Friday, July 9, 2010

We left New Haven and drove a couple of hours up to Lexington, Massachusetts, where we wanted to see the battlefields of the American Revolution. 

The Minuteman Statue on Lexington Green

 The town is similar to 1775 when the shot was heard around the world. The Lexington Green is the same as then except for the paved streets. We toured one of the museums that Sam Adams and John Hancock stayed in the night before the battle of Lexington. What an inspiration to read and see what the founding fathers went through to secure their liberty. It is something that is not taught in the public schools like it once was, sadly.

A Liberty Tree
 
We did not have time to see it all and hope to go back next week and finish the tour which will include Concord as well.

  Mr. Parker's famous admonition



 We then headed to Maine again to visit our friends the Tiners in North Belgrade and report to their church which has supported us for at least 20 years.


 

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Pastor Mike took us over to see some of Yale University and told us some of the history. He said that a man named Yale from the New Haven area bid for establishing the school in the area by promising to bequeath his extensive library to the school. Like several other Ivy League Schools it started as a school to train ministers and lay leaders in Connecticut. The architecture of the oldest buildings reflect that. It is amazing stonework. We went to the Sacred Books Library where on display is an original Gutenburg Bible encased in a special thermo controlled display case. 

We went to another building that is a memorial for former students who have died in service either to their country or while serving as missionaries. There is a monument in a center court to the number of women who were allowed in the school. At first there were none for many years, then gradually they were allowed in. Why were there no women when Yale started? It was a seminary and women could not preach then.

Missionaries to India and Micronesia in the Memorial Hall.


There are currently some 200,000 students and Yale is the area's largest employer. However, there is not a real outreach to the students on campus, according to Pastor Mike. Yale has a rich, Bible-based history, but sadly soon forsook it in favor of modernism.

Wednesday, July l7, 2010

Somewhere along the way I have caught a cold of sorts. Today my voice was very low and it was difficult to speak. I took a nap today which I have not done in months.

We took a short tour of North Haven and New Haven today. It is also a nice, small American town with large well-cared-for yards, plenty of trees and flowers. We went to the evening service at the Pond Hill Baptist Church where we showed the presentation and Henry preached on Philippians 4:19 about God supplying all our needs.


 

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

We left Wiscasset around 10:30 a.m. and headed for Simsbury, CT. I called an internet friend, Lyda Scudder, and we met at a local coffee shop. It is always so good to put a face to a name. We went over to a local quilt shop named Sew Inspired and, of course, and I found some fabric for my next cross quilt and a new pattern for small money purses. We asked the ladies at the store to take our photo to record the event. The website is:  www.sewinspiredquilts.com
We arrived in New Haven about 6:30 p.m. and stayed in the basement of Pastor Carbaugh and family.  They have three children around Sara's age and she got along well with them.  There is also a litter of five puppies of a poodle and cockapoo mix.  So cute at six weeks.  

 

Monday, July 5, 2010

This morning about 10:00 a.m., the West family and we went over to Booth Harbor about 10 miles from here. It is a really quaint littletourist town. John was telling us that during the summer the population really swells, then it drops back down after the season. There were plenty of people out along the docks, on their boats in the water, walking around the shops. We stopped in a little store called The Hutch where Alicia West worked before having children. This is a touristy shop—lots of everything imaginable. We did find a pretty green peasant skirt Sara liked, so I bought it since she does not normally like the choices of clothes available. It was on sale also, so that made it better. I got a couple of Maine magnets and a wind chime in the shape of a light house.  

 

The little West girls were getting fussy, so they returned home and we stayed around the wharf area and decided to take a whale watch tour boat in the afternoon. We ate lunch at a restaurant that served crab cakes and chicken fingers side dishes. Enough for a meal and they were good. I am hankering for some lobster before we leave this area though.

  We took the boat on the tour. As we slowly cruised through the inner harbor the guide pointed out some of the buildings on shore including one that belonged to Billy Burke – the wicked witch of the West in Wizard of Oz. There was also an island whose inhabitants do now have cars on the island; everyone walks and another one that had a Bed and Breakfast you could rent, along with 19 of your closest friends for the bargain price of $35,000 a week. Shall we book that for next spring?


The tour was over 3 hours, but by 4:00 p.m. we did not really see any whales or other swimming mammals, but finally one was spotted when we were about 20 miles out. There were some dolphins swimming also and I did see them and maybe got some photos. I did see the whale blow and breach the water, but maybe not in a photo. So since we were really late, we got back to port about 6:00 p.m.

