Michigan - Vacation at Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island and NOMADS Annual Meeting in Kalamazoo, zoo, zoo

On our way to the annual meeting of NOMADS, we detoured to Mackinaw City and were able to get a campsite on Lake Huron.  The weather was unseasonably warm and the area was truly beautiful.  This was our view just behind a few trees on our campsiste.

Another view of the campground along the shore.

A view of the campground from the beach.

Resting and enjoying the sound of the waves hitting the shore.

Next day we took a ferry like this to Mackinac Island.

One of the lighthouses approaching the Island.

Approaching the wharf on Mackinac Island.

No motorized vehicles on the island, only bicycles and horses.

Fort Mackinac on the hill above the village.

The horses getting a rest on the carriage tour.

The arch in the rock  on the north of the island.

Inside the fort.

The Mackinac bridge from the ferry.

Back at the campground looking toward the bridge.

The bridge from the campground.

Mackinac Island as seen from our campground across the sound.  

We headed south for the NOMADS meeting.  This is a view of the crowd on the first day of meetings.  Over 300 NOMADS attended the meeting.  One our the largest crowds ever for the meeting.

Everyone canvassing the silent auction entries which is a part of our fund raising events for the work on the projects.

The Board of Directors bringing us up to date on events, finances and other pertinent info.

The lady at the podium made this quilt hanging. It is made out of NOMADS Annual meeting T-shirts from the last 10 years.  The lady to the left of the podium is Carla, our Director.  She has been with the NOMADS for 10 years and this quilt is being given to her in gratitude and love for her service.  

A close-up of Carla with our Board Chairman, Perry who is announcing the monetary gift which was raised from all the NOMADS contributions to celebrate her anniversary.

Each AM we had devotions presented by prominent former pastors, District Superintendants, Bishops and on this day, pastor of the largest UMC in Kalamazoo

Several evenings we shared meals together and followed with entertainment.  This evening's entertainment is a local Gospel Quartet.

This evening, we are entertained by a choir comprised of NOMADS from all over the country.  A couple of these folks are actually from Pennsylvania

Our final evening's entertainment was by this Chritian comedian/magician.  This gentleman is just recovering from hip surgery.  After his performance, we also learned that he had lost his wife the previous weekend but since he had committed to this performance nearly 2 years ago, he refused to cancel dispite his heath, both physical and emotional.  We were very touched.

We also had various seminars at the meeting.  This one is on drywalling and it is being taught by Larry Mathias.

Thats the overview of the first two weeks of our trip.  From here it was off to Conway, Arkansas where we return to help with the Disaster Reovery Project there.  More on the next blog.