Covering a lot of ground

While the RV was parked at Campbellsville, KY, we made a car trip to North Canton, OH on the weekend of July 19-21.   We left on Friday and drove to Columbus, OH where we spent the night.  We went through a huge thunderstorm as we coasted our way through Cincinnati at a snail’s pace.  The traffic was heavy and the rain was coming down in sheets so heavily it made it difficult to see the road.   I had driven for more than an hour to give Ron a break but I saw the black clouds ahead and turned the driving over to him at a rest stop only a few minutes before the storm hit.  We had another storm before we got to Columbus but it was not as heavy. 

As Ron was checking into the motel, I saw an orange car parked next to us with rubber eyelashes over the front lights.  I quickly got my camera and snapped a picture before the owner could come back outside and catch me.  It was just too cool to pass up.   There were about five police cars in the parking lot and a sign on the motel door said to take GPS and all valuables inside and not leave anything in the car.   A crazy woman was in the parking lot yelling for someone and acting strange.  I don’t think the police were there because of her.  All of this indicated to us that we were not in a very safe area.  We went nearby to have dinner at Bob Evans Restaurant and then returned to the hotel for the evening, getting a very good night’s rest.   We drove on to North Canton the next day.

We spent the weekend at the home of Jim and Pam Griffith.  Jim is the C.E.O. of Timkin Corporation.  Timkin has plants all over the world and it was so interesting to hear Jim talk about his work and he and Pam talk about their travels.  We enjoyed seeing and staying at their very beautiful and interesting English Tudor home (built in 1925).  The house is very lovely and the gardens and outdoor areas are also beautiful.   Jim and Pam made us feel very comfortable so it was a delightful weekend and visit with them.  We are so grateful for their friendship, hospitality, encouragement and support for our work in China.

After the Sunday morning service at the North Canton congregation, we left quickly to drive five hours for Ron to speak at Owingsville, KY that night at 6 p.m.  We snacked in the car on the way.  We went to eat with the elders after services and then drove back to our RV in Campbellsville, KY, arriving “home” about 11:15 p.m.   It was a trip of about 900 miles.  It was a safe and good trip.   We will have fond memories of that weekend.

We left Campbellsville on July 22^nd and relocated to Dale Hollow Dam Campground near Celina, TN.    We have visited with congregations at Beech Bethel and New Hope (both at Celina), Moss, Red Boiling Springs, McCoinsville and Leonard.   We will finish our work here and travel on August 6^th to Poole Knobs Campground in La Vergne, TN (southeast of Nashville).

Two elders from Moss and their wives, came to take us to dinner one night.  We went to a little restaurant overlooking the water here at Dale Hollow Lake.  Afterwards, we piled into one vehicle and drove around for more than an hour.  We crossed the dam and after some very winding roads, drove into a scenic area overlooking the lake from many angles.  Then, for more than 10 miles, we drove on winding roads that were high above the lake with spectacular views of the mountains, valleys and water that jutted out in many directions.   It was dusk dark so I did not get to take pictures. 

The interesting part of this trip, in addition to the wonderful views, is the story behind all of this land.   A few years ago, a man that used to attend church (I think at Beech Bethel, a small congregation we attended one Sunday night), bought the entire area for $5 million.   I do not know the acreage but it is a very large amount of land.  They said he spent another $15 million or more developing the land, clearing the trees enough to construct a road.  Then he installed water and power lines (all underground) to the area.  He was ready to start building houses when the housing market fell so he put the project on hold.  He died a couple of years ago and this land is now owned by his relatives (wife and a son and daughter).   They are now selling off plots and building houses.  I guess there were a dozen or more new homes along this 10-mile stretch.  Some were elegant log cabins; others were beautifully stained wood houses, and one or two might have been brick.   I could not see on both sides of the road and it was getting dark by this time.  The houses have to be constructed in a manner so they will not block the view of any other house being built.  There are strict guidelines concerning the construction and design of the homes.  None were extremely large but they were not small either.  They probably had more space than we could imagine because they were built at several levels with decks jutting out over the hillside, supported by metal poles like stilts.   Some were just teetering on the side of the hills and looked really dangerous.

I asked where the man got his money.  They said his father owned a sawmill but was not a wealthy man.  This man started a broom handle factory but didn’t do too well and discontinued it.  They said he was a strange sort of fellow that could not work well with others so he went into the sawmill business (maybe he took over his father’s; I’m not sure).   In any case, he took lumber from the forests in this area, diversified into logs to build log cabins (famous in this area) and hardwood flooring.  His operation is very large, located in Moss, TN.  He was a self-made millionaire.

