Advertisement
Published: April 25th 2010
Edit Blog Post
I'm quite sure I've mentioned
the pollen around here, and how it's green? And that everything in the bus is green? And I'm sure if we could get a glimpse, the inside of my sinuses are green. Here's how it puddles after a rain! (Brookhaven Retreat Center)
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged, and it’s been a very emotional time. Our dear friend Henry Norment (his wife is Annie…Henry & Annie...those names sound familiar because we’ve worked with them the past two springs) passed away suddenly at the beginning of this week. They were on project in Georgia when Henry had a brain aneurysm, which took his life. It has just stopped us in our tracks, and served as a reminder that we don’t have any idea how much longer we have with someone. Even as our hearts go out to Annie, she continues to minister to
us through her emails.
Along with that, we’ve been on two tours with missionary callings, and that’s been sobering in all that needs to be done in the world. Last week we spent the morning at AC’s house~~he’s the board president here at Brookhaven, and although he was out of town, he opened his home and equipment to us! (his maintenance man was there to explain things) He has about 16- 4 wheelers (someone stated that they had never seen a quad farm before!) We each took one and rode the
Carpenter Bees
Remember last spring when we were in Georgia and I told you about the carpenter bees~~they didn't sting, but would fly around our faces and were a nuisance. Turns out Texas has them too, and this is the kind of damage they do. These holes are in the beams outside our devotions room. The holes were big enough to stick my fingertip into. trails through the forests on his property. He has about 2000 acres, which include three lakes, the largest being 40 acres! Then we hit the dirt track; at first the women were cautious on the track, and just let the guys pretend like they were teenagers, but once we got more familiar with the quads, we all got crazy! It was so freeing, and so much fun! When we tired of that (actually, when we realized how little time we had before our next commitment) we went back to the house to have a picnic lunch on the man-made island in his lake. The island looks like it’s the end of the dock, but when you get out there there’s an island, covered with what they call “sugar sand”, because it’s so fine. We talked about the beauty, as well as how fortunate we are. After lunch we toured the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) campus, and learned more about their ministry. Although it began as a mission opportunity for youth, it’s also for adults, as so many have just stayed with them! This is one of the largest offices, so we were able to see how the missionaries get
I'm not sure what you'd call this,
but it was in a yard along the Azalea Trail. It came up to my knee, so it wasn't a maze, but it definitely was amazing! (I came up with that line on my own!!) their training. It was the kind of day that makes me realize how blessed I am.
Our work is going well; the women are finished painting the dining room, and have moved into the gift shop to do some painting. Donna is sewing curtains for some of the motel rooms. The men have finished building two docks in the lake, leveled two buildings (remember the term “sugar sand”? Not a great foundation!), as well as replacing or repairing several decks.
And then it’s tour day again! Friday morning we toured Mercy Ships, which is an international ministry that takes doctors, carpenters, and laymen to other countries, docks and then offers medical services to the people, as well as instruction on farming practices for their area, digs wells, builds schools, and educates the people in other areas. Mercy Ships had five ships at one time, but now their only using one, while awaiting completion of a second ship. The other ships had gotten so old that the cost of using them was counter-productive. The ship in service is Africa Mercy, and works mostly along the west edge of Africa. It docks in one place the end of January, and
I'm in the yard of a private home,
along the Azalea Trail. This is in Tyler, and is a trail past many houses sporting azaleas, as well as many other flowers. This family let us walk through their backyard and look at the flowers. It was so pretty it was almost more than my eyes could handle. remains there until the beginning of December. We toured the warehouse where supplies are accumulated, and watched videos and visited with people who have been on the ship, or are on their way to the ship. As this is the main office, we were able to learn so much about how the operation works; it was humbling to see the people who have been helped just because people offered their time and services. The ship houses 450 people, with many of them living there full time~~that means they’re raising their families on the ship, therefore they have a school that runs preschool through grade 12. The patients stay on the ship however many weeks it takes for surgery and recovery. We have so much, and many have so little. When we left there, we went to lunch and then toured a Christian maternity home. I didn’t even know maternity homes still existed, and we found out there are many of them throughout the nation! Some of the girls keep their babies, and some give them up, but whichever path they choose, they’re given aftercare to try to equip them to lead productive lives once they leave there. This house is
I have no idea what this is,
but it was very difficult to spot in the bushes. It's not the size of an airplane, and the leaves are small, but I enlarged it because I wanted you to see that its antanae also look like leaves! a ministry started by one woman. She’s still active in the day to day operations, as well as the family contacts of the girls. Amazing. And they also need volunteers. Everyone needs more hands than they can get. Not necessarily more money (although I’m sure no one would turn that down!) or more talent, but they just need willing hands, so more can be helped.
It was a heavy week! And now we’re faced with ending the project here, and ending our year! We’ve decided to end this one a day early and we all put in extra hours so the camp wouldn’t be shorted work. Dennis and Zelma are headed home (S Dakota), and we’re headed to Mankato, MN. Tim and Donna are staying until Monday, as they have a May project, and can’t be there until next Thursday.
After we visit family and friends, we will be spending our summer in Dickinson, again, with our friend Jean. I will blog as the summer goes along. Thanks for staying with me, and I hope your spring is blooming!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.181s; Tpl: 0.017s; cc: 8; qc: 23; dbt: 0.1345s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
Bev
non-member comment
Flowers and more
Who do you think does the weeding at that private house? It is breath taking in the picture. Please don't get Rich and Vic together about the 4 wheelers. He is very interested but good sense is still winning out. Enjoy your time off. Hope you give a call when you are in the area. Move into the lake on Memorial Weekend, then the commuting begins :) Love and Hugs Bev