A Disturbing Week of Events

We returned to Lewisville on April 10^th so Ron could meet with the elders on the 11^th.   We had a few nice days in the Lake Park. 

The weather was perfect and our walks around the park were nice.  This facility has a coin laundry so I caught up on my washing.  I have a small washer/dryer unit in the RV but it does not hold much.  I washed our accumulated sheets, towels and heavy jeans.   Usually, I cannot wash more than two small loads each time we park because the water will fill up our tank and we prefer not to have to dump until we leave the park each time. 

On Sunday, April 14^th, Ron flew to Houston to speak to a group of Chinese doctors and nurses interested in going on a medical mission to our new hospital in Wadian, Henan, China.  Barbara Scoggins from the church came to give me rides on Sunday.  I went out to lunch with her and Mary Burton. 

On Monday, we moved the RV to Pilot Knoll at Highland Village, about 5 miles further northwest.  
Ron left for China early Tuesday morning.  This is the location where I will stay alone for the time he’s in China.   He’s been gone three days and I have stayed busy.  Enough work has come in from China to keep me working about 7 hours each day.

The man going with Ron to China woke me up at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.  I didn’t go back to sleep.  I saw there was work coming in from China so I began working.  I took a break for lunch and then worked until 5 p.m.    Tuesday I ate my lunch outside on the picnic table but a troublesome Grackle (a Texas blackbird) fussed at me the entire time.  I shooed him away so he’d shut up but he just flew into a nearby tree and continued his fussing.  Later that afternoon, I took a walk around the park.   I noticed that every empty spot has a ‘reserved’ sign so I guess the park will be full by the weekend. 

Wednesday was another full day of work.   I got ready for Wednesday night Bible study and walked to the park gate where Curtis Hays and his family picked me up for Bible class.  Afterwards, we went to a restaurant for his daughter’s birthday.  They tried to get me to spend the night with them because storms were moving in but I decided to stay in the RV.  It’s so much trouble to go somewhere else and I needed to be back early today for my computer work.  

Storms rolled in about 4 a.m.  I gave up going back to sleep so I got up and made a pot of coffee and listened to the weather news.   I fell asleep on the couch about 5:30 and slept until 7.   The rain had moved through and it was quiet.  I was dreaming that I was at a restaurant and reached for my purse to pay for my meal and my purse was completely empty.  Someone had emptied it underneath my chair.  I was actually happy to wake up from this dream.

The temperature was about 75 degrees at 7 a.m. but by 10 a.m. it had dropped to 45 degrees.  It was cool all day (high about 53).  It will be 39 in some areas around us tonight.  This has been a crazy spring with 80 degrees one day and then 53 the next.   It will be in the 60’s tomorrow and in the 70’s by the weekend.  

This week has been sad because of the bombings at the Boston Marathon and the Fertilizer Plant explosion in West, Texas.    They report that the blast in West leveled houses and businesses over a five-block area must like a tornado tore through.   The number of deaths is not certain at this time.  Almost 200 are being treated at hospitals.  With so many people losing arms and legs and injuries from these tragedies this week, I could not help but think of this poem that I received from Ming Paul’s blog (a Chinese brother that lives in Vancouver, B.C.))

 THE WORLD IS MINE ...

Today, upon a bus,

I saw a very Beautiful Woman -

and wished I were as Beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle,
She had one leg and used a crutch -
But as she passed, she passed a smile.

Oh, GOD, forgive me
when I whine.
I have two Legs;
The world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.

The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I lingered, it'd do no harm...

And as I left, he said to me,

"I thank you, you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me
when I whine.
I have two Eyes;
the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,

I saw a child I thought I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
but did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and I said,

"Why don't you join them dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
I forgot, he Could Not Hear.

Oh, GOD, forgive me
when I whine.
I have two Ears;
the world is mine.
With Feet to take me
where I go..
With Eyes to See
the sunset's glow..
With Ears to Hear
what I know.

Oh, GOD, forgive me - when I whine.
I'VE BEEN BLESSED INDEED,
THE WORLD IS MINE.

 The Assistant District Attorney in Kaufman, TX was gunned down in a parking lot in January.  The District Attorney (and his wife) were murdered in cold blood in their home over the Easter weekend.   There was no forced entry and nothing was stolen so they knew it was someone they opened the door for and let in. 

