Despite rain, rain and more rain, we consider the Cowboy Church and Country Gospel Jamboree hosted by our Mennonite Church to be a great success. Bless you, all who attended! Our “Ultimate Christian Cowboy”, Larry Krause, did a wonderful job as host musician and we did at least get to enjoy some of the music in the sun on the lawn in the early part of the afternoon. The barn was pretty well full for the beautiful church service, and although we could see the rain coming down outside with the doors open out behind the preacher, we were warm and dry inside. “As I Went Down to the River to Pray” was one of the music choices sung by our church’s quartet, and it was a wonderful selection having regard to the Red River flowing right by behind the barn!
The children’s message resembled a Sunday School lesson and included the children’s song “The Wise Man Built His House upon a Rock”, which was the sermon content for the day. Although our pastor was not exactly comfortable in his “cowboy preacher” role, his message was very meaningful. We sang old songs with Larry leading, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch to be served. Pastor Ryan indicated the offering(s) and proceeds from dinner would be in aid of Mennonite Disaster Services to assist in funding the various projects underway due to disasters. There was a brief presentation by Ed Buhler from Aberdeen on behalf of Mennonite Disaster Service as to why donations are required.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the pulled pork dinner with beans and coleslaw, dessert and coffee. Good thing the food was readied in a large coverall building, as the rain was really coming down and people had to make the trip across the wet grass from the barn to the food, and then back to the barn to eat it.
When the jamboree music started at 2:00 p.m., the rain had quit, and the decision was made to begin the music outdoors. The lawn chairs came out and it was nice and sunny for a while, but then the clouds started threatening again, and after a couple of sets, they moved the equipment inside – a good decision, as it started pouring and we were all happy to be in out of the rain.
The rest of the program was inside and it was over by 5 o’clock. As cotton candy does not fare well in damp circumstances, we didn’t even start up the machine. A few ice cream cones were enjoyed while the folks were outside, but not nearly as many as we had hoped...
I felt moved to share with those in attendance, especially those who are regular readers of my weekly ramblings, that our 1962 T-Bird, the subject of a recent article, was stolen from our garage in the early mornings hours last Friday. It appeared to have been a carefully planned crime and our gorgeous car is probably long gone. Just a reminder that the things we have can disappear in a blink! I can retain my sanity by realizing there are much worse things that could happen, but it is still difficult to realize there are low-life people who could do such a thing! Our son got word of the theft onto Facebook immediately and we put out the word to as many friends and car acquaintances as possible, but the car has not been sighted. The RCMP came immediately, but there is probably not much they can do either…
Friday, July 8, 2011
June 20, 2011 Living Waters Gospel Jamboree
Despite rain, rain and more rain, we consider the Cowboy Church and Country Gospel Jamboree hosted by our Mennonite Church to be a great success. Bless you, all who attended! Our “Ultimate Christian Cowboy”, Larry Krause, did a wonderful job as host musician and we did at least get to enjoy some of the music in the sun on the lawn in the early part of the afternoon. The barn was pretty well full for the beautiful church service, and although we could see the rain coming down outside with the doors open out behind the preacher, we were warm and dry inside. “As I Went Down to the River to Pray” was one of the music choices sung by our church’s quartet, and it was a wonderful selection having regard to the Red River flowing right by behind the barn!
The children’s message resembled a Sunday School lesson and included the children’s song “The Wise Man Built His House upon a Rock”, which was the sermon content for the day. Although our pastor was not exactly comfortable in his “cowboy preacher” role, his message was very meaningful. We sang old songs with Larry leading, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch to be served. Pastor Ryan indicated the offering(s) and proceeds from dinner would be in aid of Mennonite Disaster Services to assist in funding the various projects underway due to disasters. There was a brief presentation by Ed Buhler from Aberdeen on behalf of Mennonite Disaster Service as to why donations are required.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the pulled pork dinner with beans and coleslaw, dessert and coffee. Good thing the food was readied in a large coverall building, as the rain was really coming down and people had to make the trip across the wet grass from the barn to the food, and then back to the barn to eat it.
When the jamboree music started at 2:00 p.m., the rain had quit, and the decision was made to begin the music outdoors. The lawn chairs came out and it was nice and sunny for a while, but then the clouds started threatening again, and after a couple of sets, they moved the equipment inside – a good decision, as it started pouring and we were all happy to be in out of the rain.
The rest of the program was inside and it was over by 5 o’clock. As cotton candy does not fare well in damp circumstances, we didn’t even start up the machine. A few ice cream cones were enjoyed while the folks were outside, but not nearly as many as we had hoped...
I felt moved to share with those in attendance, especially those who are regular readers of my weekly ramblings, that our 1962 T-Bird, the subject of a recent article, was stolen from our garage in the early mornings hours last Friday. It appeared to have been a carefully planned crime and our gorgeous car is probably long gone. Just a reminder that the things we have can disappear in a blink! I can retain my sanity by realizing there are much worse things that could happen, but it is still difficult to realize there are low-life people who could do such a thing! Our son got word of the theft onto Facebook immediately and we put out the word to as many friends and car acquaintances as possible, but the car has not been sighted. The RCMP came immediately, but there is probably not much they can do either…
The children’s message resembled a Sunday School lesson and included the children’s song “The Wise Man Built His House upon a Rock”, which was the sermon content for the day. Although our pastor was not exactly comfortable in his “cowboy preacher” role, his message was very meaningful. We sang old songs with Larry leading, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch to be served. Pastor Ryan indicated the offering(s) and proceeds from dinner would be in aid of Mennonite Disaster Services to assist in funding the various projects underway due to disasters. There was a brief presentation by Ed Buhler from Aberdeen on behalf of Mennonite Disaster Service as to why donations are required.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the pulled pork dinner with beans and coleslaw, dessert and coffee. Good thing the food was readied in a large coverall building, as the rain was really coming down and people had to make the trip across the wet grass from the barn to the food, and then back to the barn to eat it.
