Where did the year go?

 I cannot believe the end of November is here already and Thanksgiving is next week!     I am doing some cleaning this weekend to prepare for next week's holiday.   I enjoy turkey all year-round but especially on Thanksgiving Day so I can eat all the traditional things that go with it for this special holiday.   Perhaps, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year.    

I told one lady at church that anyone without family or would be lonely on Thanksgiving could come to our house.   An older man who lost his wife two years ago, came up to us last Sunday and said he would like to come.    We did not recall even meeting him but its still possible we have met.   Learning names and keeping people straight at a new church is like making a new friend every week at our age!

Ron has been going swimming every morning while the pool is empty so he can get in 30+ minutes of exercise.   The pool is heated but if there's a breeze, it is cool when getting out of the water.   I don't usually go in so I have his towel ready to drape around him when he gets out.   The sun will quickly warm him up.

Not so the last two days as a cold front reached us in Florida.    It was 58 this morning!    We have had a strong breeze for two days and our high of the day has only been in the 60's.    Ron is missing his swimming but we can start back on Monday as it will be in the 70's again.    The exercise seems to be helping him move around more, along with the medicine that has made a big difference in his life.

The morning goes fast with this activity in the mid-morning.   I don't get much computer work completed until after lunch each day.    The day goes very fast and its time to fix us a night time snack and watch news before our Bible lesson every evening.     Ron goes to bed early but I usually read for an hour or so at night to wind down from the day's activities.

As far as the work goes, we have had a number of girls being baptized.   

Most of them are in Nepal but one of the girls in Udon Thani, Thailand was baptized last Sunday.   

 

They are beginning the sewing school in Nepal again.    For several years, we had a number of girls learning to be tailors and as they completed their course, we gave them a sewing machine and supplies to start their own little business in the market of their hometown.  Since then, girls added to our safe houses have wanted to go to school to complete a high school education.   Many of them have been successful and found jobs.   Now, a few older girls want to learn tailoring so a new sewing school is being set up to start this vocational program again.   

Ronald and Gigi have been in the U.S. since October 10th.  They have reported to churches all across the south, having a combined power point presentation about Save Asian Souls' work and their work in the Philippines.  Some of our supporters have told me what a good job they are doing and how wonderful his presentations are to inform them about the work we are both doing.   

We have had a number of new sponsors to sign up and many others want more news about our work.  Ronald and Gigi will finish in Texas this weekend but they have a few more appointments in Alabama before they return home to the Philippines.

When they first arrived in the U.S. they successfully found and purchased a condo in Cartersville, GA. 

They sold the house that Ronald owned (we lived in it before moving to FL) while they were in the U.S. last spring.   They need their own place in the U.S. for Gigi's renewal of her VISA green card.  It is necessary for them to have a place when they arrive to rest a few days before their journey begins to travel and give reports.  Sometimes, they have time to come back through there to rest a few days before they head west   They need to leave things there that they only need while in the U.S.  They will move their things now in storage to the new condo on Friday, November 29th.   The lady who owned the condo left a bed in the guest room so they will sleep there on Thursday night to be available when their furniture arrives.    We are sorry they cannot come be with us for Thanksgiving but surely understand how important this move is for them.  Ronald says they will eat Thanksgiving at Cracker Barrel this year.

We look forward to ending 2024 and starting a new year.   God continues to bless us as we age and struggle with illnesses but we are able to do far more than we expected at this age.   We are so thankful for many things.  Our family is doing well and very blessed.   Our country has new hope, but we know that God is in charge and His will is what is most important.    We pray for peace and not war in the days ahead.   

May God bless you this Thanksgiving!   May you reflect on your many blessings and think less of the difficulties of life.   If we kept a journal of our blessings, we would have no time to do anything else but write down the things that make our lives so wonderful because of God's love and blessings for us.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Halloween is here and election day coming Tuesday

 Hi everyone,

Time marches on with the end of October arriving with many things on the horizon.  We have the time change this weekend which will affect us in various way.    For some, sleeping will be more difficult with it lighter longer at night.   We are glad we do not face the dark afternoons, having to drive home from work after sundown.   There are some perks of our golden age but we are still trying to find out why old age was ever referred to as the golden age.

