We are safe and give thanks to God

The hurricane had a direct hit at Sarasota, Florida about 9 p.m. last evening.    Within a few minutes, we lost power.   But, we knew the eye was 60 miles south of us.   That was a critical bit of information for us.  We knew the wind and rain would be strong but not the same as having a direct hit.   It had rained all day with some wind but almost immediately the wind and rain came in like expected.   The ground was already saturated and the back of our condo began looking like a river.  

We have new storm doors and windows but only wind proof up to 77 mph.   Milton came into land at 120 mph.   We expect the wind around our condo was close to 100 (at least gusts were that high).   Ron spent two days preparing the windows and doors so only the patio door leaked (underneath and from the top).  We piled up old bedspreads that I used for packing around mirrors and furniture when we moved last year.    There was nothing more we could do without power so we went to bed.   We could hear the wind and rain pounding on the windows.   I awoke a couple of times and checked to be sure the sunroom was not flooding.   Ron said he also got up twice and checked it.   

When I woke at 7 a.m. hardly a leaf was moving and there was no rain.   The sun came up and it has been a beautiful day but the wind came up strongly again.   It was good for me to spread out the bedspreads over the lawn furniture so it could dry.   When I can, I will wash them to use again for some purpose.   They certainly came in handy this time.

My next door neighbor said they had the same problem with their back door and several other condos had rain come in also.  It hit our end of the building first and water poured down the wall, causing rain to come in from the top of our doors.  

Leigh Ann and Tatum never lost power in Tampa but she did have a window in her guest room to blow out.  They put a mattress and furniture against it to prevent flooding.

We spent the day without power but opened windows so we had a very comfortable day.   We did some clean up.

We are just hearing that another storm could potentially form next week.  It is just too soon to know but Florida has been beaten with storms this year.     

Thanks to all who wrote and asked about us, phoned and even offered to come get us.  But, we did not feel we were at great risk as we were not in an evacuation or flood zone.   Traffic was at a 2 mph leaving to drive north the last two days before the storm.   Gas was low at many gas stations and hotels were full so we could not risk being stuck along the road in the storm.   Almost all of our neighbors in our building decided to stay for the same reasons.

We are blessed.   We are thankful.    We are doing fine but hope we don't have to go through this again this year.

With love and much appreciation!

Milton is heading toward us!

Please continue to pray for us and the residents of Florida as this big hurricane is heading toward us and gaining strength.    Wednesday and Thursday will be bad days and we will probably lose power.    Leigh Ann is going to stay with Tatum in Tampa.    Most residents in our building are staying put so we will do what we can to be prepared and hope for the best.   We have new storm windows and doors on this condo but with the strength of this hurricane, it may not be enough.  We have plenty of food and water and supplies that are recommended.    

I will post when we have power.   Leigh Ann will be posting on Facebook if you want to check her posts at Leigh Ann Dotson.

Thank you for prayers.

 

Goodbye Helena!

We are safe but we endured 24 hours without electricity.   The winds were very strong and rain came in waves for several hours as the storm passed on north past the Tampa Bay.   There was still lots of damage in this area even with the storm about 100 miles out to sea.   It was a huge storm with powerful winds.   

The metal roof over cars in one parking area blew off and landed in our front yard and blocks out sidewalk.  But no cars were damaged.  It just blew off and part of it is standing up neatly near the trees.   We have limbs and debris all over the yard but our lawn service will probably have it cleaned up next week.

We felt safe in this condo   The only evacuations were for mobile homes, campers and the manufactures homes which are mostly house trailers on a foundation.    No one in our building left.   People along the waterfront had to evacuate due to an 8' storm surge in this area.   

Today, without power, Ron and I took a 30 minute walk, put a puzzle together and played a game of scrabble.   We took it easy since we were not pushed to work on the computer.   We needed the rest anyway. We will be back on schedule next week.    

Many people checked on us.  God is good and we are safe.  

Thank you so much!

Helena is not a welcomed visitor!

Other than preparing and expecting a hurricane, we are doing well. 

A Hurricane Watch for Helena has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood northward and westward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.

With our condo in Dunedin just north of Tampa, we are a few miles from Tampa Bay so we watch the forecast for storms that head into this area.    Helena will intensify and become a hurricane before it gets this far north but at the forecast today is will pass along side east Florida and make landfall toward the panhandle which includes Tallahassee.    We will start having rain by Wednesday night and expect heavy rain on Thursday and Friday.   

