Christmas 2017

                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                20 December 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

                Greetings, from sunny South Carolina.  As we enter this Christmas season we are enjoying a mild winter so far.  The drizzling rain has finally taken the last of the leaves off the trees but the temperatures are hovering in the low seventies today.  We don’t miss the cold of Maryland that’s for sure.

This year has been one of changes for us.  At the end of last year we were presented with an opportunity to purchase a home that is located in our same neighborhood.  It is a single floor open concept design and, with the milestone of my turning 65 this year, made a perfect home for us to spend our aging days in.  We went to settlement on December 22 of last year and left for Florida in the beginning of January to serve at a Sower Project for the month.

We returned in February and headed north to help the family clean out Jane’s Dad’s home so it could be sold.  The sorting through Pop’s earthly belongings was bittersweet but went well.  As we write this Christmas letter our thoughts go back to memories of Christmases past.  Jane’s parents had a tradition of having “Santa” decorate the Christmas tree.  Consequently, on Christmas morning there was a fully decorated Christmas tree, adorned with tinsel, lights, ornaments, and presents.

Thinking back, it must have been quite an undertaking for the two of them to wrap presents, bring in the tree, decorate it, and fall into bed exhausted, only to have seven children waking them up to come see the miracle in the living room!  It was during one of those Christmases, way back in 1973, that Jane and I were engaged.  I wonder if Pop and Ms. Dorothy were as excited for that event?  J

Bringing all of the fond recollections of the blessings that Jane’s Mom and Dad had on our lives, we returned to Summerville to begin the work on our new ”house of memories”.

The home was owned by a couple who was in the process of a total remodel and decided to relocate to Ohio.  The major painting was done and cabinetry installed, but flooring and countertops had not been installed.  We were excited, since it left somewhat of a blank slate for us.  Jane loves to watch the house flipping shows and had plenty of ideas for us to implement.  

We renovated the master bathroom and removed the brick fireplace and chimney, the roof shingles needed to be replaced so it was an excellent time to remove the fabricated chimney, and we replaced it with a two sided gas fireplace.  

We installed recessed lighting in the living room, kitchen, and dining area, and a host of other “ideas” that came up along the way.  It was a big undertaking and when completed cured us of wanting to “flip” in the future.

We completed the renovations and moved in at the end of May.  We are enjoying the home very much.  The setting is beautiful as the back yard opens to a large pond with woods as a backdrop.  It has an enclosed porch and we really enjoy the view as we spend the mornings contemplating God’s magnificent creation. 

The pond is teaming with wild life, mallard ducks, geese, white herons, fish, turtles, and there are an abundance of songbirds of every kind calling out to their mates.  It is a real blessing to be able to muse on the greatness of our creator God as we watch the setting of the sun in the evenings

The home has plenty of space for entertaining and works well for the gathering of our growing family.  We had the whole family here for Thanksgiving and were joined by Jane’s sisters Sally and Amy and their husbands as well as our long- time friends from Maryland, Cathy and Jeff Shields.  We had twenty nine for dinner and the new home proved very functional for entertaining a large group.

Speaking of a growing family, we added two new members this year.  In January, Rachel gave birth to our tenth grandchild.  Conrad was born on January 21^st and we were blessed to be in Florida at the time on the Sower Project.  On March 1^st Julie gave birth to Jachin in Wake Forest.

Rebecca is expecting number twelve this coming March!  Ella Mae, our oldest, turned six this year.  Needless to say, family gatherings are filled with activity.  We were able to gather together for a week in July at the facilities of one of the Sower Projects we have served at a number of times.  It was a great time with all of the “cuzzies” playing together and getting to know one another.  All of the cousins especially love Jason, whom they call “Uncle Buddy”.

Here’s the current count, Rebecca has three girls, Ella Mae (6), Isabel (4), and Victoria (1 11/12).  Julie has two boys, Micah (4), Jachin (9 mos), and a sweet daughter Veda (2).  Micah calls her Sugar.  Maribeth has Olivia (5), Wren (3), and Jasper (1).  Rachel has two boys, Bowen (3) and Conrad (11 mos).