We have not had rain since the hurricane, but our weather has been beautiful.   Nights are down to 68-69 and days between 83-87.    Our air conditioner has only come on a few times in the last two weeks.  Grass is green and things are beautiful again after the debris has been cleaned up from the hurricane.  

I was sure life would be much easier, simpler and slower once we move to Florida.   Not traveling all the time in the RV or making trips to Asia, was a welcome change.   But, our workload continues even though it is via computer.    The expansion of our work continues as Save Asian Souls continues to help more and more girls as our workers locate girls who need help.   

The good work at the orphanage in the Philippines continues even though some children give up the wonderful opportunity to go back home to live in poverty.   I help with their secretarial work due to their very busy schedule. 

We continue to have baptisms as the girls learn the Word of God and are convinced that the Bible is true and God exists.    While we want to help them physically with clothing and food and give them an education for a better life, teaching them the gospel is our main goal.   Just last Sunday, one of our girls was baptized along with a relative (and friend) who she has taught herself.   

Ronald and Gigi are in the U.S. reporting for both SAS and Philippine Mission.   The travels are extensive and their rest time very little as they try to cover as much as they can in two months' time.    Last spring, they sold the house we lived in for three years during Covid and reinvested in a condo this week.   It is located in Cartersville, GA as they continue to fly into Atlanta each time they come to the U.S.   They will move their things from storage to their new condo at the end of November when they return back to GA from Texas.   This condo will give them a permanent home in the U.S. to satisfy immigration for Gigi's green card qualifications.   It will give them a place to enjoy as home for a few days when they arrive and in between their travels to various states.   They will go back to the Philippines on December 10 to be there for the Christmas holidays with the children.   We will not get to see them this time but look forward to a visit in 2025 when they come again.

After the hurricane, alligators were spotted in our drainage holding pond for the first time anyone can ever remember.    I first heard that a 3' baby alligator was there but I was sure there was a mama close by.  Now, they say there is a large alligator and two smaller ones in the pond.    This is a picture sent by our HOA as a warning to be careful.   

Our swimming pool is enclosed with a fence so they won't be swimming in it.   A new heater has been installed in the pool and it will be heated until May 1st.  

Ron has begun swimming a few days a week for exercise.   Sometimes, I swim too but its a great relaxation to sit in the shade and read as I watch him.   Usually, there is no one there but us.  He is careful and picking up strength each time he swims.   On other days, we are taking a 30 minute walk around the condos where we have excellent sidewalks.   We are blessed to be located in a safe and convenient area.   Leigh Ann did a great job finding this condo for us.    We moved here a year ago on September 11th.   

I have not decided if I can stay up to watch election results on Tuesday night.   At our age, I think this could be our last presidential election and I am very nervous as I feel the stakes are at the highest level in my lifetime and the election is so very close.   I am concerned about our country whichever way it goes but I know things are not good for future generations with the economy, crime and risk of war.  Praying is all we can do after voting.    While voting in Florida has been steady during early voting, we did not have to wait on the day we went.

We are waiting for new prescription glasses since a yearly check up last week revealed a change in our eyes.   Ron also had a first visit last week with a new Parkinson's Disease doctor in St. Pete.   The trips to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville will become more difficult so we are trying to see if he can get good care closer to home.    He will see a specialist in mobility related to Parkinson's Disease in February.  In the meantime, Ron is doing some physical exercises along with our walking and swimming.   I think he is doing well.  

Please continue to pray for us and for our work.   We can be reached by email at any time and would welcome your input or questions.     ronbrown20@gmail.com or patbrown10@gmail.com

God bless you all!

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.   

Weekend with Family

Although Ronald and Gigi visited us last October, it seems like a long time since we saw them.  They completed their travels to report to churches in AL, TN, KY, GA and FL.  Ronald's last presentation was Sunday morning at Leigh Ann's congregation, Pinellas Park church of Christ in Clearwater, FL.   We were all present and enjoyed his report for the work in the Philippines.   He also gave an update about our work in ASIA as he will now report on both mission works in the same presentation.   He did an excellent job.  We are very proud of him.   We give Gigi a lot of credit because they are a perfect team, providing a nice display for the foyer table, sign up sheets and brochures about the work.   Traveling for two months has not been easy and they have driven many miles, staying in hotels and snacking.  

