Ward Wanderings

Thursday, November 1, 2012

No alarms went off at 6:00 a.m. and I slept to nearly 8:00 which is something I don’t do. Felt good. We had Cheerios for breakfast, a real treat. Peter came by after 10:00 so we could go to the bank and make a deposit. Then we went to Oxon Hill to try and vote early, but upon driving by the long line (about a three-hour wait), we decided to vote the absentee ballots we had received previously. We got them printed out and voted, then mailed them in on Friday. Hopefully it will count.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

We got up about 3:30 a.m. to catch a flight at 8:00 a.m. heading to Maryland. The flight was uneventful and we landed about 3:40 p.m. Peter came to pick us up and we drove south and east to Charlotte Hall, MD, where we were at Victory Baptist Church. Pastor Kyner is a long-time friend and it was good to see him again. Henry showed the presentation and preached.

The street where we stayed in Clinton.

Following the service we chatted with Pastor for a time then left and stopped at Chick-fil-A for ice cream yum! Peter took Thursday and Friday off so he could drive us around as needed. We rode back to Clinton to stay with the Gills like we did in the spring. When we knocked on the door they greeted us with a bowl of candy (trick or treat!) good to see long-time friends again.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Today we were in the 6^th Grade class and they were just as excited as the first graders. They were receptive and listened attentively.

The missionary wives were hosted by Mrs. Chappell at their home. We were served a simple brunch then most everyone made candied apples with all the toppings for their families. The home is beautifully decorated and in the backyard there is a pen with a pony, two goats and chickens, a shed that looks like a barn and a play area for the grandkids.

We went back to the campus and waited for the men to finish their lunch. Pastor took everyone on a tour of the just-completed west wing of the auditorium; a beautiful place that will eventually be restructured to make a wrap-around balcony for additional seating. After that the missionaries stood around and were just talking to each other. An hour later we are still talking.

We returned to where we were staying and were able to actually drive the car Roy Roger’s owned…a 1979 Mark V, white, really long and runs beautifully. Henry and I both drove it a few miles around the church.

Sara had been feeling poorly since yesterday and she actually had a slight fever so we two did not go to the evening service, but were able to watch it live streamed on the internet. Wish we could have been there. It was a really good conference and such a blessing to see hundreds and hundreds of people excited about serving God.

October 29, 2012

This morning we were in the 1^st grade class giving a short devotion on Japan. Henry taught the kids some simple Japanese phrases and the B I B L E in Japanese. This is always a fun age group to teach. They ask some of the funniest questions like “Do you hit the Japanese on the head with the Bible if they don’t respond?” No, that’s not how it works. Then there’s always questions about animal life, flowers and the like.

At 10:00 a.m. was chapel in the main auditorium where the entire college attends, so the main floor was filled. Many students responded to the invitation. It was a great service.

After lunch the missionaries and some college students went out door knocking. Another missionary wife, Sara and I were on one side of the street and Henry and the husband were on the other side. We three leap-frogged knocking doors. Sara was able to talk to at least two people and invite them to church; I think it was her first experience. Some people were not home, some said they had a church and two that I personally talked to were interested in coming to church. One man I lead to the Lord and I pray he made a good decision (meaning he prayed the sinner’s prayer just because I asked him.) His name is Jerald and I’d ask you pray he would come to church. His name was given to the staff here who will do follow-up work.

Monday night’s service opened with the 100+ voice choir singing Hallelujah to the Lamb with full orchestra, uplifting music and words. It was almost time to get Pentecostal. Whoa! That was good! The service itself was an ordination of four men from Lancaster who met the requirements to be ordained into the ministry. Pastor Chappell preached a powerful message directed to these men to contend for the faith and preach the gospel without apology. This link is to the same song sung a few years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqBsN16NbWk

October 28, 2012

Sunday we went to an extension ministry about 70 miles from Lancaster. A married couple and a group of college students travel there every Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday to work at the church. There were about 25 people that came for the services. Henry taught the little kids’ Sunday school, then preached in the morning and evening services.

For lunch we all went to a local restaurant Maria Callen…something. Excellent; I had just a cobb salad and did manage to finish it about 30 minutes later. The students had huge meals then ordered dessert; some had the famous pie (it was tasty looking) and an ice cream concoction in a large glass sundae glass. These also were finished. Amazing how much food college kids can put away. The married couple have been there nearly two years and are praying about whether to go there permanently as pastor.