I have brought in pots, plants, chairs and things from the patio that could be blown away.   We have plenty of water and food on hand with other storm supplies such as a weather radio, batteries, flashlights, etc.   Our building is inspected once a year for soundness and according to the long-time residents, it has never flooded.   

Leigh Ann's condo is in a flood plane so she would come stay with us if she receives an evacuation notice.  Tatum's condo in Tampa is not in a flood area. Leigh Ann has gone to stay with her in the past. 

Pray for us and others in the path of this strong storm.    After the storm passes, I will post that we are safe if we do not lose power.  God bless everyone.

Fall is near!

Fall does not appear anywhere in Florida except for a few Halloween costumes in Costco!   We are getting a lot of rain but it is in the form of late afternoon thunderstorms.   The grass is green and everything is lush with crepe myrtles still in bloom.   We are free of hurricanes for another week or so but they predict September and October to be more active months with the possibility of tropical storms.  

Ron has good days and not-so-good days but we feel the medication for Parkinson's Disease has eased some of the symptoms.    

We both keep busy with routine house chores and computer work to keep things going smoothly with our safe houses in Asia.   Ron is busy helping schedule appointments for Ronald and Gigi's October-December trip for them to report to supporters.     

Two weeks ago, we got up early and traveled to Central church of Christ in Winter Haven, FL.   We went to meet Bill and Joyce Perkins there.   Bill is one of the elders.   They actually live in Ft. Myers and drive 40 minutes to attend this congregation.    Bill and Joyce moved from New York to Florida five years ago to help Joyce's sister and brother-in-law.   We visited in their home in New York at least 20 years ago and they have supported our work ever since.   It was time for us to say hello again and thank them for their help.    We had lunch at a small but very good restaurant, and then drove back home.   It was about a 2-hour trip each direction.

Things are going along smoothly so I actually have no big news to report.   They say no news is good news and sometimes that is very true.   We like our routine lifestyle and appreciate the calmness and quietness of our home here in Dunedin.   Many in our building are away for the summer as they are winter occupants of the condos, leaving homes during the winter months.  There are no activities going on but we hear ambulances often as there is a nursing home across the street from us.   Someone said that is a convenient plus for us but I'm hoping that would be necessary.   

Leigh Ann comes (usually on Saturday) and we cook a meal together.   She and I go to our pool and swim and chat for a couple of hours.    There may be one or two old ladies to come to the pool but most days there is no one but us.   It will get busier when all the other occupants come back from up north but for the summer we almost have our own private pool.  It is heated all winter so some swim even on cold days.   

I keep a puzzle going on the end of the coffee table to have something challenging to do when I have a few minutes of free time.   

Our clubhouse is full of puzzles, games and books for anyone to borrow.  

Ron has stopped driving at night so we watch on-line services from different churches on Wednesday night and Sunday night (sometimes other nights during the week also).   When we lived in North GA, Ron insisted on us going out on Friday morning to do our errands and shopping and have lunch out.  Since we came here, we have not kept that practice but a couple of weeks ago, Ron told me to start getting my work caught up to take Fridays off.   

We don't go to the expensive restaurants but usually have a sandwich or salad at one of the fast food restaurants or bring home a precooked meal from Publix.  After running errands and unloading groceries, it is good to not have to prepare lunch.   

I know he does this for me but he also enjoys getting out since we stay home all week.

Just posting a small amount of nothing to let everyone know we are doing fine.   

Keep Ron's health in your prayers as he continues to face the progressive symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.     

Sending best wishes and many blessings from God to you with our thanks and love to all.

August brings more hot days!

Two weeks ago, we rode through tropical storm Debbie without damage here in our area.   We got heavy bands of rain for about 24 hours before it actually gained hurricane strength moving further north up the Florida coast.   We drove to church services with dry roads but as class was ending the downpours began.   When we left the building, we had only light rain all the way back home.   Our backyard puddled with the heavy rain but quickly drained away and there was no flooding    The pond where our drain water ends up is full up to the top of the bank.

There was heavy flooding in Sarasota, FL (south of us) in areas of large nice homes with water getting trapped and nowhere to drain.  People had to be rescued from their homes with streets submerged and cars under water.   Those people have it rough cleaning up their houses, filing insurance claims and getting back to normal.  

The latest development is now a hurricane on its way to Bermuda.   I hope the people there will be safe over this weekend.   We will watch the forecast for future storms as we are not yet into the peak of the season.   September is usually the month to really watch.