Ronald said my breakfast Saturday morning was the best breakfast they had had in a very long time.  We ate out for lunch on Sunday at Cheddars (our treat for everyone's birthday lunch). 

 

Leigh Ann and I prepared the Sunday evening meal that we had here at our house.    They showered me with birthday gifts Sunday afternoon.   I am blessed to have reached this birthday with relatively good health.  But, the pictures reflect our age and often I feel it too!

Ronald and Gigi will return to their home in the Philippines on Thursday morning.   It is a long 24+ hour trip.   They will face a load of work when they get back.   Things are not usually kept up the two months they are away and school is out next week.   Gigi will be busy keeping the kids busy all summer with activities.  Ronald wants to get the crew back on the construction work to finish their learning center that will be operational by fall.  

They sold their house in Woodstock, GA to the very first buyer the first day it was on the market.  They moved their things to storage until they return in the fall and look for a condo to purchase as their home.  Gigi's VISA has to be renewed on their return trip and they must have a permanent address in the U.S. for it to be approved.  

The large number of new girls are moving into safe house rooms that have been rented for them in two new areas of Nepal.   Some of the girls are 6 and 7 years old but they are eager to live with other girls in a safe house with plenty of clothing and food and get to go to school.    We have many graduating from high school and leaving other safe houses so the new girls will be assigned their sponsors.    

We have been blessed with good workers and enough income to carry on the work without too many difficulties.   One girl has chicken pox and has been taken to the hospital to isolate her and provide better care for her as she is also running a fever.

They are having a 3-day gospel meeting in one area of Nepal and our girls that live there are preparing for a Bible quiz.   

They are taking food they will serve all of the people in these pictures.  How would you like to attend a 3-day meeting in the open area of Nepal?  Everyone will probably sit on the ground (probably sleep on the ground also).   

Our friend, Ellen Mao, will be our next guest, arriving in early July.    She's booked a 2-hour dinner cruise for us around Clearwater and the islands close by.   We will enjoy the beautiful sunset and dinner if the weather cooperates.

We are still praying for our friend, Polly, who will have surgery this week and Malia, who still has a few more chemo treatments before surgery. 

We wish everyone a nice summer and good health.  

May is here with some rain in Florida!

It has been very dry and hot lately but we got a good shower this morning with more rain predicted tonight.

We have a new patio added to our condo which is very nice.   

One of the elders at Leigh Ann's church built the patio and did an excellent job.   I have herbs and a few flowers growing well in the flower beds along the wall.  Leigh Ann gave me some solar lights and lantern for Mother's Day and it looks so pretty lit up at night.  When the earth rotates more and we have a little more shade, I think we will use the patio more.

We have added a new safe house in Nepal with about 13 new girls.   

They are very young and poor.  Their village is in the Himalayan mountains where they can only grow corn.   For six months, with the dry season, they cannot produce crops and they nearly starve with little money and no other jobs available.  The local church of Christ minister and his wife will oversee the girls and see that they get an education and provide Bible classes for them to learn about Jesus.   The picture below is a typical house where they lived and the picture on the right is where they have rented rooms for the girls to live near the minister.   

Ron's sister, Gayle Goad, who lives in a retirement village in Ft. Myers, came for dinner a few weeks ago.  

We were happy to see her after at least five years, along with her friend who also lives at the retirement home. 

Ronald and Gigi have been in the U.S. for two months but they will return to their orphanage in the Philippines next week.    They have been visiting supporters and congregations in AL, TN and KY on this trip to give an update about their work.   They have found warm Christians everywhere they visit.

Ronald and Gigi will arrive in Florida on Friday afternoon and be with us through the weekend.  His last presentation about the mission work for this trip will be Sunday morning at Pinellas Park church of Christ, where Leigh Ann attends regularly.  