This week, they arrested a former Justice of the Peace for making terrorist comments.  While he was in jail, they searched a storage unit that someone had rented for him and found the car that was spotted in the vicinity of the house at the time of the recent murders.  They also found 20 guns.  The J of the P had stated that he did not own any guns when questioned earlier.   The car was purchased in another name other than his. 

Yesterday morning, about 3 a.m. they went to his house and arrested his wife.  She’s not been seen out much in a long time.  She suffers with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.  When arrested, she spilled the story about how they plotted to kill the Assistant District Attorney and the District Attorney and his wife.  She apparently was involved in the plan and may have driven the car.  She said her husband actually did the shootings. 

While he served as a Justice of the Peace, he stole some computer monitors and was charged and tried by these attorneys.  He lost his job over this so he was seeking revenge.   There’s been a TV series on recently called REVENGE.   It is a terrible thing to hold grudges toward someone and even worse to act it out in a fit of revenge.  They may seek the death penalty for both him and his wife.  I wonder as they sit in jail if they really think it was worth it.   Did they really think they were smart enough to get away with it?   This hatred goes all the way back to Cain and Abel.   I am still amazed that anyone could actually take the life of another person.   

Back in Lewisville, TX for a few Weeks

We visited the church in Palestine on Sunday and had a good meeting with Christians at Crocket Road.  Sam and Cheryl Ellis took us to lunch at a great Mexican restaurant.  We had a delightful time getting to visit with them and the food was exceptionally good.  The drive from High View to Palestine took 1-l/2 hours so we left at 7:30 a.m. and got back about 2:00 p.m.   We went to Bristol on Sunday night, just north of Ennis, which was a 30-minute drive.   They welcomed us as always and had a sandwich fellowship for us after services.    

Our week at High View Corp of Engineers Park at Ennis, TX was enjoyable.  The bluebonnets in this area provided all the beauty you could want and then we had the lake to boot!  

This park had WiFi connections so we used their internet for the entire time we were there.   The last day we walked around the park, I felt a little sad to leave there.    Monday and Tuesday were beautiful days but the threat of a strong storm had us watching the weather news on Tuesday night.   There was a possibility of 70 mph winds and quarter-size hail when it arrived in North Texas early Wednesday morning.   A cold rain was predicted for all day on Wednesday.   Ron got permission from the gate person to relocate the RV to a safer spot.  Tuesday night, before sunset, we hooked up the trailer and car in a boat ramp parking lot.   Ron turned the RV facing into the wind.   He read on the internet that it’s unlikely an RV of this weight could turn over in wind less than 100 mph.  The article said if the wind does not hit it on the side, there’s much less chance of it turning over at any wind speed.    We relaxed and talked until it got dark and then went to bed, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before the storm came rolling in after midnight.    We had heavy rain and wind but it did not seen too bad.  The next morning we ate breakfast and left to drive to Lewisville.   It was about 42 degrees outside with continual rain so we were happy the car was already secure on the trailer and we had nothing to do outside to get ready to move. 

We arrived in Lewisville about noon on Wednesday.  We are at the Lewisville Lake Park until Monday of next week.   We did have to unhook the car and trailer in the cold rain when we arrived.  Once parked and plugged in, we got the heat on and enjoyed a warm RV for the afternoon hours.  We went to Lewisville for Bible class last night but it was still very cold.  In some places near us, the temperature was in the 30’s last night.  It is going to be 64 today so we will walk around the lake this afternoon.  We try to get in as much exercise as we can each week.  Some days it’s impossible because of the weather.

We have some shopping to do before Ron leaves for China on Tuesday.  Monday, he will relocate the RV to Pilot Knoll Park because it’s a Highland Village Park and they will allow me to extend the time we stay there if Ron’s trip takes longer than expected.   It’s not far for some church members to give me a ride to church.   Since our son, Ronald, is in the Philippines, and this trip will involve a lot of traveling, Ron thought it would be better for me to stay here.   We have not been apart for more than one day in over eight years.  I’ve made every trip to China with him.   I always took one carry-on bag and tried to be ready to leave an area as soon as he finished his work   Ron schedules everything as tightly as he can so he can return to the U.S. and resume his normal work.   I think he’s afraid I might slow him down on this trip.  I got sick on the last trip but I tell him that’s not likely to happen every time I go. 

A friend of ours has bought the Family Christian Bookstores.   The CEO is meeting Ron in China to visit two of our care centers to get an idea about our work to see how they can get involved.  Most of their profits go to help orphans and widows.  

Pray for Ron to have a safe trip.  Thanks to my followers for your prayers and interest in our work. 

