From the time a girl is little, she usually has fun playing house and thinking of being a mother..... sometimes there is a father figure if she has brothers or boys to play with also. But she concentrates on being a mother and taking care of her baby dolls. Then as she grows older and into her teens, she still probably thinks into the future and wonders when her Prince Charming will come riding along. As she grows older yet and goes out into the world of college, she wonders if she will recognize him when he appears. I was no different from most girls and had those dreams and thoughts as I grew up and headed for college.
My last year in High School was in the States and my parents were in PA for that year so I lived with them. There was a fellow - older than I - who had a crush on me, and I avoided him at all costs. I could not stand him, and he was constantly wanting me to date him. My mother was a close friend of his mother and she tried to tell me what a nice young man he was. He actually was very weird - I still think so. I remember at Easter that year he bought me a beautiful orchid corsage and had it sent to the house. It was a cold Easter and I put the box with the corsage outside the front door hoping it would freeze overnight. My Dad had also gotten me a rose corsage which I wore Easter morning - and with much coaxing on the part of my mother, I wore the orchid to church that night (the frost did not kill it!), making a joke about who had given it to me. (I know - very immature, but then I was only sixteen!)
That summer my folks sailed off to Africa and I was driven by my people I lived with to Houghton College. Now a whole new world of young friends opened up before me - both girls and men. I certainly did not date widely and wildly, but I did date a few guys. For the most part we hung out together, guys and girls. As the year progressed, I was singled out by one fellow and we dated regularly and were tagged as a couple. He was tall, a good family, a gentleman, I liked him. But I certainly did not love him as he wanted me to love him. He gave me a beautiful gold ring with a ruby red stone. That ring too has a tale to tell - I never wore it after we broke up but I did keep the ring in a jewelry box. Years later in Burkina, we had a houseboy who was stealing us blind, and that ring was one of the prizes he took from our household, along with a lot of more valuable things!
That lasted into my Sophomore year, and suddenly I had to break off that relationship and hung around mostly with a gang of guys and girls. Having a couple more serious relationships in there during the rest of my time at Houghton. But I graduated from Houghton College and arrived at Nyack College, footloose and fancy free, as they say.
But that did not last long, as it was the first of November when I first dated Dad. You all remember the story of how he asked someone else out on the phone. thinking he was talking to me and the girl accepted the date. (That all got straightened out finally and we did have a real date in New York City.) Dad had his own car, he was an older and more settled student, a totally different type from anyone I had been attracted to before that.
Dad had grown up in a totally different culture and family from mine. He had dated in his high school years I guess - I think I only remember one girl he mentioned. There was also a nurse (and student) at Nyack who had a real crush on him and thought God was leading them together. But that didn't go anywhere either. We were both older, and neither of us dated anyone else once we started to go out together. Our friends - both his and mine - thought we were made for each other - and as it turned out they were right. We have had a long, happy marriage, beautifully adorned by all of you children and the spouses you have brought into the family and all the beautiful grandchildren you have given us, as well as darling Levi, our one great-grand.
Dad's father died soon after we started dating, so he went home for that. Then a bit later he invited me and another couple (close friends of ours) to go to his home in Connecticut for a weekend. I was very impressed with his beautiful home and how important the Pierce family was in that little town of Brooklyn. Grandma Pierce and I always hit it off together - she liked me from the beginning and I was happy about that. I don't think I have written about a funny thing that happened on that visit. Dad said something at the table, and he was sitting beside me, and I poked his leg for some reason, and hit my hand on something hard in his pocket. Later I found out that that had been the ring he had bought to give me and he had brought it to show his mother! It was in a little box, and that is what my hand hit!
My parents came up to Nyack to visit for a weekend and were staying in a missionary apartment. I found out later that Dad had gone down to see them and tell them he wanted to ask their daughter to marry him. They were so excited, but did not spill the beans to me. They did take me out to buy me a new dress, and I wondered why they were doing that, but found out later they wanted me to have something new to wear for my engagement!
From the beginning of our relationship, I always admired so many things in Dad. He was settled and polite, he made friends easily - everyone liked him, and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world that he also loved me. He was (and is) steadfast, loves the Lord, is generous, he thinks of others, and he likes to help those less fortunate than he. He also has a great sense of humor.
There are many love languages and Dad's and mine are so difference. His love language is to do things for me, to give me gifts. My love language is being affectionate and using words. But we learned to respond to each other's ways of expressing our love for each other. Someone in our church calls us the "newly weds" - somehow he thinks we act as if we are really in love with each other after all these years. And that is true! You are so lucky to have such a father, caring and honest and loving. And together we are so lucky to have all of you as our children. You too have imported wonderful individuals into our lives through your spouses, and have vastly enriched our lives through your beautiful children. We see so many families torn apart these days - even people in the church. And we are so thankful to have such a well coordinated fanily, living for the Lord and for each other. Indeed we are blessed, and Dad gets much of the credit for his love and steadiness through the years. Thank you for blessing us! May your tribe increase!!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
WALKING WITH GOD..............................................
All of us who know the Lord have a history of our walk with God. Each one is different, and God sees us all and treats us all as individuals - his beloved children. What a comforting feeling - God is my Father and loves me and is concerned about everything that happens in my life - and actually He directs it all, as I allow Him to do so. I often think how blessed I am to have known the Lord all my life.
As with most children born into a Christian family, my parents taught me to love God and to know the Scriptures from the time I was able to comprehend what it is to be a Christian. But I had to make a decision for myself, and I made that decision at a very young age, I wass probably five, almost six. I can remember the event clearly but do not remember the date it happened. My Dad was preaching in a church in PA while on furlough from Africa, and I remember going down to the altar when the local pastor called for people to come forward for salvation. So I date my actual conversion to that time.
Again when I was twelve years old and attending school at Mamou, I remember one rainy Sunday night when we had a special speaker at the school. Probably a visiting parent, I cannot remember who it was. But he preached a message on being filled with God's Spirit in our daily lives. I felt an inner urge to go forward for prayer, and our house mother at that time (Auntie Bowman) took me to her room and prayed with me. I can still remember her praying with me and then explaining that God by His Spirit would direct my daily life from then on. I can still remember a funny illustration she used to explain the filling of the Holy Spirit. She said I did not have to wake up in the morning and ask God what dress I should wear to school that day! But that I should ask Him to direct what I did and thought and said and let His Spirit control me. So I date my being filled with God's Spirit to that occasion.
Our family always had devotions together each morning when we were at home. Dad read a passage from the Bible and we all took turns in praying. We also prayed after lunch each day, praying for missionaries around the world. Monday was India, Tuesday was Africa, Wednesday was the Far East like Viet Nam, Thursday was South America, Friday was China, Saturday was the Islands and the Jews and Sunday was the US and the world in general. I took my turn praying also, and knew by name many missionaries whom we prayed for and the Alliance work in other parts of the world. Prayer was very much part of our family. As it has been for our nuclear family. And still is for Dad and me each day.
When I went to Houghton College just after I turned seventeen, I was elected by my class to be Class Chaplain. And our Freshman class met together sometimes for prayer. We had chapel each week day and weekends I attended the local Wesleyan Methodist church - that was the only church in that little town! From my Freshman year right through my Senior year in College I was part of one of the College travelling choirs. Again this was a spiritually edifying time for me, as we sang only Christian music, travelling to many parts of the Eastern United States and Canada. This was my main ministry during my four years of College.
During my junior year at Houghton there was a wide sweeping time of revival in many of the churches in the Eastern United States and Canada. The group who fostered this came to Houghton also, and we had many days of dropping classes and many students seeking the Lord. We had long meetings - lasting several hours - in the large local church. Kids getting right with the Lord. Even during class times we would have extended times of testimonies and prayer. This went on for some weeks, and again contributed to my growth in my Christian life.
Meeting Dad was the most important thing that ever happened to me - outside of accepting Christ as my Saviour. He has such a strong Christian faith, and from the beginning of our marriage has been the spiritual leader in our family. We used to pray together before we married, at the end of a date, and from the beginning in our marriage we also prayed together each day and/or night.
We still continue our life-long habit of reading the Bible and praying together each morning. We commit all of our needs to God for His solutions. And we pray for all of you kids and grandkids, by name, each day too. It brings you close to us now that we all live so far apart.
In Africa we also participated in corporate prayer with our churches out there. During a certain period of time, we had the evangelistic program New Life for All. Part of that program was meeting in corporate prayer as a church every evening, praying by name for those in our village who did not know Christ. Dad and I were in different groups, and my group would meet out under the stars, praying by name for each person in our village who was unsaved. Prayer does change things - we proved it during those days. A few years later - after we had lived for years in Bobo - I went back to the Santidougou church on a Sunday, and was amazed to see so many of the old women in our village and some older men also, who had come to Christ because of that personalized prayer for them. It is always exciting to see God answering prayer!