It will be great to see them on this trip as they will be away another six months before they return in the fall.   They will probably visit churches in TX and MO on that trip so we may not get to see them.  They sold their house in Woodstock, GA where we lived.   They plan to buy a condo in the fall so they will have a base home in the U.S. to comply with Gigi's VISA requirements.

Jackie, our SAS worker who lives in Memphis, TN, has returned from a trip to Asia.   He and his wife went to China to visit their family and then traveled to safe houses in Thailand, Laos and Nepal.  I know it was good for them to meet the SAS workers and see some of our supported girls for the first time.

Ron and I will travel back to the Mayo Clinic in July for a follow up health check-up for Ron.   It will be a short trip over a weekend but a nice get-away since we have been at home so closely for many months.

We have friends dealing with cancer and prayers are needed for Polly Alexander as she has a kidney removed next week and Malia Huff who is going through chemo prior to surgery for a tumor.   

A dear friend in Aransas Pass, TX lost her 97 year old mother-in-law and her husband, Charles, within the past month. 

Heather cared for both of them for many years so her life will be very different and vacant now.   She is blessed to have her daughter's family next door with two little grandsons to keep her happy.   This picture is of Heather's husband, Charles, his mother, daughter and grandchildren taken a few months ago.

Continue to pray for us as we are getting old.   I will be 86 in 10 days and Ron will be 87 on June 29th.  

April is a busy month!

Ronald and Gigi are in the U.S. traveling and giving presentations to congregations about their orphanage work in the Philippines.   

They spent some days clearing out their house in Woodstock, GA to put it on the market.  They had the first and best offer in one day so their closing will be early in May.   Their travels this trip will take them from Georgia to Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.   We will see them here May 19 and then they return to Atlanta, turn in the rental car and leave on the 21st for the long trip home.  It is a hard trip covering two months.    They will return within 190 days to look for a smaller home where they can invest the money from the sale of their home in Woodstock, GA to keep from paying capital gain on the sale.   They must have a U.S. home for Gigi's green card status to be valid.

We have good news to report because starting this month, Ronald is also working with SAS as our main fundraiser.   Both of our mission works are under the Red Boiling Springs church of Christ.  Most of the churches he reports to also support our SAS work so he will combine the report to update both mission works with each presentation.   Ronald is learning everything about our work under Ron's guidance so he can take over the work Ron does whenever the time comes that it is needed.   He and Jackie Feng will be able to do all of it in the future.  In the meantime, Ron will continue to work as long as he able.  With Ronald joining our work, there will be no concern about our work continuing whenever Ron and I go home.   We are not retiring, but we will be forced to scale back as health conditions press on us.  We feel very blessed that we have been able to do this work until now.  Ron will be 87 in June.  I will be 86 in May.

When we moved to Florence, AL in 1966, we established some friendships that remain to this day.  One friend just spent a week with us at our condo in Florida.   Her husband and Ron worked together on a couple of occasions.   He went home to be with the Lord a few months ago.   It was a good week spent with her but reminiscing about our times together and now the loss of her husband made it bitter sweet at times.  

A dear male friend (and supporter of our work) in Aransas Pass, TX is at the point of death as I write this.  His 97 year old mother died a few weeks ago and he will join her in Paradise soon.    His sweet wife has become a very close friend over the past few years and the days ahead will be hard for her.   

Just a few hours ago I also got word that a dear lady in AR who has supported both of our mission works is not doing well after going to a facility and is now in the hospital.   

A dear Christian man who provided funds for one of our orphanages in  China many years ago in his own son's memory, passed away recently.  

It is our generation that is reaching the end so we know it is time to lose all these wonderful people. While we are happy for those who have left the troubles of this world for a better home, it is still very hard for loved ones left behind to cope with the day-to-day trials without them.    

Our work continues to go well in Nepal, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines.   Jackie Feng, our co-worker has just returned to his home in Memphis as he and his wife have visited most of the SAS safe houses the past few weeks.  

It will be very helpful to him in the future to know the workers in the field personally and have a full knowledge of how the safe houses operate to care for the girls.   Some girls graduate and move on so our number is flexible but remains close to 300.

