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Visitors from Kosovo

When I received an email from Don and Marti Denham on Sunday, and discovered they are in the States for six weeks – and in our area for a few days – I asked if we could meet for lunch.  

Don, Marti, and Cerwin on the new chapel.

Since they had been on staff with TFC many years ago (Chaplain in Seattle, WA), they were pleased when we offered to show them the International Office and shop.

Bunny and Peg O’Hare went along for lunch.

While we waited for our meal, Bunny and Don told jokes and relived some of their humorous times together.  Those who know these two – know there were many! 

Inge Koenig was also there, but avoided the camera. 

Don and Marti serve the Lord in Kosovo, so we enjoyed hearing their stories, and seeing beautiful crafts that some of the widows design. 

There are many widows from the massacre several years ago, and this is a way to help them earn a living.  Marti said the gain for them has been trust and friendship, often giving them opportunity to share the Good News.

I found this bookmark irresistable, so now have it in my possession.

Polly asked about the size.  The star is 3″ across.

Fog

This afternoon as I drove through fog – to give Cerwin a way home from the TFC International Office (he took the pickup truck to the garage) – there were areas where I had to be careful to not miss curves or turns in the road.

I even came upon an accident where a man drove his work truck through a t-road and ended up with the grill wrapped around a road sign.

I’m glad fog didn’t prevent God from keeping an eye on this part of His world today.

The Lord’s eyes

see everything that happens.

He watches both evil and good people.

Proverbs 15:3  ICB

The Lord searches all the earth

for people

who have given themselves

completely to him.

He wants to make them strong.

2 Chronicles 16:9  ICB

TFC Truck Rally Committee Meeting

Can it really be time to think about the June 23rd Truck Rally?

Rose and Gene (Truck Rally Coordinators) prepare to oversee the meeting this afternoon in our garage/meeting room.

We had a great meeting, with some very creative ideas. 

Cerwin and I served a meal of beef barbecue sandwiches, chips, cheese, relish tray, fruit tray, tapioca, and a variety of pies.

Following supper, the Lancaster committee met to discuss some details for the upcoming banquet (March 31) at Yoder’s, New Holland, PA.

Gene and Earl look over the menu the ladies chose.

Menu, price of tickets, program details for this year, and music group suggestions for 2008 were a few of the items that needed to be discussed today.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn For They Shall Be Comforted.

Matthew 5:4

The 2nd Beatitude

Notes from our church’s Winter Bible study on the Beatitudes

Sermon by Pastor Marvin Shenk

Marv began his message with an illustration that demonstrated an immature way to handle sorrow or disappointment.

At a certain party, each child was given gingerbread boys.  Somehow a leg broke off one child’s gingerbread boy.  In frustration the three-year-old cried at his misfortune and angerly crumpled the entire cookie. 

Isn’t that how we deal with disappointments now and then?  When one thing goes wrong, we want to give up on our entire life?

  ~ ~ ~

 Mourning is true sadness – or as Marv said – good grief.

Prayer Breakfast

Last night we programmed the Magellan for our destination this morning.  It laid out a route we have never traveled. 

It made us a bit nervous, but Cerwin decided to trust it – and it saved us 15 minutes.  GPS is the neatest thing!

Our destination was TFC’s York Chapter Prayer Breakfast near Dover, PA.

After breakfast Cerwin told the group about his week and some future ministry plans.

Cerwin explained that he and Ted (above) designed new racks for TFC’s ministry literature – mostly because it took so long to make the other style.

The top part is for paperback Bibles and smaller items.  TFC’s monthly publication Highway News can be stacked in the middle section.  Cerwin thought 300+ issues will fit there.

Cerwin was glad for the help of Glenn (above) on Friday.  He completed the cross for the promotional chapel.

Next Project

As soon as he has completed the final touches on the promotional chapel, Cerwin will bring the Life-Saver Chapel, Elkton, Maryland (above) back to the shop for remodeling, as it is starting to look a bit ragged.

It is one of our oldest chapels and is still heated with fuel oil.  Our new ones are heated with electric.  Chaplain David Hoy, a skilled electrician, spent today preparing the wiring for the arrival of a newer chapel.

The old chapel will immediately be replaced by the Encourager, which is currently without a home.  It had been in the Pocono’s until a year ago when the truck stop was sold and turned into a shopping/restaurant mall.

~ ~ ~

After those chapels are exchanged, Cerwin will begin construction on a new chapel for East St. Louis.

~ ~ ~

This is My Version of a No-Brainer Entry!

I was messing around with a photo the other day and decided to use the results for my entry this evening.

This is the original photo of a recent sunrise.

~ ~ ~

The next 8 pictures are what happened when I played with photo effects.  Enjoy!

 This last photo makes me glad that God created color. 

Imagine sunrises without color.