From time to time the Mission also had fasting and prayer one day a week, over the noon hour. And again we met with fellow missionaries, praying for personal and field needs. We often prayed with people who visited in our home as well. We prayed for sick people as well - in the churches and in our home. So prayer has played a big part in our lives - as it has in yours.
Part of my devotional life for many years has been daily conversational prayer. I have many books and notebooks filled with my "little conversations with God". I think I have given some of those to some of you in the past. These are my reactions to things that happen in my daily life and how I ask God to help me deal with them. I still do this from time to time. Occasionally I use these filled-up books in my personal devotions. They help me to appreciate again how God worked out situations for which I had no answers.
Prayer and worship have been a part of our lives as a couple and a family. When we pray together each morning now, we pray for all of you and other needs; we also pray each day for a different group of missionaries, systematically going through a book full of prayer cards. Often as we read the Scripture together, we stop to discuss certain events and passages about which we are reading.
At night sometimes when I am awake and cannot sleep, it is a good time to pray for needs around the world. And I often fall back to sleep in the middle of praying. God is always a helper - in times of trouble - but also when things are going well. What a blessing it is to have a personal relationship with Him!
As with most children born into a Christian family, my parents taught me to love God and to know the Scriptures from the time I was able to comprehend what it is to be a Christian. But I had to make a decision for myself, and I made that decision at a very young age, I wass probably five, almost six. I can remember the event clearly but do not remember the date it happened. My Dad was preaching in a church in PA while on furlough from Africa, and I remember going down to the altar when the local pastor called for people to come forward for salvation. So I date my actual conversion to that time.
Again when I was twelve years old and attending school at Mamou, I remember one rainy Sunday night when we had a special speaker at the school. Probably a visiting parent, I cannot remember who it was. But he preached a message on being filled with God's Spirit in our daily lives. I felt an inner urge to go forward for prayer, and our house mother at that time (Auntie Bowman) took me to her room and prayed with me. I can still remember her praying with me and then explaining that God by His Spirit would direct my daily life from then on. I can still remember a funny illustration she used to explain the filling of the Holy Spirit. She said I did not have to wake up in the morning and ask God what dress I should wear to school that day! But that I should ask Him to direct what I did and thought and said and let His Spirit control me. So I date my being filled with God's Spirit to that occasion.
Our family always had devotions together each morning when we were at home. Dad read a passage from the Bible and we all took turns in praying. We also prayed after lunch each day, praying for missionaries around the world. Monday was India, Tuesday was Africa, Wednesday was the Far East like Viet Nam, Thursday was South America, Friday was China, Saturday was the Islands and the Jews and Sunday was the US and the world in general. I took my turn praying also, and knew by name many missionaries whom we prayed for and the Alliance work in other parts of the world. Prayer was very much part of our family. As it has been for our nuclear family. And still is for Dad and me each day.
When I went to Houghton College just after I turned seventeen, I was elected by my class to be Class Chaplain. And our Freshman class met together sometimes for prayer. We had chapel each week day and weekends I attended the local Wesleyan Methodist church - that was the only church in that little town! From my Freshman year right through my Senior year in College I was part of one of the College travelling choirs. Again this was a spiritually edifying time for me, as we sang only Christian music, travelling to many parts of the Eastern United States and Canada. This was my main ministry during my four years of College.
During my junior year at Houghton there was a wide sweeping time of revival in many of the churches in the Eastern United States and Canada. The group who fostered this came to Houghton also, and we had many days of dropping classes and many students seeking the Lord. We had long meetings - lasting several hours - in the large local church. Kids getting right with the Lord. Even during class times we would have extended times of testimonies and prayer. This went on for some weeks, and again contributed to my growth in my Christian life.
Meeting Dad was the most important thing that ever happened to me - outside of accepting Christ as my Saviour. He has such a strong Christian faith, and from the beginning of our marriage has been the spiritual leader in our family. We used to pray together before we married, at the end of a date, and from the beginning in our marriage we also prayed together each day and/or night.
We still continue our life-long habit of reading the Bible and praying together each morning. We commit all of our needs to God for His solutions. And we pray for all of you kids and grandkids, by name, each day too. It brings you close to us now that we all live so far apart.
In Africa we also participated in corporate prayer with our churches out there. During a certain period of time, we had the evangelistic program New Life for All. Part of that program was meeting in corporate prayer as a church every evening, praying by name for those in our village who did not know Christ. Dad and I were in different groups, and my group would meet out under the stars, praying by name for each person in our village who was unsaved. Prayer does change things - we proved it during those days. A few years later - after we had lived for years in Bobo - I went back to the Santidougou church on a Sunday, and was amazed to see so many of the old women in our village and some older men also, who had come to Christ because of that personalized prayer for them. It is always exciting to see God answering prayer!
From time to time the Mission also had fasting and prayer one day a week, over the noon hour. And again we met with fellow missionaries, praying for personal and field needs. We often prayed with people who visited in our home as well. We prayed for sick people as well - in the churches and in our home. So prayer has played a big part in our lives - as it has in yours.
Part of my devotional life for many years has been daily conversational prayer. I have many books and notebooks filled with my "little conversations with God". I think I have given some of those to some of you in the past. These are my reactions to things that happen in my daily life and how I ask God to help me deal with them. I still do this from time to time. Occasionally I use these filled-up books in my personal devotions. They help me to appreciate again how God worked out situations for which I had no answers.
Prayer and worship have been a part of our lives as a couple and a family. When we pray together each morning now, we pray for all of you and other needs; we also pray each day for a different group of missionaries, systematically going through a book full of prayer cards. Often as we read the Scripture together, we stop to discuss certain events and passages about which we are reading.
At night sometimes when I am awake and cannot sleep, it is a good time to pray for needs around the world. And I often fall back to sleep in the middle of praying. God is always a helper - in times of trouble - but also when things are going well. What a blessing it is to have a personal relationship with Him!
Friday, September 16, 2011
SOME OF GOD'S SURPRISES IN OUR LIVES.......................
Surprises are fun for almost everyone - as long as they are good ones! Here I was walking along in my studying and teaching program at Nyack College - way back in 1954 - and along came Dad, the biggest and best surprise I ever had or ever will have in this life! During these years we have walked together with God, He has continued to bring good things - sometimes amazing, unexpected things - into our lives.
People pop up from time to time in whose lives we had input and even influence way in the past, and it makes us glad to hear of their journey. Facebook and emails are a big help in this area. Dad has gotten back in touch with a man whom he had not heard from in fifty years and they share with each other regularly through email. What will the surprises of Heaven be like when we are with Jesus and also with many others we have known around the world! A young man from Kurdistan just wrote me: I was thinking of you today and the good times we had here. We hear from former students and pastors and friends from many countries in Africa. Yesterday morning early our SKYPE rang, and guess who? Yusufu! He could hardly greet he was so overcome! Elin had gotten him connected with us!
Another surprise for us was when Uncle Dave and Aunt Donna - who lived with us in their High School years - all ended up with happy families in the same area of Africa where we worked! Who would have thought that Uncle Jim and Beth would live in the same town as we do for our retirement!
It was such a surprise to us when national office asked us to go to San Pedro for a year after we were retired from Burkina in 1999. That was a good year, and especially good because you Bubnas and Clousers lived in Abidjan. We were also able to be present when the FATEAC was deicated in a big open air ceremony! That too was a surprise. I had been on Home Assignment and flew back to Abidjan for a FATEAC board meeting for a week and during that time Tite had taken me out to show me the beautiful property which we were hoping to buy! Another of God's surprises....and here we were assisting at the open air ceremony of this beautiful Seminary where many are training to serve God throughout Africa!
Neither of us has ever thought that we are the kind of people who deserve recognition in any area - we just do the work we are given to do and enjoy the journey as God leads us. And so it came as another big surprise when ATS contacted us about receiving honorary doctorates from the Seminary. In God's planning, Phenicies were MIR at Nyack that year and so we all went up by plane, en familly - you boys and families and us! What a celebration. We never attach "Dr." to our name, but we appreciated the honor given us by that school. And we have happy memoires of the time spent with so many of you there in Nyack.
