Our Travels Continue

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. After leaving Wichita, we spent a few days in Topeka, Kansas at the home of Jon and Priscilla Sapp. The Sapps so graciously allowed us to stay in their home while they were gone for the weekend, but before they left, we enjoyed an evening with them catching up on and sharing what God is doing in both of our worlds, and eating some amazing barbecue. Thanks Jon and Priscilla!

On Sunday, we spoke at Covenant Baptist Church, and once again enjoyed sharing God’s story. The people of Covenant were so gracious and genuinely interested in what God is doing at New Day. While there, we were presented with a check for $1,100 that the children of Covenant had raised. It all started with the Covenant children raising about $200 during their summer VBS program, which is not a normal program, but one in which the children learn various skills, crafts, etc., but always with a Biblical focus.  However, one little girl, Lily was not satisfied with that amount that the children raised.  A plan began to form in her mind, and she came up with a plan to raise money through a special garage sale where the children made things that they had learned through this special VBS program. There were, if I remember correctly, seven children involved. The children even passed out business cards for the orphanage that they had made themselves. The garage sale brought them to $1,000. In addition, a Topeka newspaper gave the additional $100 when Lily was featured as their Sunflower hero. She asked her mother, “Why do they think I’m a hero?” She was just doing what she thought was right.

Duane Dale, Covenant Baptist Church tells us the story of how the children raised money for New Day. 

Lily, on the far left, and the children from Covenant Baptist Church presented us with this check. What a blessing!

Wes sister and husband, Karole and Tuffy Dodd, and Wes’ niece, Michelle, husband Ryan and their children Makayla and Gabe came to hear us speak. It is always nice to have the support and interest of family.  Thanks for driving down to see us!

Wes' niece, Michelle, and her son, Gabe, came with other family members to hear us speak.

After leaving Covenant we made an unplanned trip back to NE so Wes could go to the dentist. He had been suffering for weeks with what he thought was an earache, but finally we decided that perhaps it was a problem with his tooth. I think it was actually my dad’s fault because he had prayed we would be able to come home for a few days since we were so close. Thanks Dad! 

Wes ended up having a root canal, but at the same time, made a new contact with his dentist. God uses all sorts of situations to bring us into contact with people who are interested in what is happening at New Day.

As I write this, we are on our way to Bolivar, Mo to meet with a group of students at Southwest Baptist University. We will then go to Carthage, MO, where we will stay with Wes’ mom until Thanksgiving. Sorry I don't have more pictures. I keep forgetting to carry my camera.

Okay, let me figure it out. We have now slept in 15 beds, been in 5 states and eaten out 32 times that we can remember. Oh, and I can’t count the number of times we’ve stopped for coffee at all the Casey-type gas stations.

One Month Down

We have finished the first month of our time in the states. It is going too fast, and yet not fast enough as we really miss our New Day family. However, we are also enjoying seeing friends and family and meeting lots of new people. It is always a joy to share the story of what God is doing at New Day. Every time we talk about the kids at New Day, we can't help but miss them.

We are now in our 5th state (Kansas) and have slept in 13 beds. We have shared in 5 churches but with lots of others in between. God is giving us great opportunities all along the way to tell the story of New Day. We even stopped for a restroom break at a little craft shop and left some information when we found out that the owner's son is a pastor and recently took a mission's trip to Zimbabwe. We don't have pictures of everyone (we often forget the camera), but below are a few pictures of the people we have met and the places we have been. 

We returned to Cleveland, TX a second time to speak at First Baptist Church. Once again, Mark and Beth Cameron so graciously hosted us. A few friends from the past dropped over to say hello while we were there.

Left to right: Brenda Cherry, Beth Cameron, Laurie and Martha Bounds

Left to right: Wes, Andy Cherry, Craig Bounds, and Mark Cameron. Always fun to see old friends--no pun intended!

Wes preached at First Baptist in the a.m. service, and we shared about New Day in the evening. We had a great response, and we look forward to a team coming to work with us in 2014. Laurie's aunt and uncle from Willis even came up to hear about New Day.

Thanks Uncle Norman and Aunt Elna for coming to hear us speak!

After leaving Cleveland, we headed to Temple, TX where we spent a few days with Darbi's parents, Ron and Dee Winsman. We had a very nice time in Temple and heard lots of fun stories about Darbi's growing up years. While we were there, we were able to visit with several of our ministry partners who have recently been to Zambia. We also met Carolyn's parents (one of our volunteer teacher's at New Day.) Sorry, this was one of those times I forgot to take pictures. 

Our next stop was Amarillo, TX where we shared with the Coulter Road Baptist Church family. We have been partnering with this church for years and look forward to continued ministry together. Once again the church family made us feel so welcome and loved!

 Bob and Debra Perry, as usual, spoiled us rotten while we were in Amarillo.

Mike and his little boy Avery, have been praying for us for years. 

Had a great meal at a Japanese restaurant in Amarillo.