 After getting off the boat we headed back to the house and found that John had gone out and dug clams, so we were having boiled and fried clams for dinner. His parents came over and we all ate on the deck outside. Those clams were small and very good. Henry said the Japanese ladies should have had this dinner—you can't get that many clams for the price he did—practically nothing. I was very delicious. Sara, however, opted for the mac and cheese.

Sunday, Independence Day 2010, # 234

It was a beautiful Sunday morning here in Maine. The weather was cool and clear at the start. We went to church and set up the display about 9:10 a.m. As Sara and I were putting items on the table, in walks a lady named Cora Owens, 86, who has been writing missionaries from the church since 2000. She is a wonderful, talkative Christian lady and has written some 20,000 poems.. I joined her Sunday School class and found that she was an excellent teacher. The lesson was on consequences of choices and how our decisions affect our family as well as us, sometimes until the third and fourth generations.

 
 Emily, her dad and mom and Olivia





  Pastor had asked us to teach Junior Church, so Henry taught the dozen kids there some kanji, Bible verse in Japanese and a couple of Japanese choruses. They each received a Japanese 5 yen coin with a hole in it. The kids seem to like this little gift whenever I have given them out.

 
After the service we went over to Pastor Martin's house for a lunch of bone-in ham, veges and mashed potatoes then brownies for dessert. Mrs. Martin was not doing well as she had some virus/cold that just flat out put her out. It was going around the church. She could barely talk, so we sent her on back to lie down until we got lunch ready. She hardly ate anything. We then sent her back to lie down again while we cleaned up the dishes. Pastor asked Henry some questions since we had never met and he was new to the church in the last year.


During the evening service Henry showed the presentation, then fielded a few questions and after the offering preached the message on It's Election Time.

  After the service we went to the Edwards' home for a dinner of tacos, both hard shell and soft shell. We have not eaten tacos in a couple of months, it was delicious. We had to finish quickly so we all could drive down to the local ball fields to watch the 9:00 pm fireworks. They were really pretty and loud and about 20 minutes long; a really good show for the size town of about 5,000 people. I videoed the finale and have it posted at 

http://community.webshots.com/user/japanquilter

While we walked back to the car I was singing My Country 'Tis of Thee", a very fitting end to a grand 4^th of July.

We got back to the house before the West family did. When they came home, little Emily was coming up the stairs; I was standing at the top. She said she saw the fireworks and said, "I was scared. Made my chest hurt." They were rather loud at times. She was so cute.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

 
This morning we got over to Mary's about 8:30, just in time for breakfast. Mary met us at the door and gave each other a big hug. The last time we saw each other was at Dad's funeral in 1994. Much too long at this time of our lives. Anyway, the dogs met us, tethered to the leashes Tom was holding ready to take them on their morning walk. John was already cooking turkey bacon and sausages, yumm. Mary got David to make pancakes. We ate breakfast on the back deck amid the trees and butterflies, well one yellow one anyway. Henry went inside later and talked with Geoff while he and John watched the quarter finals of the World Cup. Geoff was a certified referee at one time. 

We had to leave at 10:30, so said our goodbyes and left about 11:00 a.m., heading to Maine.

The drive to the Northeast was really beautiful through the forested areas where it seemed that just the interstate highway cut through the trees in many places going through New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine. When we would get off the road to get gas or to eat, we sometimes drove through small towns that were decked out for the Fourth of July.

We got to the Bethesda Baptist Church about 7:00 pm and met Pastor Martin a few minutes later. He led us over to John and Alicia West's home, about 5 minutes from church where we would be staying. John is the grandson of Pastor West whom we met about 20 years ago. He and his wife have two cute little girls named Emily 2, and Olivia about 9 months. Such adorable kids. How I remember what it is like to have two that close in age years ago. That must be why God designed women to have children when they are young when they have plenty of energy and no aches and pains. I cannot get on the floor as easily as I used to.

Friday, July 2, 2010

 
This morning we left to go to Clark's Summit in Pennsylvania to see my sister Mary and her family and bother Tom. It was a beautiful drive up there through the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains. The sunset was really pretty. 

