New Friends, Old Friends and Robbers!

Dakota on Career Day
at school

Once again, I am writing as we travel down the highway. It’s nearly 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 15 and today is our oldest grandson’s 8th birthday! Dakota is the first born of our son’s two children. It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight years since I first held him in my arms and whispered that first of many prayers, that he would accept Christ as his Savior early in life and follow in his dad’s and granddad’s footsteps by serving Him.

Well, in 2007, while we were on furlough and visiting some of our supporting churches in Alaska, Dakota called us and told us that he had asked Jesus into his heart! Some may think that that is too young, but for a child who has grown up hearing about Jesus’ great love for us every day of his life, it is not too young. That is about the same age both of our children accepted Christ as their Savior and our two oldest grandchildren were also saved around that age. Dakota has been in church since “before he was born” and continues to attend faithfully the church where his mom and dad are both on staff. (This just happens to be the church where Mike was pastor for 14 years and where our children, Kristy and Brandon, grew up.) Dakota also attends a Christian School, the same one that we started 20 something years ago and from which his dad and Aunt Kristy graduated.

Of course, I realize that all this wonderful training is no guarantee that he will grow up loving the Lord supremely and want to give his life serving God, but nevertheless, that continues to be my prayer for Dakota, as well as for the other of our five grandchildren.

It’s hard to believe that, just a week ago, we were in Las Cruces, New Mexico, sharing our ministry with the precious people of Scripture Baptist Church. Since then, so many things have happened.

Mike at the Grand Canyon

On Monday, we began our day of traveling early so that we could stop in Tombstone, Arizona, for a few hours. This was the famous western town where Wyatt Earp was lawman and also where the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was fought. After lunch, we traveled on and spent the night in the historic town of Williams, Arizona. Then, on Tuesday morning, we took a train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Railway provides a lot of fun and entertainment and during that 2 ½ hour ride to the Canyon we were entertained with lots of cow jokes (which I thought were “udderly” ridiculous!) and a guy with an accordion that played and sang. He even played a little harmonica music with a harmonica about an inch long. (Get it? A “little” harmonica music? Okay, okay! I hear those groans!)

Train Robbers!!

After spending some three hours or so viewing that awe inspiring canyon, we caught the return train to Williams. This time, we were serenaded by a guitar player, followed by a short delay as the train was stopped by comical and bumbling masked bandits on horseback who proceeded to board the train and “rob” us and “torture” us with more lame jokes if we had nothing of value.

After a such a wonderfully fun and relaxing day, we got in the car and drove about an hour farther to Prescott, Arizona to spend a couple of days with some dear friends that had been members of our church in Tacoma years ago. It was on our way to visit Barry and Debbie Cooney that we began to hear that strange “death rattle” on the car that was later fixed by disconnecting the front wheel drive. (Thank the Lord, it wasn’t a death rattle after all!)

Not too long after arriving in Tacoma in 1980, we had our first Vacation Bible School. Among the children that we picked up on our bus were three beautiful little girls, sisters, named Regina, Rachel and Roena. (We found out later that there was also a baby sister, named Andria.) When Bible School was over, we continued to pick them up for Sunday School and eventually their mother, Debbie, was also attending. Later, Barry came into the picture and after a time, Mike performed the marriage ceremony for Barry and Debbie. In those early years, there were many struggles for Barry and Debbie, but Debbie continued to be faithful and made sure that her four girls, as well as Barry’s two children when there, were in church. When we started our Christian school, the children were enrolled and Debbie, volunteering her time and working without pay, worked by my side in the school for many years.

Debbie & Barry Cooney

Even during the most difficult of times, she continued to trust the Lord… and oh my!... how God has blessed them and how mightily God is using the both of them! Barry, for several years now, has worked as a counselor, helping those with alcohol and drug addictions and witnessing for the Lord at every given chance. Debbie continues to work in a school setting with special needs children. They are faithfully attending a wonderful Baptist church in Prescott, where Barry serves as music director and Debbie is in charge of the nursery. (The pastor of their sweet church graciously allowed us to present the field of Honduras at their Wednesday night service.) Barry and Debbie’s love for the Lord and each other serves as a testimony of God’s mercy, love and faithfulness. To all those around them, especially their children and grandchildren, they are examples of how God honors and blesses those who put their trust in Him.

Me and my beautiful Corrie

While visiting them, we also got to see two of their children, Corrie and Bobby (they will forever be my children, too!), and meet two of their precious grandchildren. I truly believe that God has a very special plan for their beautiful daughter. I can’t wait to see where He will lead her. Hang in there, Sweetie, and keep your eyes on Him!! God is good and serving Him is ALWAYS worth it!

A big “THANK YOU” goes to Barry and Debbie for their hospitality and for being such a tremendous help and blessing to us. May the Father repay your generosity as only He can! We love you!

We left Prescott on Friday morning and it was on to Phoenix, and quick visit with Mike’s cousin, Stacey, and her family. We had seen Stacey only once since she was a little girl. Now she is a beautiful and godly young woman with a wonderful and godly husband and three precious children! It was our first time to meet Russ and the children and to be in their beautiful home. What a sweet time it was, too! We so appreciated them taking time out of their busy schedule to accommodate us and allow us time to get to know them and stay in their beautiful home. They, too, have been such a tremendous blessing and help to the work in Honduras and will share in the Heavenly rewards of those won to Christ!

Saturday morning we were off again, on our way to Chula Vista, California and the Bible Baptist Church. This precious church has supported us for 16 years, even though this is the first time we have met them face to face. Pastor RC Wetzel was raised in the same church as Mike and I under the ministry of Dr. E.K. Oldham, even though he is the same age as our parents. When Mike and I were first missionaries and trying to get enough support to go to the field, Bro. Wetzel took us on as their missionaries just on a recommendation. Since we had no other supporting church within a thousand miles of Chula Vista we have never made it that far south and west. It was SUCH A JOY to finally meet this church and their dear pastor who have so faithfully supported us for so many years! There are no words to tell them of our appreciation for what they have done over the years.

After enjoying lunch and visiting with Pastor Wetzel, his sweet wife and two of his grown daughters, we once more, with the car loaded and ready to go, took off toward Mojave, CA, to visit some other dear friends and past co-workers from our church in Tacoma!