Work, Play and Encourage!

Feb. 23, 2009 These two pictures show that there may be something to the idea that men know how to work "smarter" or at least how to use less energy than the other gender when doing a similar task. Well, we only painted one morning so I am not complaining but my body did complain a little the "morning after". The men not only painted strips where needed but also the fence bordering the ball diamond. They did electrical work and laid pipe in the ground. Of course, it doesn't have to be below the frost line because it doesn't freeze down here. They knocked out a well in the office, put in a new one and had to finish it with mudding, sanding and painting. They built cabinets, changed most of the florescent light bulbs with energy efficient ones, stripped paint off mop boards, (that gives old muscles a test) built bleachers for the ball diamond, improved the barbecue pit, constructed new benches for the dug out, and anything else the supervisor in charge had been instructed to get done. They usually worked in pairs and that seemed to work out well. The women continue to tutor in the classrooms. Our students become great friends to us and it will be hard to leave them even as it was at the last project.

Yes, we played too. The church had an all church picnic at a park nearby and since the Missionaries that spoke at the Missionary Conference were going to be attending we decided it would be a good way to talk more to them as well as play games. We aren't necessary known for our athletic prowess but we tried. Actually I think dad looks in good form throwing horseshoes. He remembers when he and Darrel threw the "real thing" around on the farm when they were young. My athletic form is lousy to say the least but I tried. Someone had brought a game that included stands that were placed quite a ways apart and had two bars across. The players were to throw a rope that had a ball at both ends of it and try to wind it around the bars on the stands. I can hear some of you laughing at my description as you may have played the game for years and are good at it. Beginners luck had me wrapping the rope around the bar with the first throw. Needless to say, that was the last time I even touched the stand or the bars.

This picture had nothing to do with my hot air I am sure because we blew them up with a air pump but it was easier to feel confident with this activity then the ball toss. The balloons, hundreds of them, were given to the kids that attended the Mission Conference. Needless to say you can tell the Mission Conference was a big deal but when I wrote about it before I used real names and that was not good because of the danger it could put some Missionaries in. You will notice I deleted the details soon after I had posted it.

Because this is our last week here, in fact we leave Wednesday for Keystone Heights near Orlando for the March project, the Pastors of the church hosted us at a lunch today. They ordered in barbecue chicken, ribs and pork. Had many side dishes and a variety of cheesecakes for dessert. They are so appreciative of our volunteering our time but we feel we have been blessed just to be a part of the great preaching and teaching at the church as well as having an active part in making the teachers and staff people's job just a little bit easier. What a privilege to be a part of a school and church like this. I have never seen such complete unity and acceptance of so many different ethnic backgrounds. It's like a drama that unfolds before us each day we are here.

We usually tour on Friday and last Friday a nice tour was planned. But we never know when our best laid plans can suddenly become of no account with just one phone call. Thursday afternoon Ron and Rose Byle from Michigan got a phone call that their 42 year old son died in a snow mobile accident. We often say we "circle up" for prayer. There was a lot of circling up that night as we tried to encourage and just be there for them. Ron and Rose had joined our team for the Feb. project and were planning to remain with us through March. They flew home on Friday morning and the RVICS guys brought their motorhome to Rose's sister near Orlando. It sounds like they will come back to Florida in a couple of weeks but they have the option of coming or opting out all together. It was a time of playing back the tapes of when we received such phone calls the last few years. We have a God who is faithful and loving at all times but at such times we need to rely on our mind to assure us of that truth. Feelings and emotions become somewhat overwhelming and even wavering at times.

I am not "highlighting" any particular one of our kids in this picture but thought you might like to try to see how many cousins you recognize.

You all are in our thoughts and prayers much throughout the days and nights. We look forward to seeing all of you kids in the next few months but can't give dates yet because we don't know them. We have this wander lust in our blood now so who knows where we will go. The Lord has lead us to RVICS now and we believe it is good for us. Interesting to think about what lies ahead.

