Paramakatoi Children’s Class

Wednesday, February 19 was a big day for the village of Paramakatoi. The first lady of Guyana was to visit. She was campaigning for her husband to be reelected for president. She was also dedicating the new water system for this jungle mountain community. There was preparation made for her coming all week and maybe the week before. There were hammers and saws going all day and evening long. Bleachers, stands for concessions and a large platform for the first lady and other government officials were built. There was a stand for the band and the emcee to play music until 2:00 a.m. for three days and nights.

On the same day, I had a very big surprise. About 200 or so elementary school children and their teachers came to the church building to entertain us. They were supposed to quote memory verses and sing for us; they program was supposed to take about 15 minutes. Well, I guess things got a little mixed up. Great for me! Louis came to me about 5-minutes before things were to start and asked me if I could teach the children a lesson. Sure, I can. He asked me how long my lesson would last. I said about 30 minutes.

This is how things proceeded. Brother Nigel led the children in two songs; Louis said a prayer, and then it was my turn. All the men left and had their own class on the porch of a neighboring shop. I introduced myself to the class and started the lesson. One of the men came in and told me about the memory verses. So, I had the children volunteer to say their memory verses. They did a great job!

I started my lesson on “Hear No Evil, See No Evil and Speak No Evil.” I had three children come up and help me. I told them that they were monkey helpers because the hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil were monkeys. (I have two sets at our home in Florida. One set has monkeys and the other has frogs.) They covered the ears, eyes and mouths. Then the whole class did the same thing. I tried to involve them all. Some got restless, but for the most part, the children did well.

Teaching the children has been the highlight of our work in Guyana so far this year. Another children’s class was in Monkey Mountain last year. When I finished, I had about 30 from age 1 to about age 11. I love the children here in Guyana. They want and give attention to Louis and me—maybe because we are white. They are all so loveable. ~ Martha Rushmore

Camping in Guyana

January 24—We arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport near Georgetown, Guyana, South America about 10:30 p.m. Brother Nigel Milo met us and drove us to his home in Linden, which I call Milo’s Bed and Breakfast.

We were met at the door by sister Jasmine Milo, sporting her beautiful smile while welcoming Louis and me. She also had a late supper of eggs and toast. We enjoyed a couple of hours with lots of laughs as we were getting to know one another. They also have a ten-year-old son Zab; he is the sweetest young man. We are now claiming him, too, as one of our grandsons.

January 25—Now to the camping trips we have been taking. First, we flew to the Village of Paramakatoi, all seven of us—including the pilot. The small plane had holes for air in the windows, but they also let in water from the rain clouds through which we flew. What a new experience for me! Many of the villagers, cows, donkeys, horses and dogs (the scrawniest I have ever seen) came out to greet us. The people in this area are Amerindian.

The first place we saw was the local one-room “Wal-Mart,” post office and airport. One entrepreneur named Sam runs this business. He was very kind to us. We told him we had just gotten married, and he gave us a wedding gift of two pineapple fruit juices.

The Amerindians have very few amenities. We have more in the States when we go camping. At least when we go camping in the US, we have flushing toilets! Instead, we had outhouses. There certainly were no dishwashers either. We took our showers, pouring water on us from a bowl dipped from a bucket; then, we lathered up with soap and rinsed off in cold water—unless we heated it on the stove. Yes, we stayed in a nice corner room with windows on both sides; this was the AC. We also had a mesh mosquito net to use at night to keep from being bait for the insects, especially the mosquitos. They seem to love Louis and me. We must be very sweet! Louis is so glad to share me for their breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks. Isn’t he so nice?

The village guesthouse had toilets, but they did not work because the piping needed to be fixed. So, to the outhouse we went. This was not bad except at night. I did not like going out at night because I was somewhat worried about the slithering reptiles.

On our way to the church building, we had to walk in pouring down rain. We were soaked, even though wearing our rain ponchos—my yellow, Pittsburgh Steelers rain gear prompting Louis to say that I looked like a duck. We spent Wednesday night singing and listening to Louis and brother Nigel Milo who each gave one talk on “Jesus Our Example.” The brethren were very welcoming to us. The singing was really beautiful, and we sang old songs with which I grew up. This brought back a lot of childhood memories.