One of the men that went with us that night, works for the company that constructs the houses so he knew the history of this development.   When we got back to Celina, it was about 9 p.m. and completely dark.  We stopped off at Dairy Queen for ice cream and then they brought us back to the RV park.  It was a really great evening with them.  Times like this are when you really get to know people personally and get to feel close to them. 

The Moss congregation helped us when we were missionaries in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  I can’t remember back then to know who was at Moss at that time.  These two elders are rather young so they probably have come along since that time.  The one that works with the sawmill/construction company also serves as their minister.  

Our summer weather has been great.  Seeing that Dallas is having temperatures around or over 100 every day, makes our weather almost perfect in comparison.  Kentucky and Tennessee has enjoyed an unusually heavy rainfall this spring.   Crops are beautiful everywhere and grass is green.  The 60 degree temperatures at night require a light blanket for sleeping with warm days in the 70’s or 80’s.  The lakes are full and campers are having a great time enjoying the cool nights and mild days.  We are camped on the downside of the dam so the Cumberland River flows through the park, with a swiftness that carries the boats down in a hurry.   In the afternoons and early mornings, the river has a layer of fog hovering over it that is almost eerie.  The park is full of families so there are many children on skateboards and bikes everywhere, getting in the last few days of summer before school begins.  There’s no real protection from the river so I would be a very nervous parent if I had children playing all over the park.  Children are naturally curious of water and the river could entice them into a dangerous situation.

 

We walked the nature trail a couple of times.  It winds around for about a mile from one side of the park through the heavy forest and back to the other side, over streams and waterfalls.  All along the mile-long walk, we can hear the waterfalls.  

The Corp of Engineers has a fish breeding pond for trout above the park and water from that pond flow down into various streams that form the waterfalls.   Picturesque bridges are numerous for crossing the streams and for sightseeing.

Other news:

During this month, Ronald and Gigi, went back to the Philippines so Gigi could get another VISA for China.  She is only able to extend her VISA and stay in China for three months at a time.  Traveling through Guangzhou, they went to a zoo and had some time on another island in the Philippines.  Part of the time they were at Gigi’s family home.  They arrived in time to celebrate “carnival” although I don’t think they call it that.  They had a big parade with costumes and dancing in the streets.  It’s a time for feasting also.  The locals used to have these celebrations in the Caribbean Islands when we lived there.  Other than a rough ferry ride that made a lot of passengers sick, I think they had a good time.   We received lots of great pictures from them.   They are back in Guangzhou now on their way back to the various orphanages to take care of things that need to be done.

This month, Carole Barker, a teacher at Westbury Christian Schools in Houston, TX, traveled via Beijing to our hospital in Wadian, Henan.   She is a very brave girl making the long trip alone.  Our missionaries in Beijing met her at the airport and after spending a night with them, saw her off on her next flight to a city near Wadian.   Two weeks later, she got to return to Beijing and worship with the group on her way home to Houston, TX.   Jerry and Christine, workers at the hospital met her and made her visit productive and enjoyable.  She had some unusual experiences and wrote hilarious blogs each day while she was there.  She and Christine unpacked donated vitamins and medications and got shelving up and the pharmacy arranged.  They labeled the items in both English and Chinese.

The equipment is still being purchased and installed.  The dental chair and equipment arrived before Carole left to return to the U.S.   It is slowly coming together and should be ready sometime this fall for medical professionals from the U.S. to go there and work at their convenience.   They have been working to identify the families surrounding the hospital that are poor.  We have to establish a data base of poor children who can receive free medical care at this hospital.

The orphans at our care centers are out of school and visiting relatives.  Many do not have anyone to visit and remain at the care centers all summer.  Reports about the children are coming in slowly because some workers also take vacations during this time. 

We will be in the Nashville area for about a month.   When we finish our two weeks at Poole Knobs at La Verge, we will relocate on the north side of Old Hickory Lake to Seven Points Campground.   We have many churches to report to and many individuals to try to see.  It will be difficult to see everyone we want to visit during this time.

From Nashville, we will park at Villa Rica Plantation (for the second year) at Spring Hill, TN.   We also have many churches and individuals in the Columbia, TN area to visit during early September.   We still need to work in visits to Chattanooga and North Alabama after that.  

