Where did the year go?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Halloween is here and election day coming Tuesday

 Hi everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God bless you all!

We are safe and give thanks to God

The hurricane had a direct hit at Sarasota, Florida about 9 p.m. last evening.    Within a few minutes, we lost power.   But, we knew the eye was 60 miles south of us.   That was a critical bit of information for us.  We knew the wind and rain would be strong but not the same as having a direct hit.   It had rained all day with some wind but almost immediately the wind and rain came in like expected.   The ground was already saturated and the back of our condo began looking like a river.  

We have new storm doors and windows but only wind proof up to 77 mph.   Milton came into land at 120 mph.   We expect the wind around our condo was close to 100 (at least gusts were that high).   Ron spent two days preparing the windows and doors so only the patio door leaked (underneath and from the top).  We piled up old bedspreads that I used for packing around mirrors and furniture when we moved last year.    There was nothing more we could do without power so we went to bed.   We could hear the wind and rain pounding on the windows.   I awoke a couple of times and checked to be sure the sunroom was not flooding.   Ron said he also got up twice and checked it.   

When I woke at 7 a.m. hardly a leaf was moving and there was no rain.   The sun came up and it has been a beautiful day but the wind came up strongly again.   It was good for me to spread out the bedspreads over the lawn furniture so it could dry.   When I can, I will wash them to use again for some purpose.   They certainly came in handy this time.

My next door neighbor said they had the same problem with their back door and several other condos had rain come in also.  It hit our end of the building first and water poured down the wall, causing rain to come in from the top of our doors.  

Leigh Ann and Tatum never lost power in Tampa but she did have a window in her guest room to blow out.  They put a mattress and furniture against it to prevent flooding.

We spent the day without power but opened windows so we had a very comfortable day.   We did some clean up.

We are just hearing that another storm could potentially form next week.  It is just too soon to know but Florida has been beaten with storms this year.     

Thanks to all who wrote and asked about us, phoned and even offered to come get us.  But, we did not feel we were at great risk as we were not in an evacuation or flood zone.   Traffic was at a 2 mph leaving to drive north the last two days before the storm.   Gas was low at many gas stations and hotels were full so we could not risk being stuck along the road in the storm.   Almost all of our neighbors in our building decided to stay for the same reasons.

We are blessed.   We are thankful.    We are doing fine but hope we don't have to go through this again this year.

With love and much appreciation!

Milton is heading toward us!

Please continue to pray for us and the residents of Florida as this big hurricane is heading toward us and gaining strength.    Wednesday and Thursday will be bad days and we will probably lose power.    Leigh Ann is going to stay with Tatum in Tampa.    Most residents in our building are staying put so we will do what we can to be prepared and hope for the best.   We have new storm windows and doors on this condo but with the strength of this hurricane, it may not be enough.  We have plenty of food and water and supplies that are recommended.    

I will post when we have power.   Leigh Ann will be posting on Facebook if you want to check her posts at Leigh Ann Dotson.

Thank you for prayers.

 

Goodbye Helena!

We are safe but we endured 24 hours without electricity.   The winds were very strong and rain came in waves for several hours as the storm passed on north past the Tampa Bay.   There was still lots of damage in this area even with the storm about 100 miles out to sea.   It was a huge storm with powerful winds.   

The metal roof over cars in one parking area blew off and landed in our front yard and blocks out sidewalk.  But no cars were damaged.  It just blew off and part of it is standing up neatly near the trees.   We have limbs and debris all over the yard but our lawn service will probably have it cleaned up next week.

We felt safe in this condo   The only evacuations were for mobile homes, campers and the manufactures homes which are mostly house trailers on a foundation.    No one in our building left.   People along the waterfront had to evacuate due to an 8' storm surge in this area.   

Today, without power, Ron and I took a 30 minute walk, put a puzzle together and played a game of scrabble.   We took it easy since we were not pushed to work on the computer.   We needed the rest anyway. We will be back on schedule next week.    

Many people checked on us.  God is good and we are safe.  

Thank you so much!

Helena is not a welcomed visitor!