When the jamboree music started at 2:00 p.m., the rain had quit, and the decision was made to begin the music outdoors. The lawn chairs came out and it was nice and sunny for a while, but then the clouds started threatening again, and after a couple of sets, they moved the equipment inside – a good decision, as it started pouring and we were all happy to be in out of the rain.
The rest of the program was inside and it was over by 5 o’clock. As cotton candy does not fare well in damp circumstances, we didn’t even start up the machine. A few ice cream cones were enjoyed while the folks were outside, but not nearly as many as we had hoped...
I felt moved to share with those in attendance, especially those who are regular readers of my weekly ramblings, that our 1962 T-Bird, the subject of a recent article, was stolen from our garage in the early mornings hours last Friday. It appeared to have been a carefully planned crime and our gorgeous car is probably long gone. Just a reminder that the things we have can disappear in a blink! I can retain my sanity by realizing there are much worse things that could happen, but it is still difficult to realize there are low-life people who could do such a thing! Our son got word of the theft onto Facebook immediately and we put out the word to as many friends and car acquaintances as possible, but the car has not been sighted. The RCMP came immediately, but there is probably not much they can do either…
Getting back-logged again
It appears I have been very lazy in putting my articles on our blog. Looks like I missed the one about our dear friends, Len and Nettie, so I'm going to put it on now:
We met Len and Nettie of Southern Manitoba, on our second tour of duty with MDS, at Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, in 2009. We immediately “bonded” and they have remained close friends ever since. As a matter of fact, when they learned John was building a sun room onto the back of our house in 2009, they came and helped for a week putting up the roof. It was like our own little MDS project at home!!
In recent years, in addition to volunteering with the Senior RV Program with the actual rebuilding, Len and Nettie have also undertaken the responsibility of receiving, servicing and inventorying all of the MDS vehicles and tool trailers at the large storage facility at Columbus, Mississippi, when the projects close. More recently, they have also been needed to HAUL some of the tool trailers and office trailers from the projects to the storage facility. It’s a good thing they enjoy traveling, as they put on a tremendous amount of miles in one season.
When we learned of the horrific tornadoes which ripped through Alabama, Mississippi and the other states recently, we were wondering whether Len and Nettie were still down there finishing up. A quick e-mail the day after the news of the tornadoes brought the following response: “We are in the midst of things down here and our guardian Angels will be getting overtime pay for sure…We have been scrambling to get the vehicles and equipment serviced and ready to respond to the devastation around us. Macon is half hour south, Birmingham is ninety minutes east, Aberdeen is twenty minutes north. Tuscaloosa is forty five minutes south east. We have strong winds, some thunder and lightning, the power went off around 4 pm and came back on during the night We expect some people tonight yet [from MDS Head Office in Pennsylvania] and by early tomorrow they will be off to investigate as to how to respond to this crisis.” We were very relieved to hear that they were safe, as well as those they have come to know and love as family down there from their yearly visits.
The next day, the following e-mail arrived from them: “The stories are coming over local media, a kindergarten class wiped out ---a person driving home when the vehicle is lifted up and found maybe seven miles away with occupant dead…” We are hoping the survivor stories will also start to come through. When we see the pictures of these places around us we know that we have truly been protected.”
We are so thankful that our friends are safe, and almost wish we could be there to help them with the initial contact and clean-up. However, the word is they have many agencies and assistance from neighbouring areas that the tornadoes did not demolish, and if MDS requires volunteers, we would be notified. Our Senior RV crews are not involved in the initial clean-up, but rather are called in quite a time afterwards for rebuilding and repairing homes for those citizens who “fall through the cracks” – the elderly and the poor who don’t have insurance. The MDS field reps are already in the area of the new tornadoes assessing where its assistance will be best provided by regular MDS volunteers. They will be on the front lines dealing with those in crisis, hearing many of the stories of the people who have lost everything.
John is in the process of getting together a local MDS response team which will be ready for action in the event of a disaster in our area. It is in the beginning stages. He has met with members of the Ministerial Association to inform them of the plans and provided the with sign-up forms for volunteers. There are no special requirements for volunteers, just be ready, willing and able to assist should the need arise. The “purpose” is: (1) to assist citizens in Prince Albert area in cleaning up debris after an initial disaster and (2) to make temporary repairs that will help secure structures and prevent secondary damage after an initial disaster (intended to address wind damage to buildings and trees and flooding damage to buildings). We were astonished to hear about the severe wind damage that was done in Prince Albert area several years ago. It certainly refuted the idea that tornadoes do not occur in our area. The consensus is that sooner or later, there will be some natural disaster which will require such a team to be ready to go.
Please call John at 763-8180 in the event you would be willing to be a part of a local MDS response team.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