Leigh Ann is going to one of the care centers the first two weeks of September.  She and Ellen Mao, a Chinese nurse friend who works in San Jose, CA, will spend their vacation at the Refuge of Grace Christian Care Center in Luxi, China.  We will give her time to recover from her trip and visit her early in October.   Until I have more news to post, this is it for now.

Thanks to my readers who comment on our work, our travels and offer prayers on our behalf.  Please continue to remember us, our family, the workers and orphans in your prayers.   We have been so blessed with health that keeps us moving along, safe travels, good friendships, donations and prayers.   Ron and I have episodes of back problems but it only slows us down a little.   Daily, I pray for the safety of our family because when they are doing well, we are too.   I’m like a mother bear that is contented when her cubs are safe.  But, when the cubs grow up and are out on their own, the mother bear has many more worries than just how she’s going to feed and care for her young.  Now, I just have to turn their care and well-being over to God. 

God bless you.

Blue Grass Country Kentucky

We have really enjoyed seeing the beautiful fields in Kentucky.  Corn and tobacco crops are plentiful.   

 

With the good rain, everything is green and beautiful. 

We had a short stay in Glasglow, meeting Peggy and Donald Nims for dinner and attending church with them.  They heard Ron speak more than eight years ago so the work in China had hardly gotten off to a good start when compared with what is happening today.  We enjoyed the short time we had with this delightful couple.  I wish we had been able to spend more time hearing about their lives and accomplishments.  The drive out into the countryside to attend the Central Church of Christ was as picturesque as you could imagine.  It was too late in the day for me to take pictures and I regret that.  The drive there was up and down rolling hills with pastures and cattle, crops and beautiful homes.  It could stand up well in a contest with the beautiful ranches of Texas.   They had recently restored the 100+ year old church building that was quaint and beautiful with some stained glass and beautiful new ceilings.  The houses surrounding the church were unique and colorful.  This area is close to the historical district where the pioneers of the Restoration Movement lived and preached.   I can just imagine Raccoon John Smith living there.

We are missing Rick and Linda Clark since we left Benton.  They did so much for us!  Ron asked Linda how much it would cost to have homemade peanut butter ice cream delivered here but she said it would be as much as a shipment to China.  Today, Linda signed her email, “Peanut Butter Queen.”  This is a picture of Linda's dinner for Ron's birthday. 

 

  

We relocated to Campbellsville and are camped at Smith Ridge.  It was not easy to get to this park with the last three miles on a very narrow road (Dead End sign, which made us a bit nervous).   Here are some pictures of the park:

 

We have deep woods in this park and have yet to see the water (Green River, I think).  The road to the boat ramp is far away so we have not tried to walk it yet.   We have walked our camping section which is the civilized section of the park.  It’s a challenge with hills but it’s shady with huge trees.  We took the nature trail through to the other park which is the primitive area where the camp sites do not have electricity or water.  Tonight, we saw two deer run out from the woods and go up the road in front of us until they disappeared into the woods again.  There must be lots of wildlife in this beautiful forest.    
The nature trail is really great. 

Campers all along the way on the weekends. 


  
 

Over the weekend, the park was full but we are down to two campers and us tonight.  It will fill up again on the weekend.   Check out this small camper.  It's really cute but after about a week, I know I'd be ready to go home.    Our weekends are busy while everyone else is relaxing and enjoying “nature.”   On Saturdays, we catch up with washing the car, cleaning the RV, cooking and washing clothes. 

This past Saturday, I burned my wrist, letting some liquid from a crockpot of greens pour onto my arm. 

Some noise woke us at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning.   Fireworks are not permitted in these parks but someone was shooting off fireworks until 11 p.m. in the primitive park section so we did not get to sleep early.  We got up at 5:15 and left at 6:30 a.m. to drive northeast to Mt. Sterling, KY.   We got there at 9:15 and class started at 9:30.   We enjoyed this 300+ member congregation very much.   They have a beautiful building and the people were very friendly.   Two of the elders and their wives took us to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  


In the afternoon, we drove from Mt. Sterling over to Nicholsville, filled up the car with gas at Wal-Mart and located my friend’s house.  We had about 1-l/2 hours to visit with Jocelyne, James and Jen (my friend’s daughter and her husband) and watch their precious little boys play and swim. 

Jen's youngest son took up with Ron and me very quickly.  He even called me Granma. 

Jocelyne, became a Christian in Montreal while we were doing mission work in Quebec.  We figured out that we have been friends for about 19 years.  Jen, her daughter, visited our home once when she was only a teenager.    We brought Jocelyne a birthday gift (her birthday was on Saturday). 

