September is almost here!

Summer has gone fast.   That is an indication of being too busy.   I had many things to accomplish but not much has gotten done.   Traveling to give supporters some report about our work, after two years of staying home due to Covid, has taken up some of our time.   As the mission work increases, so does our work to keep it going.   We care for over 300 girls from the age of 8 to 20 to provide an education and a better life.   

Ron is planning the next trip to Thailand for November.    Workers in Laos have located a building/house in Udon, Thailand that can be renovated to become a safe house.    We will travel there and get the work underway.   Ron does not know the extent of the work that needs to be done nor the time it will take.  After one night in Bangkok, we will probably go to Udon first to get that work underway.   Depending on the scope of the work and the timing, we will surely visit the safe house Ron established on his last trip in Chiang Mai, Thailand.   

We will visit with Phet and Hong, our workers in Laos this time.   Ron was not able to go into Laos last year as the border was still closed to outsiders due to Covid.    Udon is across the border from Laos so Hong may be over this safe house to be sure things are running well there after we leave.

We plan to go to the Philippines to see Ronald and Gigi.   This may be the last stop we make before returning back to Georgia in the spring.   We certainly look forward to our visit there.   Their family has grown from about 6 kids to 28 since our visit to see them in March 2020.   After two years of homeschooling, the public schools have opened in the Philippines, but the schedule is different for various grades and that is creating transportation problems getting children back and forth when they have children from kindergarten to high school.   The children will face many difficulties and challenges as many of them have not been in public school at all.   This will increase the challenges the workers at CEA face also.    

Thanks again for keeping up with us.   More updates to follow soon. 

  

Home Again!

We arrived at home last night from our three-week trip.   The last two days were mostly driving.   We left Greenville, TX before 8 a.m. on Monday and arrived in Many, LA in time to have lunch with supporters. We drove on and reached our Super 8 hotel in Meridian, MS about 9 p.m.   We slept a little late but were on the road by 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.    I started out driving but within an hour, we were in a dead stop on the interstate with cars and big trucks backed up for miles ahead.   We were just inside the Alabama line when we came to a complete stop.   Ron tried to call to find out the expected time of delay but had to leave a message.  I texted Leigh Ann (our daughter) and she did some searching and said it was a car on fire at the next exit and it would be an extensive delay.    After a while, cars began turning around and going backward down the grassy media.   The man in the car next to us in the other lane came over and said they heard it would be a 4-6 hour wait.   We had been parked for more than an hour already.   He said he would back in front of us and turn around and we could follow him back to the exit.   We did this and found that cars located a spot a short distance away where they could go across and get back on I-20 heading back toward Meridian.   We followed and got off at the next exit and went across to a highway paralleling the interstate.     When we got much further ahead, we got back on only to see smoke and lights ahead.  This must have been a 2nd accident because it was a trailer truck on fire and nearly consumed with the fire.   Its load of steel or something like that was on the right side of the road behind the overturned truck on fire.    The left lane was open and we safely got past it.  It was disturbing to think the driver may have died in this accident as the truck turned over on the driver's side.   It seems to happen when trucks are overloaded or their load shifts from not being secured properly.

With a couple of stops to change drivers, get gas and a quick sandwich and drink at Buc-ee's, we drove the full day to reach home about 7:30 p.m.

We drove almost 3,000 miles in three weeks, visiting about 13 congregations or individual supporters.  Our visits were enjoyable.   

The only other accident we saw was in Springfield, MO a couple of weeks ago.  On the other side of the interstate, a camper was overturned.   It was pulled apart from the SUV which was also overturned.   I think it had just happened as there was no one in sight and traffic was still approaching.   No other vehicle was involved so the camper must not have been secured properly or it fishtailed and caused the overturned situation.

We feel tired today, but we have much computer work to catch up.   I am taking breaks to unpack, wash clothing and get things back in order at home.   Maybe by the weekend, we will be able to rest a little more.

We are thankful for a safe and healthy trip.    We appreciate your interest in us and our work and we especially covet your prayers for our health and safety.    

Traveling!

We left North GA on Tuesday, July 28.   We are on another trip to visit with supporters and congregations supporting our work.    When we got back from Asia in June 2020, Covid was spreading fast, and we could not continue our travels to report on the Asian work.   This summer is our first attempt to visit supporters.   Since we gave up the RV traveling two years ago, we are traveling by car.   We are staying in the homes of some supporters but Super 8 has become our home away from home for the past two weeks.