Bowen, Ella Mae, Victoria, Wren, Conrad, Jachin, Veda, Micah, Olivia, Isabel, and Jasper in Jane’s arms

                

This year brought some changes in ministry focus.  Our Pastor announced his retirement in June and we were challenged to consider taking a sabbatical from traveling with Sowers to be more available to serve on the leadership committee along with facilitating our weekly prayer meeting and leading Sunday worship.   As a result we only did one Sower project this year in January.  We hope to resume serving with Sowers this coming year.

As we enter this Christmas season we wish each of you a blessed time as you contemplate the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  In the fullness of time God sent forth His only begotten Son, born in the most humble of circumstances in a stable in Bethlehem.  He would lead a sinless life and give that life on Calvary’s cross for our atonement. 

And the Angel said unto them, Fear Not; for behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great Joy!

    Which shall be to all people     Luke 2;10

The greatest gift that God could give us is an opportunity to be reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf.   This perfect gift is ours when we by faith put our trust in Jesus.  I encourage you to read through the book of John with an eye toward knowing Jesus personally.  It will be the greatest investment of time you could ever make.

                We wish you a Merry Christmas and a terrific New Year!

Remember, wise men still seek Him!

Godspeed, Glenn and Jane 

Christmas 2016

December 2016

Dear Friends and Family,                                                                                                             

                Greetings from the mildly temperate climate of Summerville South Carolina.  As the final signs of autumn color drift down from the sweet gum trees, and the remaining blossoms fade from the confederate rose, we welcome the seasonably mild chill that accompanies December in the south.  We miss the silence of fresh falling snow as it drifts down under the street lights, but not the aftershock that comes after its arrival.

And so we settle in for a mild winter season and appreciate an occasional cold snap that forces us into our winter jackets and listen to the latest winter storm watch and thank the Lord he directed us to a warmer climate for this season of our lives.

2016 has been a full year and we have enjoyed the Lord’s favor.  He blessed us with two darling grandchildren this year bringing our covey of grands to nine.  Victoria Jane Humphries was born to Rebecca and Corey on my mother’s birthday, January 12^th.  Actually, Corey was blessed with the privilege of delivering her since her arrival preceded the arrival of the mid-wife!  Victoria is a precious child with the mild manor of her Grandfather.  

Victoria Jane

Jasper Lee Scott was born on August 16^th to Maribeth and Ben.  He checks in at number nine and the third grandson on the team.  He had the looks of his big sister Olivia at first but has begun to take on his own identity over the last couple of months.

Rebecca and family still are serving at Shorter University in Rome GA.  They have three girls, Ella Mae at 5 is our oldest grandchild, and then Isabel, who turned 3 in August, and Victoria.  Julie and Eli are at Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest NC.  Julie is expecting her third child in February, an arrival eagerly anticipated by Micah (3) and Veda who turned one this year. Maribeth and Ben finished their first year in their new mountain home in Asheville NC with Olivia (4) and Wren (2) along with new brother Jasper.  

Rachel and Mark are still in Bonita Springs FL and, along with Bowen (2), are anticipating the birth of a brother in mid-January.  That will make eleven grandchildren under five.  What a quiver we have!  Jason is still holding down the fort here in Summerville growing his Snap-On Tool business.

We were able to gather to enjoy a July 4^th celebration at the Center for Intercultural Training CIT in Union Mills NC, which is just east of Asheville.  We have been blessed to serve with Sowers at CIT for a number of projects.  Since the holiday fell between training sessions they graciously rented us accommodations that enabled each family to have their own apartment, while giving us a great place to be together for fellowship around the table and the swimming pool.  

These guys were all 2 at the time

Victoria, Wren, Veda
Ella Mae, Olivia
Bowen, Isabel, Micah

We hope to make that an annual tradition since it is harder for us to accommodate the whole clan at our house at the same time.

