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Because you belong to Christ Jesus,

God WILL bless you with peace

that no one can completely understand.

Philippians 4:7  Contemporary English Version

~~~

Last night we went to the viewing/visitation service for Dwayne Snyder and his young sons who were killed in a trucking accident on Saturday night.

Because the visitation began at 2:00 p.m., hundreds of people had greeted her before us, yet we saw the strength and peace of the Lord on Martha Snyder’s face.  During a conversation with her pastor, he affirmed that she had displayed unbelievable strength from the time he and the police officers broke the news to her.

During our two-hour (plus) drive home, Marv and Fay Sauder, Rose Gehman, and Cerwin and I discussed that we were encouraged and blessed by the joy and peace we saw in her face.

 It is painful to walk by three caskets, but it is encouraging to know that God is giving strength to Martha, her family, and the Snyders.

A photo I took of his truck entering the fairgrounds at the TFC Truck Rally in June. 

There are questions that may never be answered as to why his 2007 Kenworth drifted off the highway and crashed, as it is fairly evident that he did not fall asleep.

Photo from dreaminbig‘s site

 The funeral and burial will be held today.  Keep Martha in your prayers, as she will surely face painful and difficult days.  She has a young daughter, and their fourth child is due in two months.

The Snyder family wrote a letter explaining what happened during the past few days.  I will be glad to email it to you, if you message me your email address.  It is good to read it if you know them and have heard varying stories about the accident.

~~~

Concerning the death of our friend and missionary pilot, Dave Clapper, his funeral was held earlier today in Indonesia.  See junglewife.

Brethren Heritage Tour

Berlin to Zurich – July 26 to August 7

Featuring

Local Tour Guides

Our tour leader Gordon Hoffert lined up a fabulous group of guides.  We were impressed with their knowledge and passion for the history of their city, area, or subject.

Some were humurous and others were quite serious, but most told a funny or memorable story about the person or subject they were covering.  It was interesting that each guide had a unique German accent when speaking English.

Special thanks to each one!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart.

Proverbs 3:5  NIV

 ~~~

 Thanks to Xanga friend ata_grandma, I discovered a missionary couple who live in the same area of Indonesia as Beth Clapper and her family.  I asked junglewife to be our contact with that part of the world during the next few days.  She graciously agreed to do that, and entered a post this morning.  To read it, go to junglewife.

This is concerning the death of our missionary friend, Dave Clapper.

Clapper Family

Brethren Heritage Tour

Berlin to Zurich – July 26 to August 7

Featuring

Our Tour Group

Debbie & Ken Bomberger

Pennsylvania

Sam Bowman & Anna Emrick

Sam is from Virginia and Anna is from Michigan

Joyce & Bill Brumbaugh

Indiana

It’s your anniversary Bill – give her a kiss!

Cora & Dale Deter

Indiana

Ann & David Eberly

Maryland

Rick & Pat Edwards

North Carolina

Linda & Stafford Frederick

Virginia

Arlene & John Heisey

Pennsylvania

Doris & Cerwin High

Pennsylvania

Deanna Thierolf & Marilyn Koehler

Daughter and Mother

Marilyn lives in Iowa

Deanna lives in Kansas

Nancy Lantz

Virginia

Paul White & Merlin Shull

Brothers-in-law

From Virginia

Janet & Don Stroup

Michigan

~~~

Our lives are richer after spending thirteen days with these wonderful people.

~~~

The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.

Psalm 29:11 New Living Translation

Brethren Heritage Tour

 Berlin to Zurich – July 26 to August 7

Featuring

Bus Driver ~ Bruno

From Germany

He took great care of us, never causing us to feel concern for our safety.

He was always on time – usually waiting for us – beginning when we arrived at the Berlin airport.

If anyone from Schramm should read this – he is the best!

He made sure we boarded and exited the bus safely, and was especially concerned for Merlin.

He was more comfortable driving than talking – especially in English – since his native tongue is German.

He was alert to what was going on in the traffic around us.

He did, however, keep one secret from us during the first week – that there was a coffee pot on board! 

We were often amazed at how skillfully he maneuvered through narrow streets…

…and places not designed for busses.

The one time that we did see him laugh or smile, was when Gordon told jokes, which always involved Bruno.

We were honored when he thanked us at our farewell dinner. 

Gordon (right) told us that he had forgotten his burgundy bag when we got off the bus earlier in the evening, and when he told Bruno that they would have to go back to the bus – Bruno said, “I brought it in for you.”

Bruno, you are the best!

The eternal God is your refuge,
      and his everlasting arms are under you.

Deuteronomy 33:27  New Living Translation

~~~

I posted this verse for the following two women – their immediate families – and anyone else who needs a reminder that God is with you today.