We drove back to Lancaster and arrived about 10:30 p.m. It was a long and tiring day, but really good to see these students work together to help the church get on its feet again.

October 27, 2012

We are now at the Lancaster Baptist Church for its Missions Conference. Peter and Teresa graduated from the college in recent years (see blog posts of May 2012 and May 2010). We set up the display and went to an opening meeting with the other 21 missionaries about how things were to go in through Tuesday. We were given a paper bag filled with recent books by Pastor Chappell and info about the Conference. Then we were served dinner.

At 7:00 pm the service started. This night Pastor interviewed each missionary family for about three-five minutes each. We were the last one at 22. While we waited to go out front (behind the platform) we could watch the monitors. Service was over about 9:00 pm and many folks then came by the missionary tables set up around the auditorium. Several people introduced themselves and said they knew Teresa, she was such a blessing, she was a roommate or dorm mate, what is she doing? And such like comments. It was good to hear she has a good testimony and that she is missed here. There were also several students we knew as children. The first two were brother and sister and said they were missionaries in Japan in the 1990s. I did not recognize them, so asked for a clue. Then a second one, then a third and still could not place them. They are the Burcham siblings and were babies when they were here. He is now about 6’ tall and she about his shoulder height. Of course, I didn’t recognize them! It was good to see them, though.

We are staying with a couple that are avid collectors of Roy Rogers memorabilia and purchased some items at an estate auction after Dale Evans died about 11 years ago. The house is practically a museum in itself. Rather interesting and talk about videos and DVDs! All things Roy and westerns and the old TV programs are in their collection: Columbo, Roy’s TV show, Cheyenne, Bonanza, Ronald Reagan speeches and movies. They have a huge Boxer dog, about 110 pounds and named Fred. He has such sad eyes and is always trying to be a lap dog, but just the gentlest thing.

October 20-23, California

We have been in Adlanto, CA, North and East of Los Angeles in what is called the high desert. It is very windy out here at times. Sunday we were at the Adlanto Baptist Church where we taught the Sunday School class and Henry preached in the morning service. Between services lunch was served for those attending the 2:00 p.m. service. During that time, Pastor Sipes taught a Bible study on Genesis 2 and 3 about first fruits. At this point in time, the family had been aware of sacrificial offerings for years as the sons were old enough to tend flocks and grow grain. When Cain and Abel brought their offerings, God accepted Abel’s because it was a firstling of the flock. Cain’s offering was the “fruit of the ground” (grains), but not the first fruits of that grain. Cain had a wrong heart attitude about it. Scripture states Cain was mad because God did not accept his offering, therefore he slew his brother. It was a good exegesis of that passage.

From Sunday evening to Wednesday we have been at Pastor’s house. Monday, Henry helped Pastor build a new pulpit; now it needs to be stained and it’s good to go. Meanwhile we four females (two moms and 2 daughters) ran errands where I was able to mail some packages. That evening the Sipes family saw their eldest son off on another tour of duty to Afghanistan. He leaves behind his wife and two small boys. Please pray for him and all of our troops in harm’s way around the world.

Arrived in LA

We got here about 10 a.m. on 10/19 which was about an hour ahead of schedule due to the tail wind. The flight was a bit rocky at times, but we got here safely. We were in row 45 of 46 so had a l o n g walk off the plane. We flew United and again, as with previous flights on United, the cabin crew was older. This time there were at least four men both looking their ages (50's probably) with balding/white hair and overweight. The women were up there in years also. And this time they got fussy at the passengers who needed to use the lav during the frequent turbulance, sending everyone back to their seats saying, "the seat belt sign is on, you need to return!" Contrast this with the All Nippon Airlines personnel who were all young, slim, stylish and smiling. Even Sara noticed the difference. Anyway...

After renting a Ford Focus, we drove out to Adelanto to the East in the high desert. The desert is rather deserted, at least the mountains/hills are--rather brown and plain. There's plenty of housing all over the place and lots of communities and roadside strip malls. It was a 100 plus mile trip and took about 1/3 tank of gas. We noticed gas prices were higher in LA than outside the city, but really, it's still less than the nearly $7 we pay in Japan. However, the prices are still high.