Another surprise came when Bob Fetherlin called and casually asked us on the phone if we would be willing to go to Mali for a year to be field director couple. Totally unexpected, a total surprise! But we went, we survived and we have many good memories of that year - plus a few that we do not dwell on!! While we were in Mali that year, another surprise came along - the Bobo Bible finally arrived in Africa! The date was set for us to go to Bobo for the dedication ceremony. We drove over, thinking we would participate in the planning of things. The Dedication committee invited us to their meeting the first evening after we arrived in Bobo, and told us that we just had to be present, that they had arranged everything. They wanted us each to say a few words, we were also to be decorated by the Burkina govenment (another big surprise!) and we were just to enjoy ourselves! Wow! That was a beautiful week - only Clousers and Tim of our family were there to share this special time. The committee had secured the big public sqare, blocking off traffic, had bleachers set up, both Catholic and Protestant choirs singing - it was a serious celebration! Our only sadness was that all of you kids could not be there to rejoice with us. You would have loved it!
Last year our big surprise was being invited to the dedication of The Cheryl Phenicie School of Nursing - again, wow! We were so proud of you, Cheryl, as you gave the Founders' Day address. It was such a fun time being all together there - our only regret was that some of you had to miss it! What an honor - for you, our daughter, and also for us - your parents and family!
Now another unexpected surprise comes along - the phone call inviting us to go to Nyack College at their expense for Homecoming, as they want to name us alumni of the year. Again, what a surprise! I think the thing we are mostly looking forward to is being together again with family there, as you boys and families and Elizabeth will join us for these celebrations. How blessed (and really undeserving) we are!
And the biggest surprise of all is the one you kids have all planned for us - going back to Africa another time - and visiting Tunisia this time also - this was beyond our expectations! Thanks to all of you as you planned this for us. You are the greatest!
But the awaited surprise - and wonder - of all will be when we all enter into God's presence in Heaven and enjoy the magnificence of His glory for eternity!
People pop up from time to time in whose lives we had input and even influence way in the past, and it makes us glad to hear of their journey. Facebook and emails are a big help in this area. Dad has gotten back in touch with a man whom he had not heard from in fifty years and they share with each other regularly through email. What will the surprises of Heaven be like when we are with Jesus and also with many others we have known around the world! A young man from Kurdistan just wrote me: I was thinking of you today and the good times we had here. We hear from former students and pastors and friends from many countries in Africa. Yesterday morning early our SKYPE rang, and guess who? Yusufu! He could hardly greet he was so overcome! Elin had gotten him connected with us!
Another surprise for us was when Uncle Dave and Aunt Donna - who lived with us in their High School years - all ended up with happy families in the same area of Africa where we worked! Who would have thought that Uncle Jim and Beth would live in the same town as we do for our retirement!
It was such a surprise to us when national office asked us to go to San Pedro for a year after we were retired from Burkina in 1999. That was a good year, and especially good because you Bubnas and Clousers lived in Abidjan. We were also able to be present when the FATEAC was deicated in a big open air ceremony! That too was a surprise. I had been on Home Assignment and flew back to Abidjan for a FATEAC board meeting for a week and during that time Tite had taken me out to show me the beautiful property which we were hoping to buy! Another of God's surprises....and here we were assisting at the open air ceremony of this beautiful Seminary where many are training to serve God throughout Africa!
Neither of us has ever thought that we are the kind of people who deserve recognition in any area - we just do the work we are given to do and enjoy the journey as God leads us. And so it came as another big surprise when ATS contacted us about receiving honorary doctorates from the Seminary. In God's planning, Phenicies were MIR at Nyack that year and so we all went up by plane, en familly - you boys and families and us! What a celebration. We never attach "Dr." to our name, but we appreciated the honor given us by that school. And we have happy memoires of the time spent with so many of you there in Nyack.
Another surprise came when Bob Fetherlin called and casually asked us on the phone if we would be willing to go to Mali for a year to be field director couple. Totally unexpected, a total surprise! But we went, we survived and we have many good memories of that year - plus a few that we do not dwell on!! While we were in Mali that year, another surprise came along - the Bobo Bible finally arrived in Africa! The date was set for us to go to Bobo for the dedication ceremony. We drove over, thinking we would participate in the planning of things. The Dedication committee invited us to their meeting the first evening after we arrived in Bobo, and told us that we just had to be present, that they had arranged everything. They wanted us each to say a few words, we were also to be decorated by the Burkina govenment (another big surprise!) and we were just to enjoy ourselves! Wow! That was a beautiful week - only Clousers and Tim of our family were there to share this special time. The committee had secured the big public sqare, blocking off traffic, had bleachers set up, both Catholic and Protestant choirs singing - it was a serious celebration! Our only sadness was that all of you kids could not be there to rejoice with us. You would have loved it!
Last year our big surprise was being invited to the dedication of The Cheryl Phenicie School of Nursing - again, wow! We were so proud of you, Cheryl, as you gave the Founders' Day address. It was such a fun time being all together there - our only regret was that some of you had to miss it! What an honor - for you, our daughter, and also for us - your parents and family!
Now another unexpected surprise comes along - the phone call inviting us to go to Nyack College at their expense for Homecoming, as they want to name us alumni of the year. Again, what a surprise! I think the thing we are mostly looking forward to is being together again with family there, as you boys and families and Elizabeth will join us for these celebrations. How blessed (and really undeserving) we are!
And the biggest surprise of all is the one you kids have all planned for us - going back to Africa another time - and visiting Tunisia this time also - this was beyond our expectations! Thanks to all of you as you planned this for us. You are the greatest!
But the awaited surprise - and wonder - of all will be when we all enter into God's presence in Heaven and enjoy the magnificence of His glory for eternity!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A TASTE AND SEE MISSIONS TRIP........................................
Missions has been in our lives ever since Dad and I met each other. We were both called to missionary work, prepared ourselves in home service for two years, went on to language study in France for a year....and finally landed in Burkina Faso, where we remained for the major part of our lives "mishing"! Even after we retired. we again answered the call twice to work in two other West African countries, one year in each place, because we still felt impelled to GO when called.
Missions is certainly changing in the church context here in the United States. It has been happening gradually, but now seems to be speeding up. And it is called short term missions. It requires no lifetime dedication, no special preparation, no learning a language - just a willingness to go and explore what God is doing in another part of the world. And of course having the cash to pay for the trip! Being a longtime member of the Partnership board in our home church, I was encouraged to think of Dad and me going on a missions trip to Kurdistan. It seemed an impossibility financially for us, But John helped with our plane tickets and Cheryl and Darrell entertained us royally for free, all of which made it possible for us to have this great experience!
We were a group of five from our church. The other lady had never been on an overseas trip of any kind, so it was fun to participate in her reactions to everything. At first she was afraid to go, but I assured her I would not leave her, but stick right with her the whole way, and we became fast friends. Her husband had already been to the Middle East, and John Harvey had also travelled extensively in the world, so the five of us composed the team for this short term missions trip.
The plane trips were LONG - through London and then to Istabul and finally to Sulimaniya. I had it easy on the trip. I was still not over my results of brain surgery and so could not walk any long distances. So at every stop I had a wheelchair waiting for me, which was wonderful. Our stopover in Istanbul was our most eventful one!
The Turkish man who brought my wheelchair and pushed me was an energetic young fellow. It was late at night by the time we got there, and we had to get our baggage and head for the lovely hotel where we were booked. My wheelchair man took it upon himself to take us wherever we had to go - he had us at the baggage claim in a short time, while our fellow travellers were making the long trek on foot. This young fellow practically ran with my wheelchair, chattering all the way in something that occasionally sounded like English - but was mostly pronounced with a heavy Turkish accent. He got our bags in short order and proceeded to get us out on the outside sidewalk. Dad finally was able to make him understand that we were with a group and needed to wait inside for them. Great! He parked me haphazardly on the curb and raced back inside with Dad, leaving me there among tons of policemen with wicked looking guns and lots of chattering people, with nary a word of English spoken by anyone! I knew I was back in the Middle East - not just because of the language, but for the fact that everyone was smoking smelly Turkish cigarettes. And thus I sat in the cold, inhaling all that smelly smoke, and hoping Dad would remember where they had left me!
It was a good expereice for me, as I have always travelled to places where I could make myself understood in either French or English. In this situation I could appreciate people who experience this feeling whenever they travel outside the USA. Finally the team and our new Turkish friend found me again and we were taken by bus to the lovely hotel at about midnight. The night was short, the breakfast in the morning fantabulous, and then back to the airport for our final destination - Kurdistan. This was a smaller plane and not a long trip.
Phenicie's met us at the airport, and we whizzed through customs, etc., thanks to their police friends. Soon we were off to their home in the beautiful white mini-bus which the mission had just purchased. During the time we were there, we kept that mini-bus moving! Dad and I stayed with Phenicies and the others were lodged in the nearby English center. It was a great time for all of us, and we appreciated all that Cheryl and Darrell had put into making this missions trip a memorable one!
