Getting ready to roll . . .

Yes, it's official and been long in the making. We are International Gospel Outreach Disaster Relief and getting ready to roll south.

As you know, we graduated from IGO back in 2007 with our missions license and ordination into the ministry. Since then we have worked under many different disaster relief organizations; Convoy of Hope, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodist . . .

And now it has come together and the details are completed and when we roll into the Cordova, Alabama area on Thursday afternoon these are the magnets on our truck! We are thrilled at this new venture and can already feel God's annointing!

We have most everything in place for this trip. The trailer, I will pick it up from the Orphan Grain Train in Columbus on Monday morning, park it at our church (Vineyard Community Church) for Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday. Wednesday morning we will move it to the next local city, Ellettsville, where it will park in the Richland Plaza parking lot until full -- or 6pm, whichever comes first!

It's been amazing to me to see how many local friends and family have "jumped on board" with trying to get donations! Some are looking for boxes, some are traveling to different businesses to see about donations of all kinds, others are emailing their friends and families, others are making announcements at their churches tomorrow morning, it was announced at the National Day of Prayer gathering this past Thursday, and even the folks playing Bingo are aware (thanks to Monty's incredible mother!) it's been in the newspaper and I have been on the local Christian radio station! Just awesome!

It's going to be a busy week because in the middle of gathering we will also be teaching our missions training class on Tuesday night and on Wednesday night we will be in Bedford holding our first general information meeting about our July trip to Ecuador! Exciting all the way around!

For those of you who are helping us gather -- our deepest gratitude and thanks! You are the hands and feet of Jesus and the needs are so very great and you are making a difference in so many lives -- of ones we haven't even met and may never meet! But God knows each one and He sees your heart and you will be blessed!

For those of you who are holding us up in prayer -- please don't stop! We need each and every one!

And tomorrow is Mother's Day! Wow! Already? Let's all take time to let our mothers know just how much we love them, honor them and respect them --- after all --- without them we would not be here! :) Too bad there's just one day on the calendar reserved for them -- they deserve so much more!

To my mom -- YOU are the heart of everything I do!!!!! I'll talk to you tomorrow and see you Monday morning!

Until next time . . . . prayers and praises and thanksgiving!! Susan and Monty

A quick trip to Alabama

Yes, it's official -- we are indeed making a quick trip to Alabama next week!

Thanks to the donation of an 18 ft enclosed trailer from the Orphan Grain Train in Columbus, Indiana we will be collecting donations of emergency relief supplies next week and immediately taking them into one of the hardest hit areas of Alabama.

I have been talking with one of the Pastors in the area and he is more than excited about our trip. He is also the State Director for Disaster Relief for the Assemblies of God churches in Alabama --and he's never had experience in a disaster! He and I spent quite a bit of time on the phone the other day and I am very anxious to meet him! An amazing man of God -- a true servant!

I have also been in contact with the son of one of our own church family and he is doing "okay" and helping serve meals for the Salvation Army. When we last spoke they had used all their food supplies and were down to serving peanut butter sandwiches!

The needs are so great -- beyond what anyone here can imagine -- and we hope to fill this trailer to its capacity -- and then some! It's what God has called us to do -- for now.

If you are in the Bloomington or Ellettsville areas next week here's where we will be:
On Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday we will be at our home church, Vineyard Community Church located at 2375 S. Walnut St.
All day Wednesday we will be at the Richland Plaza shopping center in Ellettsville.
From there we will head south and return the next day.
I plan on having some pictures to use here when we return and ask that everyone keep us in your prayers. Pray for safe travel -- pray for hearts to be moved to donate beyond our wildest dreams -- and that with each donation the love of God and His Peace and Love will encompass the receiver of the donation!

Also --- here are the donations we are accepting -- at the direct request of the AL Pastor ---
hygiene supplies
cleaning supplies
laundry supplies
disposable baby diapers
baby wipes
non-perishable food items

We are also looking for donations to help defray the cost of fuel down and back.

If you are able to help in ANY way please leave a comment here and I will respond if needed.

We thank you for your generosity and pray you receive return blessings a hundred fold!

Until next time . . . Susan and Monty

PS. We now have the building plans for the church in Ecuador!!!!! Awesome!!!!!

Getting Ready . . .

Just an FYI to let you know --- we are in the process of gathering supplies which Monty and I will be driving and delivering in Alabama.

Tomorrow is a big day; acquiring a large box truck, notifying local news media, talking with the family and church connection in Alabama . . . a really big day! Please keep us in your prayers and I will let you know more details as I get them.

Our plan thus far --- acquire a truck, set a location where folks can bring their donations and fill the truck to capacity and then off we go!

THIS is God's calling for us right now! He spoke loud and clear and so we are getting ready.

Until next time . . . prayers and more prayers are needed for everyone that was in the path of these immense and destructive storms! Susan and Monty

Going? Staying? Waiting!

Everyone has seen the damage from the the storms and tornadoes that have struck all through the south and lower midwest areas of our nation. The worst since the early 1970's! Our prayers MUST go out for everyone in these areas -- and continue to go out as this won't be "ok" as quickly as it will be out of the news.

Now comes the question we are already being asked and will no doubt be asked many more times -- "are you leaving to go and help?"

The answer is "not now." God calls us and He also releases us from things and right now we have not finished what He called us to do here.