Mary works second shift as a nurse, so was not home when we got there about 9:30 pm. It was the first time to meet the nephews, David and John, 15 and 13 respectively. John is the talkative one; David is quieter. They have two beagles that took a little time to get used to us. Geoff works in the medical field, but is not a doctor. My brother Tom is about four years younger than me and has grown a full beard since I last saw him back in 2005. He has not changed much, but has taken care of the dogs and gotten them into better shape.

We left there about 10:30 and went to a hotel where Mary and Geoff generously paid for a room for us. It was really a nice place, Nichols Hotel and Spa. The spa part was closed by the time we got there so did not get to enjoy that part of it.


 

Thursday, July 1

Can you believe it? July already. It was a beautiful, low-humidity, clear blue sky kind of day today. Perfect for walking around a normally humid, hot DC. 

We met the ladies at the station and got them one day passes for $9 each. You can ride the Metro as many times as you want for the same price. We did. Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery. In all the years I lived in DC, this was the first time for actually going inside. In the main reception area there are some binders set up by some children to remember the fallen soldiers if Iraq and Afghanistan. I looked up and found James Finley, the son of one of my roommates many years ago, who died in 2008 via a road-side bomb. Made me cry to see it. 

Arlington is really a beautiful place for our soldiers to be laid to rest. We saw the Kennedy graves and the Tomb of the Unknown and were just in time to see the changing of the guard. I think that is done every hour. Ron Shuffield (from Texas early on this blog), was one of the guards at one time when he was in the Air Force. I took a short video I hope will upload on Webshots. We walked around the grounds and saw all those names and dates and the tombstones laid out in a perfect grid so that at any angle you look, you are seeing a straight line. Most are white, adding to the beauty of the mature trees and meticulously-kept grounds. 

We then got on the Metro and stopped at the Pentagon City station for lunch. The three ladies got big portions they could not finish. We then got back on the train and got off near the White House and walked over. It used to be car traffic would pass in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, but now that is blocked off and people walk in the street. There were a couple of groups protesting the war and government support of foreign dictators, thereby exercising their First Amendment rights. Many people took photos in front of the mansion. Many guards were around and I asked one young man if he loved his job and he smiled and said yes. This is good to know.

After this we walked around to 15^th Street near the Treasury building where Henry told the ladies where they could catch the train back to the hotel and what to see on the Mall. One can spend days and days in just this part of DC and not see all the history.

I love DC.  
More photos are posted at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/japanquilter

Monday, July 19, 2010

Today Jackie went to work about 6:30 a.m. and we said our goodbyes. They were really a blessing to us. We got everything together and packed and left about 8:30 a.m. Joe got a hug out of Sara and a "Bye". Amazing how she does not say much at all to anyone.

We opted to drive around New York City and took Western routes through Jersey and Pennsylvania. Beautiful country. We were going slowly through one town because of traffic and I noticed a quilt shop, so we had to stop. The Quilted Cat sold Webkins stuffed animals that Sara collects, and she bought one of the cats. I found some floral fabrics and one with little ladybugs on white, as well as some pre-printed Bible verses that I can turn into wall hangings and quilts. It helped that there was a 20% sale, also.


We got back to Clinton about 5:30 p.m., just in time for Vacation Bible School at 7:00 p.m. Henry joined Matthew on his bus route to help him. He could use some dependable workers. There were bunches of kids at VBS, about 80 plus the workers and counselors. I was asked to be a counselor and at that time I talked to two young girls about their salvation. They did not seem to grasp that they were sinners, so I did not asked them to pray but gave them a tract to take home. Perhaps later this week they will fully understand.

Wednesday, June 30

One of Henry's English class ladies and two of her friends from Japan came down from New York today. They are on a vacation, sans husbands, and came here so we could be tour guides for a time. We met them at their hotel in NW DC, a Marriott located on beautiful grounds and right near a train station. We drove down to Mt. Vernon, even though it was late in the day and had just enough time to tour George's Mansion. This second time around proved that the house is really not that big as mansions go. The number of rooms on the two floors open to the public was maybe 15 or so and not that large. We took photos around the place and across the Potomac. It really is a beautiful place and the actual grounds that The Washington's owned in their time was really huge—miles and miles down the modern roads we saw some of the original outbuildings like the Grist Mill. 