                 

Jane’s dad passed in mid-August.  This image of Pop was done by Rebecca for the memorial service.  The verse that is written on his coat is “whoever restraining his words has knowledge and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding”.  The face is created with words that highlight various character qualities that she saw exemplified by her Grandfather. 

We were privileged to be able to minister to him for the last month of his life and we miss his presence in our family.  He turned 93 in April and soon after Father’s Day it became apparent that the natural process of passing from this life was settling in.  He lived a full life and has left a legacy of family that is quite a tribute to his love and care for each of us.  We gathered at his house for Thanksgiving for one last time at the home place.  The baton has been passed to the next generation to carry on by extending his wisdom and kindness to the succeeding generations.

Thanksgiving Blessings

Jasper Lee and Giga

Jane and I have been privileged to serve with Sowers again this year and will be setting out to Florida in January for the farm at Sherry White Ministries in central Florida.  We will be about two hours away from Rachel and look forward to the arrival of our tenth grandchild while we are there.  One of the blessings of serving with Sowers is that our weekends are free which allows us to spend time with loved ones living near the projects.

We celebrated our forty first wedding anniversary in March.  I have been richly blessed to have such a special partner in life who constantly reminds me of God’s grace and mercy.  The Bible reveals that the marriage covenant relationship mirrors the relationship that Christ has with his bride, the Church.  Jesus is the consummate grace giver and lover of my soul. 

He commands me to live with Jane in an understanding way which requires my constant attention as our lives and habits are continually evolving with age.  He gives her plenty of opportunity to develop patience.  What a great journey we are on!

As we see 2016 come to a close, we are grateful for family and friends who over the years have provided us with such fond memories.  Each of you holds a special place in our hearts as we think back across time, which seems to take on wings and fly with ever increasing speed.  So goes the cycle of life.

We are grateful as well to our Heavenly Father for his provision of life for us.  Not only in this age but, more importantly, in the age to come.  We eagerly anticipate his second coming.  We eagerly appreciate the celebration of his first coming, two thousand years ago.  Born of a virgin according to the prophetic scriptures, he lived a sinless life, then died a horrific death in place of sin cursed folks like us, that he might reconcile us to a Holy God.  

And so I would encourage you to read the good news account of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of Luke.  The heavenly host appeared to the shepherds who were in the fields tending their sheep and proclaimed “today in the city of David a baby has been born who is Christ the Lord”.  God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us.

Jesus death on the cross of Calvary is the complete payment for the sin debt that we owe God.  Paid in Full!  That is the message of Christmas.

Jesus is that perfect Christmas gift!  Won’t you receive him into your heart this Christmas?  He so desires your worship.  You will be so glad you did, and we will be ecstatic as well!

Remember – Wise Men still seek Him!

Merry Christmas,  Glenn and Jane

Spring Tour 2016

Our tour of “Spring” has come full circle once again.  We began here in Summerville in March with the blossoming of daffodils and azaleas and the South Carolina pines swollen with pollen.  On the first of April we arrived in Union Mills, NC, about an hour east of Asheville.  Our April Sower project was at the Center for Intercultural Training, CIT.

CIT is a ministry dedicated to equipping servants to live in another culture.  They do this by focusing on teaching living skills that enhance their biblical knowledge and language abilities.  Participants are given insights into their individual giftedness and how to best use those gifts in the context they will be ministering in. There are classes designed for children as well.  There are relationship activities to build team work.

The participants range from whole families to couples and singles.  We had the privilege of having a number of them join us for devotions each morning during our stay.  It is a great blessing to hear how God has called them to the field and the steps He has brought them through.

There was a couple who are going to western Canada to live among native Indians.  Another is off to South America to teach in a Seminary setting.  There was a single cattle rancher who is moving to an Asian country in order to learn the language and immerse himself in a culture that is quite different from his Midwest upbringing.  Each situation was unique and we were continually amazed at God’s provision for each one in a broad number of areas.