January 26-27—On Thursday and Friday mornings, all three of us taught lessons. I had the ladies, and I really enjoyed them. I had some children, and I did a short Bible story for them to make them seem special and part of the class. I could not leave them out. With the children, I did the “Days of Creation,” and for the ladies, we did the Book of Ruth. The ladies sang the chorus of two songs for me in their native, tribal language. I pray our efforts at Paramakatoi were prosperous for the Lord.

After Friday’s session, we flew from Paramakatoi to Mahdia airport, and then we got on board another plane to fly back to Ogle. From Ogle, brother Nigel was our chauffeur back to Linden—to the Milo B & B. Louis says, “We fly low with Milo.”

January 29—On Sunday, we worshipped with the brethren of the Amelia Ward Church of Christ, where brother Milo is the preacher. Louis taught Bible class, and the preacher from the Coomacka congregation did the lesson. The brethren from this congregation came for worship. Louis spoke Sunday evening.

January 30—On Monday morning, Nigel, Louis and I, along with some of the ladies from church, went out to do some door knocking and Bible studies that were set up. We split up in threes. We worked until about 12:00.

That same evening, I had the pleasure of teaching the ladies’ class for the Amelia’s Ward congregation. We had a very good class, and I had a lot of participation. We also studied the Book of Ruth, and then I asked them some Bible trivia questions. I felt so rewarded.

I cannot believe that while teaching I did not realize how hot it was in the building. I was told by one of my coworkers that I would not realize how hot it was while teaching. She was right. I cannot believe how fast the nervous jitters went away as I started teaching. This has been a great lesson for me.

My prayer and my goal is always to glorify God. My second goal is to edify those around me.

Moco Moco Village

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Martha Lynn and I were in Lethem and Moco Moco Village in Guyana, South America from January 31 through today, February 3. Before boarding our Cessna Caravan for the return trip to the coastland, Martha and I crossed into Brazil long enough to have our picture snapped beside signs marking the international border between the two nations.

We lodged for several days in the Takutu Hotel in Lethem, which is undergoing major renovation and expansion. Tuesday evening after our arrival in Lethem as well as morning, afternoon and evening for the next two days, Martha and I communed with the Moco Moco Village Church of Christ, which hosted our seminar in that area this year. Several visitors from that Amerindian village and brethren from other congregations of the Lord’s church attended, too. This time out, Martha taught ladies classes on two occasions, as well teaching children within the larger classes also. It was my pleasure to speak nine times, and brother Nigel Milo presented about the same number of lessons as I did. Our theme this year is “Emulation of Jesus Christ.” Before leaving on Friday, we also visited the Lethem-St Ignatius Church of Christ.

We have now completed two of our 16 confirmed locations for 2017 for our seminars throughout all 10 regions of Guyana; additional venues are pending. Tonight, we are washing clothes, but tomorrow we will travel to #77 Housing Scheme along the coast and south of Georgetown—about a four-hour automobile ride from Linden, which is our base of operations. Tomorrow evening, Lord willing, we will lodge in a Georgetown hotel to position us for a morning departure on Sunday by small plane to be with the Monkey Mountain Church of Christ for several days for our seminar.

Other than being tired—I hate to admit that our ages may be slowing us down just a little—our only other complaint is a probable urinary tract infection, which we are treating with antibiotics brought from the USA for such or a similar scenario. We will increase our water intake, too, and drink down some cranberry juice.

Well, it seems that Martha Lynn and I are honeymooning in tropical Guyana, having wed on New Year’s Day. We have not only adjusted well to each other, since we have been friends already for decades, but we have thoroughly enjoyed everywhere we have gone. We are particularly elated with the warm reception that we have received from brethren in each congregation that we have visited. Yes, we are spoiling a few children along the way before returning them to their parents. We are still having a blast!

Launch of New Teen Quarterlies

Many months of preparation by numerous individuals came to fruition today with the marketing launch of a new for 2017 quarterly series of teen class books. My part in the process involved editing, proofing, layout, seeing to the printing of sufficient copies for marketing, shipment of free samples to hundreds of churches of Christ and amending the online book store (www.WorldEvangelismMedia.com) accordingly. The four books are entitled Evangelizing Our Friends, Studies in Bible Characters, God & Human Suffering and Walking with Jesus.