This is one of the safe houses in Nepal.  The man on the left in the back is Sagar, the director of the preaching school and worker with SAS.  

  

Four of these girls were baptized this week. 

Please pray for Ronald and Gigi in their travels and for us as we deal with aging problems and continue to do our work with SAS.   Thanks to everyone!   May God bless you with good health and peace.

April Fools' Day

 I never liked pranks pulled on me so I'm happy when April 1 arrives and the day goes smoothly without a hitch.   Today has been a warm and beautiful day in Florida.   We opened windows in each room and the air flow was really nice.   I got some extra energy and began deep cleaning.   I took my one large artificial plant outside and sprayed it with a water hose to make sure the dust is off of it.   I waxed most of the wood furniture today.

Today is a new day for Save Asian Souls.   Our son Ronald, who runs the orphanage in the Philippines with his wife, Gigi, starts to take over some of the work from Ron.    Since Ronald's supporters are basically the same as ours and both missions are under the Red Boiling Spring church of Christ in TN, Ron convinced Ronald to report for both mission works together on his trips to the U.S.   

Ron will be 87 in June.   I will be 86 in May.   We just cannot make the trips to give reports any more.  Ron cannot drive the RV for us to do the extensive travel full time.   We cannot drive the car these long distances.   Our RV is up for sale but it is getting old and difficult to sell.    Our car is also pretty old and has over 100,000 miles but we hope we will not have to purchase another car during our lifetime.   

Ron and I will continue doing our computer work from home as long as we can but Ronald will learn more and more about our work so he can eventually take over the rest of Ron's job whenever that becomes necessary.   Ronald knew Jackie Feng, SAS's other worker, as Ronald worked with him in China.    Ronald was the overseer of the six orphanages we had in China for many years before he and Gigi married and they began the Casa Esperanza of Angels' orphanage in Tanjay, Negros Oriental, Philippines.    

Jackie has been working with SAS in the U.S. since his graduation from the Memphis School of Preaching about 6 or more years ago.    He and his wife are presenting in Asia to visit our safe houses in Nepal, Laos and Thailand to meet the workers and get more familiar with the work.   While in the U.S, Jackie has taken over the banking, transfer of funds to workers, approval of the workers' petty cash reports and budget requirements as well as reviewing and approving the girls that come under our care.  In addition, he visits churches within about a 100 mile radius of Memphis, TN, where he and Jenny live.  I will find a picture of Jackie and Jenny to post on my next post.   

Ron has searched for leadership for this mission work for many years but no one has wanted the challenge.   As Ron does not want to quit, it has been a future plan for many years to have someone trained and ready to step in to take it over.    As we are really reaching the critical stage now, we are both very excited to have Ronald come aboard as he needs very little training and he will do an excellent job.    He and Gigi have proven their ability to lead a successful mission work with their orphanage.  We are very proud of the work he and Gigi do in the Philippines because we know what a beautiful campus they have built and the loving concern they have for all of the 25 children in their care.   

If anyone wants to reach out to him, he is in the U.S. now giving reports to churches in TN, AL and KY until the last of May.   He is getting his house in Woodstock, GA (where Ron and I lived before moving to FL) ready to put on the market to sell.    They will return in the fall for another fundraising trip to visit other supporting congregations.    He can be reached at rbrown406@hotmail.com.    I know he would appreciate anyone writing and giving him encouragement.   

A friend from the 1960's is planning to visit us for a week (April 9-16) so I plan to take those days off work to spent time with her.   She lost her husband in November and has been very lonely.   I know we will have a very good time exploring shops and restaurants and seeing sunsets from the Dunedin wharf.

Wishing everyone a happy April .... springtime and summer.

Prayers for everyone to have good health and faithful service to HIM.

March 15, 1958

Tomorrow will be our 66th wedding anniversary.   We have traveled through these years with many changes in our lives.    We were 19 and 20 years old on this date in 1958 without a concern for our future.  I guess technology has changed the most as we had no knowledge of internet, computers or cell phones.  Every 50 years brings many changes and no doubt the next 50 will be just as astonishing.    

