Jane and I
celebrated our 40th Anniversary in Pigeon Forge. We stayed in a one bedroom cabin that offered
great views of the Smokie Mountains.
We had a marvelous week with no plan but to enjoy each other’s company, along with the peace and quiet of the mountains. The week wasn’t hampered by my need to cram every activity available into our schedule. That was a first and I confess, resulted in the best time we have had in quite a while, or at least since our last cruise.
We have just
finished our first Sower project for 2015 at the Center for Intercultural
Training (CIT) in Union Mills, NC. We
finally got past Jane’s kidney issues and reported there the beginning of April. We had a great time serving there. Our partner on this project was John Stoner
from Franklin TN. His wife Rosie could not join us as she was
ministering to her ailing mother in SC.
We really enjoyed working together.
While there we celebrated John's 69th birthday
CIT is a
partnership of missionial agencies, churches and organizations dedicated to
training and equipping cross-cultural workers and their families for
cross-cultural ministry. During our time
there we were privileged to have a number of missionaries visit with us for
morning devotions in our RV. They
represent a cross section of folks called to various parts of the world to do
ministry.
A special group of missionary kids and their teachers
One couple are going to Turkey
to serve refugees from various Muslim countries. One is going to the far east to develop an
apprentice like program to introduce different ministry specialties to short
term missionaries with the goal of having them find a niche that will propel
them to full time service. The husband
of one of the couples was employed in the coffee industry after getting his
degree in pastoral ministry. Unbenownst
to him, God was preparing him to go to India to setup coffee houses that would
employ women previously involved in the sex trade, giving them business skills
that can be multiplied.
Needless to
say, our opportunities to serve at CIT in the maintenance arena were much
appreciated by the staff and the missionary families.
Jane came
along side of Gloria, the housing coordinator, along with her teenage daughter, getting the apartments ready for
the incoming participants. CIT provides
a full spectrum training program that covers the needs of the entire family, so
there are folks with children from infants up.
Having a clean, adequate, inviting living arrangement goes a long way to
helping in the transition. The participants
are there for up to six weeks of training.
Spring Cleaning sure produces lots of stuff for the local Share House
Jane lent her kitchen expertise on days when the whole group has lunch together
Building maintenance is overseen by Art Reagle with the able assistance of his brother Ron. Ron is retired and came to live at CIT with Art after the passing of his wife. Ron volunteers his time and has taken on maintaining the sand field for the sanitary system. One of those necessary but behind the scenes needs.
These guys are amazing in their knowledge of many facets of building maintenance and their “behind the scenes” service to CIT is invaluable. This is our second opportunity to work with this team and we really enjoyed the fellowship.
Ron and Art Reagle
We spent
most of our time applying drywall mud to the concrete block walls of a building
that they are converting to apartments.
The finished walls look like drywall when painted and take away the
institutional feel of concrete block walls.
The results are amazingly asthetic.
Fortunately Art will apply the finish coat!
John and I
removed the carpet from one of the apartments and laid a commercial grade vinyl
in its place. This apartment will be occupied by one of the facilitators that has extreme allergy issues
While there
we were privileged to host two of our granddaughters, Ella Mae and Isabel. Rebecca’s husband Corey grew up about a half
hour south of Union Mills in Chesnee SC, just over the NC border. They came to help out his Aunt Ella Mae whom
our Ella is named after. We picked up
the girls on Friday night upon their arrival from GA and they stayed overnight
with us. What a treat!
Watching a movie
Roughing it at Giga and Poppy's
We have
moved on from Union Mills and are now at Jane’s Dad’s home in Annapolis. He celebrated his 92nd birthday on
Saturday, April 25th. We were
surprised by Rachel and Bowen who flew up from FL and Julie, Eli, and Micah who
drove up from Wake Forest NC to be with us for the occasion.
We will
report to Summit Grove Camp and Conference Center in New Freedom PA on May 1st for our
second Sower project of the year. We
appreciate your prayers for us as we travel.
Speaking of
answered prayer, Jane and I went to dinner one Friday afternoon in an adjacent
town. We just pulled into town and the
truck started losing power, like it had several spark plugs not firing. The truck is a diesel so I knew that was not
the problem. I had no idea what to do so
we pulled over to the side of the road and prayed.
Then we
called Art who gave us the number of a Ford dealer in another town nearby. We limped over to the dealer, arriving about
four o’clock. The service manager said
they would take a look at it for us.
After about twenty minutes he came and informed us that the computer
indicated that three fuel injectors were not firing and the mechanic thought it
was a faulty wiring harness. We told him
we could have someone come get us but he said that, though the engine was very
hot, the mechanic was donning gloves and would try to get it fixed.
By five
thirty we were paid up and on our way! What
an answer to prayer. We were so grateful
that the problem did not happen out on the interstate, towing the RV. We thank our Lord that He is soverign over
all events, even the Ford dealer at 4 o’clock on a Friday!
So, keep
praying for us. We take for granted our
loving Heavenly Father’s oversight of our everyday lives. Our prayers for one another show our
dependence on His shepherding role and bring Him great Glory.
Until next
time,
Godspeed, Glenn and Jane
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