These new books will extend the approximately 350 book titles already available through World Evangelism, 88 volumes of The Voice of Truth International magazine, over 100 tracts and thousands of articles archived at Gospel Gazette Online, a monthly Internet journal (www.gospelgazette.com).

Not the same old thing! Each 64- to 68-page, 13-chapter quarterly sports vibrant, engaging colors and graphics with contemporary style, but with the Old Jerusalem Gospel throughout. Kevin Cauley is the author of these four volumes.

Our aim, my purpose, is to glorify God and contribute to the edification of precious souls. There is no more important sector to undergird with the Holy Word of God than our youth. I hope, I trust, that this collaborative effort will do just that.

2014 Summary

Periodically, we published a blog, which was visited 6,300 times over the course of 2014. In the blog, we chronicled stateside visits to churches of Christ where either Bonnie or I or both of us presented biblical lessons or apprised brethren about our mission work. Whereas Bonnie spoke to ladies’ classes, I spoke to elders, preachers’ meetings, Bible classes and worship assemblies. Bonnie and I were able to travel together on a 4-week mission trip to Guyana, South America, and we posted information and pictures regularly about the progress of that effort. It was unsurpassed in personal gratification and we think in usefulness for the cause of Christ among the various endeavors in which we invest ourselves. A special program for the India Missions Conference, of which we were cohosts, had its representation on our blog, too. Readers could vicariously travel with Bonnie, our daughter Rebecca and me as we visited my uncle Mount (Rushmore) in South Dakota in 2014; I’m just a chip off the old block. Work groups that visited the World Evangelism Building in Winona, Mississippi were duly noted in the blog as well. In addition, we kept visitors to the blog up to date regarding Bonnie’s medical battle against the resurgence of pancreatic cancer. Blog readers found us through following our blog or followed links from either our Internet magazine Gospel Gazette Online or from our Facebook pages. Our blog readers reside in 80 countries spanning the globe with the largest percentage of readers living in the USA, India and Guyana.

Bonnie and I participated with other core World Evangelism team members in publishing four issues of The Voice of Truth International, which is distributed in dozens of countries in numerous languages; 40,000 or more of the 116-page magazine are published quarterly. Furthermore, dozens of new tracts and several new books were published and made available stateside and abroad. Thousands of pounds of Christian literature and books were shipped overseas at no charge to the recipients. In December, Gospel Gazette Online completed 16 years of uninterrupted publication on the Internet. Thousands of articles remain archived and digitally available to anyone worldwide who has Internet connection. Work is underway for the continuation of Gospel Gazette Online in the new year.

In 2014, the Rushmore Evangelism Fund assumed the responsibility of seeing to the funding and payment for a Hindi language TV program broadcast from New Delhi, India. We have made provisions to provide financially for its continuance for a dozen years or more. This could only be made possible by the generous donations of Christian brethren here in the States.

Typically, Bonnie and I travel up to 3,000 miles monthly stateside by car as we teach or update brethren about our mission work. In addition, we usually spend three months overseas annually working in the countries of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore and Guyana. Both stateside and travel abroad were impacted in 2014 by Bonnie’s medical condition as she continues to experience difficulties from prior surgeries and now that her cancer returned. Two days before we were to board airliners for a 9-week mission trip to four Asian countries, we got the bad news that Bonnie needed immediate medical treatment for a suspected rebounding of pancreatic cancer, which proved to be the case. Bonnie continues to undergo a battery of treatments, and every day is a challenge for both of us, with Bonnie, of course, bearing the brunt of it all.

Summarized, 2014 was a good year in which we feel that we made a difference for the cause of Christ. Daily, adapting as necessary, we continue to make a difference in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Voice of Truth International and Gospel Gazette Online continue unabated, of course, in partnership chiefly with sister Betty Choate, Jerry and Paula Bates, and Byron and Gay Nichols. Typically, we still go to the office/warehouse weekdays to help with shipping and a myriad of other behind the scenes that make the ministry in which we are involved successful.

We are thankful to the sea of Christians who make it possible for us to do what we do for the cause of Christ in the USA and across the world. Thank you for your prayers.

Bible Geography VBS

June 14 was the Super Saturday VBS for the Central Church of Christ in Vincennes, Indiana, and Bonnie and I were guest teachers to participate with brethren and young people in that endeavor. The theme was “Bible Geography,” and the event kicked off at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 3:00 p.m. By then youngsters and adults were completely exhausted.