Love and best wishes,

Dad and Mom/Wilmer and Marilyn

This is really winter?

Feb. 15, 2009 Even though we get information daily about the weather at home and know it is extremely cold and snowy this winter it still is kind of hard to believe when we enjoy such balmy weather here. This week the temps got up into the 80's. Eating breakfast outside is hard to believe at this time of the year but we do it. Needless to say we are enjoying the weather.

The picture is of "my" class as they recited the scripture at the weekly Thursday chapel. They recited John 3: 1-23. I had heard these kids in the classroom as they recited various verses to me but was still amazed how well they did on stage with all the verses. Memorization is such a lost art these days but I think it still has a very valid place in a Christian's life.

This week I read the book, same kind of difference as me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. No, the title is not capitalized and the grammar is characteristic of some of the script. It is about a black plantation worker (modern day slave) and an international art dealer and the unlikely woman who bound them together. It sheds light on the fallacy that one is better than the other and depicts an intriguing drama of how they are brought together as the result of the compassion of one women. Interesting reading and very insightful. Barbara Bush even said on reading the book that it moved her to tears.

Valentines Day is always a big day in lower elementary school and Florida Bible Christian School is no different. For days the bags and packages wrapped in pink or red began showing up in the school room. Most were for the teacher and for each other but I did receive a present from one little boy. My sweetheart! We don't work on Fridays so I was not there for the party, however, later that evening our group leader came to our RV to deliver my present. The note said Daniel wanted me to have it on Valentines Day so it was special delivery. My part of the Valentine festivities was cutting out various decorations for the kids to use making their valentines. Sooooo my Cricut machine does come in handy and is a help to a teacher that is already overwhelmed with 19 very energized kids.

Our tour on Friday was to the Everglade National Park where we took an airboat ride and walked around the park. We saw lots of alligators and various birds and fish but for me the scenery was still the highlight of the day. As we were on the boat I was impressed with how the water, brown tho it was, still reflected the clouds in it. I know I have sent similar pictures in the last months but I still stand in awe of God's beautiful creation. Our group this month is big on sack lunches and we are fine with that so on tour we ate our lunch sitting on logs near the slough. We took one of the school's vans so we could ride together, that is all but one couple who rode their motorcycle because the van didn't hold 12 people. On our way down we had just passed a truck when our driver saw in the rear view mirror that a tire on the truck blew out and he veered crazily across the lane we had just passed him on. A couple of seconds later we would have been hit and if the motorcycle that was just ahead of us had been behind us the resulting disaster is hard to imagine. We did thank God many times throughout the day for the safety of each one of us.

On Saturday we did our Valentine eating out at noon to miss the crowds. We ate at Bahama Breeze which is a sea food restaurant although it was possible to get a deluxe 1/2 pound hamburger there too for those who must have red meat. Thirty two years ago in Hawaii we had the most delicious mahi mahi we had ever eaten. Well this restaurant had mahi mahi as well and it was almost as good as what we had in Hawaii. It was delicious. It came with baked sweet potato, another favorite, so we thought we had made a good pick of restaurants.

Who knows who this confident big guy is? Not confident enough tho to keep his pants up without suspenders you will notice. No, I didn't try to blur the background but the picture is partially distorted which happened when our computer hit a glitch several years ago but I found it still worth sharing. I really can't find any resemblance to his present looks but I know the little guy needed prayers when he was young because of his curiosity and he does now as well with his work of compassion.

We are doing well and find RVICS a very good pick for us at this particular time.