She had belated birthday gifts for both of us with things that are so nice.  I'm enjoying them every day and thinking of her.  I love my beautiful cup she gave me with the scripture “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13    We both need to be reminded of that scripture often!

While getting gas at Wal-Mart, Ron discovered that he left his driver’s license at home.  I drove about l/2 of the way to Mt. Sterling on the way up on Sunday morning so he could rest since we got up so early and he had to speak twice.  I told him I better drive back to the RV after service that night in Nicholasville.   We couldn’t take Jocelyne to dinner after services since I wanted to drive back before it got dark.  It was a two-hour drive with about 30 miles of very winding roads.   I have more problems seeing well at night and the lights from on-coming cars bother my eyes also.  We got back about 9:30 p.m. just as it was getting really dark. 

I always loved the countryside around Lexington, KY,  It is one of my favorite places.   Mt. Sterling is east of Lexington and Nicholsville is southwest.  It’s a great part of the U.S.   I am so happy Jocelyne can be with Jen and her family in this lovely area, especially as she recovers from the loss of her husband last November and now treatment for breast cancer. 

It was nice to meet folks at the church in Nicholsville and Jen’s family, but it was especially nice to see Jocelyne.   She and I needed those hugs we exchanged.  

 

Wonderful Visit in the Benton, KY Area

People always want to know where others are “from.”   It’s not like we came from some foreign country.  I have yet to run into someone who is from a place outside the U.S. who is oohing and aahing about the beauty of the parks.  Most people visit these parks several times a year or at least every year.   Most are southern folks who just like to get away for a while to look at the water and relax.   In the winter months, we see tags from Maine to Wyoming and I understand those folks coming south for the winters.
 

I still don’t understand why so many southerners like camping.  I think there’s more of it now with the economic problems (cost of air travel, increase in various other vacation luxuries).    Unless you stay in the Corp of Engineers’ parks and have a 50% senior discount, the nightly cost at many RV parks can be $35 or more per night.  Taking a camper to a park is a lot of work to pack up, cook up food or shop to take everything that’s needed away from home.   I don’t really understand sitting outside in 90 degree weather with flies and mosquitoes.  (I have been eaten up with mosquitoes this summer with the wetter weather). 

I think Ron and I were poor as we grew up and a house with air-conditioning is far better to us than camping out.   I think campers would be very unhappy people if they had to live this way all the time.  They would feel that they are very poor if they had no other choice. 

Our tag is from TX – so many want to know “where in Texas?”    I wonder if they think we got our money from oil wells.   They are too nice to ask, so I just let them keep wondering.  It would appall them if they knew we lived on our social security checks.   We are blessed to have had good jobs early in life and paid sufficiently into the system so our return is enough to live on (provided the fund is not depleted or eliminated by the government). 

All of my life, I’ve felt that I’m rather ordinary and, actually, I never liked standing out.  I’d rather “blend in” than be noticed.   Most people who camp do have smaller or older campers so I’m sure our 40’ RV does stand out a little so we may not blend in too well.   But, this is our home full-time and it’s still far from luxury.  It is compact and convenient, but the traveling is not easy.   Ron says if I buy anything, I have to throw something away to make room for it.  That gives you some idea of how condensed our surroundings are even with a longer RV.  I’ve had women tell me they could not do it because they could not live with so few clothes or their husbands could not give up their tools to live in a camper full-time.

When we arrived yesterday at Bailey’s Point Corp of Engineers’ park near Glasgow, KY, we remembered the park from last year.   The highlight of this park last year was seeing the geese flying off of a hill and diving for the water.   I asked if they were here this year and was told they are.  They have taken up residence here and I can’t blame them.  I’ve heard them in the distance but have not seen them flying down to the water yet. 

Ron reserved a pull-through parking space that we thought we had last year.   A pull-through is usually good for us because he doesn’t have to back the RV into a spot.  It turned out to be the spot right above the one we had last year.   It’s a horseshoe shaped space with large trees on both sides and a 40’ RV does not bend in the middle.   Ron pulled in but knew we could not pull forward enough to plug into the power and it was pitched downward and we would never get it leveled.  A nice man walked down the hill from his camper and he said he suggested we take the car off and drive around to find another space.   (The park gatehouse was closed until 4 p.m.).   He told us to look for the little reserved note on each spot and find one that was available for the two days we would be here.  It turned out that the one right across the road was O.K.   Ron backed out (with some difficulty) with another camper helping direct him.   This spot we are in now looked level but by the time he got the levelers down and got it level, the two front tires are about 6” off of the ground.  Otherwise, the back of the RV would be 6” higher than the front.   He warned me that the step from the RV was up very high.   I told him it’s O.K. because I’m still a “high stepper.”