We had just enough time to drive a few more miles to the Heritage Baptist Church in Woodbridge for the evening service. The three Japanese said they would like to go. This church has really grown over the last 20 years. Pastor Edwards was not there. Henry showed the DVD and then introduced us all. A Pastor Ball from Missouri spoke about photographs. Someone is always watching. Proverbs 15:3. God's eyes are all-knowing, timeless and ever present. God is taking pictures of us when we don't think anyone is watching. How is our salvation? Service? Seriousness? Separation?

 Gardens around the hotel in NW DC.


Since it was late, we drove the Japanese ladies back to their hotel then got back to Clinton about 11:45 pm. It was a long day.

Monday, June 29

Since we were already near my friend Pam, we drove down to her place. But first we stopped at a JoAnns so I could use my gift card. Found several fabrics on sale and got a yard of each—penguins, pansies, patriotic things, a new ruler and some buttons for crafts.

We got to Pam's about noon I think, maybe sooner. Her dad was rocking on the porch and her mom was inside. I have not seen them since before I married, 27 years ago. They sound the same, just are way thinner than they should be. Then again, he is 92 and her mom is 88. Mr. Munro still is interested in model trains and is a part of the Baltimore Railroad Museum. Pam brought them down from their long-lived-in home in District Heights, MD, last week. It was decided they could not really manage the house and yard anymore. When Pam and her husband built their own home, they figured in an extra room just for them. He still drives, but for how much longer is anyone's guess. It was really good to see them again.


 
We returned home about 5:00 pm due to the heavy traffic going up I-95. That still baffles me. For all the time, money and years that governments have spent on road improvement, they still have not got it right. At 3:00 pm, traffic was backed up for miles coming out of DC south past Woodbridge and Quantico. I think there was talk of adding toll lanes to the HOV lanes in the hope that people would be willing to pay to get home faster. I suppose it would depend on how much tolls are for this brilliant government idea to prove itself useful.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

This morning we got to church a little early and set up our display.  

Sunday School was taught by Pastor Williams.  He had taken prayer requests then, as well as before the other two services.  The message was the last of a series on becoming a First Century Church by following what they did.  1) They moved forward by faith by looking unto Jesus.  The church must have strong faith in God and must be a believing church by exercising faith in God.  2Cor. 8:7.  2) The membership of the church has to join, not just attend, the church.  When someone does not become a part of the body of believers by joining, they feel no responsibility to the functions of the church and no burdens to tithe or make offerings.  Acts 4:23, 9:26, and 2:44.  3) The motive of the believing church is to have a clear vision of what you need to see.  2 Cor. 12:1-10.  How did Jesus see?  Are we obedient to His commands?  Do we glory in our own infirmities, instead of complaining, so that Christ can get the glory?

The morning service Henry preached on heaven being like a homecoming. 1) We are not at home in this world.  Man messed up God’s creation.  Gen. 1:31.  The way of transgressors is hard.  2) Someone has come after us to bring us home.  Compare ourselves to God’s standard.  The Father will receive you.  Matt. 11:28.  3) Stay home.  Christ keeps us safe.  Col. 2:6-7; 2 Thess. 2:15.  4) Be in the right doctrine.  Remember what you were. Stay in love with God.  Don’t stay at home—go out and get the sheep and think about the real home.  John 14. 

The choir and congregational songs were good, old-fashioned hymns and sung beautifully.  The choir did a special called “The Lord is My Light” which is really beautifully arranged.  You have to hear it.  I’ll find a link where you can hear this.  “The Lord is my Light.  And my Salvation.  Of whom shall I fear?”

After church, there was dinner on the grounds, only it was inside in the AC because outside it was over 100F.  A pig was roasted and pulled pork was the main course.  It was g-o-o-d.  The ladies prepared wonderful side dishes and desserts.  I think it is a requirement of believers that they be good cooks. 

Pastor Williams was teasing Sara for being so talkative.  She just smiled.  He said he would try to get her to talk before the day was over.  After the evening service, the Pastor’s family and we went out to McDonalds.  Sara finally said something.  In the car going back to the hotel she told us, “I like the Pastor.” 

During the evening service, Henry showed the presentation and preached again.  We had a great time there; it is great to know churches have not changed their standards, although the pressure is out there to do so.  Trinity is one church that has stayed the course.

Saturday, June 26

Today Henry and I visited Matthew's bus route for him since he was on an outing for the College/Career group at church. We found just a handful of people home and less that said they were coming on Sunday. It sure has changed since we ran a route back in the 80's.


Later in the afternoon we drove over to Warrenton, VA, to spend the night in a hotel near Trinity Baptist Church where we would be spending Sunday. It is a newer hotel, very quiet, clean. We ate at an Applebee's Restaurant which served too much food; we could not eat it all even though we shared the entrees. It was good chicken, though.

Friday, June 25

Today we went up to Bowie, MD, and met the Schnegleburger family. Kara has been corresponding with Sara via the internet for a couple of years at least and they finally got to meet. We met at an Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.


 
Sara told her that we would be in Maryland starting May 11; she got the dates wrong as we did not get here until June 16^th. Anyway they were looking forward to meeting. Sara hardly said anything but eventually warmed up to it. Kara and Olivia, the younger sister, kept asking questions so she had to answer.

I think we spent a couple of hours at the restaurant. By the end Sara was asking if we could go to their house, but that was not do-able. We will continue to correspond via email. It is always nice to put a face to a name, especially after a long time. 



 

Thursday, June 24

Today we went to the local library and accessed the internet so got caught up on this blog. After that we went down to Costco and then to Lens Crafters where I got a "free" pair of bifocal soft contacts. Interesting. I can actually read with these things, but I am not sure about the long-term wear. One pair lasts for 30 days, but I would need to order a minimum of two boxes (right and left lenses) for about $160 which could actually last a year if I do not wear them daily. I found them comfortable, but the eyes seemed to dry out after a time and I had difficulty removing them. I will have to think about getting these new eyes.


 

 

Wednesday, June 23

Henry 
and
Pastor
D.





We went down to Prince Frederick MD for the evening service at New Life Baptist Church. Pastor DiChiacchio and his wife have been there for several years. The church is in a building program, now waiting on the county to approve the plans. Henry gave a testimony since they did not have a projector for the DVD. He fielded some questions then preached the sermon about A Cup of Cold Water. It was better the second time around.

 
The Bryant family is a member of this congregation. Henry taught the son and daughter, Gordon and Anna, many years ago. They are a fine Christian family who have taught their children right. Anna and her family live nearby; we hope to get to see her, time permitting. She is about to have her 12^th or 13^th child. It is always good to see people still serving God 25 years down the road.


 

Tuesday, June 22

We had a lunch date with Pastor King from Granite Baptist Church in Glen Burnie. We met him and his wife, son and daughter at the church, then drove over to a restaurant called The Grill. It was between the Chesapeake Urology Association on one side and the plastic surgery place on the other. Hmmm. Anyway, the food was really great; Henry had some Maryland crab soup.

 
Next summer, Pastor King, his son and daughter are planning to visit us in Japan in July. He and Henry made some preliminary plans for their time there. He wants to do a three-day VBS as well as visit Japanese sites. It sounds exciting, so we have some work to do.

 
After lunch, we called the Ed Ocker and he said it was OK for us to come over; they lived about an hour from where we were, near the Potomac River. When we got there we drove down a long driveway back to their home. It is set on rolling hills, right next to the main highway, but far enough away it was not a danger of vehicles having an accident in your front yard. Beautiful place. They have a three-year old cocker spaniel that is really cute and quiet. I don't think she barked at all inside the house. Sara took to her, of course, and the dog took to me. She crawled on my lap for some petting; dogs don't usually do that with me.

 
The Ocker's took us out to a buffet restaurant (the name escapes me now). During this entire time, Sara did not say anything, as much as Mr. Ocker tried to get her to talk. She finally said something at the restaurant about it being time to leave.

We drove back to their home to get our car, then we left there about 8:15 pm or so and took the Virginia route back to Clinton. We saw a huge thundercloud in the distance that was very colorful at dusk. When we got to the Gill house, it had rained there, so the yard got a nice watering. 

Monday, June 21

Henry and I had a doctor appointment at 10:15. It had been years, of course, since we had seen our family doctor, so he wanted us to have some screening tests like a colonoscopy, mammogram, bone scan and blood tests. The blood tests we had done since we did not eat breakfast that morning. But after calling the places for these tests and discovering the cost, I called Aetna Global to find out if they were even covered. They are not since there is no reason to have them. Preventive tests are not covered under our policy. So I called BIMI and found out the tests would not even be applied toward our deductible. In order to keep down the premium costs for the large group of missionaries around the world, it was decided not to cover screening or vaccinations. But, if the doctors found a diagnosis of some kind, then it would be covered, but in order to do that, a test would have to be done. If it was negative, we would pay out-of-pocket. The cost for the colonoscopy was $1,400 each, the mammogram was $315 and the bone scan was $225. Upon discovering that this would cost about $3,500, which we do not have and if we did, we could use it better elsewhere (like paying a college bill), we decided not to get this done. We went to our doctor's office and explained the situation, wrote a note about the cost, etc., and it will be put into our files accordingly.

