Friday, July 31, 2009

Reunion


My lover is home from Africa. She's been away since May 5. Our reunion was sweet indeed. On her way home from Tanzania she had a layover of 23 hours with Michelle and Julian in London. She took a very nice video of their little boy. 
This was the 50th Anniversary of Oak Haven Conventions. In the picture are two former Presidents recounting the history of Oak Haven. Sherman Leach is at the pulpit and Ron Crary is waiting his turn. In the foreground is Eileen Leach, Sherman's wife.


This man use to be a student at Riverside Farms in Zambia when we were there. He is a Rwandese. He lost 37 members of his family in the massacres. He walked 200 miles with two children, dodging assassins every step of the way. He came to the Oak Haven Convention to see me because he heard I would be there. 

I had to drive to Michigan in one day, 1,150 miles because I had Jennifer Dettmann with me. We arrived at 12:45 A.M. The next day Ron, Jennifer's dad, and I went kayaking on lake Michigan. I enjoyed that very much. The rest of the weekend was taken up by the Convention and board meetings. Oak Haven is doing extremely well, but not without their own bumps in the road. 

On the way to and from Oak Haven I listened to three audio books, biographies of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and of Crazy Horse. They were all worth listening to. Each book was about 8-9 hours of listening time. It all kept me awake and interested. 

At Eden Valley we suffered a devastating hail storm. It pretty well wiped out our outdoor gardens. The Lord is in charge, we take all He gives with gratitude. Today, I rec'd a two-week notice from a cherished couple. They are therapists with us. It breaks my heart, but I can understand their frustrations. They promised to write both the Executive Committee and the Board a letter. I'm sure to take a beating. It's ok, if I thought I was faultless I would be disturbed, but I am neither without recrimination or disturbed. Perhaps it is time someone examined my  brand of leadership, or lack thereof. I've considered resigning this year, but I am getting a lot of resistance. They don't seem to realize how much better things would be with a better leader. 

I think I wrote about agreeing to do an evangelistic series in October in Glenwood Springs. The pastor, Ruddy Vivanco, is needing themes and titles right now. He doesn't realize that I don't have a clue what I will do, but I've promised to drudge something up by Monday. Lord, help me.

That's it from the Preacher to his tribe.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Jedidias and Heli's daughter, Abi
Michee, Ignacio and Kettie's daughter
Sarah, my farmer's wife

Sally Smith our new therapist. Her husband, Leonard is our new accountant

Kevin and Debbie Hogfeldt

Picnic time up on the mountain at EVI. We had Lifestyle guests, Village residents, staff and church members. It was as hot as blazes, but everyone seem to have a good time. 

Not too much new at EVI. Everyone is working to catch up with the work. We've got 9,000 more raspberry plants to put into the ground, and not enough workers to do all of our everyday work and that too. The lady who donated the money for the raspberries is saying we must have them planted by the end of July or we lose the donation. I believe we'll get it done, but it will be a miracle. We lost some hay. Everybody has lost hay this year in Colorado. It's been raining since April. The only comfort is that the price has shot up to $8 a bale. Maybe we can make up our losses.

We end a Lifestyle Session today. We had 12 adult guests and three children. My staff has been working their fingers to the bone, and mine, but it is worth it. The Lord seems to especially carry the spiritual messages we convey to the heart. I am always encouraged by the responses of the people.

Tomorrow morning I leave for Oak Haven. I have Jennifer Dettmann with me. She is a 19 year old girl, and that will necessitate that I drive from Colorado to Michigan in one sitting. I can't take a motel with her except I take two rooms, and I can't afford that, so here goes a long drive. 

The Pastor of Copper Mountain, Ruddy Vivanco, asked me to do a seven-day evangelistic series in Glenwood Springs in October. I said yes.

A few months ago, Bill, my farmer, asked if I could suggest some spiritual talks for a man who, I think, is dying of cancer. I sent the Prodigal Son Series. The man is Catholic, and I'm told he really appreciated the set. Just this week, Bill got a phone call asking if I would be willing to do a series of meetings, the Prodigal Son I assume, in the Catholic church where this man attends. So, tell me, should I do it? It's a no-brainer. Of course, I'll do it. Now, I'm waiting for the call. Please pray that the Lord opens this door. I'd love to do that. So much from the Preacher to his tribe.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Alone for Once
















Life continues to be busy. When Paul West  and Roger Julian left my house, they were replaced with a new batch. Gabriela and her husband, Adam Dean, spent the weekend with me, and a young lady called Dawn. Gab and Adam spent most of their time exploring the Rocky Mountain Park. On Sabbath, we all went to Copper Mountain where I preached. It was fun.