We are due to receive 70% rain this afternoon and tonight.  We walked up to the gatehouse about 5 p.m. to let them know we moved into another spot.  The gate worker told us that they received 6” of rain over the weekend.  All camp spaces are on rolling hills so the rain drained into the lake.  The gate worker said the lake came up a lot with that rain.  This has been a good spring for the south – not too hot and with plenty of rain.  The corn and tobacco crops across Kentucky are beautiful.   The farmers will have a “bumper” crop this year.   In previous years, it’s been hot and dry and many could not save their crops.  Last year, Texas ranchers sold off much of their cattle because they didn’t have enough to feed them without good hay crops.

We had a wonderful time in Benton, KY (June 17 – July 9).    The first week, we were at Canal Campground and the rest of the time we parked in the driveway of Rick and Linda Clark, members at Union Hill.  It was impossible to get reservations at the parks around the area because of the Independence Day holiday.  I felt badly that we needed to impose on the Clarks and I hoped we would not be a nuisance to them.   Linda also got many of the appointments set up for Ron.  She knew someone at every congregation and that helped introduce us so they would let Ron come give a report.  Besides reporting to the congregations we already knew, he got to speak at a few other congregations because of Linda’s efforts.    As they say, “it’s not what you know so much as it is WHO you know.”   So, it was very good to know Linda and get her help.  (Wonder if she has some dirt on each of them and they were afraid she’d get even if they didn’t give Ron an appointment?)   Well, it didn’t work in one case because she told us of a trick she pulled on one elder at a congregation and he didn’t give us an opportunity to give a report there.   They had a big building fund underway to pay for a million dollar building so I guess they were afraid someone might give to us and take away funds they needed.

Rick and Linda are wonderful people.  We did not know them very well until this year.  Linda and Rick support an orphan and she was instrumental in getting the ladies at Union Hill to support seven more children.   We have talked by phone over the past several years.  Once, we drove up to give a report from somewhere else and we spent the weekend in their 5^th wheel camper that’s parked in their driveway.   That was a wonderful weekend, but until this year, we really didn’t become close friends.

Ron had many things he needed to do on the RV and not only did Rick help him, he had a workroom full of the tools Ron needed for the various jobs.  Ron and Rick took care of many things over the 10 days we were there.   I was happy to water plants and watch over their house while they went to the Smoky Mountains over the 4^th weekend.   Ron was happy to help them set up their new computer into a working condition and show them many things about it.  We were pleased to see them getting involved in email and downloading photographs onto a flash drive.   I bought them a wireless mouse and flash drives as gifts but they outdid us with more gifts and favors.   Rick has gotten into playing mahjong on the computer!   We told him he can retire and go to China and sit around and play it with the old people.

I reported in the last episode that we went to Patti’s Restaurant with the Clarks to celebrate Ron’s birthday (a week early).  They were upset that Ron paid for the meal and since then they have not only tried to get even, they have done so much that we are indebted to them for the rest of our lives.  They said they liked it that way.  I told Linda I would not want to be their enemy.   Ron had a bank check sent to them to cover utilities (power and water) but it arrived one day before we left and Linda literally tore it up and handed it back to us.   I would not want to add up all they did for us and what it would have cost if we had gotten all of this done somewhere else.   

Linda cooked a delicious grilled tilapia dinner for us on Ron’s actual birthday and made homemade peanut butter ice cream.  After dinner, we drove to Murray, KY to a parking lot and watched fireworks.  It was a wonderful treat for Ron’s 76^th birthday.   In spite of being in Beijing for a Chinese New Year and seeing fireworks for seven days, we enjoy these fireworks because they were beautiful and somewhat different.   We forget a lot of birthdays, but I don’t think he will forget this one.  They made it too special!

When we arrived yesterday and got parked and hooked up, we were hot and tired.  Ron said he needed some of Linda’s ice cream.   I told him she sent some with us.  He said, “You’ve got to be kidding.”   I wasn’t.  I showed him the container in the freezer.  He said Rick better watch Linda because if he (Ron) wanted a younger wife, he’s go after Linda.   Linda has many appealing qualities but Ron is especially interested in her ice cream!  Shows his age!!!

