Camp Out In the Fall

This is a little late, but we thought some of you might appreciate a few pictures and their explanation. Dana and I spent the night at the property in the fall. We stopped to take a  break after a light dig.

We were set about labouring with a shovel and grub hoe; digging drainage ditches for our road, so that the rains would not continue to wash it out.

 In this picture, Dana is brewing up some tasty oatmeal. We cooked chili beans, hot dogs, and buns on this same little camp fire the night before. We were excited to use our new cast iron pot.

Clothes Drying Savings

Do you have some extra space indoors, with little through traffic?

Why not put it to some use?

Yes, this is clothing hanging in our apartment. It has been cold outside, even raining, but this doesn't stop us from drying our clothes on a line. Even better, we can forget they are there, and if the wind starts up, storm clouds come, or night; our clothes are safe and sound. It does take about 2 days to dry, but if we keep on top of our laundry, we should be fine.

Our dryer seems to take two full cycles to dry our clothing. Since we are trying to keep our energy use to a minimum, this was just not practical. So rather than complain to our land lord for another used dryer, I bought three brackets and screwed them into a wall of a room that gets very little use. I then strung up clothes line through the room. It's not pretty, but I'm a lot happier drying our clothing this way. Next, we'll need a wash tub and a stick to stop using our washing machine.

Church

Yesterday we visited the church at Nick’s house. Dana and I were overall encouraged by the meeting.
We met new families. One having ten children, among whom, their son, Matthew, is very much into growing plants good for food.
Upon entering the house we sang an hymn and two.
Nick gave a short message on the importance of names

We were heartily welcomed.
We ate food.
The children, Nick, and Renae formed a stringed ensemble and played mandolin, banjo, classical guitar, violin, and mountain dulcimer for us. I must say, they are quite practiced.
I had some good talk with the men (which was cut short because I was scheduled to work at 3:30), about church at home, preterism, and political activism.

We were seen off.
It looks like we will be joining them again this next Lord’s day, if my schedule will permit it. Yesterday I was able to switch my AM shift for a co-Geek’s PM shift so that I could make the meeting.

MORE HOURS THIS WEEK

For any of you that have been praying in regards to my work situation, I thank you and praise God.

This week I have been scheduled for 34 hours with Geek Squad, and won't, at this time, have to work at Taco Bell part time.

We have also been invited to the church that meets in homes. This is the home of the kind family we had dinner with last Wednesday. Hopefully my schedule next week will allow for this. We'll see, since I don't know my schedule until tomorrow or Saturday.

Matt

We Met Someone!

After visiting http://www.ntrf.org/, a new testament / house church informational web site, we were able to make some contacts.

Those contacts called their contacts and so on, and well, we were invited to have dinner at a kind family's house, within a 15 minute drive.

They are a family of 5. We sang some hymns after dinner, talked about solor heating and finally milk goats. Since they raise goats for milk themselves, they had a lot of tips. Now, though I've only touched cows milk to my lips, after this talk, we are considering raising goats for milk ourselves. The real test will be this spring, when their goats calve, and I taste the milk...

They sent us home; but not empty handed. Home-cultivated honey, bar soap, liquid laundry soap, and a bag of hickory nuts were given to us.

They are part of the church here in the Jefferson City, Missouri area; who meet in homes on a regular basis. We hope to meet them again. 

We also look forward to introducing our beloved friends, who will arrive after their long journey, God willing, by April. These are the friends who hail from the far away land of Arizona; where the prickly's prick you, and the sands ride the wind.

See That No One

renders evil for evil to anyone...

These were the words of Paul to the Thesselonians. Jesus had similar words with his disciples.

There is much fear of tyranny, injustice, and oppression.

I have lived in America, "the land of the free" all my life; I do not know taranny as some do. I have only read of the evils done by some; and while I am rocked to the very core of my being when I hear of some of the injustices done to others; my first impression is retaliation.

I believe this is the response of natural man, and although sincere, it is not the nature of the Christ nor his Father. Jesus had legions of angels at his disposal when he was taken by the Cheif Preists and his men, but he did not call upon them.

He would have lost if He succombed to Satan's temptation, He would have lost us. But he won, he conquered, he beat the power of death. He did this not only for us, but for those who persecuted and beat Him and crucified Him; when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Those too, in this world, who do not treat others with respect, mistreat them, even kill them; some at least know not what they are doing. If they knew what it was they truly were doing, they would cry for their souls.

I can not say I would act rightly in the face of fear; but I believe this is the truth.

His words are truth.

Snowy Morning

This is a picture of me removing snow from our car before heading out for work. Dana is taking the picture from our doorstep.

A light blanket of snow has been our theme lately. Even when the sun shines all day, it doesn't melt the snow away completely. Then another small snow cloud will bring more snow.

The ground is frozen and it's so bitter cold, I believe one could get frostbite just standing in one place too long.

There is a blessing that comes with the freezing weather; there is ABSOLUTELY NO MUD!