April Fool's Day, April 1, 2013

No one pulled a joke on us on April lst.   We got up early Monday morning and packed up things, secured the car on the trailer and drove 45 minutes north of Hamilton to Stevensville.   Ron went to an area-wide meeting of ministers, wanting to make contact with some of them that he has not met.   He dropped me off at Wal-Mart.  I had about 30 minutes to shop for a few things before shopping for groceries.  I never have the luxury of 1-1/2 hours when Ron is with me.  Like most men, he wants to get the shopping done as quickly as possible.  He is not a patient person to wait for anything.   At 11:30, Ron picked me up and I quickly put the groceries away.  A few wives came with the men to the meeting and they wanted us to stop at a BBQ place to eat lunch with them.  We were able to find enough space to park the RV so we stopped for lunch.

The BBQ place was very busy.   It looked like a very good restaurant.  I got a chopped BBQ sandwich.  Ron just got the chopped meat and cold slaw.  You don’t have a choice of Pork or Beef in Texas.  It’s always beef.  Ron and I are used to eating pork so the beef seemed dry and tough to us.  It was not cheap either.  I think it cost $13 and we did not get drinks to go with it.  We never drink enough water so we always take water with our meals.  It was very hard for me to give up sodas (especially Diet Dr. Pepper) but I have because I know they are not healthy.

After we left the restaurant, we drove from Stevensville to Ennis (about a two-hour drive) due east.   It was a sunny day and there was not too much traffic.  We arrived at High View Corp of Engineers Park near Ennis about 3 p.m.  The park where we stayed before on Bardwell Lake is closed for renovations.   We are on another part of the same lake here. This is our first time at High View.  It’s a small park and most of the camp sites are empty.  I guess it is a little early in the season for a lot of people to come to the parks.   We saw kids in swimming at the swimming area yesterday but I am certain the water was very cold.  We have very cool nights and the days have not gotten warm enough to heat up a large body of water.  I remember us going to New Orleans and Baton Rouge one year in the early spring or fall and Ronald swam in the hotel pool but the water was cold.  I could not swim in cold water.

Ron enjoyed the view and waited patiently while I took pictures.

 It is bluebonnet season in Texas. It is the State of Texas flower. I have seen them from a distance but never in mass before. The park has fields of them and we were just in awe as we walked around the park yesterday. They grow along the sides of the streets and there are large patches of them everywhere, just like these pictures. It is very beautiful!

 

Rain moved in this afternoon and for about two hours we had very heavy rain.  It cleared off and we had sunny skies when we went for our walk after dinner tonight.   We may have rain again tomorrow with much cooler temperatures for a couple of days. 
We had not gone far on our walk tonight until we saw an armadillo.   I’ve never seen one that close before.  Most of the time, I have seen them lying dead on the highway.  Actually, this was in Georgia.  I recently told Ron that I have not even seen a dead one in Texas and I thought they were plentiful in Texas.  Well, seeing a live one today was a treat but wouldn’t you know it – I didn’t take my camera.  Such is my luck!

We will be here for 8 more days.  The park has WiFi but sometimes it only has a weak signal.  We found only one park before that had WiFi and they charged to use it.  We have been able to connect to the church WiFi in the places we have parked the last two months.  This saved us a lot of money.  We have to be careful not to go over our base amount because it then gets very expensive.

I still enjoy the luxury of emails with my kids every few days.  Leigh Ann and I were talking today about the word processors we used 20 years ago.   They were such antiques compared to what we have now.  Twenty years ago we would not be able to do this work in China and handle most of it from our desk in the U.S.  Communication is so different.  Although we get frustrated with computers or printers that don’t work well, we still have much to be thankful for today.

In spite of worries, difficulties and the stress of life, I am always very thankful to God for our blessings.   I work on my weaknesses every day, trying to turn things over to God and trust in Him.   I know He cares and if we are faithful, He watches over us and walks beside us.  We must always remember this when health fails, disappointments come and problems arise.

God bless you, my friends. 

 

 

 

 

A good week in Hamilton, TX

This short segment is just an update on our location and current schedule.

This week we have enjoyed a stop-over in Hamilton, TX.    Ron gave a report to the Park Heights congregation on Wednesday night.    Thursday morning, Sue Davidson, a long-time sponsor, invited us to breakfast.  Her house is right across from the church building.  We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and a good visit with Sue.  We went with her for a short visit to see her husband, Jack, at the nursing home.  I went to ladies Bible Class that morning and heard a good lesson from Tom Moore, the minister.  Tom is the brother of the minister in Dripping Springs.  Thursday night we attended Game Night at the church building and enjoyed some good snacks and fellowship with some of the older members.   We had a good time, playing games and talking until about 10 p.m.  