When we were packing up to leave yesterday, Ron said, “it’s like leaving family.”   It really was.  We had such a good time with them and shared so much that it’s like they are family now.   They could “almost” be our kids.   Rick asked if we wanted to adopt him but I quickly told him “no.”  I told Linda as we left, that regretting the distance between us for another year is the price we pay for true friendship.   But, they are going to be in Franklin, TN one weekend while we are in the Nashville area so they got a motel near our park for their last night (Saturday) so we can get together.  They will go with us to Fairview to church on Sunday (Aug. 11^th) where Ron will speak.  We’ll go for lunch before they leave to drive back to Benton, KY.   We have this reunion to look forward to.  I told them they should follow us around on our travels and get even with us.  We could buy all of the dinners we have out.

I’ll write the next segment after we are parked at Campbellsville, KY.   We have a lot of driving by car to do for the rest of the time we are in Kentucky.   I’ll report on our visits for the rest of the month next time. 

We know that many prayers are going up daily for us and our work in China.  Thank you so much for your loving concern for us and the generous support and encouragement we receive across the country. 

We have lots of friends and acquaintances we enjoy seeing every year.  It is what makes our job of fund-raising so enjoyable.   Friendships make the travels “bearable.”  

May God bless you and care for each of you.

Kentucky travels

June has been a good month for us but not a tremendously profitable one.  We are on our yearly reporting trip to churches that already support the work.  Ron tries to fit in some new churches along the way to give reports to inform others about what is happening in China.  Summer is not a good time to get appointments because many churches are scheduling summer speakers, having VBS and other activities.   It takes the second’s year visit for most churches to really get interested.  By the second or third visit, we are no longer strangers and the congregation welcomes us much more openly.

We parked at Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, AR for about a week.  A couple parked nearby was from Yuma, Arizona.  It was a quiet place and we enjoyed a good visit with Liberty Hill, a congregation that has supported us for many years. We drove on Wednesday night to Jonesboro, AR and had a good visit.  From Paragould, we drove to Troy, TN and spent a wonderful weekend with Jimmy and LeEllen Smith.  We parked directly in their driveway and enjoyed a great visit with them; also with Ron and Jenny from the Troy Church of Christ. We had some wonderful meals and good times there and when the time came to leave on Monday, it was like leaving family members. 

 

We arrived at the Canal Campground at Grand Rivers, KY on Monday afternoon, June 17^th.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our friends from Benton, KY were also parked there that week so we had several occasions to get together.

  

 We visited the Northside congregation in Mayfield on Wednesday night. 

We invited John and Linda Richardson to go to lunch with us on Thursday so we drove to their beautiful home in Mayfield, KY.  Sweet Linda had fixed a delicious lunch for us saying it was easier to talk there than at a restaurant.  That was so true and it was better food too but we didn’t want her to go to the trouble for us.  We stayed with them one weekend a few years ago and fondly remember that good visit.  King, the boy that lived with us for 19 months that came to the U.S. for skin grafts, was with us that weekend, a few years ago. 


On June 22nd, (Ron’s sister’s birthday, we went to Patti’s 1880 Settlement Restaurant in Grand Rivers.  Someone told us last year that when we came back into the area, we needed to be sure to go there.  I asked Rick and Linda Clark, our friends who were also camping at Canal about the restaurant and they highly recommended it.  They went with us and we had a wonderful meal and great time celebrating Ron’s birthday a week early.

On Sunday, we attended Union Hill in Benton, KY (Rick and Linda Clark’s congregation). 

Our reservation was up at Canal on the 24^th and we could only find a few days at a nearby campground but nothing was available anywhere through the 4^th of July weekend.  Ron has appointments through July 8^th so Rick and Linda insisted that we park in their driveway for the duration of our time in this area. 

They had returned home with their camper and said there was still plenty of room so that’s where we are parked now.  We really enjoy being with them but are trying not to be a nuisance. 

Rick and Linda went with us to North Marshall in Calvert City, KY last night.  Linda says we are having dinner at their house Saturday night and then we will drive to Murray, KY to watch fireworks.  That’s Ron’s birthday so he will get to celebrate again. 

We look forward to meeting Donald and Peggy Nims in Glasgow while we are at Bailey’s Point Park for a couple of days after we leave here.  From there, we go to Campbellsville, KY to stay at Smith Ridge from July 11^th to July 24^th.

