A very busy November!

The time is rushing by with holidays fast approaching.    Since our move to FL, instead of having a quieter lifestyle, it seems that everything moved into high gear.    Just settling in and taking care of the many things that have to be done, takes time. 

My computer work got behind due to the packing and moving.  Getting new driver's licenses, registering the car, seeing new doctors (eye and ear) and finding stores for things we need, has also kept us busy.  

We've had guests and, unfortunately, I didn't get pictures to post.   I think Leigh Ann posted some on Facebook when Ronald and Gigi visited us for a couple of days.   After they left, Ellen Mao, our Chinese friend from San Jose, California came for a few days.   Leigh Ann was sick with Covid so Ellen got a room in Dunedin and came to our condo for breakfast each morning.    We did some things with her and ate several meals out and enjoyed our time with her.    

Carolyn Chance and Linda Franklin, friends from Greenville, TX drove all the way here (two-day drive) and stayed on Clearwater Beach for three days and nights.   We got to do some things with them and had some good meals at different restaurants.    We toured shops and a craft fair in Dunedin and went to the botanical gardens one day.   We had planned to take them to Tarpon Springs, where they harvest sponges from the ocean and have many unique shops and Greek restaurants.   We didn't go because they were hosting a seafood festival and expecting 30,000 visitors to attend their activities that weekend.    

Our friends from TX took this photo of us at the restaurant on Sunday before they left to return to Texas.    

Our weather has turned cooler, but it is still very nice.   As a cold front arrives, we will have about two days and nights rather chilly before the warmup comes.    It is too cool for swimming in a heated pool or going to the beach (at least for Floridians).    I feel sure tourists from North Dakota and New York are in shorts and enjoying the warm climate.   It is time for most snowbirds to return to Florida.    

Our work with SAS continues on in the same manner.  Since our work is done from computers, we just have a steady flow of things to do every day.  When I take a few days off for guests or holidays, the amount of work builds up.  I have to work a bit harder and put in some extra hours to get caught up again.  I will make an effort to have it all caught up by the end of December.   

We have had several baptisms and one of our girls got married to one of the preaching students from the Himalayan school of preaching, a school directed by one of our workers in Nepal.    

Save Asian Souls has about 300 girls in 23 different locations (safe houses) in Nepal, Laos, 
Thailand and the Philippines.    

We frequently have girls accepting Christ as their savior and being baptized.   This is the reason our motto is "saving lives and souls" as these are our goals for the poor girls who need our support.    

A church in Florence, AL gave money to buy Bibles and now every girl has been given her own personal Bible.    

A church in Houston, TX gave money to buy some winter clothing and underclothes for each girl in Nepal (about 220 girls).   The girls were very happy to receive gifts.   There are no practices to give Christmas or birthday gifts as we want to treat all girls equally.  The girls are very happy to get unexpected gifts.      

The girls in the Philippines enjoy a birthday party with all others at the CEA orphanage who have a birthday that month.   They will also enjoy a Christmas party with gifts and fun activities.   Here are our girls at CEA with their new bookbags as they started a new year at school.

These girls in their long skirts and white blouses (school uniform) are the residents of our safe house in Chiang Mai, Thailand.     

My first two weeks of January are consumed with getting tax letters to donors so they will have the information about their taxable donations to file their income tax reports.    When I finish that yearly task, many reports about the girls have accumulated again for their sponsors.    

Ron had another appointment at the Mayo Clinic the first week of November.   We met with two of their neurologists in regard to his tests in October.   They assured us that he is doing well for 86 and they are pleased with our busy work and lifestyle to try to remain active as senior citizens.  Next week, we are both supposed to watch a Mayo Clinic zoom teaching session in regard to aging well and taking care of ourselves for good brain health.    We are eating healthy foods and trying to get enough rest and reduce stress.  I think we are already doing what the online session will recommend.  

We are very thankful for our many blessings, and especially our ability to continue the work.   We are learning our way around to do things and take care of ourselves, so we are not yet a burden to Leigh Ann.   

We want to again thank our family, friends and supporters for your concern for us and the girls.  We appreciate your prayers and financial support.  

We wish everyone a safe and very happy holiday season during the Christmas holidays and a very Happy New Year.