Mapping it Out

We are grateful for the partnership we have shared with so many folks over the 30+ years of foreign ministry.  Read my posting about our homes over years. 

From mid-July through mid-September, Glenn and I will be taking a LONG ministry trip from Texas to Colorado all the way over to Boston and down through New York and Virginia and back to Texas.

Because our ministry account is running close to being in the RED and because of the recent losses of a number of major donors to our ministry account, we have sensed the need to visit family and friends face to face, to purposely thank those of you who have been a huge part of our ministry over the years and also to seek opportunities for adding new support.

We will be driving close to 10,000 miles and staying with family and friends along the way.

Our goals for our trip are

• reconnect with family and friends
• establish new financial and prayer support
• raise $20,000 for the Pastoral Care ministry
• raise $2,000 additional monthly financial partners for our personal support account

Please pray for us as we travel - for safety on the road, for a chance to reconnect with faithful, long time friends and for new contacts and opportunities to establish some new financial support partnerships.

On the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

Letterboxing Stories

On my recent trip to the states, I was able to do several letterboxes.  Our first adventure was with Haley and her boyfriend, Andrew.  We found 2.  G'mommy and G'daddy stayed in the car.

Then I introduced Solomon and Grace, with their mother, to the Letterboxing Adventure.  Fun!

And finally, we took Jim E. to do a letterbox.  We observed and paid tribute to the legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry.  This was especially meaningful, as Jim is from Wisconsin (he likes the Green Bay Packers). Hats off to Tom Landry!

Go Cowboys!

Driving Along Interstate 45 - Hope Coffee

 As we drove along interstate 45, North of Corsicana, Texas, we had to take a double take on the bill board we saw.

HOPE Coffee gives 100% of its net profits to spread the gospel in Honduras. By using our high quality HOPE Coffee, you are both supporting missions efforts and bringing high-quality coffee into your home, business or church. Check out the information below to learn more.

• Read about our Gospel Impact

• Watch The HOPE Coffee Story

• Learn more about becoming a HOPE Partner

Check out Hope Coffee

What is a Home Anyways?

As I looked at the calendar, I realized that I have lived in this house for 10 whole years.  Is it time to move?  One thing is for sure, it's time to get rid of stuff we have accumulated since our last big move.

Ellen (4) and Karen (2) in 1986
On Friday, June 13, 1986, Glenn (age 31), Ellen (nearly 4), Karen (2) and myself (nearly 30) packed up our belongings into 4 duffle bags, 4 footlockers and 2 hard case Samsonite suitcases and headed South with a one-way ticket, on a Lloyd Aero Boliviano Boeing 727, to Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  

That was 30 YEARS ago!

The Rest is History.... 

 

Las Cristalinas #39  Guatemala City, Guatemala

I grew up in only 2 homes, the house behind the railroad tracks on Dalewood Lane  and the house on Fieldcrest Court near Lake Highlands High School.  However, since going off to college and getting married, it seems that we have

 moved every 3 to 4 years.

Inside my childhood home

 And now we are completing 10 years living in Las Cristalinas without a move in sight.

  I'm not complaining.  I'm just stating the facts. 

Trailwood Home Exterior - Grand Prairie, Texas

1980 - 1982 Hawthorne house - Glenn's parent's house

1982 - 1986 Trailwood home - our first house

1986 - 1989 Carretera Cochabamba, Kilometer 6 (across from Villa Rosita) Santa Cruz, Bolivia

1989 - 1990 Trailwood home

1990 - 1995 Carretera Cochabamba, 4th ring, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

1995 - 1996 Trailwood home

1996 - 2000 Carretera Cochabama, Kilometer 7 (Brooks' house) Santa Cruz, Bolivia

2000 - 2006 Trailwood home (while volunteering at Camino Global office in Dallas)

2006 - current Las Cristalinas #39, Guatemala City, Guatemala 

As I look back, living in 6 different houses in the past 36.5 years, it seems we have a pretty good record, especially when you consider living overseas, having a fast paced and unpredictable lifestyle and dealing with many of the challenges that missionaries face.

Carretera Cochabamba, Km 7 (Brooks' House) Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Carretera Cochabamba, 4th Ring, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

I wonder... "Who else remembers visiting us in these homes?"  

Our Baggage

Sunday, Glenn shared for 6 minutes at Holland Road Fellowship (formerly Grand Prairie Bible Church).

Glenn carefully lugged his "hand-carry-on" piece of luggage to the stage and started off by stating "You know when Judy and I leave later today, the TSA agent will ask several questions.  They'll ask if we packed the luggage ourselves and if the luggage has been in our possession ever since."  With a clever smile and quick answer Glenn continued 

"So, now I can truly say that the luggage as been with me at all times!"

After a few laughs, Glenn unzipped the soft sided luggage and began pulling items out to tell his story.  He told of how, Camino Global (formerly CAM International and Central America Mission) is now working Globally.  He held up the globe.  He told of how we travel to minister to missionaries all over the world as we minister to others in the area of pastoral care.

It is hard to share exactly what we do, since there is a great deal of confidentially.   

He shared how just 30 years ago this month, GPBC now HRF converged on Terminal D at DFW to send us off to our first foreign mission assignment - Bolivia, June 13, 1986!  Glenn thanked the folks in the worship service for standing behind us prayerfully and financially all these 30 years.  

Thank you!

SurfSide Beach

Glenn and I took my parents down to the coast for a few days.  We had to drive through horrendous rain storms toward and through Houston to get there.  We left on Saturday just in time, just before the flooding started.  We were blessed to re-connect with some old friends who joined us for dinner on Friday night. 

We worked puzzles, ate Mexican Casserole and watched the news.

Pastoral Care Meetings

Over Memorial Day weekend and into the week, Glenn spent some time with the Pastoral Care Team, pictured below.

It has been clearly evident that we need to work together in order to reach out to our fellow missionaries in the area of encouragement, care and counsel, especially as the geographical and cultural boundaries continue to grow and the needs of the missionary body become more than one particular person can handle by himself.

We are encouraged as a team to pray for each other and visit together regularly to share resources and mutual encouragement.

Praise HIS Name Among the Nations

 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.

2 Samuel 22:50