The day after our arrival we made a trip north to the city where the terrible gas-ings and bombings had taken place by Saddam Hussein. In order to understand Kurdistan it was necessary for us to see this part of their sad history. There is a huge memorial of the gas-ing of the Kurdish people near the edge of the city, and an Aliance pastor (who was a victim in those bombings as a young boy and had artificial legs as he had lost his in the tragedy) met us and became our tour guide for the morning. The horrors of that terrible event were graphically displayed in this beautifull planned and care for Center. Our hearts ached for the terrible things these courageous people had had to go through. And they have re-built their town, a resilient people.
On the road to this town, we passed the small road into the mountains where the three Americans had disappeared when they crossed into Iran by mistake - the highway ran right along the border of Iran. The Middle East is so full of history - from years ago and from more recent times. And we loved the Kurdish and Iraqi people we met, such friendly, outgoing people. We could have stayed right there and worked with them.
During our stay there we had a full program: teaching English at the local center, going on a Friday picnic into the hills around Sulimaniya, and spending a week at the newly built medical center, on the border of southern Iraq. There we spent a week teaching Iraqi Alliance pastors. Dad, John Harvey and I each taught a regular class for their cirriculun, about twenty students. We all lived in the same building and had a wonderful time of learning, fellowship and fun. Culminating in a day long ceremony of dedication of this new health center, with government officials present and a huge meal together after the morning pfficial dedication.
So many memories of those weeks in Kurdistan come to mind even now......
- Participating in teaching English at the Center, getting to know personally some of the students, most of them Muslims, but many with lots of questions. One young man asked me, what is the difference between Mohammed and Jesus? Wow!
- Going on the traditional Friday picnic in the hills with the English students. Joining a Kurdish family there and praying for the mother who had physical problems. Dancing with the Kurds in the fields there. Cooking meat over an open fire and sitting around on blankets eating and playing games. What a relaxing day!
- Interacting with the theological students -most of them already pastors. Many have suffered much in the war. One young man told us with tears his story of being captured by the enemy and delivered at the last minute from being killed. These people have suffered much.
- Attending the official ceremonies of the medical center, with hundred of guests and government reps - followed by a huge feast for about five hundre people, the food all catered from a hotel in town.
- Joining the believers and many Muslim English students, in a large hotel room in Sulimaniya for the international service.
- Getting to know the American staff working there with the Phenicie's, and continuing to pray for them in their ministries.
- Having people interested in my white hair! In one English class the group had learned the word "paint" and the question was asked "Does Cheryl's mother paint her hair?" Then they all asked to feel my hair! When we were at the medical center, the place was guarded by Kurdish soldiers, complete with uniforms and machine guns! One evening I was helping Cheryl serve food to a group of these young soldiers sitting at a table, and they kept pointing to my hair....and then asked if they could feel it. So here I was walking around a table full of uniformed soldiers, complete with their machine guns in their laps while they ate - and each one feeling my hair!
And so we had our short term missions trip. It enriched our lives, gave us a new appreciation for the wonderful people of the Middle East, and made us better prayer supporters of the courageous people of that region who often suffer much when they trust Christ as Saviour.
Missions is certainly changing in the church context here in the United States. It has been happening gradually, but now seems to be speeding up. And it is called short term missions. It requires no lifetime dedication, no special preparation, no learning a language - just a willingness to go and explore what God is doing in another part of the world. And of course having the cash to pay for the trip! Being a longtime member of the Partnership board in our home church, I was encouraged to think of Dad and me going on a missions trip to Kurdistan. It seemed an impossibility financially for us, But John helped with our plane tickets and Cheryl and Darrell entertained us royally for free, all of which made it possible for us to have this great experience!
We were a group of five from our church. The other lady had never been on an overseas trip of any kind, so it was fun to participate in her reactions to everything. At first she was afraid to go, but I assured her I would not leave her, but stick right with her the whole way, and we became fast friends. Her husband had already been to the Middle East, and John Harvey had also travelled extensively in the world, so the five of us composed the team for this short term missions trip.
The plane trips were LONG - through London and then to Istabul and finally to Sulimaniya. I had it easy on the trip. I was still not over my results of brain surgery and so could not walk any long distances. So at every stop I had a wheelchair waiting for me, which was wonderful. Our stopover in Istanbul was our most eventful one!
The Turkish man who brought my wheelchair and pushed me was an energetic young fellow. It was late at night by the time we got there, and we had to get our baggage and head for the lovely hotel where we were booked. My wheelchair man took it upon himself to take us wherever we had to go - he had us at the baggage claim in a short time, while our fellow travellers were making the long trek on foot. This young fellow practically ran with my wheelchair, chattering all the way in something that occasionally sounded like English - but was mostly pronounced with a heavy Turkish accent. He got our bags in short order and proceeded to get us out on the outside sidewalk. Dad finally was able to make him understand that we were with a group and needed to wait inside for them. Great! He parked me haphazardly on the curb and raced back inside with Dad, leaving me there among tons of policemen with wicked looking guns and lots of chattering people, with nary a word of English spoken by anyone! I knew I was back in the Middle East - not just because of the language, but for the fact that everyone was smoking smelly Turkish cigarettes. And thus I sat in the cold, inhaling all that smelly smoke, and hoping Dad would remember where they had left me!
It was a good expereice for me, as I have always travelled to places where I could make myself understood in either French or English. In this situation I could appreciate people who experience this feeling whenever they travel outside the USA. Finally the team and our new Turkish friend found me again and we were taken by bus to the lovely hotel at about midnight. The night was short, the breakfast in the morning fantabulous, and then back to the airport for our final destination - Kurdistan. This was a smaller plane and not a long trip.
Phenicie's met us at the airport, and we whizzed through customs, etc., thanks to their police friends. Soon we were off to their home in the beautiful white mini-bus which the mission had just purchased. During the time we were there, we kept that mini-bus moving! Dad and I stayed with Phenicies and the others were lodged in the nearby English center. It was a great time for all of us, and we appreciated all that Cheryl and Darrell had put into making this missions trip a memorable one!
The day after our arrival we made a trip north to the city where the terrible gas-ings and bombings had taken place by Saddam Hussein. In order to understand Kurdistan it was necessary for us to see this part of their sad history. There is a huge memorial of the gas-ing of the Kurdish people near the edge of the city, and an Aliance pastor (who was a victim in those bombings as a young boy and had artificial legs as he had lost his in the tragedy) met us and became our tour guide for the morning. The horrors of that terrible event were graphically displayed in this beautifull planned and care for Center. Our hearts ached for the terrible things these courageous people had had to go through. And they have re-built their town, a resilient people.
On the road to this town, we passed the small road into the mountains where the three Americans had disappeared when they crossed into Iran by mistake - the highway ran right along the border of Iran. The Middle East is so full of history - from years ago and from more recent times. And we loved the Kurdish and Iraqi people we met, such friendly, outgoing people. We could have stayed right there and worked with them.
During our stay there we had a full program: teaching English at the local center, going on a Friday picnic into the hills around Sulimaniya, and spending a week at the newly built medical center, on the border of southern Iraq. There we spent a week teaching Iraqi Alliance pastors. Dad, John Harvey and I each taught a regular class for their cirriculun, about twenty students. We all lived in the same building and had a wonderful time of learning, fellowship and fun. Culminating in a day long ceremony of dedication of this new health center, with government officials present and a huge meal together after the morning pfficial dedication.
So many memories of those weeks in Kurdistan come to mind even now......
- Participating in teaching English at the Center, getting to know personally some of the students, most of them Muslims, but many with lots of questions. One young man asked me, what is the difference between Mohammed and Jesus? Wow!
- Going on the traditional Friday picnic in the hills with the English students. Joining a Kurdish family there and praying for the mother who had physical problems. Dancing with the Kurds in the fields there. Cooking meat over an open fire and sitting around on blankets eating and playing games. What a relaxing day!
- Interacting with the theological students -most of them already pastors. Many have suffered much in the war. One young man told us with tears his story of being captured by the enemy and delivered at the last minute from being killed. These people have suffered much.
- Attending the official ceremonies of the medical center, with hundred of guests and government reps - followed by a huge feast for about five hundre people, the food all catered from a hotel in town.
- Joining the believers and many Muslim English students, in a large hotel room in Sulimaniya for the international service.
- Getting to know the American staff working there with the Phenicie's, and continuing to pray for them in their ministries.
- Having people interested in my white hair! In one English class the group had learned the word "paint" and the question was asked "Does Cheryl's mother paint her hair?" Then they all asked to feel my hair! When we were at the medical center, the place was guarded by Kurdish soldiers, complete with uniforms and machine guns! One evening I was helping Cheryl serve food to a group of these young soldiers sitting at a table, and they kept pointing to my hair....and then asked if they could feel it. So here I was walking around a table full of uniformed soldiers, complete with their machine guns in their laps while they ate - and each one feeling my hair!