We traveled to Mayfield, KY and stayed two nights with our friend, John Richardson.   We traveled on to visit with elders in Paragould, AR.    We visited with a deacon overseeing missions at the church in Mountain Home, AR on July 30.    We drove south to visit with a long-time friend and supporter in Mountain View, AR.   

Our next stop was Springfield, MO.   We visited the Conway, MO church of Christ on Sunday, July 31st.   We went to Watermill church of Christ on Sunday night, July 31st.     

Ron had no other appointments set for the next seven days so he worked out a trip to Dallas.   We drove from Springfield to Oklahoma City, OK.   The trip the next day was directly south to Denton, TX, north of Dallas.   Along the way, we stopped and had lunch with friends in Sanger, TX and reported to the Sherman Drive church of Christ in Denton, TX on Wednesday night (August 3).   The past two days we have been very busy, meeting with Dr. John Bailey, who supports our work and with Greg Smith, supporter and director of Dr. Bailey's foundation.   The last appointment we had this afternoon was with Judy Yang, our accountant who lives in Flower Mound, TX.    She was one of the Chinese girls that lived with us in Sharpsburg, GA and worked with us from about 2007-2014 and the China Mission work.      She is married and has a precious little boy, Isaac, who will be four in November.   We have not seen Judy in about 8 years.   She has not changed but the time that passed has surely aged Ron and me.

We have been blessed with good health and safe travels so far.     We are sleeping well after spending a full day either traveling or visiting with people.    We have a few hours to work in the hotel, but we have very little free time with the tight schedule.   Since we arrived in TX, the heat is the most unbearable part of the trip.   It is 102-104 every day and does not cool down below 95 until after midnight.   They have not had any rain in more than 30 days.   The grass and shrubs are turning brown, and some trees are dying.   Wildfires are popping up in some areas.    The forecast has no rain in sight for another week or two.

Tomorrow (Saturday, July 6) we will drive from Denton to Greenville, TX.   We will stay two nights in the home of a friend and supporter.    We will visit the Creekside church of Christ in Greenville Sunday morning and have lunch with a group of friends there.   Sunday night, Ron will give a report to a small congregation a few miles south of Greenville (Weiland church of Christ).  

Monday, August 8, we will drive south to Many, LA to visit with supporters at the Toledo Bend church of Christ.   That will be our last visit on this trip.   We will return to North GA, passing through LA, MS, AL and on to Woodstock.   I have not checked the mileage but that is probably a two-day trip.    Ron is doing most of the driving but trying to limit the driving time to about 5-6 hours a day.  We have covered a lot of miles, but the trips have not been extremely difficult.    

I learned how to handle detailed navigation when we had the RV.  I watch the road atlas and the GPS and keep Ron well advised about the distance between turns/exits.    I assist in every way I can to keep us safe on the road.   A congresswoman died this week in Indiana when a car crossed the media and crashed head-on with her vehicle, killing the driver and everyone in her car.    I used to read or crochet when we traveled.   I think having four eyes watching for unsafe drivers passing on the wrong side, crossing the media or an accident ahead, gives us a little more peace of mind that we will have a safe trip.  Having asked for safe trips in our prayers is an even greater way to lessen anxiety.

As far as I know, once we arrive home, we will not leave again until the end of September.    That is not very far off.   Ron will have a physical at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL on September 29th.     He is on schedule to speak at the Brown church of Christ in Waxahachie, TX (south of Dallas) on October 2nd so we will drive from Jacksonville back to north TX after his check-up.   I will post again concerning his health and our trip as we head west again.

Thank you for keeping in touch with us.   We especially need and appreciate your prayers.   

   

  

Good trip to South Georgia last week!

Our trip was good to meet supporters and visit two congregations last week.   The traffic was heavy and it was hot, but we had no problems making our deadlines at each location.    It is good to attend services at congregations again after not visiting for two years due to Covid-19.    We returned home on Monday but felt tired through Tuesday.   Once home, the rush ended and we felt the stress of the driving.   Ron woke up early Monday morning and wanted to start driving toward home.    I can't see well enough for night driving and by the time he reached Macon, it was getting to be daylight but we were already realizing the morning traffic rush.   I cannot drive through Atlanta with all of the lane changes in heavy traffic so he drove all the way home.    We got to the outskirts of Atlanta about 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. so it was crazy for the last hour or two but we reached home safely.