Sunday morning, July 14th we will be in Mount Sterling, KY.  We will drive to Nicholasville, just south of Lexington that Sunday afternoon,to visit with our friend, Jocelyne Clark and report to her congregation that night.  Jocelyne is undergoing treatments for breast cancer following surgery a few weeks ago, so we are anxious to see her and give her a hug.  Her birthday is on the 13^th so we hope our visit will be encouraging and a joy for her.  It will be for us, no doubt.

There are few lakes and rivers in middle KY so we had trouble finding a park anywhere near Nicholasville.  We will drive back to the park in Campbellsville that night and then the next weekend we have to drive all the way to North Canton, Ohio.   Ron says we will leave the RV in Campbellsville, drive to Cincinnati and spend one night in a motel and drive on in the next day.  We will return part way Sunday night and then on to Campbellsville on Monday, July 22^nd.   

We leave Kentucky on July 23^rd for Dale Hollow near Nashville, TN.    We will be in the Nashville area about a month. After that, we have many churches in the Columbia, TN area and then churches in Chattanooga and Athens.  

Leigh Ann is going to China with Ellen Mao, a nurse friend of ours from San Jose, CA. 

They planned this trip last year but Leigh Ann cancelled since she was moving into Ronald’s house in June of last year.  I think Ellen is off work from Sept. 5 – 15 so we didn’t want to arrive at Leigh Ann’s house until she’s had time to recover from her trip.  (We will go ahead and visit with churches in North Alabama while she’s in China) and then come back to Woodstock, GA to see her.  Leigh Ann and Ellen are going to visit at Refuge of Grace Christian Care Center in Luxi,China, the orphanage where they both support little girls.  

Ronald needs to repair a water leak in the restrooms at this facility so he says he and Gigi will come back there to do the repairs late August while the children are still visiting relatives for the summer.  Leigh Ann hopes Ronald and Gigi will be there so she can meet and get to know Gigi.   It’s sad that sisters-in-law live on opposite sides of the world and never have had a chance to meet.  Ronald and Gigi will celebrate their second anniversary in September.  Gigi sometimes catches me early in the morning on Facebook.  We chatted a few minutes this morning and it’s always such a joy to get the chance to talk with her.  She said Ronald keeps her laughing and their being together makes living in China bearable.  They have been living out of suitcases and hotel rooms for several months.  Ronald finished the construction on the hospital and then they began visits to the care centers to see what needs to be done at each of them.   They had one train ride that was about 17 hours.  Ron and I were on the train once for that long.  It’s about like the trip going to China to be on an old train that long.  It’s not an easy life when transportation is difficult, especially in a foreign country, the weather is hot and accommodations are below average.  

 A group from Buford, GA went to China for two weeks.  Many teenagers were in the group.  Ten went to John Connor Brown and ten went to Wesley’s House.  Ronald and Gigi were able to go to Wesley’s House for a few days to be with them.  Stan and Connie Burnette were in the group.  Ron and Stan grew up together but I doubt they had seen each other in 30 years.  Stan and Connie have been generous supporters in addition to adopting Addie, a precious little girl that was left at our orphanage when she was born.  Addie has a condition that requires surgery once a year on a joint in her body.  None of her joints moved when she was born.  She went to kindergarten this past year.  She went with them to China and really enjoyed making friends with the Chinese children. 

Connie Burnette (picture above of Addie and Connie in the group going to China) posted on Facebook yesterday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Even though it’s treatable, the report did not sound good and she’s facing a difficult surgery and treatments for maybe the next year.  I am so glad she made the trip to China before she found out about this problem.  It will consume their lives until she’s well again.  There are so many tests, treatments and follow up visits that it seems there’s no time for anything else. I know she has a lot of family and friends so she will have all the help she needs.  She’ll have lots of prayers, encouragement and support that will be of great benefit.  I don’t know how people face problems in life without this wonderful support system we enjoy with family members (blood relatives as well as brothers and sisters in Christ) that pray for us and help us.

This was a sad week for me because Steve Temple passed away in Brentwood, TN.  Steve was an elder at the Hillsboro congregation.  I worked as church secretary there for a few years while Ron was getting the work started in China.  He was gone long periods of time and I stayed busy with my job at Hillsboro.  I took charge of overseeing things when there was a wedding or funeral to make sure everything was in order at the building.  I spent many weekends working but didn’t mind since Ron was away.  Steve was the elder that I reported to and he was a wonderful boss.  We got along so well.  He was kind, humble and gentle and such a good man.  Everyone loves Mary Ruth too.  She has the same kind of personality so I know they had a wonderful marriage.  I understand that about a year ago they removed l/2 of Steve’s thumb with melanoma but it returned and spread all over his body.  It is a great loss to lose a man so young with many productive years ahead as a good elder of the church.  He will be missed greatly.  His memorial service will be tomorrow, June 28, 2013.  I will remember this each year, a day before Ron’s birthday.  I have only been in contact with Steve on Facebook in recent years, but I will still miss him. 

