Volunteer Job at Myakka vs. Church

Tough Decision...  How exciting to get a job offer (on Nov 18th) to Volunteer at Myakka State Park for January through March 2012.  These are the hardest months (of course) to find a position in Florida.  We would just have to clean a few cabins for our spot in one of the most popular parks in the system.

Our Temple at Orlando, Florida...Don't miss it!



Myakka River

So what does this have to do with church?  RU kidding?  Any week we haven't been able to get to church has been a most unpleasant experience.  We absolutely need the recharge of taking the sacrament with people we love and who love us....unconditionally.  Here's the reply I sent to the offer:  "It looks like an excellent opportunity. We have been cleaning the cabins at Bahia Honda SP, so you might say we've had some training already. We don't know if this will be a problem, but it's important for us to go to church on Sunday. We'd need a few hours in the morning, but would be available in the afternoon...and of course all day on any other day of the week.  Please let us know what you think. Thanks so much, Bob & Eileen White"

Here's the reply:  "I am afraid that would be a problem.  Sundays are our biggest check out days for the cabins so we would need at least a 10:00 am start time on Sundays. I really appreciate your honesty in this matter."

The fact we lost the position was no surprise at all.  Even in Utah, where church attendance is generally a way of life, we'd been told by our area managers that no one would be allowed to go to church next season (even though we'd only be gone for an hour, or even less).  We absolutely wanted to take the position.  We already knew how deliciously fascinating Myakka is.  We loved it well from our former visits as Florida residents. 

We knew how thick it was with gators and armadillos.  One of our most vivid memories was of turkey vultures picking the flesh from the armor of slain armadillos in the park.  We loved the skywalks and airboats and perfect biking trails.  We even enjoyed the feral pigs and their bursts of activity in the understory that got your adrenaline busy raising your blood pressure.

Myakka is one of those horse-loving parks, too.  Just pick up a horse trail map  ...and start your adventure.  There's about 14 miles of trail right in the park...through the marshes and over the hammocks!  Giddy-up...

Wildlife abounds...you may even see a Burro...??

So what did we lose by choosing our life-enriching experiences at Church vs. volunteering at Myakka?  Here's the list of benefits we were emailed by the Volunteer Coordinator: 

Job Offers Galore!



Ocala National Forest called us again after we turned down Shanty Lake and offered us a very nice position at Doe Lake Group Site.  We'd just have to watch over one site that was mostly used by equestrian clubs.  I was in heaven!  I love horses so much that I thought I was one growing up.  Pictures are at Doe Lake Description   But then it got confusing.  We got offers to camp host at Gold Head Branch State Park, Juniper Springs with Recreation Resource Management of America (a great company to work for; apply at RRMofA Employment Application or http://rrmofa.com/ ) then four offers in one day from the Forest Service.  Next Jolene called from Manatee Springs State Park with an offer to run the Ranger Station a few days a week in return for a spot with hookups.  We spent a few day at this remarkable state park in January 2010, so that was completely exciting.  And church was an easy bike ride into Chiefland, which was an important feature.  Then on September 23, 2011, we got an email from a ranger in the Everglades offering us the job at the Nike Missile site.  But the job didn't start until December.  (We should have asked, because we thought it started October 1st, like all of the other offers we'd received.)  We also got an offer from Bahia Honda State Park on this same day.  I told Bob to turn it down:  too hot and too buggy!  Besides, I'd miss the family reunion that was planned for October 8th.  He seemed devastated...saying that would be his dream job of all time.


Manatee Springs, complete with Manatees....of course

Here's a sample email we received:  The Ocala National Forest has immediate openings for volunteer campground hosts at the following campgrounds:   Delancy West - available now - April!, Hopkins Prairie - available October 15 - April 15



Favorite things about 1st Camp Host Job?

 #1 - Having a premium natural playland for the grandkids to visit.  It's a natural school...with plenty of wood for building (from felled trees) and all of the flowers and water and paths and rocks for creative play.  Did I mention mud?






And what about smores?  How did they ever become an essential campfire ritual?  And Sunday was incredibly special as we attended the Brighton Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We overdosed on love from the members and The Spirit from the Lord.

 

Trails go to nearby lakes and ski runs

 

Ski Resorts are on either side of Redman...Paka is at Solitude