It has been a busy week catching up the work from last Friday that hit our computers over the weekend.

Today is a rainy, but cool day in Georgia.

Ron has a confirmed appointment in Conway, MO for July 31st.   He is trying to set appointments at other congregations that support our work.   I'm not sure which day we will leave again but it will be next week.

Good news from the Zheng family in Columbia.   Their daughter, Deborah, passed the test and has been accepted in the Columbia Christian Academy for the fall semester.   She is looking forward to making some friends in the U.S.   They have received their Social Security card, obtain permits to learn to drive and opened a bank account.   An instructor at CCA will start giving them driving lessons on Saturdays.  There is no driving school in Columbia.

Please continue to pray for us and the work in Asia.  

July is rushing onward

The hours of each day are the same but at 84, I can't seem to accomplish enough each day.  Could it be that there is just too much to do?   As the work continues to expand in Asia, my computer work keeps me very busy at least 6 hours each day.   There is too little time to keep house, the yard work and all of the other things that need to be done.   I am thankful my health is good and I'm still able to keep juggling all of the things I need to do.  

When my children were small, I told myself that if dishes did not get washed or the beds made because I spent time with them, they would not remember the many things I did not get done.   I have to continue to tell myself now that if the house is not spotless and there are weeds that need to be pulled, no one will know it next year.   I cannot do it all perfectly so I must maintain a priority list and have peace of mind that I am doing the best I can to do the things most important for the Lord's work. 

We leave early tomorrow to meet a supporter in St. Mary's GA for lunch. This is just north of Jacksonville, FL.   We will visit two supporters in Albany, GA on Saturday.  Sunday morning, Ron will give a report on the SAS work and speak at the Lake Park, GA church of Christ (south of Valdosta, GA).  We will be at Quitman church of Christ Sunday night and drive home on Monday.   

Ron told me last night that he is working on appointments for West Fayetteville, TN and Conway, MO for the last of July.   Time to get things in order before we head out for this long trip!

Ron is scheduled for a complete check-up at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL on September 29th.  We have to leave afterwards and head toward Dallas, TX.    On October 2nd, Ron is scheduled to report to the Brown Street church of Christ in Waxahachie, TX.    We have about a 15-hour trip to make in two days after his check-up.    We have churches in South TX to visit before we return to Georgia.   

Please keep us in your prayers for safe travels.

Update on the Zheng Family

Last Thursday, Philip, Wendy and Deborah moved into the Greymere Apartments in Columbia, TN.   The Greymere church had some furniture in their warehouse that had been donated so they were blessed to get a few nice things that saved some money.  We took them to Walmart and bought a lot of household items and then to Kroger and Audi to stock up on food.    Ron and I stayed in a motel Thursday night as things needed to be completed on Friday.    Ron took them to get the internet service connected and to the bank.  They have to wait for a S.S. number before they can open a bank account but their cards should be arriving soon.    Ron and I returned home to Georgia last Friday night.   

Deborah has been asked to come to Columbia Christian Academy in July for a short test so we are confident she will be accepted in that school this fall.    

The apartment at Greymere is nice and they are within walking distance of Dollar General, Big Lots, Kroger, CVS, the bank and the Greymere church of Christ.   

Wendy wrote that she met a lady yesterday at church who lives close to them and she volunteered to give them a ride to church services and to the grocery whenever she goes for her own groceries.  This will be a big help until they can get driver training and their driver licenses.

The Zheng family is happy to be settled and have this opportunity to start their new life in America. They can freely go to church each week without fear of the police.   Religious persecution in China continues to increase with each passing day.   They are happy to enjoy the fellowship of Christians.

Although Wendy will help me with my computer work, I have many things to catch up that only I can handle at this point.   I will not overwhelm her with the difficult things for a while but I am pleased that she is willing to be my assistant.   

Please continue to pray for Ron and me, Ronald and Gigi, Leigh Ann and Tatum, as the years are rapidly approaching and our health problems increase.   Pray for our workers in Asia, the girls in our care and for the Zheng family in their adjustment to a new home in Columbia, Tennessee.     