I tried to post a picture of Steve and Mary Ruth from their Facebook pages but it failed each time. Such a precious couple! 

May God be with you until my urge to post comes up again!

Stops in Searcy and Paragould, AR

We enjoyed a wonderful time in Searcy, Arkansas.   We arrived at Harding University and took their last motor home parking space.   School is out so there are few on the campus.  We enjoyed a good dinner at Dixie Café with Lolita and Ed Higginbotham.   We went back to their beautiful home for cheesecake and ice cream.  They are a lot of fun to be with and we had such a delightful time.

Lolita has a small cake underneath a glass cake dome that says 50 Years on a little sign that is stuck in the side of the cake.  The cake has red roses and the cake has white icing.  It is very pretty.  She explained that it was actually the top section of their 50^th wedding anniversary cake when they had a big party.  I asked her when this was and she said it was in 2011.  It still looks like it’s so fresh you could slice it and eat it.  My eyes grew big and I said, “You mean you’ve kept it like this for two years?”   She nodded her head “yes”.   I said, “I didn’t know you could keep a cake like this.”   Lolita casually said, “I didn’t either, but apparently you can.”   I burst out laughing as I found this very amusing.   There’s no mold on the cake.  Ed says it is a little smaller; he thinks it’s shrunk a little.  Lolita says that sugar is a good preservative and since they are diabetics, they just keep it to look at.   She said the secret was keeping the top on tight…if someone lifts it and air gets inside, it will probably collapse.  It’s as pretty as the ceramic pies you can buy that look good enough to eat.   

Ed taught at Harding until a few years ago.  Lolita may have also taught.  They have been active in the work of the church and taught English in China on several occasions.  They still work with the College church and are actively involved with the Chinese students.  They have many contacts with Chinese friends in China.

One day, we went with them to the Whistle Stop Restaurant for BBQ.  It is a neat restaurant named after the one featured in Fried Green Tomatoes that is actually in Georgia.  They have lots of old stuff on the walls and hanging everywhere.  Pictures of Ed (as a very young man helping at a camp) was posted on the wall.    The BBQ was excellent.  Service was good because the waitresses all know Ed and Lolita.  This restaurant has prepared complete free meals for some of the Harding sports teams.   A couple joined us.  Gordon and Jane Hogan are seasoned missionaries, who spent a long time in Singapore, Pakistan and maybe other countries.  Gordon was Director or President of Four Seas Bible College in Singapore for 17 years.  It was so interesting to meet them.   Enoch Thweatt and his wife came over to the table to see us.  They live in Nashville now but were missionaries to Taiwan for a number of years.  We had not seen them since we left Nashville about 10 years ago. 

Ron spoke at the College Church of Christ on Wednesday night.  I told him I would have been terribly intimidated to speak before this group because there were many former preachers and missionaries present.  Ron was overwhelmed at the many men who came up to talk with him and compliment him on the work we do in China.

The night before, Ed and Lolita had arranged for Chinese students to meet us at a Chinese Buffet at 5 p.m. for a presentation about our work in China and dinner afterwards.  We took one of their small dining rooms and set it up to show the power point on the wall.  One girl, in particular, had worked in a hospital in China and she is very interested.  There were 22 present and they were all polite and thanked us for the presentation and for our work with the Chinese people.

We had a great time in Searcy and look forward to our next visit.  We left on Friday, June 7^th for Paragould, AR.   Ron gave a report this past Sunday to Liberty Hill Church of Christ.  They have supported our work for about 12 years.   We didn’t have an appointment Sunday night so we visited the Center Hill congregation in Paragould and made some contacts there.  It’s a very friendly church.  We were invited to eat with one of their care groups after services and enjoyed getting to meet quite a few people. 

We feel at home with Christians everywhere we go.  It’s amazing that we trust and love each other with the bond we share in Christ.  We meet so many wonderful people along the way so it makes our traveling interesting.   We still just tolerate the RV lifestyle and the burden of traveling.  It’s just the necessary part of the work.