Each child was given a “passport,” which contained the child’s picture and on which ink stamps were applied upon entry to the respective classrooms throughout the day. The children went to Egypt, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Cana, Jerusalem, and Rome. Outdoor activities in the morning included Pony Express races (i.e., contribution of the Persians) and Chariot Races (i.e., human wheelbarrow races). The outside activity for the afternoon was an “Archaeological Dig” in two large sandboxes and one pile of sand.

The non-stop motion of the all-day vacation Bible school was draining for both the adults hosting the program as well as for all of the participants. In addition to instruction and activities, the day was punctuated also with lunch, snacks and desserts. A good time was had by all, and the Central Church of Christ touched the lives of several families with the Word of God. The following pictures give a hint of how the day unfolded.

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Bartica, Guyana, South America

Last night for Bonnie and me ended at about 1 a.m. this morning, and our new day began 4:30 a.m. Who out there thinks that missionaries generally are just taking exotic vacations at the expense of the Lord’s church? We’re going to have to return to the so-called normal grind of everyday life—just so we can get some rest!

By about 5:15 a.m. on Friday, February 7, brother Nigel Milo (he got less sleep than us, and he is the driver) and we two weary souls bounded from Linden toward Georgetown. We made our way across the floating bridge straddling the Demerara River; barges anchored sequentially the span of the waterway support metal plates for two way traffic to traverse from bank to bank. Being on the edge of Georgetown, it is always packed with stopped or at best slowly moving vehicles of all kinds. Tolls are collected for one direction only on this pontoon bridge; there is no need to collect a fee going both ways because all returning automobiles and trucks have no choice but to return via the same passage.

Then, we drove along the river for about five miles to the river port on that side. There we retrieved two more passengers—brother Joe and his sister-in-law who had arrived by water taxi. From there, we proceeded by minivan for an hour or so to the river port town of Parika, whereupon we boarded a speedboat to go inland about an hour and a half to Bartica. The boats everywhere around the huge dock ferry passengers to various river ports accessible on the Essequibo River, which is as wide as a reservoir and seemingly endless in length. Since only full boats depart, passengers have to wait until other commuters happen by and want to travel to the same destination as you. We waited about two hours! We could have left almost immediately upon arrival, but would have had to take the last four seats (for five of us) on the front seat of the boat; that seating position provides the roughest treatment of any on board, from the bouncing up and down to the hard smashes on the waves.

Bonnie and I have no need to spend good money on American amusement park rides for the pleasure of finding a little excitement and experiencing nausea. Only one passenger had preceded us onto the boat we finally boarded, so we could have the best seats in the house, so to speak, the back bench—unfortunately, also the loudest venue, being positioned closest to the dual, high-powered outboard motors.

Despite leaving Linden early, we nevertheless arrived over 30 minutes late for the seminar program. The local, routine travel does not afford very much control over one’s travel time. Find a boat going your direction, put on a life preserver and wait for the craft to fill. Zip up the river at speeds certain to cool one down, sometimes spraying muddy river water in the faces of boat occupants. After a while, the hard, wooden seats, themselves taking a severe beating from being battered by the crash of the boat on the water, tend to aggravate one’s body, especially the tailbone. Cramped quarters for the feet are more restrictive than typical of commercial airlines. About 30 passengers, hand luggage, cargo, a boat captain and one crewman whiz through waters, dodging pilings, other boats, docks and river brush.

Brother Michael Osborne who preaches for the Bartica Church of Christ and that congregation hosted the seminar today. The program was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Because of that, most of the men were absent, being at work. Still, we had an attendance of around 32. Joe, Bonnie and I took our turns teaching; Bonnie taught a ladies’ class sometimes when either Joe or I spoke to just the men. Nigel taught the young children, who to our surprise their mothers kept home from school so they could be present for the occasion. In the three years that we have been conducting these seminars across Guyana, this was the first time that we brought the program to Bartica. Should we return in the future, we may be able to alter the times, if we can schedule all venues within the frame work of four weeks, as well as factor in the variables of river transportation to Bartica and back (the water taxis stop running before dark).

By 9 p.m., we had retraced our steps, and brother Milo and Bonnie and I arrived back in Linden. Bonnie went over her lessons for the ladies’ day on Saturday in which she would speak at the Amelia’s Ward Church of Christ in Linden. We bathed and retired for the evening. Another good day had come to an end!