And so we had our short term missions trip. It enriched our lives, gave us a new appreciation for the wonderful people of the Middle East, and made us better prayer supporters of the courageous people of that region who often suffer much when they trust Christ as Saviour.
Friday, September 9, 2011
A SPECIAL TOUR TO PUERTO RICO......................................
I loved Puerto Rico when I was on tour there many years ago - not with Dad that time. Then we also enjoyed our time in Puerto Rico with John and Jennie. We got to know Jennie's family and enjoyed her mother's fantabulous cooking! Attended their church and just enjoyed the whole time there.
Then after we retired, in 2005, again Jean Burch asked if we would go together and do a three weeks tour in Puerto Rico. So we gladly accepted. That was a wonderful thrtee weeks. It is a little bit like being in Africa to be in PR - a different culture, a very friendly, outgoing people.... and we found they love old people just like the Africans do! This time they did not put us in hotels but had us stay with local people and that was also most enjoyable. Someone always drove us around which we did not mind a bit. Things are not super organized like they are here in the States, and that was fine with us - we just went with the flow. We found that for the most part the pastors and many of the people in the churches spoke English very well so we had no trouble with language. One day they took us for an all day picnic - high in the mountains - with all young people and we spoke to them.
We loved the music in the churches in Puerto Rico - choirs and all kinds of instruments. We went to one big evening celebration in a church where one of the pastors knew how to blow the shofar and it was beautiful. There are lots of young people, as well as families and older people in the churches and we ministered to all of them.
The Puerto Rican people wanted us to see their beautiful island and they took us on all kinds of sight seeing trips. One family took us to beautiful underground caves where you go by a little open train, a real tourist operation and there were flocks of people there. We were also taken to the beach. One day one of the pastors and his interpreter took us to the region of Five Lakes - I think about in the middle of the island. That was quite an experience. The roads were mountainous and very windy, we started early in the day and drove right up to the lakes. We went out on a boat there and enjoyed all the great scenery. Then we drove back down to the seacoast again, and there our host took us to a modern restaurant, located in a kind of mall. The sea is everywhere and we enjoyed that very much.
That was the year of our fiftieth wedding anniversary and somehow they had gotten word about that. So they planned a wedding reception and re-enactment of our wedding for us. We were just told to dress up and come to the service - we would not have to speak. And what was our surprise when we arrived but to see the whole church decorated for our wedding. They found a little old man in the congregation who served as my father to walk me down the aisle. Dad stood up front along with the pastor who did the ceremony. They had flowers for me. It was quite an occasion. Then we went out to another building and they had the reception set up out there. There were gifts for us and also a huge decorated cake - with fifty years written on it! It was just such a fun party and everyone seemed to enjoy it!
We found the Puerto Rican Alliance churches very organized and good pastors as well as wonderful music teams - the churches were FULL of young people also. Because part of our family was Puerto Rican, it was even more meaningful for us. We were thanful God gave us this special opportunity to get to know this beautiful island.
Then after we retired, in 2005, again Jean Burch asked if we would go together and do a three weeks tour in Puerto Rico. So we gladly accepted. That was a wonderful thrtee weeks. It is a little bit like being in Africa to be in PR - a different culture, a very friendly, outgoing people.... and we found they love old people just like the Africans do! This time they did not put us in hotels but had us stay with local people and that was also most enjoyable. Someone always drove us around which we did not mind a bit. Things are not super organized like they are here in the States, and that was fine with us - we just went with the flow. We found that for the most part the pastors and many of the people in the churches spoke English very well so we had no trouble with language. One day they took us for an all day picnic - high in the mountains - with all young people and we spoke to them.
We loved the music in the churches in Puerto Rico - choirs and all kinds of instruments. We went to one big evening celebration in a church where one of the pastors knew how to blow the shofar and it was beautiful. There are lots of young people, as well as families and older people in the churches and we ministered to all of them.
The Puerto Rican people wanted us to see their beautiful island and they took us on all kinds of sight seeing trips. One family took us to beautiful underground caves where you go by a little open train, a real tourist operation and there were flocks of people there. We were also taken to the beach. One day one of the pastors and his interpreter took us to the region of Five Lakes - I think about in the middle of the island. That was quite an experience. The roads were mountainous and very windy, we started early in the day and drove right up to the lakes. We went out on a boat there and enjoyed all the great scenery. Then we drove back down to the seacoast again, and there our host took us to a modern restaurant, located in a kind of mall. The sea is everywhere and we enjoyed that very much.
That was the year of our fiftieth wedding anniversary and somehow they had gotten word about that. So they planned a wedding reception and re-enactment of our wedding for us. We were just told to dress up and come to the service - we would not have to speak. And what was our surprise when we arrived but to see the whole church decorated for our wedding. They found a little old man in the congregation who served as my father to walk me down the aisle. Dad stood up front along with the pastor who did the ceremony. They had flowers for me. It was quite an occasion. Then we went out to another building and they had the reception set up out there. There were gifts for us and also a huge decorated cake - with fifty years written on it! It was just such a fun party and everyone seemed to enjoy it!
We found the Puerto Rican Alliance churches very organized and good pastors as well as wonderful music teams - the churches were FULL of young people also. Because part of our family was Puerto Rican, it was even more meaningful for us. We were thanful God gave us this special opportunity to get to know this beautiful island.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
SEEING MORE OF THE WORLD.............................................
Because we had children forever, I was not liable for regular tour for many home assignments. But all good things come to an end - and I couldn't have more babies forever, so with Mark we stopped. Our family was complete. Even then, it was a long time before I had no more children at home. The last Home Assignment that we had you at home with us, Mark, was that year in Shell Point. Such a fun year of family with you and also John and Jennie living in our same area. So Dad went on tour and I stayed at home. Grandma Pierce and you boys were there with us and we enjoyed that. The rest of you also came down for a family reunion later in the year and that was a memorable time. But basically I had nothing to do there.
I had always been used to speaking in area churches, but there were not many area churches there so I only did a couple meetings when Dad was gone. I spent my time visiting little old ladies in their apartments at Shell Point Village or having an occasional open house at our place for people to come and enjoy food and conversation. We had a beatiful home right on the water, everything provided. But I was restless when Dad was gone. Mark was in College, John working long hours - I did have Jennie who often came to stay at our house while John was at work, and that was a good thing - to get to know her. Every Sunday morning I was given FOUR MINUTES to give something on missions! Dad fulfilled that requirement when he was home from regular tour.
From then on, when we came on home assignment, I had my tour assignment right along with Dad. It was rare that they sent us together, as they needed more countries represented on each team. So for the most part I toured with two men. I was always on interdistrict tour, so we flew from place to place. Once in a while the larger churches were closer - like Ohio - and then someone drove us to the next stop. Both Dad and I made new friends with the other missionaries on our tours, many of whom we still pray for and became good friends.
Being a woman on tour had its incidents as well, as there were pastors and/or churches who did not want a woman speaking in their pulpit. Usually it was easy to determine the attitude about women in ministry soon after meeting the pastor and his staff, and I just played along with their particular perspective. There were very few who did not want me to speak in regular services. But there is that thought out there that "Men preach" and "Women share"! And more often than not, at a preliminary meeting with staff and pastor in a church, the subject would come up. One pastor called me into his office alone soon after I arrived, and informed me that no woman had ever preached in his pulpit, and he was glad I was there to be the first woman to do this. I assured the pastor that it made no difference to me - I could speak from down in front if people preferred - but he was adamant that he wanted to make me an object lesson! One does learn to roll with the punches on tour!
I had one strange incident along this line. I was in another fairly large church, and the pulpit was high up above the congregation and I was told to preach from the pulpit which I did. The first night I spoke, I had the strangest feeling - it was almost as if a curtain was in front of me - between me and the people to whom I was speaking. I am usually at ease when I speak, and this kind of thing had never happened to me. It was almost as if I was speaking in a vacuum. But I made it to the end of my message finally. After the service I was being entertained in the assistant pastor's home, whom I knew well. And I mentioned to him what had happened to me - I wondered if I came across in a strange way. He said no, they did not notice anything. But that there was one man in the congregation and he objected strongly to a woman ever giving a message in that church and especially not from the sacred pulpit! That man was sitting in the front row while I was speaking. That was a strange incident!
Dad and I both have crisscrossed the United States (and Dad even in Canada) and also did speaking tours in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. For the most part, people were kind and even extravagant in their entertaining of us as tour missionaries. Steve and Darrell will remember the time they were on regular tour in New England, that week in a very small church. The pastor had let them take his car to go and visit me a few miles away on another tour - he had to get money from his wife's tips in a restaurant where she worked in order to buy gas for the car! When they met me at a pre-arranged meeting place, here I was in an elegant Cadillac which was mine for that week, staying in a lovely home. It was always a kind of family joke - needless to say I took them out for the meal together. I was getting big love offerings. I guess it is just a fact of life that our way of doing tours is never equal to all participants. Some get big love offerings and others get almost zero. But every Alliance church needs to be served by someone.