While in Amarillo, we were able to visit with Steve and Shirley Taylor who now live in Borger, TX. We first met the Taylors when we were missionaries in Zimbabwe back in 1991. They helped us get settled in Zimbabwe and we also ministered together with them later in Zambia. 

Also had a nice visit with the Taylor's daughter, McKelvey, and husband Trent. We first met McKelvey when she was just a baby. 

I'm writing this blog from Wichita, KS where we are staying at the Holiday Inn. Although we are thoroughly enjoying our travels, some rest is needed as I'm noticing some dark circles under my eyes. I actually slept in this morning, which is something I rarely do. 

Orphan Sunday

This past Sunday we spoke at Coulter Road Baptist Church in Amarillo, TX. It just happened to be national Orphan Sunday. After the first service a woman came up to our table with her son. He was probably about 5 or 6 years old. His name was Billy. His mother said, "Billy has some money he wants to give to New Day." Then she turned to him and asked him, "Do you want to tell them why you are giving this money?" Billy's eyes were filled with tears and he huddled close to his mother with his head down. When he did not speak, his mother told us that Billy's dad died just died recently. Billy was very touched by the stories of the children at New Day. He felt a bond with them because, like him, they too had lost their fathers. He understood their pain. He handed me $40. What a big sacrifice for such a little boy. 

Billy smiles when we give him a New Day hat to wear. His mother is on the left, and  the pastor of Coulter Road Baptist Church, Chris Robeson on the right who is proudly wearing the African shirt we gave him last year.

When we share at churches, our goal is to touch the hearts of people to give so that New Day can minister to the orphans of Zambia, but to hear that we had touched the heart of this little boy, who himself just became an orphan, was probably the highlight of our day. Pray for Billy to feel God's comfort and to know that His heavenly Father loves him. 

Our First Three Weeks

We have been in the states for almost three weeks now, and we have already slept in eight beds, been in four states, and shared five times about what God is doing at New Day Orphanage.  

Here’s a quick recap of where we have been so far and what we’ve been doing.

Week 1:  Spent time in Nebraska with Laurie’s parents and other family members who dropped in for a visit.

 

 

Fun to be together with my mom, niece Amanda, and sister Pam. I'm still in jet lag so I can barely keep my eyes open.

Drove to Carthage, MO to see Wes’ mom, where several family members dropped in to spend some time with us as well.

Wes meets his 4-month old great niece who was only 1 lb. at birth.

Week 2: Spoke at WellSpring Church in Bolivar, MO, Wes’ ole’ stomping grounds. He was able to visit with several of his former college football buddies and coach, and we saw several people from the past. While there, we went to see Wes’ stepdad who was very ill. Although he could not really talk to us, it was good to see him as it would be the last.

Drove to Wagoner, OK where we spent two nights at Tulakogee Conference Center. We had the privilege of speaking to a great group of senior adults and spending time with our dear friends, Keith and Sandy Huddleston who had arranged this speaking engagement. We really enjoyed ourselves and met some really neat people and heard a great family singing group, the Link Union. Wow, they were impressive!

 

Good friend, Sandy Huddleston, helped arrange our speaking engagement at Tulakogee.

After leaving Tulakogee, we traveled to Muskogee, OK to spend some time with Wes’ brother Robbie and his wife Kelly. Sadly, Robbie’s dad (Wes’ stepdad) passed away during the night.  We returned to Missouri to visit the family and give our condolences. Because the family did not plan to have a funeral, we decided to go on to Texas. Although Wes was not close to his stepfather in his adult years, he still respected him for raising him.

We arrived in Cleveland, TX at the end of the week and spent two nights with Mark and Beth Cameron. Cleveland is where we lived before we left for the mission field back in 1991.  The Camerons are great friends and we enjoyed catching up and reminiscing about the past.  

Week 3: We began this week by speaking first at Cornerstone Church, Cleveland, TX in the Sunday School hour and in the morning service. We met some really sweet people and made some good contacts there--looks like we will have some volunteers coming to help from this church in the near future.

In the evening we spoke at FBC Liberty, TX and stayed with friends, Dennis and Penny Odell. It was great to catch up with them, see two of their children, Thomas and Amber, and meet their sweet grandchildren. When we left many years ago, Thomas was still running around in diapers. How did we get this old so quickly?

At the home of Dennis and Penny Odell in Liberty, TX.

For the past few days we have been staying at the home of David and Sandy Smith, Spring, TX. It is really amazing how God puts people together. We have never lived in the same place, worked together, gone to the same church, but through mutual friends, God has placed this special couple into our lives. We had a very relaxing and enjoyable time being with David and Sandy and were absolutely spoiled rotten by them!

At the home of David and Sandy Smith, Spring, TX

 

As I write this, we are staying in the hospitality room at West Conroe Baptist Church where we will try to get some work done before we start speaking again.  Well, I guess I’d better get busy.