~ ~ ~

Take time to enjoy the colors that surround you today!

Signs That I Have a Visitor!

A small coat on our coat rack.

Sneakers under our kitchen table.

Granddaughter Jana has a flu this week, and her mom and the doctor didn’t think she was quite ready for school today, so she came here this morning while her mom worked at the doctors office. 

She did a good job of “setting up house” with these small wooden items I keep in the Grandchildren’s Room. 

Later she went with me to our basement office, where I spend my “official” working hours each day.  While I prepared flyers for an upcoming retreat, she was on my second computer playing games on www.buildabear.com.  (look for play on the top of the home page then select games.)  It has some cute games.

She was having so much fun that she wasn’t ready to go home at noon, so I called her mom and suggested that we bring her home at 5 PM when we go to Cerwin’s mom for supper. 

~~~

The next two pictures are for our daughters – this is what Jere and Kristen’s barn looks like.  For the rest of you, this is Jana’s parent’s barn – our youngest son’s family.

Retirement Party For Cerwin

 Held at Ferrellgas office, Manheim

Cerwin, Jeff (our oldest son), and Joe (who is now driving Cerwin’s truck) visit while waiting for the activities to begin.  Jeff is not employed by Ferrellgas, but wanted to be there for the celebration, and had a bit of an inroad since his mother-in-law works in the office! 

I was surprised when the first presentation was flowers for me! 

Rich (General Manager of the Manheim Plant) read several statistics concerning 40 years of service.  (Based on a 40-hour workweek.)

Average work days in 40 years – 10,400.

Average hours – 93,600.

More than 1 million miles (40 times around the earth).

Hauled 280 million gallons of propane.

That would fill 9,333 storage tanks.

If put end-to-end they would reach 123 miles.

That is enough fuel to heat an average home for 280,000 years.

My beautiful flowers

Cerwin was given a $100 gift certificate to Log Cabin Restaurant.  Nice!  Sure hope I’m his “date” for that meal!

Rich read a letter of thanks from Jim Ferrell, Overland Park, Kansas, giving Cerwin a lifetime benefit when making a purchase from Ferrellgas.  Very nice since we cook and heat our water and house with propane.

We were honored that most of the local employees took time to come for the celebration at 3 PM.  Several stopped to say congratulations when they got back from work, but didn’t stay to eat, because it was so close to supper.  The rest of us were pleased to use it as our supper. 

Cerwin was also given a beautiful plaque.

Cerwin showed Carolyn and Rich several photos of what he will be doing for Transport For Christ.

Denny, Jeff, and Jay visit while waiting for the food to be ready.

Subs, fruit and vegetable tray, and soda.

As work years were discussed, we discovered that the total time these three worked out of this location equaled 120 years!  Cerwin = 40, Jay = 36, and Bob = 44.

~~~

Thank you to Ferrellgas.  We are blessed.

Unforgiveness Is Like Drinking Poison

And Expecting The Other Person To Die!

If you don’t forgive the wrongs of others,

then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrong things you do.

Matthew 6:15  ICB

Taking the Promotional Chapel to

Country & Town Baptist Church

Mechanicsburg, PA

I never tire of hearing the sound of a big rig or being amazed when I watch Cerwin back the tractor under the chapel…

…right into the 5th wheel.  He says it’s quite easy.

I can’t even parallel park or back up a car very well!

Cerwin had the chapel ready by 2:30 (Sunday afternoon) when Howard, Angie, and Brandy Moses arrived.

We made the short trip (less than 20 miles) to the church where Howard and Angie attend.  Howard enjoyed riding with Cerwin in the cab, as he is not a truck driver.  We were a bit surprised when a Gainey rig followed us into the church parking lot.  I guess the trucker figured the driver of a chapel could give reliable directions to RT 80.

After he left, Cerwin and Howard set up the steps.

When the chapel was ready for visitors, we went to Hoss’ Steak House for supper, and enjoyed great fellowship. 

It was raining pretty heavy when we got back, but that didn’t hinder the children from coming to the chapel.  We had more children than chairs, so stacked most of the chairs in the living quarters.

The chapel tour was part of a church program to teach them about missions and missionaries.  The children had lots of questions for Howard – asking about the chapel and truckers.

A driver who is a member of the church told the children why chapels are important at truck stops.

It was a great afternoon and evening.  The chapel will remain there until Wednesday evening so others from the church can visit and learn about TFC’s ministry to truck drivers.

 ~~~

Introducing Howard and Angie Moses

Since I didn’t have any great pictures of them from yesterday, I pulled some photos from my file.

Angie and Howard moved from Tennessee to Pennsylvania in 2006 to serve in TFC’s International Office.

We treasure their friendship and enjoy getting to know them better.

 Angie serves as Senior Donor Relations Associate

Howard is Assistant Director of Pastoral Care