 
This afternoon, Henry took Anna and Sara over to the library while I took the car and did an errand or two.

This  evening we went over to Peggy Elgin's for dinner with her and Barbara Jo.  Those two have not changed; wonderful Christian ladies who are faithfully serving God after their husband went to heaven before them.  It is always good to talk to people who are staying by the stuff.  Sara did not say much, but she did talk some. 

Sunday, June 20

We are over half-way finished with our time here and this is the only Sunday we will be at our home church. This morning there was a singing group from West Coast Baptist College; a men's quartet and they sang several songs which were really good. 

The guys all knew Peter and Teresa and one particularly said he appreciates Peter. Both work on the cleaning/maintenance staff at the school, Peter being the supervisor and apparently has taught those under him well. Dr. Rasmussen, a VP of the college, delivered the morning message. The notes I took:


The rest of your Christian life starts today.

Comparing our Heavenly and earthly fathers:

F aithful – Proverbs 20:6

A ttitude –

T emperate-

H oly Life – I Peter 1:16

E xcellence – Psalm 16:3

R everant – Ezekiel 14.


Honor our fathers with our life, time and living. I Cor. 6:20; Ex. 20:12. Be a servant.

 
Follow My Father

Holiness I Peter 1:16 – the light that casts out darkness. Can people tell I am different? How do I look and act?

Giving John 3:16 We are created in the image of God and should follow His steps.


 
We met Jim and Sharon Pitts who were in our home church years ago; they taught in the school the same time as Henry. We had lunch at Wendy's and just talked about all the folks we both knew from the 1980's; the Shuffields and Coons we have already met. Since Henry was preaching in the evening service, they decided to stay.

 
Henry played the piano for the first offering and then showed our presentation. I should put a copy of that up on the web someplace. He then preached from Exodus 3 on how God had a plan for Moses and Israel. In Ex. 3:4-7 after God calls Moses, he says, Here I am. Then God proceeds to tell him what is going to happen.

The main points:

1. God gives clear instruction in verses 7-10
   

He promised Abraham He would bring out the Israelites in Gen. 15:12-21

He showed Moses clearly by calling and signs. Ex. 3:1-15; 4:1-12

1. You will have peace and confidence about it and start doing it. The Israelites were overjoyed God heard their prayers and worshiped. Ex. 4:31. The people agreed with Moses and he went to tell Pharoah.
   
2. Opposition will surely come. Pharoah did not agree. Things got harder, not easier for Israel. The opposition, when it comes, is insurmountable. God uses the opposition for His own glory.
   
3. God will overcome the opposition if we persevere. Ex. 6:1-3
   

It has been nearly 19 years we have been in Japan; 21 since surrendering to missions. God has met the needs all along the way. There have been opposition, but God is faithful and since He has lead us in the past, He will lead us in the future. We have about seven weeks left here, then we will return. God is good, all the time.

Saturday, June 19

Henry went with Matthew this morning visiting the bus route, so I stayed here. This day I helped Mary clean up and organize her kitchen somewhat. At least a drawer and the plastic containers under the table got organized. She has done a wonderful job of cleaning the rest of the house and now needs to tackle the smaller spaces that are left. Having lived in Nigeria for many years, she has difficulty throwing anything away, so I am trying to remedy that little by little.
 
Saturday evening I prepared the gyudon dinner again; it was a big hit. Next time I will have to ask the butcher to shave the meat as it is easier to eat that way. This time I made the sauce using regular soy and adding sugar.
 
The Gills went to a local nursing home and held the weekly service there for the people. There is a lady named Mrs. Farmer that comes over here frequently. She is a widow and rather lonely I think, so she shows up at the door. Mary has asked her to unwind this big mess of yarn, so Mrs. Farmer just sits in an easy chair downstairs and rolls up balls of yarn and is happy when she gets one completed. She also help the Gills with the nursing home ministry.

Friday, June 18

This morning we left about 10:00 or so and went to Wal-Mart in search of a wireless because I have seemed to have lost mine, which means I cannot connect to the internet. Anyway, the store did not have one less than $50, so we left and headed for NJ to meet the McMillans. This is a couple that has supported us personally for at least 20 years. Eileen is third-generation Japanese. 

When we arrived, the Pastor of their church and his wife had been invited for lunch so we all met in the living room. Eileen's mom was also there, but since she is hard of hearing, really did not say much. We had a wonderful lunch and talked for a long time.


 
After lunch the Pastor had to leave. We then went into the living room and talked some more. Eileen got out a box of items from her parents and grandparents. This box is an amazing collection of a family's history. Her family members were Christians in Japan; one of her great-grandfathers donated land for the church in Japan. They were part of the samurai class, I believe. At least they were somewhat wealthy at that time.

When part of the family moved to California, they were fishermen. So when the US government rounded up Japanese living near the coast and hauled them off to the camps, her grandfather was one of the first since he had his own boat. She showed us a couple of bags with the family name Shindo and an assigned number. While the Nazis tattooed numbers on their prisoners, the Americans just assigned a number they had to wear all the times. They were provided with housing for each family; similar to barracks, and some bare necessities. Her grandfather took up carving and she had several small birds he had done while in the camp. There were many photos of family members for several generations.


 
Her mom returned to Japan a few years ago to meet her sister who was turning 100 I think. It was written up in the local paper where three elderly sisters had met for the occasion. The one in Japan died at 105 not too long ago, if I remember right. It is such a rich family history, it would be great if Eileen can compile all the info and pictures there into a book. Such a thing could be used to show Japanese that a family can live for God.


 
We left there about 4:00 pm and returned to Clinton about 8:00 pm. Mary had fixed pizza and Dave and Terry Long came over also. The Gills and Longs had served in Nigeria for a number of years but had to leave because of the deteriorating conditions there. We had a good time of fellowship.

Sara, Anna Mae Gill and Anna Long all are born within three weeks of each other back in 1998. So the two Anna's gave Sara a Webkins horse and a stamping package for presents. (Which reminds me, we still have to get her a gift!).

Matthew and Joe finally came over after 11:00 pm while some of the household had gone to bed. They stayed till about midnight after eating some pizza and soda. Another day draws to a close.

Thursday, June 17

This morning I reminded Henry about meeting someone in NJ while we are in the area. He checked the calendar and discovered that we are due at Bethesda Baptist Church in Pottstown, PA, for a meeting tonight. They had rescheduled their mid-week service so we could meet them. We have not met Pastor Wexler as the previous pastor had resigned a few years ago. The last time we were there was on deputation over 20 years ago and the church has supported us faithfully since then.

We left about 2:30 pm and the traffic around the Beltway was so backed up during the middle of the day, it was a wonder where all the cars were going. What would have been a three hour trip took four hours due to so many cars. Then we had to pay tolls. Not a problem as they are cheaper than the ones in Japan, but the lines were backed up. Anyway once we got through that mess, we went to Pottstown and the church through some windy country-like roads. The church is in a different location on the rise of a hill with several acres of nicely-cut grass all around.
 
During this evening's service, Henry played the piano, then showed the presentation, fielded questions and gave a testimony on God's provision while we have been on the field. Everyone was very friendly and happy to see us. I gave the smaller children a Japanese nickel, which they were thrilled to have.
 
As we left the church we saw fireflies all over the place so Henry and Sara got out the video camera and started shooting. Then we drove down to the hotel which was about 30 minutes from the church. A very comfortable Comfort Inn.

Wednesday, June 16

We left the Ferrells about mid-morning and headed for
Goldsboro, SC, a little south of there to meet Merry Sensing.  She is from Okinawa and we have corresponded with her for over 16 years.  We finally got to meet.  She works in a small interior decorating place called Anderson Interiors.   Merry holds Bible studies for some of the Japanese ladies in the area.   We have written her testimony in Japanese and distributed it in a tract.  She has been a blessing to us.  Her husband is former military and is not yet saved.

 After lunch we had to head to Virginia for a meeting in Woodbridge, south of DC and north of Fredericksburg. We got to the church about 6:30 pm due to traffic congestion through Richmond. After setting up the display and getting the presentation all arranged, services started. Henry showed the DVD, then answered some questions and then preached a short message. After the service we drove over to Clinton, MD.