We will be at the Adelanto Baptist Church all day and stay here through Tuesday morning probably, then head back to LA for another meeting in Long Beach.

BTW, we are not thrilled with the Ford Focus--front leg room is not that roomy and the trunk space is lacking; the front seats do not recline fully (Henry has slept in the car at least three times already, mostly waiting for me while I visited some favorite stores.)

We have eaten at Mimi's Cafe--wonderful chicken and zucchini fingers and turkey dinner, and at Carl Jr.'s. The new BBQ beef burger melts in your mouth! Gotta try it if you are close enough to a restaurant.

Remarkable Rainbow

About 5:15 pm today, 10/18/12, the sky changed to a glowing red, just before sunset. Upon going outside, the sky was gorgeous in color and dark clouds were racing from North to South, an unusual wind flow.

When I turned East, there was the brightest rainbow peeking through the clouds. It was nearly a full bow and here are the photos that do not do this justice.

This last about 5-10 minutes. These photos do not does this justice.

Thank you, Lord, for your promise!

On that note, we head to California on Friday for about 18 days. West Coast 90 degrees, East Coast 60 degrees. How to pack?

The Cats

Here are hand-painted rocks that are really remarkable. This is my kind of cat. These are done by a Japanese Christian lady. The eyes are amazing.

This happy snail landed outside the front door (actually I picked it off the ground).

Passing typhoon

Over the weekend a very slow-moving typhoon passed by Japan on the Pacific side. There was lots of wind and heavy rain, but it was not a direct hit on Kobe. Okinawa on the other hand, was hit yet again this year. Anyway, Sunday, September 30, I took these photos of the yard and all that water.

Looking out our front door, this is our vege garden and steps to the back deck. Those cosmos plants were taller than me and all fell over. I was hoping to get seed from them, but ended pulling most of them up early and reworking the soil for next year.

The little creek at the back of the property, swollen with water. The land on the right is farmed by another person.

By our monooki (shed) is a small space which will become a blackberry area, now flooded a bit. New plants are in small black pots waiting for me to put up a frame they can grow on. Columbine on the left and blueberry next to it are also seen here.

This is a most frustrating place. This was taken outside our church sliding door on the east-south-east side of the building. This used to be a turtle pond, but was changed into a flower bed. Whenever it rains heavily, water flows from the upper field on the left and settles in this area. I had just added more dirt to this bed and rearranged the grass there. Not sure what to do about this flooding, but it does not happen that often.

This is the driveway area. Notice the water running down the slope. The lower field is not ours and lots of sand and gravel end up there. The three little ducks I bought the day before and one already fell over :-(

Another shot of the creek out back. Those are fruit trees Matthew planted during our construction period, plus a few day lillies.

October 24-27, 2012

Long Beach, California. We have been at the First Baptist Church of Long Beach for a Missions Conference. There are several other missionaries here from all over the world. We are staying with a family from the Philippines who are the sweetest people. The wife’s parents also live in the house; they have two children. Such a sweet, Christian family.

Thursday night we went to the Hispanic service where one of the missionaries spoke in Spanish. His main point was that it was time for the Hispanic Christians to take the light of the gospel to the world; there are few Hispanic missionaries serving around the world. The Hispanic Pastor then said that he is a first-generation Christian, not like the missionaries here whose parents and grandparents were missionaries. He did not have that personal family history. The invitation time came and literally everyone went forward to pray and ask God to use them to spread the gospel message. It was amazing; I’ve never seen anything like it.

The highlight was the Friday night meeting. We had an international dinner with nine different cuisines.

International Dinner above, children and adult choirs below

During the service, numerous ethnic groups sang in their native language and dressed in their native outfits: Korean, Philippino, Cambodian, Hispanic, Thai, and the children’s choir and a hand choir which was amazing in black light.

After all the music and before the offering was taken, all the missionary families were asked to stand in an aisle around the auditorium. A young man with our name on a sign stood next to us. Then Pastor said it was time to give the offering. All the people (it was a f u l l auditorium) stood and made their ways to the aisle and walked passed every missionary and gave us hugs and envelopes and money. I hugged numerous people who said they were praying for us and thanking us for going to Japan. I started crying. It was so overwhelming. For at least 20 minutes people came by and gave us their offering. It was so amazing; we do not deserve what these people sacrificed to give to us.