The Dave Clapper Family

Beth Clapper – (missionary friend from our church) whose husband, Dave, was killed in a plane crash while delivering food to a remote area in Papua, Indonesia.  InternetStory

 Dwayne’s truck was demolished in the accident.

Martha Snyder – Dwayne and their two sons Chadwin and Derrick were killed in a truck accident on Saturday night.  InternetStory

Brethren Heritage Tour

Featuring

Tour Host ~ Jim Hardenbrook

from Virginia

Pam and Jim were very capable assistants to Gordon.

Jim made sure everyone felt welcome as we arrived at Newark airport on July 26.

Jim and Pam were in charge of devotions each morning – shortly after we got on the bus.  Jim always led in a thought-provoking challenge, and in seeking God’s guidance and protection for the day.

Pam taught us all ten verses of a song written especially for members of the Church of the Brethren.

I enjoyed when they led us in a prayer song before meals.

The devotional highlight was on Sunday morning, August 2, when we met next to the Eder River (where our first church leaders were baptized) and sang, “Shall We Gather at the River?”

We also learned a new verse of our theme song.

Jim’s challenge to us was to be like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9) and say from our hearts, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.”

Pam, Bill, Joyce, and Stafford formed a quartet.

Jim (center) took time to become acquainted with each person, and was always available with information concerning the person, place, or location we were visiting.

He made sure that Merlin’s needs were met – sometimes by pushing his wheelchair…

…or assisting him when walking over uneven terrain.

We learned about Pam’s gift for writing when she honored each person with a short poem at our farewell dinner.

~~~

Thanks Jim and Pam.  You blessed us.

Plant your roots in Christ

and let him be the foundation for your life.

Colossians 2:7 Contempory English Version 

300th Anniversary

Brethren Heritage Tour

Berlin to Zurich – July 26-August 7, 2008

by Ed-Ventures, Inc.

~~~

First I will introduce you to the twenty-eight people in our group.

Featuring

Tour Leader – Gordon Hoffert

From Minnesota

It would be difficult to find a better tour leader.

He was dedicated to our wellbeing and fully educated on the Reformation and the two countries we visited.

We were confident of his leadership from the moment we met at Berlin airport. 

He was always clear in communicating our next meeting time and place.  When on tour his burgundy Ed-Ventures bag was his constant companion.

He graciously led us on an optional sightseeing or ice cream walk every evening after dinner.

He has great contacts, making it possible to secure fabulous city or area guides…

…who took us to delightful places and filled our minds with incredible information.

His servant-heart was a blessing to everyone – especially Merlin Shull.  Gordon obtained a wheelchair for the times he knew it would be difficult for Merlin to walk.

The morning we walked to the Eder river for devotions, he noticed that Merlin’s shoe laces were coming untied.

Then there was the day that Marilyn Koehler’s sock blew out the window (where it was drying) and partway down the monastery roof where we were staying.

He was pleased to have his wife (right) and daughter  join us for the Celebration weekend.  In this photo they are singing a cute German song.

When on the bus, he was usually next to Bruno, sometimes assisting him with upcoming roads or necessary turns.

While traveling to a new area, Gordon always prepared us with information concerning the person, castle, church, place, or time-era we were visiting.

When he came on the microphone and began with, “I had just fallen asleep last night when there was a light knock on my door…”, we knew it was a setup for his next joke, and that Bruno was the one at the door, needing a Fanta and wanting to talk.

He was sensitive to our need for snacks and breaks.

~~~

Thanks, Gordon.  You were a blessing to us.