Love you all,

Mom and Dad/Marilyn and Wilmer (whatever)

Side Benefits

Another week of RVICSing has come to a conclusion. How time flies. Even though this was the first week of a new project it was at the same location and doing the same work as last month. I am so grateful that I get to work in the same classroom. This picture of Mathew was taken on the 100th day of school. Each student was to wear something that had 100 items attached to it. I am sure it took some creativity on the part of the mothers to come up with ideas. Some had stickers, safety pins. Bible cards, stamping stamps, etc. It didn't do much for the attention to school work but it is always celebrated in some way at this school. The comment I heard often, "only 70 days of school left." I have a new appreciation for teachers now even though I thought I appreciated them before. For this teacher, and any teacher, to keep each one performing at his/her optimum capacity is a challenge. This class has such a wide range of abilities. I often find myself leaving my grading papers desk, to assist a student or to try to keep some student from distracting other students. My teacher appreciates my seeing where help is needed and that I am willing to give it instead of just doing the basic tasks she gives me to do. I did have to feel her out the first weeks to see if she would be helped or hindered by my helping students directly or if she would appreciate it but she does see it as helpful because she is often overwhelmed with the behavior of some of the students.

The Florida Bible Church that the school is a part of held their Mission Conference this week. Services were held on Wed., Thur., Friday nights and then a church picnic on Saturday. Then Sat. night and at both services on Sunday morning missionaries again spoke. We attended all but one of the meetings and were richly blessed. It was good to be involved in a conference outside of our own church to see just how they do things. One night we were divided into 4 groups because there were 4 missionaries. Each group got to spend 25 minutes with each missionary. The time was spent most of the time in Q & A so we learned a lot about the personal life and particulars of the work that don't come out in a full assembly. The other nights one missionary was the primary speaker. Friday night after the service we were invited to an ice cream social, Haagen Daz at that. The picnic on Saturday reminded me of Carmel SS picnic except that it started before noon with a barbecue and then games. No formal program but a time to interact with the church people and the missionaries. It was so good to talk to the people and learn about their background. I talked to a young mother who was raised as a Hindu. She was from Trinidad and her husband from Porto Rico. She just was frustrated with the Hindu religion as it was so empty and meaningless. So what could that man-made idol do for her? When her family moved to the US she became restless in her heart and soul . A young man in her school class frequently read his Bible where she could see it. She finally engaged him in conversation and after some time she accepted Christ. She and her husband and 3 daughters are now Christians and she is such a vibrant women, her faith shines from her face continually. We consider being a part of these extra activities a side-benefit of doing RVICS. Then today Wilmer/Dad was asked to give his testimony in Sunday School of how to be a Christian in the political realm. We had discussed "politics" in a broad way for several weeks so the teacher thought it would be good to hear from a real politician. Dad did a good job and there were some really good questions. Time was too short for such an all-encompassing topic.

Missionaries at the conference were:J & R - The Evangelical Alliance Mission. D & J. who began the Crossway International Mission. They live in the states now but he is the person responsible for an orphanage of 499 children. They need food and clean water so he is also involved in getting money for wells which will pump clean water. The children's meals now consist of sorghum for breakfast, probably a cup of hot tea at noon and then again a few grams of sorghum for supper. Not enough, obviously. He had worked overseas for years and then he came across this need of orphans just recently. So D. began a new project and program and now has all these children aged 5 to 16 in his care. His passion is so contagious and what makes him so remarkable beside the tremendous work he does is that he is totally blind. We often heard the challenge, "D. is doing all this work blind, what about you?"

C and his wife are with the program called A.L.A.R.M. C. is the founder of that program which spelled out is African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries. He trains church leaders and community leaders in areas of conflict resolution, forgiveness and breaking down walls of bias and hatred which have existed for generations.

D. & J. are with New Tribes Mission which specializes in planting tribal churches. They start with a tribe which has no written language and try to work through with the tribe until they have the Bible translated into that language.

What a bonus to be a part of the Conference and learn about the various mission organizations.

Can you figure out who this smoother is? I know the uniform and the background may give it away but I am sure the head of dark hair will not help identify the "big" guy.

We are doing very well. I shared with one of you that this experience has been refreshing and stimulating to us physically, emotionally and spiritually. God is so good to give us this opportunity and give us the strength, desire and ability to do it.