The list of places where we ministered on tour is long - Ohio, PA, Georgia, Oregon, California, Virginia, New York, Vermont, Nebraska, New Jersey, Mass., CT., Illinois, Florida, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas....there are no doubt more! After we retired, we were no longer liable for going each year on tour, but Jean Burch (who arranged the tours) was always needing someone to fill in somewhere. And so once again they called Dad and me to go - usually in different directions. After a while, we put in a request to be sent together, and we both liked that better.
Dad and I were sent to southern California on a wonderful three weeks tour. We stayed at the Alliance home and ministered there. We had meetings every day and the old folks just loved it! Grant and Eunice Crooks took it upon themselves to be our tour guides and took us to the Crystal Cathedral and the fishing pier and the beach, so we saw the tourist spots. From there they sent us by passenger train down to the far south of California and again we had a wonderful time in the churches there. In one church I was interpreted into a Phillipina language, and in another Dad was with Spanish speakers. It was a fun tour and almost like a vacation, seeing new sights and meeting so many people of different cultures!
We went on one Choice tour, where the church calls and invites you to go and spend the whole week - that was down in Deltona. And again we had a wonderful week there, ministering to all ages of people. Jean had scheduled us for a six weeks tour in Floirida together, and we prepared for that. The week we were to leave on tour, our long awaited Bobo Bible manuscript arrived by special mail! So that was a real working tour. I organized all the material and Dad drove and I corrected the Bobo manuscript on every lap of that tour, as well as during any free time we had. So when we got back home, we were able to send the corrected manuscript off to the publishers. Again, there were many people from other nations in churches on that Florida tour. One Sunday I was invited to preach in French to the Haitian congregation and I loved that! Dad felt cheated because he had to stay with the Anglos and preach in English!
Speaking tours are a part of missionary life - as you know! - and we have had our part in that ministry for many years. We always hated the long separations from each other, but now the Alliance has chopped up tours so that families can have some time together during the mid-point of a long tour, so that is easier.. Dad and I each wrote to each other every day when we were on tour separately, so again keeping in touch through letters. And occasionally someone would even pay for a phone call for us! (That was back in the days when phoning was terribly expensive.)
Probably our most fun tour was in Puerto Rico, so I will write about that in the next blog.
I had always been used to speaking in area churches, but there were not many area churches there so I only did a couple meetings when Dad was gone. I spent my time visiting little old ladies in their apartments at Shell Point Village or having an occasional open house at our place for people to come and enjoy food and conversation. We had a beatiful home right on the water, everything provided. But I was restless when Dad was gone. Mark was in College, John working long hours - I did have Jennie who often came to stay at our house while John was at work, and that was a good thing - to get to know her. Every Sunday morning I was given FOUR MINUTES to give something on missions! Dad fulfilled that requirement when he was home from regular tour.
From then on, when we came on home assignment, I had my tour assignment right along with Dad. It was rare that they sent us together, as they needed more countries represented on each team. So for the most part I toured with two men. I was always on interdistrict tour, so we flew from place to place. Once in a while the larger churches were closer - like Ohio - and then someone drove us to the next stop. Both Dad and I made new friends with the other missionaries on our tours, many of whom we still pray for and became good friends.
Being a woman on tour had its incidents as well, as there were pastors and/or churches who did not want a woman speaking in their pulpit. Usually it was easy to determine the attitude about women in ministry soon after meeting the pastor and his staff, and I just played along with their particular perspective. There were very few who did not want me to speak in regular services. But there is that thought out there that "Men preach" and "Women share"! And more often than not, at a preliminary meeting with staff and pastor in a church, the subject would come up. One pastor called me into his office alone soon after I arrived, and informed me that no woman had ever preached in his pulpit, and he was glad I was there to be the first woman to do this. I assured the pastor that it made no difference to me - I could speak from down in front if people preferred - but he was adamant that he wanted to make me an object lesson! One does learn to roll with the punches on tour!
I had one strange incident along this line. I was in another fairly large church, and the pulpit was high up above the congregation and I was told to preach from the pulpit which I did. The first night I spoke, I had the strangest feeling - it was almost as if a curtain was in front of me - between me and the people to whom I was speaking. I am usually at ease when I speak, and this kind of thing had never happened to me. It was almost as if I was speaking in a vacuum. But I made it to the end of my message finally. After the service I was being entertained in the assistant pastor's home, whom I knew well. And I mentioned to him what had happened to me - I wondered if I came across in a strange way. He said no, they did not notice anything. But that there was one man in the congregation and he objected strongly to a woman ever giving a message in that church and especially not from the sacred pulpit! That man was sitting in the front row while I was speaking. That was a strange incident!
Dad and I both have crisscrossed the United States (and Dad even in Canada) and also did speaking tours in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. For the most part, people were kind and even extravagant in their entertaining of us as tour missionaries. Steve and Darrell will remember the time they were on regular tour in New England, that week in a very small church. The pastor had let them take his car to go and visit me a few miles away on another tour - he had to get money from his wife's tips in a restaurant where she worked in order to buy gas for the car! When they met me at a pre-arranged meeting place, here I was in an elegant Cadillac which was mine for that week, staying in a lovely home. It was always a kind of family joke - needless to say I took them out for the meal together. I was getting big love offerings. I guess it is just a fact of life that our way of doing tours is never equal to all participants. Some get big love offerings and others get almost zero. But every Alliance church needs to be served by someone.
The list of places where we ministered on tour is long - Ohio, PA, Georgia, Oregon, California, Virginia, New York, Vermont, Nebraska, New Jersey, Mass., CT., Illinois, Florida, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas....there are no doubt more! After we retired, we were no longer liable for going each year on tour, but Jean Burch (who arranged the tours) was always needing someone to fill in somewhere. And so once again they called Dad and me to go - usually in different directions. After a while, we put in a request to be sent together, and we both liked that better.
Dad and I were sent to southern California on a wonderful three weeks tour. We stayed at the Alliance home and ministered there. We had meetings every day and the old folks just loved it! Grant and Eunice Crooks took it upon themselves to be our tour guides and took us to the Crystal Cathedral and the fishing pier and the beach, so we saw the tourist spots. From there they sent us by passenger train down to the far south of California and again we had a wonderful time in the churches there. In one church I was interpreted into a Phillipina language, and in another Dad was with Spanish speakers. It was a fun tour and almost like a vacation, seeing new sights and meeting so many people of different cultures!
We went on one Choice tour, where the church calls and invites you to go and spend the whole week - that was down in Deltona. And again we had a wonderful week there, ministering to all ages of people. Jean had scheduled us for a six weeks tour in Floirida together, and we prepared for that. The week we were to leave on tour, our long awaited Bobo Bible manuscript arrived by special mail! So that was a real working tour. I organized all the material and Dad drove and I corrected the Bobo manuscript on every lap of that tour, as well as during any free time we had. So when we got back home, we were able to send the corrected manuscript off to the publishers. Again, there were many people from other nations in churches on that Florida tour. One Sunday I was invited to preach in French to the Haitian congregation and I loved that! Dad felt cheated because he had to stay with the Anglos and preach in English!
Speaking tours are a part of missionary life - as you know! - and we have had our part in that ministry for many years. We always hated the long separations from each other, but now the Alliance has chopped up tours so that families can have some time together during the mid-point of a long tour, so that is easier.. Dad and I each wrote to each other every day when we were on tour separately, so again keeping in touch through letters. And occasionally someone would even pay for a phone call for us! (That was back in the days when phoning was terribly expensive.)
Probably our most fun tour was in Puerto Rico, so I will write about that in the next blog.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
JOIN THE ALLIANCE AND SEE THE WORLD! ..........................
Amazing the amount of the world we have seen - at least the Western hempisphere and the Middle East and Africa. Some of that we saw before we ever officially were a part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. That was on our honeymoon, and it was especially great for Dad as I had travelled overseas a lot more than he had, and we enjoyed so much this travel together.
Then during our missionary career we saw more of Europe and of Africa, various countries. Sometimes as international workers, we do not realize how fortunate we are as world travellers. But the Alliance also likes us to know our own country and so they send us out on missionary tours. I do not know when tours started in the Alliance, but I do know that they existed when we joined up. Women with children at home were not required to tour, but all men and single women and women without children (at home) had to give time spring and fall to tour the U.S. and (originally) Canada.