Introduction to Foreign Culture

Today (Monday, December 2, 2013), Bonnie and I visited a Mississippi public school, whereupon we introduced foreign cultures from countries in Asia and South America to some sixth graders. We have been doing this annually for a few years now. Bonnie and I enjoy speaking about this, and the youngsters liked it, too.

I showed the class a PowerPoint depicting culture from Myanmar (formerly Burma), India and Sri Lanka in Asia, as well as from Guyana in South America. Students were able to see colorful clothing with which they were unfamiliar. They became aware of the lack of potable water aside from purchasing mineral water in many developing nations. Some of the foods eaten especially in Asia seemed strange to them. The pupils couldn’t imagine the absence of Wal-Mart stores from which people could buy food and clothes. Perhaps what mystified them the most was the contrast between western and eastern toilets. Particularly one student expressed that ‘it was not right’ that those foreigners didn’t have access to many of the things we take for granted in the United States (e.g., flush toilets, electricity, sanitation, refrigeration, Xbox or PlayStation, etc.).

Some hands-on items we brought for display and for the class to handle included: a bamboo ball, jade figurines and necklace, oriental clothes, homemade paper, wood carvings, a thatch fan, an Asian 3-tier metal lunchbox, and foreign language books (i.e., Russian, Spanish, French, Telegu, Lisu, Burmese, etc.). Bonnie and I fielded a variety of questions at the conclusion of the program. Only one child slept through it all; the rest were fully involved and actively participated. Without prodding, some class members publicly expressed their appreciation to us.

PTP Sidebar: The Six-Year-Old Inspector

Recently, Bonnie and I, along with about 3,200 other Christians and their children, attended the weeklong Polishing the Pulpit program in Sevierville, Tennessee. One evening, Bonnie and I were eating supper at the Cracker Barrel restaurant. Unexpectedly, a seven-year-old little girl came up to Bonnie who was seated and immediately embraced her with a full bear hug; she was one of the sweethearts Bonnie had been teaching for several days. Tagging along with her was her six-year-old brother, also someone that Bonnie and I had been teaching daily. Abruptly, he said to me, “What is that you are drinking?” Surprised, I responded, “Root Beer.” “Beer,” he said, peering at my frosted mug and brown root beer bottle. Hastily, I replied, “It’s not beer! It’s not beer!” No sooner had I explained myself to the six-year-old inspector when he darted back to his own table, seeking validation of either his suspicion or my defense. He promptly asked his mother and father as well as his grandmother and grandfather, “Is it alright to drink root beer?” Then, he returned with his child’s cup in hand to show me what he was drinking.

I was innocent this time, but even small children are watching with examining little hearts and evaluating what they see in comparison to what they have been taught. Each of us needs to be careful with our Christian influence. Sometimes we are not innocent, are we?

The apostle Paul exhorted, “…be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). Each of us needs to be able to say as Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). If we conscientiously behave ourselves as Christians ought to behave themselves, we and other faithful Christians can confidently exclaim, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (Philippians 3:17-18). After all, the apostle John exhorted concerning Jesus Christ, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Jesus left us an example that we might follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21).

Whose little eyes are watching you? What example are you exhibiting?

2013 Polishing the Pulpit

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Bonnie and I arrived in the early afternoon at Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) on Saturday, August 24. Sevierville, Tennessee – adjacent to Pigeon Forge and not far from Gatlinburg – is a beautiful part of the country for sure. Whereas in former years we were able to enjoy some of the Smokey Mountain surroundings for a day or so following PTP, this year we crammed the weeklong activities between two of Bonnie’s chemotherapies. We were fully engaged during PTP and had to rush back to Mississippi to afford Bonnie her chemo on Friday morning.

Bonnie and I tended children of all ages each day. Bonnie assisted with 4- and 5-year-olds from as early as 7:45 a.m. to lunchtime. We, but especially Bonnie, presented a hands-on missions presentation for an hour each of two days; dozens of children pawed our exhibit and tasted the chapatti that Betty Choate had made for the occasion. Perhaps the one item that elicited the most interest from these little ones was The Voice of Truth International produced in Braille. Each morning I roved from class to class teaching Bible Geography to children as young as 4-year-olds up to 11-year-olds.

