Wednesday, April 18, 2012

After washing clothes and packing, we waited for a UPS package delivery but it did not come by 3:00 pm so we left for Grasonville on Eastern Shore, about 75 minutes away.  It was a very nice drive over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  After getting there, we filled up with gas that cost about $40 and discovered the car gets about 36 mpg.  WOW.  I’m still thinking in metric, though.  This is way cheaper than what we pay in Japan which is about $7 per gallon roughly. 

We are at the Eastern Shore Baptist Church for a missions conference.  Dr. Creed is preaching this week.  Edwin and Mary Beard are also here as church planters in Annapolis.  Henry taught them in high school---many moons ago.  Their son is with them. 

Henry showed some photos of our work that are not in the presentation—pictures I have not seen in years. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Today we went over to the County Courthouse and took care of some items for Matthew so he could get his car registered.  It was the first time to this courthouse which has that courthous-ey feel to it.  The people we saw were very helpful, which is a great thing.

This evening the Gills had a cookout in the backyard while the dogs ran in circles and tried to beg food from us. 

We then went over to Peter’s place.  Nice basement apartment. Clean.  We had to take the shoes off at the door.  Must be that Japanese influence. 

Monday, April 16, 2012

On our way back to Clinton, we stopped by Mrs. Owens’ home near Frederick.  She and her husband started Sound of the Word, a literature/tape ministry to missionaries.  Her husband had passed away about two years ago and had turned the ministry over to the Veenstras.  Mrs. Owens is about 87 and spry, witty and just fun to be with.  She tried to get Sara to talk and would make comments about her to see Sara’s reaction.  She did smile and say a few words.  We met her son and then prayed with them before leaving.  Gracious, wonderful Christians.

Traffic was backed up merging from 270 onto the Beltway so it took us until about 6:00 pm to get back to Clinton.  We were met by Peter and Joe.  Mr. Ercole who lives down the street, has a car for sale Joe wanted to see.  He and Henry took a spin around the block and Joe has decided to buy it.  It is a good deal—63,000 miles, about 6 years old, compact and great gas mileage.  Now he will apply for the loan at the credit union and go from there. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012 Tax Day

We drove about  30 minutes to Mannington, WVA, where the Calvary Baptist Church is.  It is an older building, but recent remodeling has brightened the interior.  The platform is now a beautiful blond wood floor and it really looks bright in there.  Henry spoke in Sunday School on the 9 nails and a boat sermon from last week.  It was good the second time around.  :-) 

Pastor Bowman preached the morning service.  He used to be an evangelist and preaches like one.  Really good.  John 11:40—Death is Coming.  Many people today do not allow their children to see death as in going to a funeral.  It does not prepare them for that event.  Death is a part of life. 

Here Lazarus was in the tomb.  Jesus told them to take away the stone.  There was a desperate plea from Martha, saying, “by now he stinketh.”  She did not tell Jesus anything He did not know.  In this verse Jesus tells here to “trust me…if you believe God, you will see the Glory of God.” 

Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:5.  Ex. 33:8-14.  There is a rest to the people of God. Phil. 4:6.  Be careful for nothing.  When you are in the valley, your faith is on the summit. Ps. 18:2.  When in the valley, don’t tie a knot and hang on.  Let go of that knot and stand on the Solid Rock of Christ.  John 11:40. 

Pastor Bowman

After service we were taken to a terrific Italian Restaurant for lunch.  The servings were way too big, not like the small portions we get in Japan.  Delicious.  Sara had to take her portion home. 

Henry’s former roommate from back in 1980-83, Ken Jamerson, goes to this church.  He has not changed much at all.  Still single, still memorizing scripture, still out of the ordinary.

Henry preached the evening service after showing our DVD presentation.  My notes:

Looking Ahead to Looking Back  Matthew 25:14.

We are given talents by the Master.  How did the men in this portion of scripture use them? We have a responsibility we have been given.  The 1 talent guy was making excuses for not increasing his talent.  These excuses were, I might make a mistake, doubting my ability; a misconception of inability to do something.  Why did he get the talent unless the Master thought he could use it?  Go in the strength of Christ.  There is the excuse of fear.  He called the Master a liar because he did not believe the Master.  There is the misconception of the value of a soul. 

Saturday, April 14, 2012

We drove over to Mt. Airy to see our nephew Joe and family and Henry’s sister Caroline.  Their boy Scott is 5 and Rachel is about 2.  Their huge back yard could fit our entire church property on it easily with room to spare.  While the little ones played in the sandbox with Sara, we adults sat on the swing and around a table and just talked.  Joe and Lindsey and family were going hiking at Great Falls, so they left 11:30.  The rest of us went over to Burger King for lunch—delicious. 

We visited the Veenstra family hear Frederick.  They now do the Sound of the Word literature ministry to missionaries.  We have received a monthly mailing for several years now and it is always good to get the envelope in the mail.  They are a terrific family.

 Rachel, Scott and Lindsey

We then drove over to Fairmont, West Virginia, to Pastor Lee Bowman’s church for a meeting there Sunday. The roads wound through the hills of Western Maryland where we saw some beautiful purple trees in bloom.  It was a wonderful drive up and down the mountains.  West Virginia is beautiful country—almost heaven as the old song goes.

The Bowmans took us to dinner at a Chinese Restaurant.  This place was buffet style and had at least 8 tables of food to choose from.  I always opt for sweet and sour and took a stab at the frog legs—taste like chicken, really, good, too.   After this delicious meal we drove back to the hotel in Fairmont.