Today, we went to vote.   It was only the Republican ballot for the Presidency.   Our country hangs in the balance with politics so crooked.   When we were young, we paid no attention to who was running for office.   We had unbiased media coverage even though it was minimum.   I remember my mother being concerned about Presidents Truman and Kennedy, but I was happy with anyone in the white house.   Oh, the joys of being young and carefree and unconcerned about everything!

Ron and I are blessed to have shared these years together and stuck with it through happy and difficult times.   We look in the mirror and see how the years have changed our looks but we are the same people inside.   

God has blessed us with two faithful and wonderful children.  Our precious granddaughter, Tatum, has also been a great blessing to us.   We could not have a more wonderful daughter-in-law than Gigi.  Our family is small but loving and blessed.

We are getting close to summer in Florida as many of our days are up to 80 degrees now.    We had some chilly winter nights but none below the 40's.   The azaleas in front of our condo building are beautiful.   We do not see buttercups and other spring flowers and flowering trees, but the palm trees and hanging moss bring a unique beauty to our surroundings year-round. 

Ron searched for someone to be prepared to take the oversight of SAS for some years.  Several volunteered but at the last minute, we did not get anyone to assume the leadership.   Our son, Ronald, who runs the Casa Esperanza of Angels' orphanage in the Philippines will begin working April 1st to do fundraising for SAS along with his own mission work.    He will begin to learn every aspect of our work and oversee it along with Jackie Feng, who has worked with SAS for the past 6 or more years.    Together, they can do the work in the future.   

Meanwhile, Ron will continue to assist Ronald with appointments to give presentations about the work.  He will train, advise and assist Ronald as he takes on this work.  Ron will continue as long as he is able as his life has been wrapped totally around this work.   He feels very blessed for having lived 87 years to devote time to mission work.    My job will continue as long as I am able also.   

We both feel blessed that Ronald will take this work on and perhaps our daughter can assist with my work in the future in some capacity.

We could not do mission work without our supporters.   Everyone is a valuable asset to the success of the work.  We could not do it without giving God the praise and thanks for His protection and guidance.  Every time we made a flight to Asia or traveled along the roadways to report on the work, we know we had God beside us, never forsaking his servants as we strived to do our very best to help others and serve Him.   We thank God for whatever success we have been in life,

Thanks to each of you for being part of our journey.   Marriage is the beginning of a journey unknown.  We must have faith to even begin with a partner we know so little about.   God must be the pilot to make it last and be productive.    I see us as only the co-pilots in-training.  We had no manual to follow other than the Bible and our trust and faith in God was the glue that held us together.  

May God bless each of you in the days ahead.   With much love....Ron and Pat 

Tragedy turns into Hope

 

A New Dawn for Lalita:

From Hardship to Hope with Save Asian Souls

In the bustling confines of a hotel, Lalita Maya Chepang, a mere twelve years old, finds herself toiling relentlessly in a job, under the weight of burdens no child should bear. She looks much younger than twelve.

With the loss of her mother at a tender age and her father lost in a distant land, Lalita was left adrift in a sea of uncertainty, devoid of guardianship and bereft of hope.

Left with no recourse, Lalita was left to labor in the hotel, where some safety there was actually a luxury but the specter of human trafficking loomed ominously. In the absence of proper guardianship, she navigates a perilous path fraught with dangers, her innocence overshadowed by the harsh realities of exploitation and abuse.

However, amidst the shadows, a glimmer of hope emerges. The compassionate gaze of a minister falls upon Lalita, recognizing the injustice of her plight and extending a hand of compassion and support. Moved by her resilience and determination, the minister reached out to Save Asian Souls, asking for us to intervene and offer Lalita a chance at a better life.

Soon, Lalita's journey will take a new turn as the SAS team prepares to rescue her from the perilous confines of the hotel. In the sanctuary of a mini safe house, she will find refuge and care, shielded from the dangers that once threatened to engulf her. Here, amidst the warmth of compassionate souls, Lalita will be nurtured and supported, her dreams rekindled and her spirit restored.

