We wrote last January of our decision to “sort of, kind of, partly, semi-retire” in 2010. Those words do
describe our mission work load of this past year. As the photo on the outside of this letter shows, we can’t
decide if we are climbing up or climbing down!
We did climb slower in 2010. We took 5 trips instead of 8 or 10 and only one was outside of the country. We
did a lot of “traveling” via the internet with e-mail and skype....to Australia, to Peru, to Chile, to Ecuador, to
Guam and to more that we can’t remember. It is a lot easier to send an e-mail of advice than to travel there
with body and luggage in tow.
We did spend more time helping in our local church in Georgia this year than we have been able to in years
past. Organizing some mission projects, starting up some prayer groups, keeping up the outdoor church
sign, teaching Sunday School, teaching some group and individual Bible studies, and even packing some
boxes at a local food bank.
We continue to make some radio antenna “gizmos” out of scrap corian that a countertop man down the road
lets us have....it keeps us active with its sanding and drilling and lets us keep our machine shop in shape
so that we can still make a part or two for some of the radio stations we advise. It also allows us to give others
the privilege of keeping in shape (and some food and gas money) when we are busy with other things and
they really need something to do.
As far as us keeping in shape physically, we are doing pretty well. John had an eye hemorrhage several months ago and was busy with tests for a while, but the doctor assures us that it shouldn’t happen again and
that the cloudiness will dissipate in time. And he had a cyst removed from his face in October that required
a return visit to “dig a little deeper”, but the lab all cleared him after a few more cuts and it has healed
nicely.
We did spend a lot of care giving hours in 2010 withMom Stanley until she died peacefully in the midst of
a visiting pastor’s prayer on September 1. The home going service was a time of joy with John helping with
some of the service liturgies and several grandchildren, including our son Andrew, giving beautiful Grandma
testimonies. Since then, we have been spending even more hours cleaning and sorting and making decisions
about family matters. We are so very grateful that the Lord enabled all of us care givers to be faithful to Mom
until the end of her life and we rejoice that she can now continue her trust and obey walk eternally with her
faithful Lord. Thank you to many of you who prayed, who sent cards and notes and other expressions of your
love for us and for her.
As for this brand new year of 2011.....we hope to receive it and turn it back to the Lord one day at a time
and He will give us adventure, surprise, peace and joy.
We wish this for you all as well.
A special thanks to those of you who continue to support us with gifts, prayers and encouraging words, and
to all of you.....
Blessings and Blessings,
This website was last updated on the 27th of Dec 2010.