Sunday, we plan to visit the church at Meridian.  Tom Moore suggested we go there.  Sunday night, Ron will speak at the church in Comanche, not too far away.  On Monday, Ron will attend a meeting in Stephenville of area preachers.   I’ll do our grocery shopping while he is attending the meeting.   We don’t yet have an appointment for Wednesday night. 

In the next two weeks we will be in Palestine and Bristol.   These congregations are further east so we will travel from Hamilton in that direction by the middle or last of next week.
We will return to Lewisville, TX on either the 10^th or 11^th.

Easter, 2013

Today it is Good Friday so everyone’s thoughts go to this day over 2,000 years ago when our Lord and Savior was crucified.  It is always a sad day to me but then Sunday soon comes and we rejoice in His resurrection.  I read where traditionally people actually go through a crucifixion in three villages in the Philippines to atone for their sins and hope for miracles.  Several dozen people re-enact the crucifixion and hang on the cross for a few minutes with nails in their hands and feet and then are taken down and put on a cot for medical attention.  The Catholic Church does not condone these practices that have occurred each year from the 1950’s but it is still done each year.  Even if we hung on a cross until we died, it would not mean the same because Christ took on our sins and set us free with His sacrifice. We could have our bodies burned or do whatever else we might do and it’s meaningless because nothing we can do atones for our sins.  Only the blood of Christ saves us because He was the Son of God.   This is what we reflect on each and every Sunday as we remember Him and his sacrifice, and His resurrection, with the emblems of the Lord’s Supper.  He told his apostles as often as they partake of the supper; we remember his death on the cross.

We all have thought about heaven and what it will be like.  All I know is what the Bible says about it.  It’s too difficult for the human mind to comprehend eternity and the hereafter.  I do know from reading the Bible what it is NOT.   People have come up with all kinds of things that did not come from knowing the Bible.   We get a description of heaven in Revelation but is the language figurative?  

     “Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.  Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates and names written on them which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south and three gates on the west.  Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates and its wall.  The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth and height are equal.  Then he measured its wall; one hundred and forty-four cubics, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.  The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.  The foundation of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysophase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.  The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was one pearl.  And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

The overall effect is that of an incredibly beautiful and transparent city, symbolizing never-ending glory and purity.  We know there will be no pain, suffering or tears there.  We will be with Jesus and the angels that serve Him.  What will we do?  I don’t know but I don’t think we’ll be bored as we are as in the human body.  I think we may sing beautiful songs of praise.  Will we know each other?  I don’t know but there’s indication that we will from reading the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  Will we be as husband and wife?  According to Jesus instructions to the Pharisees when they questioned whose wife the woman would be that had seven brothers as husbands, there will be NO marriage in heaven.  The spiritual body will be different from the physical body. 

Have you heard of Ghost Marriages?   An article came from our son in China.  He read this on-line as he searched for interesting news:

Chinese families are increasingly performing "ghost marriages," where they seek out eternal companions for their deceased relatives.

Is love eternal?
While that can be a difficult question to answer, ABC News reports that a growing number of families in rural China are hoping to make it as everlasting as possible by reviving "ghost marriages," the ancient Chinese tradition of marrying two corpses and placing them to live with each other underground.

Traditionalist Chinese families can be reluctant to leave their dead, unmarried relatives without a spouse. According to ancient folklore, lonely corpses might rise from the dead and try to take the living back to their world to keep them company.

While the custom fizzled in the past century after Mao Zedong and the Communist Party tried to eliminate it in 1949, it has experienced a resurgence in rural Chinese coal communities where money is becoming more abundant and where young men frequently die in coal mining accidents.

When mining accidents turn tragic, victims' families typically receive financial compensation. According to China Daily, the families of 23 miners killed in a 2011 coal-gas burst at Xiangshui CoalMine in Guizhou each received almost $164,000 from the company that controlled the mine, the GuizhouPanjiangGroup.  With the restitution money and other mining-related proceeds in hand, many rural superstitious Chinese have become able to not only afford expensive dowries and elaborate ceremonies, but also the most desirable corpses.  A recently deceased young, attractive woman can fetch $30,000 on the black market, NBC reported.

