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!!