16 Days on the Road

Tuesday, June 11, Martha, Rebecca and I returned to Ocala, Florida from 16 days on the road; Rebecca was 18 days on the road, counting her 2-day journey to us in Ocala. During the 16 days, we met with brethren and family in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. Whew! We were like an out of control ping pong ball, crisscrossing our own travel in Ohio.

Bobby’s wedding on Saturday, June 1 to Sharon, both members of the Ashland, Ohio Church of Christ, proceeded as planned. The following day, we three travelers assembled with the Vermilion, Ohio Church of Christ for a.m. class and worship; there I spoke about missions and presented a biblical lesson. Without delay, Martha, Rebecca and I made our way to Hanoverton, Ohio for a 4 p.m. worship with the Lord’s church in that farming community. The Hanoverton Church of Christ is vibrant with young offspring populating the pews; corn and cows aren’t the only avenues of farming there. That evening, we met with Martha’s grandchildren in Chester, West Virginia.

Monday and Tuesday, we visited with my father, my brothers and one of my late wife Bonnie’s brothers in Pennsylvania and New York; James and Kay Reed and we three, per Martha’s request, visited a causeway where we fed fish and geese that congregate near a spillway between sides of a large lake. Wednesday we made the second of two visits to the grave of Martha’s late husband Bob Noland in Calcutta, Ohio. That evening, we assembled with the Chester, West Virginia Church of Christ, whereupon I spoke about missions again.

Thursday, June 6, we three drove to Mineral Wells, West Virginia to meet with several of Martha’s siblings and a brother to Bob Noland. Friday through Sunday afternoon, we lodged with my son Raymond and his family in Pickerington, Ohio. Sunday morning, we assembled with the Pickerington Church of Christ. That afternoon, we all enjoyed the combined birthday party for two of Raymond and Crystal’s children—our grandchildren, of course. Our visit to Ohio also afforded us the opportunity to see, hold and spoil our newest grandchild of about four months.

Sunday afternoon, Martha, Rebecca and I began our return journey to Ocala. Finally, we arrived Tuesday afternoon.

Whenever and wherever we go, Martha and I make sure that we visit brethren, even if we are also traveling to spend some time with family members. We are ever conscious of being a servant to our Lord Jesus Christ, at home or while traveling stateside or abroad.

The grass was really high and thick upon our return to our home. Between spurts of rain, finally, I was able to bully it back into being a law and flowerbeds. Maybe sometime soon Martha and I will able to establish a routine in our new home, but interruptions of foreign and domestic travel over the last six months has prolonged our adjustment in that regard.

I continue to submit myself to a battery of medical tests and examinations; most of my ailments thus far are simply inconvenient rather than serious. Martha is experiencing significant pain beyond the ordinary daily pain. We hope to have some satisfactory diagnosis and remedy soon.

Our next stateside travels are planned for July, whereupon we return to Winona, Mississippi for the annual World Evangelism team meeting. We will plan excursions to congregations within a radius of there or along our route of travel. Lord willing, we are still looking forward to foreign travel beginning in late September and through most of October. We are to travel to be with brethren in Myanmar (Burma) and India.

Of course, we remain diligent in the production of Gospel Gazette Online and The Voice of Truth International. Others and I are working currently on volume 101 of VOTI. We rely on Christian families and the churches of Christ for underwriting financially our livelihood and labors for God. Thank you.

Onward and Northward

Monday, May 27, Martha, Rebecca and I briefly met with some staff members of the Central Church of Christ in Cleveland, Tennessee. Primarily, we left some newsletters and pens bearing our contact information. We are indebted to this congregation for its continued moral support and financial participation.

Wednesday, we three assembled for Bible class with the North Lexington Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky. Afterward, we met with a couple of the elders, who were very encouraging. This church also makes possible what Martha and I attempt to do for our Lord stateside and abroad. We are thankful for these two churches of Christ as well as for all fellow Christians and congregations that send us abroad with the Gospel.

Thursday, we briefly visited my son Raymond in Pickerington, Ohio. Next, we traveled to Ashland, Ohio to be with Martha’s son Bobby.

Saturday morning, Rebecca and I finished proofing and correcting the June edition of Gospel Gazette Online. Subsequently, I sent email notices to over 2,100 subscribers that the June issue was ready for their use. Aside from subscriptions, anyone can access the current Gospel Gazette Online or the thousands of archived pages by going to the URL address www.GospelGazette.com.

Later today, Martha’s son Bobby will wed his bride to be in the facilities of the Ashland Church of Christ. Afterward, Martha, Rebecca and I will travel onward in readiness for worshipping with and speaking for another church tomorrow—on the Lord’s Day.

It would be more convenient to have stayed home rather than to have driven thousands of miles by the time we return to Ocala, Florida. Nevertheless, it is appropriate and prudent for us to visit family and Christian friends. Especially our fellow Christians deserve to hear firsthand about the foreign labors in which they invest their prayers and funds. We are happy to make ourselves available to them.