Unfortunately, the surge of new money and demand for brides has created a brimming grave-robbing industry in rural China as well. Earlier this month, according to The Guardian, a Chinese court sentenced four men to prison for stealing 10 female corpses, falsifying their medical records and selling them for roughly $38,000. To increase a cadaver's asking price, criminals have even resorted to performing plastic surgery on the deceased, NBC reported.

Along with grave diggers, "ghost matchmakers" have also sprung up near the coal communities. The intermediaries assist in the selection of the corpses and broker their acquisition between two families. The matchmakers have been known to travel to extreme lengths to procure the best cadavers. According to the Global Times, they sometimes lurk in Chinese hospitals where they cut deals with grieving families. Worse, according to ABC, a Chinese man murdered six women in 2006 so he could sell them for ghost marriages.

When the deceased are more ethically and lawfully obtained, their unions can be similar to those of the living: expensive and festive. A brother and sister profiled by NBC News spent $2,500 on betrothal gifts to the family of their father's new 21-year-old bride, who died in 1989. Their father was divorced when he died at the age of 48 in 1968.

Entertainment is sometimes present at "ghost marriages" and guests commonly eat and drink. After the ceremony, the deceased newlyweds' families typically remain close. According to NBC, some Chinese think the bond between the families of the deceased is closer than the one shared by in-laws of the living.

There is no end to the things people can dream up.  We read about the terra cotta soldiers uncovered in a tomb of an Emporia in Xi’an China.  I watched a PBS documentary where they tried to determine how they were constructed and how long it took to get this army of soldiers ready to bury with the dead Emporia.  It was an amazing feat.  But, apparently the dead Emporia never needed his army to fight the enemy.  They were still intact and standing at attention after all these years. 

We know that the Egyptians buried many things with them for the afterlife.  The same thing was true of the American Indian.  People from every nation have believed in a “higher power” and life after death.  It is still traditional in rural China today to bury pictures of money, cell phones, furniture, cars, etc. so the dead person can have them on the “other side.”   Once a year there is a Tomb Sweeping Holiday when the Chinese people go to the gravesites and decorate the graves with artificial wreaths of flowers.  They leave an actual plate of food there for the dead loved one to eat.  Some really poor people go to the grave after people leave and pick up the food to eat themselves. 

Another question we often have but I can’t answer is, “When we die, will our souls go straight to heaven?”   I know many people believe this.  I often read where someone says of a loved one, “She is in the arms of Jesus now.”  Or “She is an angel in Heaven now.”  When Jesus died, for three days he went to Paradise, the realm of the dead In Christ.  He did not have a bodily resurrection until Sunday and he did not ascend into heaven until 40 days later.  Acts 2:34…”For David did not ascend into the heavens…”   John 3:13 “No one has ascended to heaven, but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.  He told his apostles in John 14:2, “I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “   If he has not come back to receive the apostles, he has not received others in heaven yet.  That promise is good enough for me.  I can rest in Paradise until He’s ready to return.  Another question we often ask or think about is, “Will we know anything at the time of death?”   The rich man knew where he was but is that story an analogy?  I don’t know.  I read in Eccl. 9:4 “For the living know that they will die.  But the dead know nothing.  And they have no more reward.”   At death, the determination for the soul is fixed.  There’s no repentance for the dead.  We cannot pray someone out as one religious group practices. 

This may seem to be a morbid subject but thinking of the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday brings us such glorious hope.  None of us want to live in this life forever.  The worries, the suffering and sadness we face would be too much.  The promise of eternal life in heaven with Jesus someday is the goal we must focus on each and every day of our lives.  We do not know the day or hour he will return.  We must be ready.

Cactus and Cedars of Texas

We have all heard of the Cedars of Lebanon but there are so many cedars in Texas and I never knew that before.   They are different from the cedars in Tennessee.   My friend, Eve, in Dripping Springs, said many people are allergic to the odor of the cedars that grow here.  It is on the weather news along with Oak, Mold and other plants that bring suffering to allergic eyes.   

Saturday morning we had a pleasant drive from Leander to Lampasas.  It was only an hour’s drive and there was little traffic.  It was a cool, cloudy morning with drizzle and fog but pleasant enough.  We parked in the church parking lot in Lampasas and settled in for a few days. 