As Lalita embarks on this journey of transformation, let us stand in solidarity with her, offering our support, prayers and commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every child. Together, let us ensure that no child suffers the indignities of exploitation and abuse, and that every young life, like Lalita's, is given the opportunity to flourish and thrive in a world filled with hope and possibility because of Christians who are willing to sacrifice to help children like her.

Lalita has not yet settled into a safe house but she will be under our care shortly. I know you will be touched to read this story of a little girl, abandoned and alone in the world without parents or loved ones to care for her. Remember her in your prayers as she embarks on a new life very soon with our help. More will be reported about her soon. Love, Pat

The Busy New Year

For several weeks, I have wanted to post to this blog but there's been too much to do!  The holidays were quiet for us.   Leigh Ann got a stomach bug and did not come over until a week after Christmas.    We enjoyed some unique gifts from her and Tatum.   Tatum sent us a wooden puzzle with small pieces that looked simple but was SO HARD.   Many of the pieces were in the shape of an animal or bird and they fit together in very strange ways.   Once I got a little of the edge done across the top, Ron began to help me.   

It was a wonderful treat for us during the holiday.  Tatum sent glue to coat it and now it is standing on top of my china cabinet next to my tall white candles.

For the past three weeks, I have been preparing tax letters for our donors.   It is a very time-consuming job each January.  We are very thankful for our supporters and the task is important to each of them.  As a result, I've left other work that has come in and now I am busy sending reports on the children in the Philippines and about our girls in all of our many safe houses.   

We have had good news from the Philippines.    One of the young men was baptized a few weeks ago and yesterday two of the girls in the SAS safe house were baptized.   

The minister has been spending a lot of time teaching the children and they are coming to know God and believe in our Savior.   

On Facebook, Casa Esperanza of Angels' video of their worship service featured their singing.   The children and staff raise their voices to God in praise with enthusiasm and it must be a joyful noise to Him.  It sounded beautiful.

They also had wonderful holidays with groups coming to treat them with good food and gifts.   While out of school for the holidays, the children did crafts, had a scavenger hunt, a Bible quiz and many other activities.  

We have had some changes in our Save Asian Souls' work.   Phet, our translator and housemother in Vientiane, Laos got married in November.   

Her husband is from the U.S. and they had difficulty finding a country where they could both get VISA's and marry without a lot of complications.   They married in Paris, France.   How great that must have been for them!  

When they returned to Laos, a reception was held for them on the lawn of her parents' house.   She was a beautiful bride.  We wish them much happiness.

Phet resigned as they plan to live in another location in Laos but eventually, she will get things worked out to come to the U.S.   Her sister and her family were living in the same 3-story house where our girls live so she has become their housemother.    She was doing the shopping, cooking and some of the teaching when we visited there last January so we know she will do a good job.   She doesn't speak English so Hong (another Laos worker) is doing the reports now for all of the Laos safe houses.   We really miss Phet working with us.

Our weather has been cold with most of our nation is a deep freeze.    It was 36 Sunday morning for our lowest temperature this winter.    We have some nights in the 40's and our highs in the 50's or 60's, but today it is over 70 degrees and it feels wonderful even though it is cloudy. We hope spring is coming soon for everyone.  In Florida, we will soon face a lot of extreme heat, humidity and the threat of hurricanes. 

Ron does an hour's exercises every morning, but I prefer walking.   He's ordered me a pedometer and I plan to start a walking routine tomorrow, come rain or shine.   We have sidewalks so it will be safe and easy to walk.    I joined a neighborhood social network in hopes of finding a walking buddy.   I posted and mentioned it and I got a reply "Get a rescue dog as they make the best walking companion."    I am sure that is right but taking care of a dog and the expense of vets and food deters me from choose that companion.  I will walk alone until I can find someone to go with me.

I post beautiful photos of Dunedin on my Facebook page in hopes I can entice some of my "friends" to come visit us this year.    

We hope 2024 will become a better year for everyone.  Our world has many problems and we all have concerns about the economy, the open border and risk of terrorists but we must remember that God is with us no matter what perils we face in life.    We must continue to trust in Him and be faithful whether we live or die.   

Thanks to all for your loving friendship, encouragement and support.    Wishing my readers good health and much happiness in the new year!