February - a brand new ballgame

We had not three, but FOUR incoming couples starting in February. The interim Project Manager/Office Manager, Warren and Carol Siemens, are from Albuqerque, New Mexico; Bruce and Martha Isaak are from Medstead, Sk; Gerry and Georgia Sapinsky are from Steinbach, Mb and David and Maretta Towers are from Vermont. The last three couples had worked together at Hackberry last year. Hackberry is just north of our location, and the Cameron regular MDS volunteers are presently building a house there. That same Cameron group is also working on a home in our vicinity, and we were very surprised to have one of the workers approach John, asking his name, and announcing that they are related. He is quite a bit younger than John, but remembered him personally from the past when he was a young'un. His name is Dan Buhler and his mother was John's Dad's sister. So that's a pretty close cousin. In addition, he is related on the Buhler side. Dan's wife Jeanette is also working with him. What a small world! They live in Gladstone, Mb.

Verna recommended that I help Carol with the office work, so while the other ladies are working on the site putting up railings, etc, I have been doing office work with Carol so far this week. Just my cup of tea. However, when John and his partner Gerry have finished boarding Project 2, I will be in business taping.

Our home has become the gathering place for the volunteers. It is not warm enough to be outside in the open much after work and as soon as the sun goes down, the mosquitos come out in hoards. It gets kind of boring just sitting in our own RV's, so we like to socialize. Yesterday, Fat Tuesday, I felt like having pancakes, so invited the whole crew over and we had a nice evening. Two couples had gone to Hackberry to visit, so there were 14 of us. Jake and Verna are still here until next Wednesday when they leave to visit their kids in Belize.

We have all been reading Verna's book: Beyond Our Wildest Dreams - New Beginnings at Blue Creek. She is a very interesting writer and has such great stories to tell of their life and mission in Belize for 18 years depending solely on the Good Lord for guidance and support. She and Jake are such uplifting people - they make everyone feel totally special - what a gift! It is also really neat to know the author and "hear" her words in her own voice as we read the book. She had 500 books printed initially, as she is really humble about her writing talents. Now they wish they had ordered 1,000 to start out with, as they are running short...

I hear my first instalment of this year's trip has been published in the P.A. Herald. Guess I'd better get working on another one....

It's kind of tough being away from home when we get news like we got last week. First of all, good friends of ours who own Fuzz, our Jughead (puppy)'s father, lost their lovely log home on an acreage by Holbein, to a fire. No one was home and they lost everything. Haven't heard if Fuzz was in the house or not. How devastating! They had just gotten married and moved in last August. We got to visit their "new" home, and it was absolutely gorgeous!

Then the day after, we learned that our dear neighbour, Vimy Martin, had passed away. He was 90, and his kidneys had been failing before we left in December. We are so thankful to have gotten to know him more personally in the last year and will treasure our memories of him. He was a real fine man and always had a joke for us. It won't be the same when we get back home.

Shari is doing okay at home. She's pretty lonesome and it's going to be a long haul for her. At least she has the pets to keep her occupied, and two jobs to boot.

We are missing the kids and grandchildren. Oh well, we'll be home before we know it. The time is passing so quickly.

There have been severe storms north of us yesterday. Many people killed across the country. We had high winds and rain over night. Our RV's were a'rockin'. We phoned Ken Mack in Tennessee be sure they were not hit. He said that the tornadoes went south of them. I can't imagine what it must be like, and never want to find out.

I took Carol to meet Archie today. He sure enjoys it every time I go over. He is an original "Louisiana cowboy" and has many stories to tell about the old days of herding cattle on horses in the bayou country.

We are looking forward to a musical weekend this weekend - about time!!!