Our life is simple on the road.  We have become accustomed to putting things away to travel.  I have a system of bungee-cording certain things, closet doors, drawers and things that might move or open if we hit a bump in the road.  We had a lot of mishaps the first year we traveled.  We made a check list of what each of us were to do to prepare to move.  Now, we are experienced travelers and it all comes naturally and preparing to leave occurs much swifter than before.   It is still a lot of work and we are both tired when we settle down again in a new location.  I guess that means we are using all the energy we have for our age.  We certainly don’t have the ability to do as much as we did (even a few years ago).  Ron said it doesn’t matter where we go, it’s always home when we get parked again.  We are like the turtle.  Our shell goes with us. 

Cooking is simple all the time but when the power amps are low, I don’t use the microwave or toaster oven as much.  When we have 50 amps, we can do everything at once without worrying about the circuit shutting off.  We try to eat healthy, with low-fat breakfasts, lunch and dinner.  It is easy when we prepare our own meals but with so many inviting us out to eat or having meals at the churches, we make up for what calories we may have saved during the week.   I seldom bake any more.  I don’t do casseroles either because for just the two of us, we end up with too many leftovers.   We steam vegetables, bake potatoes or eat salads.  I’ve found more and more lunch meats without hormones or nitrates.  Ron eats a lot of fish and I keep hormone-free chicken breasts on hand for quick meals. 

On Sunday we decided to travel south about 20 miles to visit at Burnett for the morning service.   The drive was interesting with fields (literally fields) of cactus growing along the roadsides.  The cedar trees and cactus were everywhere for miles and miles.  I have yet to see tumbleweeds but guess we haven’t gone west enough to find the flat land without cedar or mesquite trees growing. 

We were delighted to see a congregation of over 200 members with a large percentage being children or young people.  Before service began, the building was buzzing with the sound of children’s voices.   We enjoyed a good lesson by the youth minister.  The pulpit minister had gone to Japan to accompany one of his daughters back home from a teaching position.   The congregation was friendly to us and we felt comfortable there.  The women were dressed nicely.  Most men had on jeans, plaid shirts, wide western belts and some wore cowboy boots.  It was definitely a Texas church.  But, it was not the Cowboy Church.   We see those buildings all around but do not know what kind of church it is or what they do there.

We attended a class at Lampasas on Sunday night.  They have small groups meeting in homes on Sunday night, which is common among many churches here.  The group at the building was made up of older people (our age!).  Ron will speak to a group on Tuesday night at Lampasas.

We were awakened about 2 a.m. Sunday morning with the next cold front blowing in.  And, it was blizzard force winds.  The RV has canvas over the sliders that move out to give us extra room inside while we are parked.  When the wind comes, these canvas covers flap and make a horrible noise.  Sometimes, we move the sliders in to sleep in a small space so these covers are not exposed to the wind.  The RV rocks in strong winds and it’s impossible to sleep.   The strong wind blew all day at 40-50 mph on Sunday, so when we went outside the wind was so strong our hair blew all over our head.   The cold front also brought very cold temperatures.  It was very cold this morning and will be in the 20’s tonight.   It was 54 inside but we only kept a little heater on low all night.  The gas furnace makes so much noise, we don’t like it at night.  It’s most unusual for this time of the year for the fronts to dip so far south with temperatures this cold.  RV’s are not insulated nor designed for cold weather.  Ron does all he can to provide warmth inside by covering the windows around the front, but it still gets very cold inside unless we run the furnace full-force.  Winter is surely almost over for this year so we’ll survive a few more cold nights and days.

Wednesday we will move up to Hamilton, TX.   It is a short drive.  I think Ron just confirmed an appointment in Palestine so we are probably completely scheduled until we return to Lewisville.

Ron completed our tax returns tonight and he is very happy to have finished that task.  With our regular computer work, things like this have to be worked into the schedule.  My load has not been too busy lately, but most days I do work until about 4 p.m. 

At night, I crochet baby blankets.  In the past, I left some at the church in Lewisville to give to expectant mothers at baby showers.  I gave some to Leigh Ann to give for gifts.  In recent months, I have mailed seven to friends’ grandbabies.  I have one more to mail soon.

I’m keeping the ones that I like the least to use for packing around medical supplies going to China.  They can be given to little babies next winter that they treat at the hospital.  I began crocheting baby blankets two years ago so we could give every baby at the cleft lip/cleft palate medical mission a blanket.  I’ve kept up the hobby because it gives me something to do at night and when we are traveling.  I love to see how they come out when I finish one.   They are not expensive to make and it makes a good gift.  The other benefit is that my thumb joints do not hurt as much with arthritis as they did years ago.  I contribute my typing and crocheting as therapy for my hands. 

