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Prayer Breakfast & Prayer Partners

Thirteen Guys in a Small Room

Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10

On Saturday morning, October 9, we took the International Mobile Chapel to the Brethren Home, New Oxford, PA, where the York Chapter was meeting for a prayer breakfast.

Grace Wardrop brought half a dozen small pumpkins for table decorations – and for people to take home.

Grace and Jim Wardrop choosing their omelet fixings while Ron Gantz waits his turn.

Jim became the contact person for the chapter rather quickly following Phil Miller’s short illness and death in August.

Making our omelets

Jim waiting for his to be finished. Miriam Becker is behind him, and waiting in the background is Ron Gantz and Betty Duncan.

A pretty decoration in the Fireplace Room of the Brethren Home.

One of the reasons Jim asked us to bring the chapel, was because many had never been inside one. They have seen plenty of pictures, but that is not quite like being inside – which is where we held the morning program.

Ron Gantz shared his testimony of how God worked in his life.

He closed with a song.

It was a beautiful day, so several lingered for awhile – asking us questions. We met several residents of the home who were out for a walk and full of questions about this rig.

The next day, Sunday, we had our yearly lunch and meeting with our Advisory Prayer Council. This is a time they get to hear some details of things that are going on in the ministry that do not make any of the monthly publications.

Alvin & Anna Mae Wise, Fay & Marv Sauder, Peg & Bunny O’Hare, Sam Rittenhouse and Ralph Clymer.

Ralph Clymer, Alta & Don Hollinger, Dotty & Gene Seitz, Barry & Lucy Grim, and Marian & Harold Stauffer listen as Sam Rittenhouse gives an update on his area of ministry – chaplain care.

That evening – after the meeting was over – our rather small “grandchildren’s room” was filled with thirteen guys watching baseball playoffs. It’s not unusual to have our grandsons Jordan and Nathan here – several times a week – to watch a game of some sort – and they usually invite a friend or two or three, but I think this was the most people ever in this room!

I love having these guys here. It makes this grandma very happy.

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

2 Timothy 2:24 (New Living Translation)

Family Supper

Saturday, October 9

We enjoyed a family supper at Mel & Velda’s house – Cerwin’s sister – because their other sister Doris (left) was visiting from Minnesota.

Left to right: Doris, Mother, Dorretta (Mel & Velda’s daughter), Elvin, Cerwin, Velda, and Mel.

Seven-layer salad

Chicken and rice

It has been several years since we took a sibling picture.

Cerwin, Velda, Elvin, Doris, and Mother

Family Supper

Saturday, October 9

We enjoyed a family supper at Mel & Velda’s house – Cerwin’s sister – because their other sister Doris (left) was visiting from Minnesota.

Left to right: Doris, Mother, Dorretta (Mel & Velda’s daughter), Elvin, Cerwin, Velda, and Mel.

Seven-layer salad

Chicken and rice

It has been several years since we took a sibling picture.

Cerwin, Velda, Elvin, Doris, and Mother

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.

Psalm 23:6 (The Message)

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.

Psalm 23:6 (The Message)

The Jim Hitch Family

Simple Grace Ministries

Friday, October 8

We saw this cute display at Esbenshade’s Garden Center on our way to Shady Maple for the banquet and concert.

Shady Maple set up buffet lines in several areas of the large banquet room.

A dessert table

I always enjoy listening to this talented family from Martell, Nebraska.

When we first heard them, all eight of their children were singing with the family, now four of them are on their own (married, college, jobs, etc.).

Avery, Jim (dad), and Lucas

Havilah

Kathy (mother) looks like one of the girls

Avery, Havilah, and Jim

Jim, Kathy, and Lucas

Can you figure out who is playing which instrument?

Havilah singing and signing

This arrangement by Jim and Lucas is a favorite of many who know this family – when these two try to out-do each other in dueling instruments.

~~~

One of my favorite stories of the evening happened when the three oldest girls were small and wanted lambs to bottle-feed. Before long the lambs grew into sheep (all female), but they always came running when one of the girls called, “Here girls.” Eventually the Hitch girls wanted more lambs, so Jim took the ewes to a neighboring rancher who owned a large herd of sheep. Sometime later he called Jim to say the ewes were pregnant, and he could pick them up.

But the girls could not find their sheep among the 200 others in the herd. The girls just couldn’t figure out how to locate their own animals, when one girl got a bright idea. She called, “Here girls,” and three sheep came running toward them.

That reminds me of John 10:3-5. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” (New Living Version)

~~~

This truck was ahead of us at a red light as we traveled home after a fabulous evening. Thanks for the invitation, Earl and Arlene.

The Jim Hitch Family

Simple Grace Ministries

Friday, October 8

We saw this cute display at Esbenshade’s Garden Center on our way to Shady Maple for the banquet and concert.

Shady Maple set up buffet lines in several areas of the large banquet room.

A dessert table

I always enjoy listening to this talented family from Martell, Nebraska.

When we first heard them, all eight of their children were singing with the family, now four of them are on their own (married, college, jobs, etc.).

Avery, Jim (dad), and Lucas

Havilah

Kathy (mother) looks like one of the girls

Avery, Havilah, and Jim

Jim, Kathy, and Lucas

Can you figure out who is playing which instrument?

Havilah singing and signing

This arrangement by Jim and Lucas is a favorite of many who know this family – when these two try to out-do each other in dueling instruments.

~~~

One of my favorite stories of the evening happened when the three oldest girls were small and wanted lambs to bottle-feed. Before long the lambs grew into sheep (all female), but they always came running when one of the girls called, “Here girls.” Eventually the Hitch girls wanted more lambs, so Jim took the ewes to a neighboring rancher who owned a large herd of sheep. Sometime later he called Jim to say the ewes were pregnant, and he could pick them up.

But the girls could not find their sheep among the 200 others in the herd. The girls just couldn’t figure out how to locate their own animals, when one girl got a bright idea. She called, “Here girls,” and three sheep came running toward them.

That reminds me of John 10:3-5. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” (New Living Version)

~~~

This truck was ahead of us at a red light as we traveled home after a fabulous evening. Thanks for the invitation, Earl and Arlene.

As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16 (The Message)

As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16 (The Message)