education, counseling, and training for vocational jobs.  Tomorrow, the other team will raft and pick up trash while the other team goes to Cold Springs Church in Placerville to help out....

Greetings, everyone! Today we were hard at work all day at two different locations: The Motherload River Center and White Water Excitement.  The Motherload is the first rafting company in the area (founded in 1974), and they had a massive amount of water that came up and left debris, eroded areas, and brought rocks up into the property. Students worked on moving large rocks out of the way and then started preparing the area to make a walking path. Another group worked on something similar with shoveling rocks to make a walking path upstream. Our final group made a burn pile for the downed trees. Over at White Water Excitement, the students moved picnic tables, built a fence, and burned pieces of wood.  Tomorrow, one team will be rafting all day to clean up the river, and the other group will drive to Grass Valley to help out another organization. Day 3 Photos

Hello everyone! We had our first full day today. Teams helped out at the camp we're staying at as well as the other main Rock N Water camp. Tomorrow is the day we'll actually be going to two other rafting companies down the road to help them out. They are not Christian camps, and it's a great chance to serve and reflect Christ's love as well as represent TKA. Here are some of the things the kids did today: raking leaves all around the camp clearing out blackberry bushes painting the bathrooms filling in trenches under the bathrooms moving equipment cleaning flood debris rebuilding a shed cleaning life jackets starting fires and burning the brush and driftwood, etc. (I have to say, this seemed to be a favorite!) Day 2 Photos   (There are a lot more!)

Hello parents! Everyone arrived safely to Rock N Water today. We left around 1 and arrived by 5 (long drive, but we made it!) Students and staff pitched tents and unpacked in time for a great dinner! In the evening, we gathered by the campfire and heard from Mr. Murray about waiting on God.  The plan for tomorrow is to do some clean up at the main Rock N Water camp as well as two other rafting companies down the road. I will keep you updated as the week goes by! Students are in good spirits and excited to see how they can be of service this week and bond as a group as well! You can click the link below to see photos from today, but more will be added tomorrow since I'm having some trouble uploading them. Thanks! Leanne Lopes (Trip Co-leader) Day 1 Photos