Back for Africa and Japan

It's been five weeks. I'm sorry about not writing, but it really was beyond my control.

I spent the first week at Kibidula giving a week of prayer on the Eight Conditions For Overcoming. I preached every morning at 9 AM Then we all went to work demolishing buildings to be replaced by a Kibidula chapel. It was hard work, sometimes dangerous as walls would fall in where some people might be working. I attribute God's generous grace for no one getting hurt. At noon, the cafeteria provided us with wonderful food. I then spoke again every evening. All went well and I believe Kibidula is doing great.

Janet, Deniece, Twalisa, Emily and I went on from there to Mago. My wife's project has really advanced. She has all these beautiful buildings in their proper setting. There are students running around everywhere and lots of work for everyone. Janet gave me the job of dropping (felling) 30 to 40 trees around some of her buildings. It was tricky work. At first I lined myself up determining what I would do with each tree. God had other plans. Janet's workers, with whom I could not communicate had there own plans. It was terribly frustrating for me at first, but in the end it turned out to be a blessing. We managed to fall all the trees without touching one of the buildings. Hard work. I could hardly drag myself around after a couple of days. My wife's container finally showed up while I was there. It took half a day to unload the thing and half a day to cut the welds that held it to the truck platform. All in all, it was a great time. I find that manual labor is far more fulfilling than desk work.

The third week (four days) we spent at Lake Malawi--Matema Beach. Steven Grabiner organized an OCI Retreat for the African projects. Wonderful, and the venue couldn't have been more conducive. We swam, we prayed, we listened to talks, we bonded and we grew in grace.

Going in to Matema, my wife's pick-up blew a tire. Upon inspection, we noticed that the companion tire was in terrible shape. The wires were coming out of its great gashes. So we went to town and paid a fortune for two used, junk tires.

I left Matema on Saturday night, 9 PM, to catch a plane in Dar Es Salaam at 10:10 PM on Sunday. Twenty miles out of camp we shredded another tire. (One of the new old ones.) It was on a prayer that we made it to Mbeya, Tanzania. We manage to find some sleep at 1 AM and at 5 AM we were in town looking for the bus station. From there my wife went looking for new tires and I rode the bus for twelve and one half hours to Dar. Sweat and stink and weariness was all part of the adventure. It was so hot in Dar that I put my jacket in my suit case and boarded the plane without anything warm. Well, only an old sweaty shirt in Zurich in winter is not good. Nor was it good in Washington or Denver. No matter, I survived.

I arrived at home at 9 PM and left for Japan at 6 AM in the morning.

I enjoyed Japan a lot. The people are hospitable, kind, courteous and interested. I preached 13 sermons in the city of Meaboshi??. I believe our project called Mt. Akagi is doing very well. They certainly could use more funding and people, but they are improving their lot every day. The Lord is blessing.

I'm home. Steven Grabiner is here doing a week of prayer on the book of Revelation. Great. I wish I was not so jet-lagged. I think Steven wishes he was not so jet-lagged also. Tomorrow I preach at Copper Mountain to the Veggie Diner group.

As for news: I believe I can announce that my wife is sincerely determined to come home to stay. She must find someone to replace her, and that isn't easy, but if the Lord wants it too, I believe it will happen within the year. (We'll see.)

I was reading in Prophets and Kings about King Hezekiah. It says that the Lord left him to prove him, to show what was in his heart. The Lord did that to me once. Consequently, I made the biggest mess in my life. So did Hezekiah. Only a fool would wish to live independently of the Lord.

So says the Preacher to his Tribe.

Super-r-r Woman

I leave for Africa and Japan in three days. This will probably be my last blog for one month. Sorry, I'll be having too much fun, or there won't be internet where I am going. Actually, I won't have a computer with me, so don't count on hearing anything. Ugh! Sounds so final like I'm entering the twilight zone.

The paragraph that follows this sentence is from a 16 year old girl working with my Lover In Africa:

Mrs. Fournier and her right-hand woman, Deniece, have probably taught me more in these few short weeks than I have learned in years of ordinary life. By normal standards, I’m smart. I have nearly a 4.0 GDA, but here that doesn’t matter. It means absolutely nothing. Practical experience and hard work are all that counts. These women are incredible. They can fix almost anything, run a school, communicate through the language barrier, cook almost any meal, put up with each other, and show Christ through their everyday lives. It’s like living with a super-hero and her side-kick. They are who they are, and they are God’s. I admire that.

There you are, I'm married to a Super Heroin. I've always known, but do you know how hard that is? Like the girl says, I'm smart but around her, that doesn't count. (Kidding, sorta.)

I spent last weekend in Norway.