Other than preparing and expecting a hurricane, we are doing well. 

A Hurricane Watch for Helena has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood northward and westward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.

With our condo in Dunedin just north of Tampa, we are a few miles from Tampa Bay so we watch the forecast for storms that head into this area.    Helena will intensify and become a hurricane before it gets this far north but at the forecast today is will pass along side east Florida and make landfall toward the panhandle which includes Tallahassee.    We will start having rain by Wednesday night and expect heavy rain on Thursday and Friday.   

I have brought in pots, plants, chairs and things from the patio that could be blown away.   We have plenty of water and food on hand with other storm supplies such as a weather radio, batteries, flashlights, etc.   Our building is inspected once a year for soundness and according to the long-time residents, it has never flooded.   

Leigh Ann's condo is in a flood plane so she would come stay with us if she receives an evacuation notice.  Tatum's condo in Tampa is not in a flood area. Leigh Ann has gone to stay with her in the past. 

Pray for us and others in the path of this strong storm.    After the storm passes, I will post that we are safe if we do not lose power.  God bless everyone.

Fall is near!

Fall does not appear anywhere in Florida except for a few Halloween costumes in Costco!   We are getting a lot of rain but it is in the form of late afternoon thunderstorms.   The grass is green and everything is lush with crepe myrtles still in bloom.   We are free of hurricanes for another week or so but they predict September and October to be more active months with the possibility of tropical storms.  

Ron has good days and not-so-good days but we feel the medication for Parkinson's Disease has eased some of the symptoms.    

We both keep busy with routine house chores and computer work to keep things going smoothly with our safe houses in Asia.   Ron is busy helping schedule appointments for Ronald and Gigi's October-December trip for them to report to supporters.     

Two weeks ago, we got up early and traveled to Central church of Christ in Winter Haven, FL.   We went to meet Bill and Joyce Perkins there.   Bill is one of the elders.   They actually live in Ft. Myers and drive 40 minutes to attend this congregation.    Bill and Joyce moved from New York to Florida five years ago to help Joyce's sister and brother-in-law.   We visited in their home in New York at least 20 years ago and they have supported our work ever since.   It was time for us to say hello again and thank them for their help.    We had lunch at a small but very good restaurant, and then drove back home.   It was about a 2-hour trip each direction.

Things are going along smoothly so I actually have no big news to report.   They say no news is good news and sometimes that is very true.   We like our routine lifestyle and appreciate the calmness and quietness of our home here in Dunedin.   Many in our building are away for the summer as they are winter occupants of the condos, leaving homes during the winter months.  There are no activities going on but we hear ambulances often as there is a nursing home across the street from us.   Someone said that is a convenient plus for us but I'm hoping that would be necessary.   

Leigh Ann comes (usually on Saturday) and we cook a meal together.   She and I go to our pool and swim and chat for a couple of hours.    There may be one or two old ladies to come to the pool but most days there is no one but us.   It will get busier when all the other occupants come back from up north but for the summer we almost have our own private pool.  It is heated all winter so some swim even on cold days.   

I keep a puzzle going on the end of the coffee table to have something challenging to do when I have a few minutes of free time.   

Our clubhouse is full of puzzles, games and books for anyone to borrow.  

Ron has stopped driving at night so we watch on-line services from different churches on Wednesday night and Sunday night (sometimes other nights during the week also).   When we lived in North GA, Ron insisted on us going out on Friday morning to do our errands and shopping and have lunch out.  Since we came here, we have not kept that practice but a couple of weeks ago, Ron told me to start getting my work caught up to take Fridays off.   

We don't go to the expensive restaurants but usually have a sandwich or salad at one of the fast food restaurants or bring home a precooked meal from Publix.  After running errands and unloading groceries, it is good to not have to prepare lunch.   

I know he does this for me but he also enjoys getting out since we stay home all week.

Just posting a small amount of nothing to let everyone know we are doing fine.   

Keep Ron's health in your prayers as he continues to face the progressive symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.     

Sending best wishes and many blessings from God to you with our thanks and love to all.