Art the Facilities Manager, John, and Me

Our Sower partner at CIT was John Stoner.  We had served with John before and really enjoyed being together again.  John’s wife Rosie spends every other month ministering to her ailing Mother in Columbia SC.  CIT’s proximity to Columbia gives John the opportunity to serve the Lord and be with Rosie and her mom on the weekends.  This ability is what attracted us to Sowers.  We look for projects that are close to our children so we can spend the weekends with them.

Our main task at CIT this time was to paint walls and install vinyl tile flooring in one of the dormitory wings.  We put down about 3,000 square feet of flooring over the course of the project.  John celebrated his 70th birthday while we were together and as a cancer survivor is quite the role model for me.

Jane worked her normal magic with Gloria in housekeeping and helped out with the preparation and serving of noon meals for the participants.

We enjoyed the arrival of spring in the western mountains of North Carolina.  We were able to be at Maribeth’s for the celebration of our Granddaughter Olivia’s 4th Birthday.

Olivia and Wren

Wren, Olivia, and cousin Ella

Picnic in the creek

We moved north to Pennsylvania for our May project at Summit Grove Camp.  We were able to be with Jane’s Dad to celebrate his 93rd birthday.  Jane was able to give her sister a break from caring for her dad for a few weeks.  Summit Grove is about an hour from Annapolis so I worked Monday through Thursday and spent the weekends at Pop’s.

We were excited to learn that we would be serving with Doris and Frank Hutchison.  They were the first couple that we had the privilege to work with in Sowers three years ago.

They say April showers bring May flowers but the showers seemed to arrive a month late.  We had some inside tasks to do as we helped by putting the finishing touches on a new meeting room, painting and laying bamboo laminate flooring.

It seems that bath houses are our main focus at Summit Grove.  The second campground bathhouse was in need of a facelift and the rain held off for a couple of days allowing us to tackle it.

A tree had fallen on the roof so we were able to install a metal roof and a fresh coat of paint, and a gravel walkway that will help keep the floor clean.

Doris helped with getting rooms cleaned and made curtains for the upcoming season.  With Jane serving her dad for the first two weeks, Doris was able to establish a special relationship with a member of the staff and that led to an opportunity to model Christ to her and, ultimately, lead her to salvation.  We were excited to see God use this special circumstance to build a friendship that he used in a magnificent way.

Jane was able to join us for the final week of the project.  She manned her paint brush and helped finish painting the trim and was able to work alongside of Doris once again spring cleaning.

We are back in South Carolina for the summer.  We have all of our children and grandchildren coming into town the first week of June.  Two are coming for a wedding and the others don’t want to pass up an opportunity to get together.  Julie's youngest, Veda, is on the move in her walker so it should be a busy time with seven grands on the move.  Victoria will be six months old on the 12th so she will not be as mobile.

Victoria Jane

Our ninth grandchild will be arriving in August.  Maribeth and Ben have decided to await the arrival to find out if it is our third grandson or seventh granddaughter.  We are excited!  Ella, the oldest, will be 5 in June.

Our spring tour proved to be a successful one serving with Sowers, first at CIT and then at Summit Grove. We saw our Lord paint a magnificent landscape of fauna, sprouting newness of life for our enjoyment across the southeastern states.  The new birth in Christ of the young lady at Summit Grove topped off the spring tour.

Spring is our favorite season, as God again reveals His creative abilities. God’s voice is heard around the earth as He reveals himself to mankind through creation.  The budding of the trees, the blooming of flowers, the melody of the song birds calling to a potential mate, all cry out "God is!" and serve to bring our thoughts to the source of it all.

How about you?  Does the onslaught of spring beckon you to muse on the giver of life?

He desires your worship.  Jesus paved the way for us to enter into a personal relationship with the creator God.  You see, the sin nature that separated us from that relationship was fully secured on Calvary’s cross. Jesus paid a debt he did not owe and credits his righteousness to anyone who will put their faith in His shed blood.

Simply ask Jesus to come into your life and be your Savior.  He promises to give you a new life that will surpass any spring you have experienced before.

Until next time,
Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane