Fireworks in Texas

We escaped a round of storms that produced many sighted tornadoes last night.  This is especially scary when you live in an RV and hear the loud announcement, "tornado has been sighted, take cover immediately."   We knew from weather reports early in the day that this was very likely to happen.  We had planned to go eat early (it was my birthday) and then go to the Lewisville church building if we needed to.  They gave us a key to the building, knowing that we had no place to go for cover in the event of a bad storm.  We are about 10 minutes away. 

After we finished dinner, it did not appear to be very stormy so we returned to the RV and turned on the weather news.  There were cells forming but none looked threatening until the loud announcement was made all over the park.  We immediately closed the RV down from having electrical service and drove to the church building.  We spent an hour in the library reading where we could not even hear it raining.  Then we emerged and saw blustery skies after a lot of rain had fallen.  We sat in the car and listened to the latest location of heavy cells and possible tornadoes.  When convinced none were in our general area, we returned to the RV.  About an hour later, a heavy cell passed over us with hail and heavy rain but little wind and no rotation that would produce a tornado.  The rain was over about 11 p.m. as it all moved off to the east.

Ron said all of this was just fireworks for my birthday.  I don't think so!   Sunday night, Ron spoke at Centerville Church of Christ in Garland, TX.   We went out to eat afterwards with Holly Machemehl's parents, who are members there.    As we were leaving the restaurant, it began raining.  The further we got toward Dallas and our exit on to Lewisville, the sky lit up with more lightening than I have ever seen.  It was dancing all around from left to right for a very long distance.  It was a huge storm that spread for many miles.  By the time we merged onto I-35E, the bottom fell out.  We drove the next 10-15 miles in bumper to bumper traffic, with emergency lights blinking on every car.  Many cars and trucks had pulled over into the emergency lanes to wait it out.  We broke out of it about the time we arrived back at the RV.  The storm had moved on with no damage unless there were some wrecks.

I told Holly in an email about the bad storm.  She said everything is bigger and better in TEXAS!   It does seem that storms form west of Dallas and arrive very fiercely by the time they get here and move on to other areas.   We are saddened by the tornado in Joplin, MO on Sunday.   We learned of a family that perished when their house was blown away.   Albert and Evelyn Fuchs, long-time supporters of children in China, reported that Sara Anderson and her sixteen-year old son were found and they were still looking for her husband, Bill.  Their daughter was at work and is safe.  They were members at Connecticut Street Church of Christ in Joplin.  Bill had been on numerous mission trips to Honduras and this family was close to Albert and Evelyn so they will miss them terribly.  Please pray for the Anderson's daughter, Gracie, as she deals with the terribly loss of her family.

Now I have some good news to report.  When I checked my email for the last time before going to bed last night, I found an email and some pictures from our son, Ronald.  He is the one who works in China overseeing the orphanages.  He made acquaintance with a girl in the Philippines about a year ago and they have talked on Skype every day since.  A week or so ago, he flew to the Philippines to ask her to marry him.  We had not heard how things were going and were a little anxious to hear from him.   The good news is that he's a very happy man because she said YES.   He said she is very kind and sweet, as are her parents and the rest of her family.  He asked for their blessings on the marriage and they have treated him very graciously. 

I think they are having a special dinner and with the candles and flowers, Ronald tried to make this an occasion where she could only say YES.   Gigi is a school teacher.  Like him, she's never been married but they know having a mate is very important.   The Philippines is only a few hours from China so she will not live so far away.  We know she is close to her family and they are very important to her.  She will be a great asset to Ronald in China.  She can help with the children when they visit the orphanages.  She can teach English and become a mentor, especially to the girls.  Ronald will find life in China much easier with a wife so we are very happy for him.

"And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."   Gen. 2:18

We don't know more details of their plans.  Ronald has a few more days in the Philippines before he returns to China.  We will see him on our June trip to China and be filled in with all of the details.

The work in China is going very well.  We will visit three of the care centers on our next trip.  The facilities have all been improved and the local governments are cooperating and helping with many things.  Our latest newsletter outlines all of the many ways people, including the government, have assisted with gifts for the Jackson Family Christian Care Center in Zigong. 

May God continue to bless our work in China, but especially bless the people we are trying to reach with the gospel.  It is only through HIS saving Grace that any of us have a hope for eternity.