Love you all,

Dad and Mom

SSP friendly hours

Hard to believe it is February already. It is especially hard to believe when the weather is so balmy. When the weather forecast is for a cold front we just laugh and tell them 45 degree morning temp is not a cold front. But it is all relative. We do enjoy the warmth!

I have told you before that the hours we work are really friendly to SSP's. For those of you who are unfamiliar with that term it is Social Security People. I think in the past we used it rather sarcastically but surprising how your perspective changes when you fit that category yourself. I remember on vacations and other places when we had little kids along that SSPs always thought they had to have the front row of everything. We try to remember that now when we think we need special treatment because we may not cross this way again and don't want to miss a single thing.

Our Jan. project ended on Tuesday afternoon so we had the rest of the week to ourselves. One day we went down to Key Largo. The trip isn't really anything but swamp and wild growth. Homestead and cities like Key Largo was more touristy and fun. We took a 2 hour glass bottom boat ride into the Atlantic to the Coral Reef. The picture above was taken on the boat. The weather was in the 80's when we were on the boat but dropped at least 20 degrees less then an hour after we got back. The Coral Reef was very interesting and a Naturalist gave a running account of the various fish we saw and described how the Reef was formed. It was interesting. I took several pictures but they look just like a glass bottom boat with the Reef poorly visible and the fish non-existant at all, therefore, no pictures.

On the way out of the bay into the Ocean we passed fantastically fancy and expensive houses and yachts. We wondered why that was all necessary when we are so content in a 8X36 foot RV. I know we couldn't possibly live their lifestyle in our RV but I question why they NEED all that space. I guess some of the CEOs and financial managers and other big wigs we hear about getting their millions in bonuses are inhabiting the houses and cruising around in their yachts entertaining other big shots who get big bonuses. We did enjoy looking and speculating what their life style, value system and enjoyment level really is. Probably have a housekeeper from some distant land who is here with an illegal permit as well. So much for sarcasm! Enough already.

Wednesday afternoon we drove to Miami Airport so we could spend a little time with Brian. He was flying in for a couple of days of meetings with the UBS. He knew his good friend, Bob Bascum, was was flying in from LA at approximately the same time so he arranged for us to meet him. He has a PHD in linguistics so you can imagine their affinity. We had a great time over a dinner of barbecued ribs and great conversation. It was so interesting to hear Brian and Bob talk "shop", it was a depth of linguistics we don't normally hear, probably because we could not enter into that kind of conversation and understand it. After dinner we went to the motel they were staying in so Bob could get settled in and we could talk just a little longer with Brian. Great experience. Any one else wandering in this area this winter? We would love to have you! The picture is a little dark but I think you can make out who they are anyway. The ribs were excellent, Dad's favorite meat I think.

We start a new project at this same place on Monday and will finish it on Feb. 24. I am anxious to get back into the classroom and even more anxious to interact with the kids again. It is good to hear a little voice from the playground shout, "hi Miss Marilyn" Our RV is parked right beside the playground so they keep close watch on us. One little boy asked if we lived in that truck house. Yes we do.

We usually do our walking around here but it is not safe for one alone or even two at non-working hours so we often end up walking at a mall. What a burden, right? It is a fun place to walk but not to buy. One example I was just browsing around and came into a Coach purse store. Looking at what we always look at first, the price tag, I couldn't believe my eyes but it was $495.00. So, of course, I had to show that to Dad and impress on him how my tastes were really pretty modest since I didn't think even for a second about getting the purse.

With all this fantastic picture opportunities around here I started looking at a camera that could do a little more than ours can. Spent considerable time at Best Buy getting an education from 3 different sales people. The first one must have said 6 times that we should stick to a basic one because the others would take a lot of learning. Evidently he didn't think we were up to the challenge. We probably aren't but will figure that out for ourselves. See, being an SSP isn't all fun and games. We did get a lot of information for us to process and help us make a decision.

So good to get the phone calls and emails.

Love you all and appreciate being kept in the "know" of your families.

Dad and Mom