The separation during tour is the biggest hardship of missions for me. We used to be separated for many weeks - one time Dad was gone thirteen weeks when you kids were small. He asked the New England DS if eleven weeks was not supposed to be the maximum, and the DS replied that yes that was so - but he figured since Dad had been a church planter in New England, he would not mind giving a couple extra weeks to that area on tour! I don't know where this guy got his logic - but we had no choice!
In more recent years, National Office has required districts to give time off and midway on a tour a missionary can usually return home for a week and then go back again. A great idea for wives and for families, but also expensive.
One reason I liked living in Nyack on furlough was that there were others just like me living in the same neighborhood - missionary women staying with their families while the father toured. So we were a club and had some fun times together. Dad wrote every single day and so did I. The other women were so jealous that I got a letter from him each day in the mailbox! That was before the time of cheaper phone calls. Money was more scarce back in those days and phones were expensive. I lived for those letters, and they were not short notes, but long missives telling me all about his day and sending a message to you kids and telling me he loved me. I think this kept me together emotionally during those months when I had to be mother and father both to a sweet, lively bunch of kids - all of you!
When you girls got a little older, (and could take care of the boys!) Gene Evans used to send me out on weekends for special meetings in some churches within driving distance. The boys could stay with you and I was only gone for Sunday so that worked OK. Then came the time when you all flew away from the nest and Dad and I were both required to go on tour. We would have preferred to go together, but there were so many tours that they needed us in different churches - and usually different areas of the country. I almost always went on the one-week-in-a-church tours, which I preferred. You had lots of times to speak and describe your entire ministry and drum up more prayer support. Dad was usually on those one week tours as well but in a different part of the country. More phone calls than letters went back and forth because of our schedules and maybe missing each other in the mail!
During that time, when you were all a little older, Gene Evans asked Cliff Westergren and me to go together to Puerto Rico. The Alliance churches down there had never had a missions tour, so we were their first. We flew down from New York and met by the church president and taken to a hotel in the city of San Juan. They gave Cliff a car and gave me a chauffeur-interpreter, who became a real friend and later was a single missionary in Venezuela. We got to the hotel and we were told to get our own rooms and they would pay the bill later. They also gave us money to go out to restaurants and buy all of our own food at their expense. So Cliff went to the front desk in the hotel to ask for two rooms for us. Of course the language was a barrier as the guy did not speak much English but I wondered why they were talking for so long just to get rooms for us. He came back laughing and in the elevator going up he said that the guy was quite insistent that he rent just one room to save money. No matter how much Cliff explained that I had another husband and he another wife and we just happened to be there on a speaking tour together, the guy never did get it and thought these gringos were pretty extravagant, not saving money when they could! We got a big laugh out of that!
After we retired, usually we were allowed to go together to churches and we really liked that. Dad and I complement each other in our ministries and we have always worked as a team, and it was special to be able to travel together here in the United States, touring Alliance church. (More about that later).
National office was having a hard time staffing all their U.S. missions tours, and so even after we retired, they asked us to go on tour. We had not gotten into much here in Toccoa at that time, and we were free to go - plus it was an advantage for us to travel together ministering in churches for six or eight weeks, as we had no bills during that time. A couple of times people needed a place to stay, and so we let them stay in our home while we were gone, and so our new home was also taken care of.
More about retirement and tours next time..........................
Then during our missionary career we saw more of Europe and of Africa, various countries. Sometimes as international workers, we do not realize how fortunate we are as world travellers. But the Alliance also likes us to know our own country and so they send us out on missionary tours. I do not know when tours started in the Alliance, but I do know that they existed when we joined up. Women with children at home were not required to tour, but all men and single women and women without children (at home) had to give time spring and fall to tour the U.S. and (originally) Canada.
The separation during tour is the biggest hardship of missions for me. We used to be separated for many weeks - one time Dad was gone thirteen weeks when you kids were small. He asked the New England DS if eleven weeks was not supposed to be the maximum, and the DS replied that yes that was so - but he figured since Dad had been a church planter in New England, he would not mind giving a couple extra weeks to that area on tour! I don't know where this guy got his logic - but we had no choice!
In more recent years, National Office has required districts to give time off and midway on a tour a missionary can usually return home for a week and then go back again. A great idea for wives and for families, but also expensive.
One reason I liked living in Nyack on furlough was that there were others just like me living in the same neighborhood - missionary women staying with their families while the father toured. So we were a club and had some fun times together. Dad wrote every single day and so did I. The other women were so jealous that I got a letter from him each day in the mailbox! That was before the time of cheaper phone calls. Money was more scarce back in those days and phones were expensive. I lived for those letters, and they were not short notes, but long missives telling me all about his day and sending a message to you kids and telling me he loved me. I think this kept me together emotionally during those months when I had to be mother and father both to a sweet, lively bunch of kids - all of you!
When you girls got a little older, (and could take care of the boys!) Gene Evans used to send me out on weekends for special meetings in some churches within driving distance. The boys could stay with you and I was only gone for Sunday so that worked OK. Then came the time when you all flew away from the nest and Dad and I were both required to go on tour. We would have preferred to go together, but there were so many tours that they needed us in different churches - and usually different areas of the country. I almost always went on the one-week-in-a-church tours, which I preferred. You had lots of times to speak and describe your entire ministry and drum up more prayer support. Dad was usually on those one week tours as well but in a different part of the country. More phone calls than letters went back and forth because of our schedules and maybe missing each other in the mail!
During that time, when you were all a little older, Gene Evans asked Cliff Westergren and me to go together to Puerto Rico. The Alliance churches down there had never had a missions tour, so we were their first. We flew down from New York and met by the church president and taken to a hotel in the city of San Juan. They gave Cliff a car and gave me a chauffeur-interpreter, who became a real friend and later was a single missionary in Venezuela. We got to the hotel and we were told to get our own rooms and they would pay the bill later. They also gave us money to go out to restaurants and buy all of our own food at their expense. So Cliff went to the front desk in the hotel to ask for two rooms for us. Of course the language was a barrier as the guy did not speak much English but I wondered why they were talking for so long just to get rooms for us. He came back laughing and in the elevator going up he said that the guy was quite insistent that he rent just one room to save money. No matter how much Cliff explained that I had another husband and he another wife and we just happened to be there on a speaking tour together, the guy never did get it and thought these gringos were pretty extravagant, not saving money when they could! We got a big laugh out of that!
After we retired, usually we were allowed to go together to churches and we really liked that. Dad and I complement each other in our ministries and we have always worked as a team, and it was special to be able to travel together here in the United States, touring Alliance church. (More about that later).
National office was having a hard time staffing all their U.S. missions tours, and so even after we retired, they asked us to go on tour. We had not gotten into much here in Toccoa at that time, and we were free to go - plus it was an advantage for us to travel together ministering in churches for six or eight weeks, as we had no bills during that time. A couple of times people needed a place to stay, and so we let them stay in our home while we were gone, and so our new home was also taken care of.
More about retirement and tours next time..........................
Thursday, September 1, 2011
RETIREMENT? WHAT'S THAT???..........................................
Retirement is one of those season of life for which you can't practice! I imagine there are books written about the subject - we never read any! I know some people can hardly wait until they reach age 65 so that they can play golf or do scrapbooking or travel. Others may have illnesses which hamper them physically and so they look forward to the lack of the pressure of work. Nowadays there seems to be a seminar on juist about everything in life and I know there are those who will hold forth on the do's and don't's of retiring!
Two thing that enter into the whole subject of how one retires are finances and health. In our life in West Africa, we were so deeply involved with people and projects (like the translation work), that we had no time to plan what we would do once we said a fond goodbye to our beloved Africa. But that time had to come and it did, and although we did not do much to prepare for it, we have coped with it - and even enjoy our life as we now have to live it. You have all been generous to us financially as well, and that helps us in the area of finances.
We came up to the last months before we were scheduled to leave Africa before we thought of where we would live over here. We had been left a legacy by Grandma Pierce which would buy us a modest home somewhere, and houses are cheaper in the South. The South had the further attraction that both of you boys with your families lived in Georgia - and you three girls and families were still "mishing" overseas. Just about at the same time - which often seems to happen in our marriage - we both came up with the idea of "What about Toccoa??" Then the questions began to come - Why would anyone want to live in that little backwater? - Who do you know in Toccoa? - If you want to be near us (John and Mark), why not move near us closer to Atlanta?? But as we investigated the Toccoa situation, it became clearer to us that this is where we should look first. A small town? Yes. A good size Alliance church? Yes. Cheaper housing? Yes. Did we know anyone here? Again yes. And so we took this as the Lord leading us to live in Toccoa. We liked the proximity to the College and the beauty of the area, as well as its being not far from Atlanta where you boys lived then. All of our married lives, we have been led practially by the Lord and do not see flashing lights or get special Scripture verses to guide us, and thus it was in our choice of a home in the U.S.