The institution in Norway, the Heartgood Foundation and the European Bible School lost their leader several years ago. It's been struggling ever since. It was decided by the last board that the board should all resign "en masse" and that a new group of seven should attempt to find a solution. I was elected to the new group with Steven Grabiner, Erik Somme, Knut Guvstavsen, Nila Teale, Nic Dan, and Jamiek (Somebody).

The first two days were very discouraging. It was like we couldn't get anyone to say anything that would give us hope of rescuing this institution. (Now I must tell you: On my way to Norway, I prayed every half hour on the half hour that the Lord would show us what to do. On the last day, we broke through the negativity. I wish I could tell you the whole story, but I can't.) God works in mysterious ways. In the end, we elected Knut to be President. Knut is one of the original founders of Heartgood Foundation. He is choosing to buy the farm. This will provide the school with much needed money while leaving the farm in proximity to by used. Also, we accepted a young couple's proposal to run a school starting in 2013. This young couple has two weeks to make a decision. Pray for them. (I believe they will accept the counter proposal. God led too beautifully not to.)

Tonight, I speak at Larry Romrell's house to a group of SDA's from Franktown. Tomorrow I do vespers at EVI, and on Sabbath I speak in Copper Mountain. Sunday I leave for Africa.

In the meantime, I have nothing to do but run in every direction trying to gather all I must take to Africa. I hope I don't end up with more than I am allowed to carry.

Monday I am reunited with Super-r-r Woman. Hmmm! I feel like Clark Kent kryptonited.

Heavy Snows, Heavier Responsibilities.

It's winter in Colorado. The temperature went as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. I checked Whitehorse, Yukon, and it was 34 degrees. We seem to be the cold spot in North America. The snow was beautiful, but heavy and broke a lot of branches. As many as 15,000 were without electricity last night and still today. Otherwise, beautiful.

We are having a birthday party for one of our doctors today. Dr. Cherne is 85 and going strong.

I went to Washington DC this week. Had an invitation to a North American Division meeting with the Supporting Ministries of which ASI is one. We were a group of about 20. The meetings were very interesting, but I don't know what was accomplished except perhaps to make friends and to spread goodwill toward one another. I did see Pastor Orville Parchment, and a host of other long time friends.

Better still was that I got to visit with John, Janice, David and Arwyn. That was great. The whole trip was worth it on that account. We met at David's new house, cozy and good for David. I read Calvin and Hobbes to Arwyn. Endearing. Did you know that there is no point in debriefing Calvin--he doesn't wear briefs.

We visited for several hours. It is all interesting to us that within the last year we all-John, Jason, David and I are saddled with heavier responsibilities. (You can add Janet to that, except that her responsibilities she's carried for some time now.) For some of us, John and I, the responsibilities were totally unexpected. David is now in management in the Communications branch of the Risk Management Dept. of the GC. We all praised the Lord for the honors, and are praying for wisdom to execute wisely our tasks.

All is well. God is good and the future is bright.

Love it

Someone reminded me that I hadn't blogged lately. Yea, I know. Not enough hours in a day.

I did run to Chattanooga this week. I hope I haven't already told you. Steven Grabiner, OCI President, Wilbur Atwood, the President of Wildwood and I had a scheduled meeting with David Gates. All I can say here is that the meeting was productive of great good . . . I hope. Time will tell.

I also met with Rusty Mckee of Little Debbie fame. I was blown away. The man was so congenial that I felt like we had know each other forever and that we were the best of friends. My purpose was to raise funds for our new Lifestyle Center. I believe, true to my nature, that I did a soft sell. He assured me that I couldn't have come at a better time. Mckee's Little Debbie had a slump in profits since 2008 and now they seem to be recovered. Besides, we are getting close to the end of the year when these folks need to donate for business purposes. We'll see. For me, the friendship is worth everything. (A people oriented person am I.)

We had a cooking school this week. Breads. It was great. The people didn't leave till 9:30 PM. The people were genuinely grateful for the experience.

Our Lifestyle guests are just the grandest people ever. Eleven women and two men. The laughing-est bunch you ever met. All suffering terribly, yet full of godly joy. I think they'll live forever.

On Sunday, I need to fly to Washington DC. The General Conference of the SDA church has invited me to attend an all day meeting on Monday. They are paying for everything. David Fournier heard I was coming and offered me to stay with him. Love it. Too bad I already had a hotel room. I'll be sure to find time for Davey regardless.

Everyone asks how I am doing with my new ASI responsibilities. Truth is, I'm loving it. I'm way too busy, but I prefer that than having too little to do. So far, I'm keeping out of trouble and I am praying double time so I don't. I have lots of help from my two VPs and my Executive Committee and all the former ASI Presidents. Love it, plain and simple.

Sometimes I get invited to eat with the Lifestyle guests. Oriental day. Super good.