We can pick up TV stations only when we are in larger cities or at least close to a large city.  We don’t want to spend money on satellite so we get whatever the antennae picks up.  If I can get a PBS channel and one of the networks, I’m happy so I can get news and weather (maybe a cooking, nature or musical show on PBS).

I can’t say that there are a lot of things interesting enough to report, but I like to post about our simple life and travels just for the fun of writing and remembering what we’ve been doing.  It’s mostly for me, but if anyone enjoys knowing where we are and what we are doing, this is a simple narrative of our lives.

Every day I end with a prayer of thanksgiving for our many blessings.  We are blessed and I must remember that although many others have luxuries and life easier than we have it, we still have far more than we need.   Having safe travels and good health is a bonus.   God is good and I know HE loves us as we continue to try to do His will.  God be with my readers.

Spring travels and updates

We are traveling a lot these days but for only short distances from one city to another.   Our week at Dripping Springs, TX was delightful.  Eve Mickelson, a friend we knew in Peachtree City, lives there now and she treated us like royalty.   She prepared a delicious dinner for us at her house soon after we arrived.  Eve went with us to Red Lobster to celebrate our 55^th anniversary.  She invited us back to her house for triple chocolate cake and ice cream.  Then she gave us the rest of the cake!  Ron has surely enjoyed getting a piece from the freezer every day.  Eve included her friend Vivian, another widow, in our get togethers and we had so much fun.  We also went with them to a fast food pizza place on Wednesday night and to Texas’s famous What A Burger on Sunday night.  Foy and Beth Forehand bought our dinner on Sunday night.  For those people who have not been to Texas, What A Burger is as famous as McDonalds.  We can see their buildings everywhere.  Food is good!

Sunday, the church secretary, whose husband is one of the elders, (Janice and Carl Garner) had us for lunch at their beautiful home which has a spectacular view of the area.  It's a panoramic view that includes Austin, 20 miles or more away.  Their daughter, Carla and their grandson were there also, so we had a great time and a delicious lunch.   Carla's husband, John, is the minister and his father is also one of the elders.  It was good to get to know them.   Lunch was delicious.

Monday brought us to the next location.  We parked in the rear of the Leander Church of Christ.  There was a power hook-up, water and sewer at one area but there were some low lines to go under.  Ron drove about half-way under until we got to the lines and then he came out, got a ladder out, propped a mop up that was at the back door and pushed it higher.  We still weren’t sure he could go under it so he said, “Pat, how about you getting on top of the RV and you can hold up the lines as I drive under?”  I knew he was kidding so I said, “Hush yo mouth and get back inside that RV!”   He said he just wanted to see my reaction.  He knew I was not getting on top of the RV even if he was not driving it.  He got out once, went on top and put the wires over the stuff on top of the RV and then drove under without a problem.  This morning, he got a taller ladder from the church and while I held the ladder steady, he got up and pulled the lines in and put ties on them to raise them higher.  It was not a power line that was the problem.  I think the young people had run some communication lines back to the building they use so they were thin wires.  They are now well protected from anyone driving back to this area.

Tuesday we were invited by one of the elders to meet him and his wife for lunch.  It was a really colorful and cute Mexican restaurant.  We had a fun time with them and discovered that we knew many people that they know.  They were sweet to us Wednesday night and told us to stay as long as we want to and come back again.  There was a lot of interest from the members about our work.  No doubt Ron will be asked to deliver a report and sermon on Sunday when we come back through this area.  

We will be in Lampasas tomorrow and Ron will meet with the elders of the church there on Tuesday night.  We will probably visit some other church in the area that we have not been to before, on Sunday.   They also have a spot where we can park.  We need to drive on Wednesday to be with the church in Hamilton, TX for Wednesday night.  I don’t know where we will be on Easter Sunday.   Ron is making appointments along the way as we travel back to Lewisville.  Ron will have a meeting with the Lewisville elders to go over the work on April 11^th.  On the 14^th, Ron will fly to Houston for just one day to speak to a group of Chinese doctors and nurses planning a medical mission to China.  They will work at the newly constructed hospital in Wadian, Henan.   Donated medical supplies and tools are being taken to China by various individuals.   I think Ron will get everyone going to China to take an extra suitcase of supplies.  Dr. Lou Smith of Tennessee, brought a truckload of medical things to Leigh Ann's house in Georgia.  Leigh Ann has to get them to people who can take them to China. 