 
Traffic. For all the years I have been in the DC area, the governments have still not gotten the roads right. There is always, always construction going on and traffic backups, even at 9:30 p.m. When we got across the expanded Wilson Bridge, traffic slowed down about a mile before our exit for not visable reason. Most distressing, but, then again, this is DC. Things do not change much here.


 
It was good to get back to our old stomping grounds. For the next couple of weeks we are staying with Ken and Mary and Anna Mae Gill right near our church.

Tuesday, June 15

About 10 a.m. we left the hotel and went to see where Stephen works. It is a new building in downtown Greenville. It is blue (my favorite color) and modern in design. The entrance has metal panels with holes in them that remind me of steel shelving. The building is literally a warehouse. The lobby had a monitor-type list of companies; most if not all, in the tech field. The interior walls are of a plastic that you can write on with a white-board marker. There are two floors with open ceilings. The Gnoso offices are in one corner of the top floor. We walked to the right and went to the first of the offices and met each of the employees. One of the rooms had a tennis table set up and on the wall were scores written. Nice, unique. The company is doing well after just three years in business.

 
We said goodbye to Stephen shortly thereafter, and headed up to NC. When we got into NC, I noticed that the median strips between the highways was nicely landscaped in places where overpasses were. The state has taken the time to plant tons of lilies in mostly yellow and orange along their highways, and have kept the grass cut. It is such a beautiful trip through there. Other states should take note. Anyway, we got to Farmville where we stayed with Woody and Deane Ferrell, now in their upper 80's. Mrs. Ferrell led me to the Lord back in 1975. Both have long since retired and are still active in their home church doing nursing home ministry. It was so good to see them. Mrs. Ferrell needs to have a heart valve replaced and is to see a specialist soon. Her skin is paper-thin and her arms are discolored from taking blood thinners she said. They insisted we stay the night which we did. We watched a baseball game between the Marlins and Texas. The husband of their granddaughter plays for Texas and is a good player; he scored the first on-base hit and the team eventually won the game. 

Monday, June 14

This van is a rolling advertisement for the US Marines.

This morning we left Lakeland and headed for South Carolina. We headed East toward I-95, passing through Orlando where there is Disney World, Sea World and various other entertainment places that have entrance fees upwards of $80 a person. We decided to skip all that.   

Here is a unique water tower in South Carolina.

 
We got up to Greenville and checked into a Best Western near the airport. Stephen met us, then we decided to go to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. We each got something different and shared. Sara wanted chicken fingers again, and the rest of us shared our steak and seafood. The pumpernickel bread was good as well as that onion flower they serve as an appetizer. Yumm


 
After dinner Steve took us over to where he lives with four or five other guys; we met two of them who were home. It was a bachelors' pad, but rather clean as those things go. Shortly thereafter we returned to the hotel, Henry and Stephen went out for a time together. Turns out they ended up at a book store and purchased a couple of them.

Sunday, June 13

We went to the morning church service at Calvary Baptist Church. We were met by two lovely ladies who took us inside and one took Sara to her class and another man showed us ur class. In the morning service, a guest speaker spoke about giving God's word to people around the world. He collects the quarters people give him and purchases Bibles in all languages. 
For the evening service we went with Rob and Mary to another local Baptist Church where Rob was making a presentation about Gideon International, of which he is a representative.  He told how his uncle in WWII was in a foxhole and was wondering if he had dug it deep enough. He took out a pocket NT and soon came to Christ. It was a Gideon Bible. His uncle went on to serve God faithfully for several decades as a pastor and preacher.


Rob related another true story of a man who was in a deep depression and was contemplating ending life in a hotel room. He found the Gideon Bible and also got right with God and has served Him since. One never knows how many people will be touched by Gideon Bibles.

Saturday, June 12

 
We decided to go to Tampa to a place called Mosi which is a hands-on science museum geared toward kids. It was quite interesting, actually. We first saw the butterfly room and learned that the monarchs only live two weeks. There were not that many butterflies about, though.

An example of how a tornado forms
 
Another section was on natural disasters where you could "experience" an earthquake, hurricane, wildfires and the like. I stood in the room for the earthquake. The floor shook; although realistic, it did not last long enough and nothing fell off the walls. I gave it an 8. Sara seemed to like it, but got bored after a couple of hours, so we headed home.