We knew exactly what we had to spend. We did not want to take out a mortgag but to buy outright. We wanted three bedrooms and two baths, a separate dining room, a fireplace, all one floor. Doris Ritchey recommended an ex-missionary realtor and we wrote her our needs and set a date to come here and look for a house. Mark had the day free to accompany us. We looked at several houses, but both liked this one and it had everything we had wanted in a home. So within four hours we had signed the papers. I think Mark thought we were a little crazy for our quick decision! But we have never been sorry and never looked back or wished we were elsewhere. Except maybe in Africa!
We like the location, we are not far from the College, we love our neighbors, our home is large enough to entertain people (which we love to do), and with a few additions and a beautiful redecorating job done by John and Jennie, we are set for the rest of our forseeable future.
But when you retire on a missionary salary, you also need to do some work to bring in a little extra money and keep from getting bored. I taught French at the College for a year or two which helped out. We have both substituted in the local school system, which also brings in a bit of money.
In addition to these paying jobs, we are also involved in many other ministries which take our time each week and satisfy our desire to reach out to other people. We have used our home for small group ministry from our church. September 12th starts a new class here - and so far fourteen people have signed up! That should be interesting once again. We have sometimes taught small group. We worked in AWANA until I had brain surgery and that took me a couple years to get back to normal, but this year once again we are back helping out with AWANA.
We have done mentoring of needy students in the school system since the first year we came to live here. They used to have a very structured program of mentoring in the Toccoa school system and we joined that and worked in it for a number of years until it sort of fell apart. But we still are involved with students on various levels. Each year I help mish students from TFC with their presentations. Dad and I are both asked every year to participate in missions classes in the College. We taught a winterim day this past year, and are already scheduled for a couple classes this Fall. We also help out in interviewing mish candidates for the Alliance occasionally.
When we arrived, Dad was immediately voted onto the committees of the church. That was during a very difficult period in our church, and Dad hated the work and finally after a few years of it, would no longer let his name stand for any church committees. In the meantime, I have for years been a member of both the church missions committee and the Middle East Partnership committee, both of which I enjoy. I like them better now that someone else is chairing, as I had to chair each committee for a certain number of years.
Dad got started in prison ministry before I did. He loves the outreach and bonds with many of these guys. He has a voluminous correspondence with guys in prison and once they get out. We go and visit in some homes and areas that are unbelievable! Dirt, clutter, broken down buildings, chain smokers, smelling of alcohol, drugs - you name it! We go there - Dad more often than I! Now that I am feeling 100% again health-wise, I am also doing jail ministry. We both go every Wednesday morning and Dad preaches Thursday night as well. We have been able to interest a number of folks from our church to get involved as well. Dad also is a member of the anti-drug coalition in our town and a member of the board of Shirley's soul food - an outreach center for people coming out of jail. We have been involved with the black churches in the community from our first days here - Dad more than I. But we both enjoy the worship and the friendships of our black friends.
So, as you see, we have lots of variety in our lives and keep busy, but also have plenty of time for ourselves. We love our home, and one ministry we enjoy is that of entertaining, especially new people in the church or international workers on Home Assignment. It is also a delight to have our pastor and his wife in for a meal and we have had some fun evenings of conversation together.
This variety keeps us busy and interested in everyday life. Tomorrow I have a French student from TFC coming over so that we can study French together. And after she leaves, I have another student coming whom I have involved in the jail minister for her requirement in her Counselling major.
Retirement - what is it?? I guess it is what you make it, and what God has helped us to make of these years is most satisfying! ( I must admit, I would like it even better here if some of you lived down the street or across town!) But God has placed us each one where He wants us - and with that we are content!!
Two thing that enter into the whole subject of how one retires are finances and health. In our life in West Africa, we were so deeply involved with people and projects (like the translation work), that we had no time to plan what we would do once we said a fond goodbye to our beloved Africa. But that time had to come and it did, and although we did not do much to prepare for it, we have coped with it - and even enjoy our life as we now have to live it. You have all been generous to us financially as well, and that helps us in the area of finances.
We came up to the last months before we were scheduled to leave Africa before we thought of where we would live over here. We had been left a legacy by Grandma Pierce which would buy us a modest home somewhere, and houses are cheaper in the South. The South had the further attraction that both of you boys with your families lived in Georgia - and you three girls and families were still "mishing" overseas. Just about at the same time - which often seems to happen in our marriage - we both came up with the idea of "What about Toccoa??" Then the questions began to come - Why would anyone want to live in that little backwater? - Who do you know in Toccoa? - If you want to be near us (John and Mark), why not move near us closer to Atlanta?? But as we investigated the Toccoa situation, it became clearer to us that this is where we should look first. A small town? Yes. A good size Alliance church? Yes. Cheaper housing? Yes. Did we know anyone here? Again yes. And so we took this as the Lord leading us to live in Toccoa. We liked the proximity to the College and the beauty of the area, as well as its being not far from Atlanta where you boys lived then. All of our married lives, we have been led practially by the Lord and do not see flashing lights or get special Scripture verses to guide us, and thus it was in our choice of a home in the U.S.
We knew exactly what we had to spend. We did not want to take out a mortgag but to buy outright. We wanted three bedrooms and two baths, a separate dining room, a fireplace, all one floor. Doris Ritchey recommended an ex-missionary realtor and we wrote her our needs and set a date to come here and look for a house. Mark had the day free to accompany us. We looked at several houses, but both liked this one and it had everything we had wanted in a home. So within four hours we had signed the papers. I think Mark thought we were a little crazy for our quick decision! But we have never been sorry and never looked back or wished we were elsewhere. Except maybe in Africa!
We like the location, we are not far from the College, we love our neighbors, our home is large enough to entertain people (which we love to do), and with a few additions and a beautiful redecorating job done by John and Jennie, we are set for the rest of our forseeable future.
But when you retire on a missionary salary, you also need to do some work to bring in a little extra money and keep from getting bored. I taught French at the College for a year or two which helped out. We have both substituted in the local school system, which also brings in a bit of money.
In addition to these paying jobs, we are also involved in many other ministries which take our time each week and satisfy our desire to reach out to other people. We have used our home for small group ministry from our church. September 12th starts a new class here - and so far fourteen people have signed up! That should be interesting once again. We have sometimes taught small group. We worked in AWANA until I had brain surgery and that took me a couple years to get back to normal, but this year once again we are back helping out with AWANA.
We have done mentoring of needy students in the school system since the first year we came to live here. They used to have a very structured program of mentoring in the Toccoa school system and we joined that and worked in it for a number of years until it sort of fell apart. But we still are involved with students on various levels. Each year I help mish students from TFC with their presentations. Dad and I are both asked every year to participate in missions classes in the College. We taught a winterim day this past year, and are already scheduled for a couple classes this Fall. We also help out in interviewing mish candidates for the Alliance occasionally.
When we arrived, Dad was immediately voted onto the committees of the church. That was during a very difficult period in our church, and Dad hated the work and finally after a few years of it, would no longer let his name stand for any church committees. In the meantime, I have for years been a member of both the church missions committee and the Middle East Partnership committee, both of which I enjoy. I like them better now that someone else is chairing, as I had to chair each committee for a certain number of years.
Dad got started in prison ministry before I did. He loves the outreach and bonds with many of these guys. He has a voluminous correspondence with guys in prison and once they get out. We go and visit in some homes and areas that are unbelievable! Dirt, clutter, broken down buildings, chain smokers, smelling of alcohol, drugs - you name it! We go there - Dad more often than I! Now that I am feeling 100% again health-wise, I am also doing jail ministry. We both go every Wednesday morning and Dad preaches Thursday night as well. We have been able to interest a number of folks from our church to get involved as well. Dad also is a member of the anti-drug coalition in our town and a member of the board of Shirley's soul food - an outreach center for people coming out of jail. We have been involved with the black churches in the community from our first days here - Dad more than I. But we both enjoy the worship and the friendships of our black friends.
So, as you see, we have lots of variety in our lives and keep busy, but also have plenty of time for ourselves. We love our home, and one ministry we enjoy is that of entertaining, especially new people in the church or international workers on Home Assignment. It is also a delight to have our pastor and his wife in for a meal and we have had some fun evenings of conversation together.
This variety keeps us busy and interested in everyday life. Tomorrow I have a French student from TFC coming over so that we can study French together. And after she leaves, I have another student coming whom I have involved in the jail minister for her requirement in her Counselling major.
Retirement - what is it?? I guess it is what you make it, and what God has helped us to make of these years is most satisfying! ( I must admit, I would like it even better here if some of you lived down the street or across town!) But God has placed us each one where He wants us - and with that we are content!!
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