Our worker is in the process of finishing the remaining things to be done on the hospital building and start pricing and purchasing the equipment.  Ronald has completed his work there and has been traveling to check on things at the care centers the past two weeks.  If you receive our newsletters, you know it's a beautiful building.  Ronald has done a great job with the construction even with many problems. 

The workers in Wadian will also need to make a survey of the homes in this area to determine who is poor and deserving of a medical card to give them free treatment.   We will start out as a children’s hospital because we would be overrun with people if it was opened up to everyone.  They will not turn an adult away that has an injury or something that we can correct.  The first team going in will probably examine children to establish a medical record and see what they need at the present time.  This province is the most populated and perhaps the poorest in China.  The need is great for medical care for the poor.   Chad Jackson with Jackson Healthcare may also get a team together to go before the end of the year.

Ron is planning to go to China on April 16^th.  I’m debating whether I will go with him.   We have a problem with the government at one of the orphanages.  After Ron meets with the elders on the 11^th, it may be decided that he needs to go to that location on this trip.   The initial trip is planned to meet a man who is over Christian bookstores that is very interested in our orphanages.  He can’t travel in China alone and we don’t have anyone that could meet him and show him around at this time.  Ron is primarily going for that reason.

Ronald has to leave China every so often to renew his VISA.   I think it’s been six months now so he’ll fly to Manila and meet Gigi.  They will spend some time together there for her birthday and if she’s successful getting the next VISA, she will return to China with him.  They have to meet a couple in ShenZhen early in May to interview them as potential orphanage directors.   We relocated Jerry, the director at the Jackson Care Center in Zigong to run the new hospital.  His wife, Christine, has been running the orphanage but we need a couple to go there so she can join her husband in Wadian.

Ron has been making reservations for a group going to work at two of our orphanages at the end of May.  Ten will go to Wesley’s House in Pinggo and 10 will go to John Connor Brown in Tiendeng.   Adults and teenagers are included. 

Little Addie, who was adopted by Connie and Stan Burnette, will be in the group going with her parents.  Here's how she looked when we brought her to the U.S. and the pictures of her when she started kindergarten this year.  She is a very precious little girl and everyone loves her. 

She is the child we brought over about four years ago for her to begin yearly surgery on her joints that would not move.   She was found at our orphanage door in a box, wrapped in a blanket, the morning after she was born.  She had so many things wrong with her, her parents knew there was nothing they could do for her.  She was lovingly wrapped up so I have to believe they thought “Maybe her only hope is for the Americans to help her” and they were right.  No child like this will be neglected if there’s any way Ron can find someone to help them. 

The trip to the orphanages will be an eye-opening experience for this group, especially for the young people.  People who go, say it changes their lives and they want to go back. 

Our work continues to be busy all the time; both with things going on in China and at home.  The amount of computer work between the workers and the U.S. (orphan reports, letters from orphans to their sponsors, and the medical work for sick children) is a daily task.

Taking the gospel to every creature in every nation is not an easy job.   We know Dr. John Bailey, a retired dentist in Colleyville, TX and Dr. Fred Massey, a retired OB-GYN/Oncologist in San Antonio, TX who are both part of several medical missions every year, going to foreign places.  The working conditions are horrible as well as their living conditions to go help people and take the Good News to a lost world.  I just received an email today from Dr. David Darrah, a retired physician in Tennessee, who went with us on at least one medical mission to China.  Here’s what he wrote:

I went to Madagascar with an American/European medical mission team of 52 persons from March 1--10. It was a very long trip there and back (with which you are very familiar traveling back and forth to China) and we hope the effort was not only beneficial to the poor people we saw and treated but pray the government will allow World Madagascar Voice (a branch of World Christian Broadcasting) to ship and install the transmitters in the radio station that has been built in that country.  Only time will tell but you also are familiar with dealing with foreign governments.    ….I keep thinking I will someday write a letter or note to my children in China; it isn't that difficult but I also have children in India, Ghana, Guatemala and Haiti.

God continues to bless us and the work in China.  Thank you for your prayers and interest in our work but please remember the sick and suffering all over the world.   Many need prayers for physical healing but others need the life-saving spiritual healing of salvation.   Our workers all over the world and Christians struggling with life problems need your prayers.  We cannot despair because so many evils are in our society.  They have always been present.  We may not seem to be winning the war against Satan but I know the Bible says Jesus will overthrow him and his kingdom.    We just need to keep on doing our part in this battle.   God bless you!