July 6th through August 13th we all were in America for our yearly Thai visa renewal. Our time there was marked by many highlights indeed. As part of a 16 day MTM PR trip we all visited the Creation Museum at Cincinniati, Ohio. While Lorida and Jana vistited friends in the mid-west (and then flew on back to PA), Naomi & traveled on out through MO, KS, IA & MI doing MTM PR work as well as ministry. We were very encouraged at the great interest in the Lords work of IGo-MTM. Blessed be God.
The greatest highlight was simply to be with our dear family. We were able to travel to Harrisonburg, VA and be with our eldest daughter Krista. Then later in our stay Krista traveled to PA to be with us. Michael and Laura live in Lancaster county and we were able to spend much time with them and their two boys. Then through a special gift from the Lord, Naomi and I were able to fly to SC and spend three days with our son Duane and Leann and their three boys. How we thank God for our dear family which we often miss so much.
We were also very blessed to be part of Bill Coutain & Brenda Yoders wedding at Belleville, PA. Bill called me only three weeks before the wedding and ask if I would marry them. We certainly felt very blessed and privileged to have a part in this special couples wedding. Bill Coutain is a Grenadian and was a member of the Limes Mennonite church in Grenada where we served as a missionary pastor for 12+ years. It is such a great blessing to see Bill walking with the Lord and choosing a godly wife as his life companion. God bless you my dear brother Bill !!!
Then there was an early 60th birthday surprise party my wife and family pulled off on me. Even though my birthday is not until September 3rd….my where have the years gone? I was overwhelmed as all evening friends dropped in to bless me. I certanly am not worthy of so many wonderful blessed supporting Christian friends …but I certainly am very grateful. Thank you Jesus. A very special thank you to all who made this event a blessed suprise.
Out trip from America to Thailand was very eventful to say the least. It all started when we went to check-in at JFK. Our flight was delayed for 11 hours. So rather then check-in and board…we checked in twice ….once with the airline and then into a hotel. The next morning we departed and not real long into the flight we experienced very turbulent flying. In all of our years of travel we never experinced anything like this. The flight attendents were urgent that all passengers were seated with their seat belts fastened….and they were also urgent that all the window shades were pulled down and the cabin was darkened. Later the flight attendent told me the reason they do that is so the passengers would not freak out with all the flexing of the cabin (which can be seen) and the aircrafts wings. The flight attendent said with such extreme turbulence the wings of our Boeing 777 aircraft flex from 29-35 feet. If we would not have experienced what we experienced I would admit I would hardly believe that….but after that experience and the way we were thrown around every which way … I REALLY DO BELIEVE IT !!! Blessed be God that he took us through that experience safely. I guarantee you most everyone was praying. While Lorida & Janna were praying outloud…the Muslim lady beside Lorida said “are you Muslim” … Lorida repied, “no, I am Christian”… her response was only “oh”. This Muslim lady she was leaning forward grasping ahold of the seat in front of her in the emergency landing position. She was terrified indeed. When we finally landed in Kuwait City, Kuwait, we discovered the first avalable flight to Bangkok, Thailand was 21 hours away. So we checked into another hotel and slept and waited. We also took a walk on the beach with temperatures around 120+ degrees. It never rains in Kuwait city. It is all desert and sand with absolutly no agriculture commodity. All food is imported. The country is very small and very oil rich….thanks to America. After 63 hours of travel time we safley reached Chiang Mai, Thailand. How we thank God for taking us safley through the whole experience. Blessed be God.
A very special thank you to all of you who daily pray for us. We clearly sensed you prayers.
