The Choctaw Plaindealer

Whoever said being retired was boring or it was the easy life has never met any of the retired missionaries that volunteer of the Mobile Missionary Alliance Program (MMAP).

Four couples of missionaries, who have retired from their first careers, arrived at French Camp late last week to begin working on their next project at French Camp on Monday, January 9.

For the next three months the MMAP volunteers will work on building a Recreational Parking area at Rainwater Observatory that will accommodate eight to ten RVs. Out of the four couples working at French Camp Observatory only one couple worked on the previous projects completed by MMAP volunteers.

According to information supplied by MMAP it has nearly 700 members and counting and worked on over 4,000 projects and growing in North America. MMAP volunteers travel from East to West coast and as far North as Alaska and Canada.

Volunteers assist with projects involving construction, remodeling, landscaping and office work for churches, camps, missions, orphanages and additional Christian organizations.

While it may seem like a lot of work, especially for a group of retired men and women, they view their daily work load in a lighter manner.

According to Bobbie Heine, a former schoolteacher, she and her husband, Bill, continue to volunteer with MMAP because it provides fellowship with other Christians and serves the Lord at the same time.

"It is a great way to spend retirement," said Bobbie. " It is a way to serve the Lord while fellowship with other Christians and retirement frees you up to have more time to serve the Lord."

The additional three couples working with the Heine couple share the feeling that what they do is more than building a church or creating an RV parking area.

Vernon and Geneva Steinert have been volunteering with MMAP for 20 years and this is the second year that they have been assigned to French Camp.

According to Vernon, he continues to volunteer because he believes in the work he is able to do at the MMAP projects.

"MMAP works with churches and Christian organizations that are both non-denominational and Interdenominational," said Vernon. "It is rewarding to work with and for Christian organizations that are interested in serving the Lord and through our work others will be led to the Lord."

The volunteers at French Camp believe the work done at French Camp is well spent because they feel that the ministry of French Camp is Excellent.

"It makes all the work worth while when you witness someone that just gave their life to the Lord," said Bill. "We have already witnessed that very event here, when two young people trusted in the Lord at a program held here this week."