A Busy 30 Days!

We have anticipated the arrival of Philip, Wendy and Deborah Zheng from Shanghai, China for some time.  Once their VISA was approved for them to come to the U.S. and work with SAS to assure the future of this work, they were in lockdown in their apartment due to Covid-19.   For three months, they were not allowed to leave the building.   They could make a grocery list but it would take up to five days for delivery and then many things were different from what they ordered.   Philip said many people in their building came the closest to starvation that they have ever experienced in their lives.   They had two days to get vaccinations and to the airport before sections of Shanghai were shut down again.    

They arrived at our house about midnight on Wednesday night, June 8th.    They endured jet lag for the next four days and came awake long enough to eat and go back to sleep.   Jet lag is terrible but to reduce the symptoms quickly, a person has to get outside for some sunlight and not sleep in the afternoon.   I know it is unbearable to stay awake until bedtime but that is the only way to reset the body's clock.  Their bodies stayed on China time for four days!   Gradually, they began to stay up a little more and this week they are doing well.

Originally, Philip thought they would live in Houston where they know some people but he said they could live anywhere.   Ron contacted the attorney in TX that plans to work with us in the future and he said he could report to all of the churches in TX next year.  

We all had a great interest in finding a good school for Deborah (their 12-year-old daughter).  With the many problems we hear of happening in some public school systems, this became a critical  consideration.    The decision was made to see if we could get her enrolled in the Columbia Christian Academy in Columbia, Tennessee.   We have learned that grades 9-12 are full but after submitting an application, they have responded by setting a date for Deborah to take a 7th grade test in July.   That is a hopeful sign that there are openings and she will be accepted as a student there.

Neither Philip nor Wendy can drive.    Wendy had a little driver training while they were at the Memphis School of Preaching so she plans to take driver's ed first and get her license ASAP.   Chuck Jordan, a deacon at the Red Boiling Spring church of Christ, has a used car lot in Lafayette, TN so he will locate a dependable used car and take it to them when she is ready for it.  Living in a small town will be to their advantage as they are learning to drive.    We also expected rent and cost of living to be cheaper there than living in a larger city such as Nashville.   

Last week, Ron and Philip searched the internet and tried to reach apartment complexes in Columbia. but most did not answer the phone or call back.    We all went to Columbia on Thursday and visited one complex after the other, checking them off because there were no vacancies.    We checked on houses for rent and the decent one already had a contract.  We did not expect to find a severe housing shortage there.  The last complex we visited as we were running out of time about 3 p.m. was the Greymere Apartments and they had two 2-bedroom apartments available.   We got to see one and it was very nice but more expensive than they were planning.   But, they are within l/2 mile of Greymere church of Christ, across the street.   The apartment complex is next to a nice country club and golf course so it is a very safe and beautiful area.   I guess it was available because they had higher rent. It is also about 2 miles from the Christian school where we hope Deborah will attend school. 

The application for the apartment had to be done on-line.   Since SAS will guarantee the rent, the form was not set up for this and they had trouble submitting it.   Proof of their legal status had to be sent and since they will have no way of checking any of their contacts in Shanghai, they will have to check out SAS's stability.   We are waiting for an approval.  

If they are accepted as renters for one of the available apartments, we will take them back to Columbia and spend a couple of days purchasing the basic furniture and having it delivered.   I have enough basic kitchen stuff we used in the RV to give them until they have time to shop.  We may have to stay in a motel overnight to accomplish this and get them some groceries and settled into the apartment.    They can walk to church and have groceries delivered in the future.   Wendy will have to get her license to drive soon (before Deborah starts to school or find a ride for her).   

Philip and Ron are going over all the operation of SAS and he is learning the ropes about managing this mission work.   Ron does not intend to retire but continue on as long as the Lord wills.   We need to have men fully trained to step in and keep the work afloat whenever Ron is unable to continue.   Wendy is leaning my work so she can be my back-up.    There are times when I am overwhelmed with too much work so she will be a great relief to assist me and be able to either take over my job or train someone else when the time comes.

I will post again when they have settled into an apartment.   We pray that this will be a successful and happy relocation for them and a successful future for SAS under Philip's leadership.