In the afternoons, Bonnie taught our program of Buckets of Bible Time, where youngsters are called upon to arrange in sequential order three red buckets labeled with “Patriarchy,” “Judaism” and “Christianity.” Then, they are asked to place three dimensional objects (e.g., cars, airplane, dinosaurs) and laminated cards depicting Bible characters in the appropriate buckets. The catch is that some characters belong in more than one time period (e.g., Moses, the apostles) and Jesus Christ does not belong in Christianity. In addition, Bonnie responded to the invitation to help out with children in the evening, too.

Afternoons from 1:30 p.m. until 4:15 p.m. or after, it was my sheer pleasure to assist other preachers who taught 21 budding young men from the ages of 10 to 14 how to prepare and to deliver a devotional. All of them did very well and deserve commendation; some did exceedingly well. One or two could easily serve as an “opening act” (to borrow a phrase from entertainment) preceding a keynote address by a seasoned brother at PTP in the future. I graduated somewhat in 2013 at PTP and was privileged additionally to have an adult class one evening. My assignment concerned the use of printed material in the mission field.

Between working with children, we did attend a few lectures, set up and managed our two display tables, and conversed with numerous people. Some of these brethren we only see at programs such as this, while others are our supporters and encouragers. We sold a few books, gave every budding preacher boy one or more books and distributed some The Voice of Truth International in two languages.

I spied a little tyke who may not have been potty trained yet, but who was an expert already with modern technology. He was mesmerized with a game on a cell phone. His little thumbs were working, and he was sliding his finger across the screen to manipulate the pictures. I was dumbfounded! Is there any hope for me?

The first snafu upon arriving at the Wilderness Hotel and Convention Center was learning that our lodging reservation had been cancelled and that there was no room in the inn. That we would not arrive on Friday was apparently not conveyed by PTP personnel to the hotel, and so staff there cancelled our reservation and gave our room to someone else when we were a “no show” on Friday. We were counting on being in the hotel so Bonnie could resort to the room for rest as needed. The hotel relented and rented us one of the two emergency rooms it had put back in case something went wrong. It seemed that we walked the length of a football field to an elevator that took us two floors below the main floor. Fifteen rooms are nestled in this subbasement adjacent to the loading dock and driveway for vending and laundry. Some bugs knew where our room was located even if housekeeping occasionally did not remember.

Whining aside, the accommodations were very much appreciated, and the hotel room at the convention center afforded Bonnie rest at lunchtime and supper each day, besides restful sleep. We ate two meals daily in our room and ate out once every day, twice as guests of the generosity of other brethren.

Thursday morning, Bonnie tended to small children until the conclusion of the PTP program. I packed our clothes, food and mobile office, and then loaded the car with those things. Next, I sat in on the speeches of seven of our young preacher prodigies as they made public presentations to parents and friends. Finally, Bonnie and I packed our displays and books for our return trip to Winona, MS. About 1 p.m. we pointed the limping Town & Country toward Mississippi. About eight hours later, we pulled into our driveway, positioned for a morning departure on Friday to get Bonnie to her next chemo appointment.

Tired, yes. Gratified, yes. Bonnie and I earnestly desire to serve the Lord to our fullest always in this life and as long as life persists and permits. Triage of looming efforts include contacting and confirming speakers for the April 2014 India Missions Conference, rent a car at the Pittsburgh, PA airport for our northeastern appointments in two weeks, purchase airline tickets for my fall mission trip to Myanmar (Burma) in October, work on Gospel Gazette Online for September and October, work on the next issue of The Voice of Truth International and bring it to fruition before departing for Asia, prepare my lessons for three weeks in Myanmar (four to six hours daily), prepare and rehearse sermons and classes for two congregations for which I will speak this weekend, mow the grass (it’s been four weeks), prepare six months of classes for Wednesday nights at the Siwell Rd. Church of Christ that commence upon my return from Asia, and try and deposit our bucking, sputtering van at a dealership for much needed nurture while away in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; yesterday, the car’s odometer exceeded 173,000 miles. Like me, some of its body parts don’t work right anymore!

I dare say that a few other more routine matters will cry for attention as well. We will triage one and all as needed. It is time for us to send another newsletter, but I’m not sure we can squeeze one out at this time. Thank you for your continued interest in our efforts to serve our Lord stateside and especially abroad.