Faith

Here is a quick up-date for you faithful friends.  I can’t tell you how much your encouragement, calls, emails, invitations and assistance has meant to me.  I couldn’t have accomplished this without you!

Thankfully my back has “stayed steady” with all of the packing.  It is not back to normal, but I have been able to continue packing by exercising extreme care not to lift too much or reach out too far which I know will set it back.  I can see the “light at the end of the tunnel” on this end now and I am praying for health and strength to get things unpacked on the other end and in place so I can then give my back some good needed rest.  I have also been able to control my lung/chest congestion with medication.  I know that my allergy to dust does not help with all this packing.  It is amazing how much dust I find hiding behind and under items that have not been recently moved.

Plans are in place to load the truck on Wednesday (7/31) and unload in Sebring on Friday.  I am blessed to have a friend from Sebring that will fly up here on Tuesday, help pack and then drive the load to Florida.  All I need do is recruit some men to help to carry things to the truck.  I will try to take it easy on my back, but I know that will be a challenge.  I do not like to stand by and watch others do the work.

I have been reading the Gospel of Mark and was reminded of the great importance of our faith in Jesus.  We read about so many miracles that he did in his travels and then he returns to his home town were everyone is amazed by his wisdom and miracles, BUT “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their lack of faith.”  (Mark 6:5-6)  That is a good reminder to me to keep my full trus/faitht in him.

Thanks so much for your encouragement.  Feel free to contact me, as I suspect that it may be a bit of a challenge getting set up to be on line for a bit after the move.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Wisdom needed

Last Thursday, daughter Sue arrived from Sault Ste. Marie, MI to give me some more help in getting things packed.  Now that is quite a drive…around 20 hours!  We accomplished quite a bit so felt we could take some time off to drive to Sumter to spend some time with Justin, Laura and Ella.  I actually believe that it was a good thing for me to get away from the boxes for a bit and relax my back.  I feel much like I am camping out in my home now with so much packed for the move.  The kitchen is pretty much packed leaving me 2 bowls, 2 glasses, 1 saucepan, and 1 small fry pan.  Not enough to have any more parties here.

As the time is getting shorter, I am trying to sandwich in as many opportunities as possible with friends in the area.  Later today I am going over to Raleigh/Durham to spend some time with former neighbor Keith.  It will be good to be able to catch up with him again.  Telephone calls are just not quite the same as sitting across from each other face to face.

My back is doing quite well but seems to be at a standstill in regards to improvement.  I suspect it is due to all of the extra things I have on my agenda that requires using it more than usual.  I also picked up a bit of a bronchial congestion a few days ago that hopefully I can eradicate quickly with a dose of antibiotics.

We have another delightful group of 26 adults and 21 children at the office preparing to go around the world to serve the Lord.  Each morning during our prayer time we hear several testimonies of how the Lord has prepared and guided them.  It is exciting to hear them!

As I sort, dispose of and pack items I often pray for wisdom.  This is a bit of an emotional event for me.  I would like to take everything but don’t have room for it and know that I need to do some dramatic downsizing.  I often am reminded of James 1:5-6; “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you…Be sure your faith is in God alone”!

Love to you all,

Chuck

Packing Progress

I trust that you all enjoyed your weekend.  It was a tremendous blessing for me to have Karin, Keith & Calli along with Justin, Laura & Ella here.  They helped me with much sorting and packing and also were able to use a number of items that I needed to dispose of.  The house is looking a bit torn-up with walls bare, several pieces missing and boxes all around.  At this point, I will truly be glad to see it move out of the door and into the truck heading to Florida.  My back pain sure does slow me down, but I believe with all of the good help, I will be able to get everything packed and ready to roll within the next three weeks.

I am thankful for the wonderful friends here that continually encourage me.  Rob has been keeping my grass mowed which is a great blessing and a relief for my back.  Our frequent rains keep it growing much faster than usual and my back does not much like the mowing process.  Sunday evening Rob and Connie had me over for a delightful dinner and then took me out for frozen yogurt at the Sweet Frog which acquired the name from Fully Rely On God.  I have numerous frogs around the house and in my office that friends gave to us during Carol’s battle with cancer.  Being that this is the 5^th anniversary of Carol’s passing, they thought that the Sweet Frog would be the appropriate place to go for dessert.  Carol often referred to “FROG” in her blogs.

Later in the week I am expecting daughter Sue to arrive to give me some more help with the sorting and packing.  Hopefully I can get it all accomplished within the three weeks that are remaining before move day.  It is amazing how much stuff can accumulate without realizing it.

This is certainly a good time to practice full trust in the Lord and know that at the right time he will make it happen, as the Israelites were reminded in Isaiah 60:22.

Thanks for your calls, notes and prayers!

Chuck

My Favoirite Things

I awoke this morning with the words of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music going through my head.  I don’t believe that I have thought about that song for years, but possibly “the raindrops on roses” fit with all of the rain that we have been having and “brown paper packages tied up with strings” fit with the boxes that I have been packing in preparation for my move.  I had a call from our driver this week, advising me that he will be here ready to pack on Wednesday 7/31.  With my back still giving me a fair amount of trouble, it means that I need to keep focused to make the deadline and at the same time keep all of the routine things at home and the office up to date.

Tonight Keith, Karin and Calli are driving through the night to arrive here early tomorrow.  They will be helping me with packing and will take a trailer load of items back with them.  Justin, Laura and Ella are also coming to help and will also be renting a truck to transport items back home.  I am thrilled that the family is able to use so many of the items that I no longer need.  The BIG challenge is to know/guess what I will not need on the other end.  I am sure that I will likely take a bit too much, but will be disposing of many items.  This will be the third down-size and I am anticipating it to be the last.  When it comes time for me to move the next time, I suspect someone else will be in charge!

As I continue to nurse my ailing back along with sorting , packing and disposing of items, I frequently think of Isaiah 40:29-31 describing some of the attributes of our Lord:  “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  That certainly is my prayer; to keep proceeding forward as the Lord provides the strength.

I trust that you will all enjoy a blessed 4^th as you hopefully are able to celebrate with family and friends.

Love, Chuck