Our work is busy but progressing the same as before.  It is difficult for me to keep it current with too much flow of reports and things to do daily.   But, I have not been sick and am thankful I am able to do what needs to be done.

Ron, on the other hand, is struggling more with a recent diagnosis by the neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville starting him on medication for Parkinson's Disease.   While this is not good news, the medication is working and making him feel a lot better.    We know things could be much worse and we will deal with the limitations and progression of this disease.   We have friends with it and know a little about how it will change our lives.   We will be sticking closer to home and not traveling very much.  Ron doesn't want to give up anything but it will be necessary as time goes on.    We are thankful we are near Leigh Ann and Tatum to help us when we cannot manage on our own.

Ronald and Gigi will return to the U.S. October 10 for two months to report on our work and their work in the Philippines.   They will have a busy schedule and we will not get to see them on this trip.   We will hope for a visit when they come back in the spring of 2025.

We are concerned about the election of a new president.   We know we don't have many years left to worry about the state of the nation but we want it to return to a Christian nation and be more what God would want it to be.   The direction it is going is of great concern for future generations and for the church.

I hope to have pictures and more interesting things to report in my next segment.  Keep us in your prayers,  especially Ron. God bless you!

Busy July!

In late June, we celebrated Father's Day and Ron's birthday on June 29th by having lunch at P. F. Chang's, a really good Chinese restaurant.   

Carole Booker, a teacher at Westbury Christian Schools in Houston, TX, makes a trip to one of our safe houses every July. 

She spends two weeks teaching the girls, having crafts that go along with her Bible lesson, having English conversation with them and treating them to gifts and outings.   

She obtains funds from the church and individuals for her annual mission trip.   Our girls in Luang Prabang, Laos are enjoying her for the 2nd year with girls from Vientiane taking the train to join them in these fun activities. Carole stays in an air conditioned room in a small hotel but she faces extreme heat and humidity at the safe house each day.   

Ellen Mao has just returned home to California after a five-day visit with us.   She stayed with Leigh Ann but we spend three days together as I prepared some of the dinners for all of us.   Ellen is a registered ICU and first responder nurse with teaching ability.   

Ellen plans to take some other nurses with her in the summer of 2025 to the mountainous safe houses in Nepal to teach them about hygiene and health, reaching out to conduct training to the communities and to the girls in our safe houses.  Ellen is a graduate from the Harding University School of Nursing.  She's been on several medical missions in past years when we had orphanages in China.  

We took a dinner cruise around Clearwater when Ellen arrived last Friday.    It was a delight cruise with good weather and a wonderful meal.   Leigh Ann and Tatum went with us but the group picture was taken by the waitress and the sunlight was coming through at our location and the picture was terrible.  Here are a few pictures taken on the cruise. 

We watched Hurricane Beryl as it made its way through the Caribbean and up the Texas coastline.  Each week, we will keep a watch for additional storms forming off the coast of South Africa and heading our way.   We will not be free from the risk until about November.   There have been freak storms even into December but that is rare.   

It has been too hot to enjoy our new patio but it is delightful to look at out of our back door.  The plants are doing well with the usual shower each day in July as the weather is always a little unsettled at this time of the year with pop up thunderstorms rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico.  

One of our sponsors, a long-time friend and a deacon over missions in Greenville, TX visited us a couple of weeks ago.   He was in Tampa for a business meeting and came over to see us and have dinner with us.    We had a very nice time together.

An older couple from the Central church of Christ in Clearwater, the first church we visited after we moved to Florida, had us over for dinner one night last week.    We had a very nice dinner and an evening playing dominoes with them.    We have not had much social life with members of the church since we moved here.   Where we are attending now is a little too far for people to want to come to visit us. 

The Casa Esperanza of Angels orphanage in the Philippines is having a wonderful summer.   

     Seven of their students have been baptized in the past few weeks. 

They are enjoying the new learning center and having worship services there now.   The children are enjoying a summer of various things such as VBS, crafts, singing practice, Bible quizzes and memory verse learning and lots of interesting classes and activities.   

Ron and I will leave on the 20th for a three-day trip to Jacksonville for Ron's follow-up visit to the Mayo Clinic.  It will be a 5-hour drive on two of the days, as we go there and return home, but it will be a nice change from sitting at home working on the computer every day.   

Thanks again to all my followers who give us great encouragement as we continue to do the mission work from home.   We miss seeing everyone but once we moved here, it is too far for us to make trips.

Please keep us in your prayers.