Chuck and Wanda Scarborough, who use to be Julie's Principal at Fountainview were there. As a matter of fact, they were at Aspen Park the week before when I was preaching. At Aspen, they were amazed at the sermon I preached. They didn't think a sermon like I preached on Righteousness by Faith could come from a Self-supporting leader. Well, I preached another one this Sabbath and totally blew Chuck away. Apparently, (his wife told me) Chuck had been out of the church for a while, and he is now coming back. He seems very encouraged by the messages I am giving. So much so, that he is asking me for a photocopy of the message. Now, I am encouraged. It is so strengthening to feel that God can still use me.

After returning home on Sabbath, Gabriela, Adam and I climbed to the top of South Peak. Good climb. We got back after dark, 9:30 P.M. For the first time in months, I am alone in my house. It's a break I am appreciating. Today, I have such a sore back, I can walk only with difficulty, but guess what? I did a workout anyway. This afternoon, I have a Chiropractic appointment.

Got to go, I'm juicing for the Lifestyle Guests. 

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Mountain Dude























































Guess where I was yesterday. I took some friends from Missouri, Ben and Lisa Brown, to the mountains. I took the afternoon off. It was a relaxing blessing, except that it came after a peculiarly heart-wrenching Executive Committee. Sorry, can't tell you about it. My daughter-in-law says I ought to be more careful what I write on this blog. 

Last night, one of our Lifestyle guests fell. He weighs 317 lbs. The doc was afraid of leaving him alone at night. He's got a foot missing, he is very old, and terribly weak. So I spent the night with him. He got up four times to go to the bathroom. There is no lack of opportunity to serve around here.

Every day I feel more deeply my lack of leadership skills. If people don't put it on my nose, then circumstances do. I prayed our prayer hearing God to humble me. Don't pray that prayer, you'll wish you hadn't. Better to humble yourself than to have God do it. Yet, I wouldn't take myself out of God's hands for all the tea in China. So says the Preacher to his tribe.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Rainbow Over EVI






This is a picture of the lady cured of cancer out of our May session. Jo Ann Bjorkman.

It rains nearly everyday at EVI this year. We are losing some hay, which we can't afford to do. On the other hand, who are we to tell God what to do with His hay. God's bow of promise is still in the sky. We can't see it in the picture, but the rainbow came down right into our field, the very field that has the bleached hay. I trust the Lord.

We did bring in 350 bales of hay. It was so heavy. Twice as heavy as the 700 we brought in last week.  Doctor Emerson's son, Jonathan, ten years old, helped us in the hay. I really like that little kid. He is too smart, but very interested in everything and entertaining as well. 

My back was so sore I could hardly walk after doing that hay. Deneice said reflexology could fix that. I don't have anything against reflexology, but many feel it is New Age and of the devil. Deneice explained how it works, and made sense, so I let her do her thing on my feet. Woe, talk about pain. My goodness, if she hadn't been there I would have cried. But guess what, my sore back went away. It's hard to believe. It works and she didn't try to make me repeat a mantra or believe anything weird either.

I talked with my brother John this week. They are very happy in New Brunswick. He's got eight years to retirement and may return to Nova Scotia afterwards. I think, in eight years New Brunswick will be home. He says he is living in a very beautiful place.

We had a black man called James in our June session. During graduation, he offered to sing a song. Amazing. Not that he was a great singer, but man he moved just right. It blows me away. The guy is 76 years old. He could hardly walk around, but when he began to sing his body became rythm (sp) personified. 

On Sunday, we took a shed down by the Lifestyle Center. It took all day, but it felt like we accomplished something. We have another intake of lifestyle guests, fifteen of them. We only had three days between sessions this time. The gang will be tired come July 23.  

The big news at EVI is that we have a new doctor. Dr. David Emerson has decided to join us. It has been so long coming. Praise God. They will move in by Sept. 

Last week, we sold more than $2,000 from the farm. Things are picking up. That is so encouraging. That's it from the Preacher to his tribe.