Same table.

Every evening I go to the mountains to pray.

Later.

Always Rushed.

Since we last talked EVI had its yearly convention. In may respects it was the best ever. We had a great speaker--Chester V. Clark III. The convention was better attended than ever. Leasa sent out invitations to many of our friends and a good number came who would not have thought of it.

The board meeting was done in two and one half hours. Try to beat that. Kevin Hogfeldt was our board chairman this year because Steven Grabiner couldn't make it. Kevin did a great job of it.

We then traveled to DayStar after the EVI board and got there around 9:30 PM. The DayStar board was very, very encouraging. The Lord is blessing them tremendously this year. I am truly pleased with what is going on there. They have 33 students, aiming for at least 35. There farm is on track to profit about $150,000 this year. They have awesome farmers.

We got back home at 9:30 PM that night.

The next day I nearly spent till noon on the phone with various ASI people. In the meantime, I am trying to write an article for ASI and I must start on our Faith Ventures also.

Tonight we have a reception for Philip and Dayna Smith. They were married a few weeks ago in CA., but being as they are staff at EVI, it is only fair that we celebrate with them also. Sorry, no pics. Maybe next week.

Visitor Convention Morning. Not the least nervous.

Aspen gold on the way to DayStar

Sunflower by the side of DayStar road

Castle Rock at DayStar

Ignacio Perez is my farmer. Great Year.

It's Time , , , To Be About Our Father's Business

I just returned from my first ASI Fall Retreat. Eleven of us gathered at Denzil and Donna McNeilus' home to do business. For some of the meals, George and Shari McNeilus, Garwin and Merrilee and Pat McNeilus joined us. Also a young couple that lives nearby. It was a very relaxing weekend (On one level.)

On another level, I was a bitstressful. I was told that I needed to take charge. (That is totally against my temper-mental makeup.) But, I chose to take charge and do it. I pretty well made up my mind to be myself and to participate fully in the program.

For recreation, we visited Pat McNeilus' steel operation and Garwin's One Day Church factory. Very impressive. More impressive, maybe I should say as impressive is Merrilee's shell collection. All that aside, we actually got a lot of work accomplished.

The most exciting piece of work was the theme for the next two years: "It is Time . . . To be about Our Father's Business." I delivered all the devotional meetings and in them I explained my vision for ASI. It was well rec'd and with that we formulated the title. My task now is to write an article, and sent it to the ASI magazine and the Review and whoever else might print it. When we choose our speakers for the next convention, we will expect the speakers to align themselves with the theme, but they will have the freedom to determine what is our Father's business in this late day and speak to the issue. I think it is genius. (No, I didn't come up with the concept, but since I am in charge, maybe I should take the credit. Not!) The Lord guided us through.

I'm getting excited. Imagine. I sincerely believe God will do something special with ASI in the coming days. Why else would He choose less than the least of all saints to be President?

So prays the Preacher for his Tribe.

Marilee McNeilus is an expert collector of sea shells.

She has amazing things in her collection

We visited Garwin McNeilus' One Day Church factory

Pat McNeilus' steel processing plant.

Steel comes in rolls.

From West to East

Today I've got to pack. I leave for Minnesota tomorrow early. The ASI Executive Committee is meeting for our annual fall retreat. Being the new president, I am expected to lead the pack into new territory, i.e. the new theme for the next two years and the wherewithal to implement the new theme. I am also expected to lead out in morning and evening devotions plus speak at the 11 o'clock service on Sabbath morning. And with that I will chair the board and act presidential. So far, no one's asked me to make lunch and sing special music. If they did, I would make rolled oats and sing "When the Moon Hits your Eyes Like a Big Pizza Pie, That's amore." So would go the rest of the meetings.

Actually, I expect the Lord to lead and to give us a blessing. (You may pray for yours truly anyway.)

Last weekend, five of us from EVI boarded a plane and flew to Las Vegas (Sin City.) Our mission was to train church members from various churches to do health work in preparation for the big evangelistic effort scheduled for next spring. The big effort was called "Babylon Rising." I say "was" because somebody--John Bradshaw--decided to rename it. The new name is so tame that I can't remember it. Anyway, we did our thing (rallying sermons, health talks, health expo, and cooking classes) and the Lord blessed abundantly.

During the same weekend, Las Vegas hosted the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contests. There was muscle every where. These self-centered gorillas are driven to show as much skin as possible. Why else take steroids, and look like a cartoon character? The problem, however, is that bodybuilding has grown to include woman, if that is what you'd call those creatures. They look like tall midgets--everything exaggerated.

Through it all, the Lord keeps supplying my poor brain with something to say for Him. I'm impressed and truly thankful. His biddings are enablings.

Love to all.