Malawi ahead

Our training team composed of myself, Dennis Ryan - district Public Relations coordinator, Mack Billeaud - district Missions coordinator, Charles Fulmer - Arkansas district Training coordinator, and Dennis Molnar - West Florida special aid-de-camp will be leaving for Malawi this week. We are excited especially about this training event in Malawi. It will truly be an international staff with 3 leaders from Kenya and the national commander of Ghana joining us.

The training will take place in Silema a lake side community about 30 miles from the capitol city. Malawi just started Rangers last year when Dennis Molnar conducted their Ranger Essentials course. They are expecting almost 100 leaders to participate in the upcoming training.

Keep our team members in your prayers.

Looking Ahead

Now that the 2009 LA RR Adventure Academy is history, we are looking ahead to the near future. I will be heading up an international leadership team going to the African nation of Malawi to help establish Royal Rangers in that country. We were asked to bring 10 tents to assist the national RR leadership with their camping equipment.
Lafayette First Assembly and pastor Tommy Faulk graciously shared a blessing that they had received by donating the tents for the Malawian Royal Rangers ministry. We dedicated those tents Sunday morning as the leadership representatives of the local churches ministries laid hands on the tents. Pastor Tommy and local commander Bob Faulk prayed a blessing over Ammie and I to place a capstone on the service. We were mightily blessed.

2009 Academy-Wednesday

What a time we are having. Yes, it rained briefly today - Oh so briefly. It was the most rain we have had for two weeks.

Lots of good things going on today. I had lunch with the Melancon's where Debbie cooked a faboulous meal. I ate supper out in the national forest with the STT where they were doing their wilderness survival night.

Church service was outstanding with the 3rd act of the drama - "Back to the Future." Bro. Schultz spoke on needing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and many boys were Spirit baptized.

I am uploading some pics and short videos.

David L. Craun

2009 Academy - Tuesday

Well, Academy is off to a good start and it is HOT! Wow, the guys are doing good at beating the heat as best as they can for the groups doing outdoor activities.

Enjoy the pics.

09 Academy - day one

With almost 300 in attendance the 2009 Louisiana Adventure Academy is off to a great start. Take a look at some of the photos of the day.

Going Up to go down

The old rappelling platform constructed out of treated lumber has served us well since 1989. However the structure was past its "half life" and needed to be replaced.

Replace is what has been done. Bro. Ron Clausen form Bastrop First Assembly has designed and fabricated a new 40 rappelling wall with a 20 foot platform. This new structure is now in place and ready for this years Special Forces and Pathfinders to do their thing.

Enjoy the pics.

David L. Craun

Camp Improvements - Spring 2009

Getting the campground ready for summer camps including the Louisiana Adventure Academy is intensive but rewarding work. Royal Rangers use more of the Twin Lakes Camp acres than any other group.

Some of the improvements we are currently working on are a joint effort to install a zip line over the lower lake, road improvements to the upper lake and development of the Ropes Training Center. The road improvements will make it possible to start developing new primitive camping areas in the back of our campground.

Work is also progressing on construction of a new rappelling wall. This will make us one step closer to offering a full range of ropes adventure challenges - low ropes leadership initiative, high ropes personal confidence, and rappelling wilderness exploration and rescue.

Enjoy the photos.