When we started our satellite branch of our missions training school back in January we made a commitment to finish it -- and that will be the first week of July. God called us to do this and He has not released us from its completion.

We are also committed to the upcoming mission in Ecuador in July. He called us to be His hands and feet in the construction of the church and we said "yes, send us."

Where we go from there is up to God. He will release us from these two commitments and He will call us to another.

For some ---this is very difficult to understand. For others --- it's easy because they are also following His calling and His timing.

It's not always easy for us. Like I said, our hearts go out to anyone suffering from natural disasters! We WILL be praying for the survivors and all those that God does call into the service of helping them rebuild.

We thank you for your support, your love and your prayers.

Until next time . . . Susan and Monty

Then . . . and . . . now

Remember last Friday night when we visited the household with 10 children? Remember that Cheryl was a friend in Monty's past?

I want you to know she keeps her own blog and she wrote about Monty -- get the tissues as it's heartfelt, amazing and hopefully inspirational!

She knew him "then" and has seen the "now" after God's miraculous touch!

Just thought you all might like to read it.

www.treasuresfromashoebox.blogspot.com

God is all about relationships and I can't wait to see what He has in store for this one!

Until next time . . . blessings and love to all. Susan and Monty

Boots or Boat?

Easter --- what a glorious day! These are our grandchildren after finding all their hidden Easter eggs! The rains forced us to hide them all inside but they didn't care. Luke even told me last week that he was "practicing" finding eggs! Kids!!!!!

Speaking of rain !!!!!! I do believe we may need to trade in our boots and get a boat! Heavy storm after heavy storm has come through over the past days. Roads are flooded out and streets are holding water like never before. And more is in the forecast for tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday!

Monty is on his 8th straight day of working. He started a big project of removing and replacing the skirting on a mobile home along with seal coating the roof. The roof is done, the old skirting is off and I took it to the dump, the rails for the new skirting are on and he is hoping to get enough break tomorrow to finish up the job! He worked all day Saturday in the rain and hopefully will get that break tomorrow?!

I took on the job of mowing lawns here in our subdivision. And with all this rain -- I think I might need to replace the tires on the mower with skiis!

But on the bright side -- I don't think I've seen things this green in years! It's beautiful!

We do hope all of you enjoyed Easter yesterday! Our church service was fantastic and even "more better" since we closed with baptisms! I love it when we close that way -- what a celebration to go out on! Some of the children's church did an Easter skit for us that was awesome -- and as always -- brought cheers and joy to all of us watching! Those teachers do such a great job and should get alot more credit than they do! I think God has special crowns awaiting them in heaven. Jesus had such a love for children while He was here on earth and they are our future! The kids in our church make me believe our future will be just fine!

Tomorrow is my Bible Study and hopefully a bit more information on our trip to Ecuador. I have all the forms ready to begin our Volunteer meetings. Putting this together has alot more details than planning something here on US soil! I picked up our donated tent and sleeping bags this morning. A couple in our church gave them to us and we are so thankful as we don't have anything like that! What a blessing!

My next project is to put together a few pictures and make some calls to local churches to see if we can come and tell their congregations about this upcoming trip. We are hoping to raise awareness, volunteers and funding. Please keep us in your prayers!

Until next time . . . anyone know where I can find the plans Noah used to build the boat?????

Susan and Monty

A Past Relationship = "Floods" of Joy

MANY, MANY thanks to Cheryl for sending me this photo -- I am still kicking myself for not bringing our camera which meant Cheryl is the one taking this and not in the photo --- next time!!!

Quite a few weeks ago we got a comment on the blog from someone I didn't know -- someone from Monty's past. She had somehow found us and was interested in what we were doing. She told us all about her family, complete with 10 children! Through a series of emails Cheryl invited us to their home for some time with the children and dinner. They live about an hour from us and finding the time when both our schedules would permit wasn't easy but last night was that night.

We arrived late afternoon which allowed us some time with the children -- and with 10 of them it takes some time! :) We were also able to find out just how Cheryl did find out about us after, well --- let's just say it's been almost 30 years since she and Monty had seen one another. The puzzle pieces were filled in as the room filled with conversation, questions and laughter!

Watching that many children do what they do was incredible! The older girls preparing the meal, a German feast!!!! made me think they should be doing a cooking show on TV!

When Dad got home dinner was served and the joy and laughter around that table had to be a small taste of what it will be like when we get to heaven and are seated at God's big table!

After the meal the children took turns singing songs and playing their instruments for us! They told us how they travel to churches to sing and play and now I see why they are in such demand! It brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart hearing them! And what a way to celebrate Good Friday!

After dinner we showed them some of the videos we have of our disaster work. It was a great time to tell stories of how God shows up and shows out and that if you feel God has called you to do something -- no matter what the world says -- do what He called you to do!

Before we realized it the time was nearing midnight and we still had an hour to drive home. It was really difficult to leave -- that family spirit and closeness is contagious and it just felt really good to both of us. I know God knew just how much we needed that.

As soon as we started home so did the thunderstorms! Lightning like I haven't seen in awhile accompanied by heavy downpours. And upon walking in our front door nearing 1:00am the tornado sirens started blaring! All was fine, just ALOT of heavy rains and more of the same forecast for tonight!

What did we learn from last night? More things than I can possibly write here but the main thing is that God is truly all about relationships and sometimes when you least expect it, with whom you least expect, He will bring about a closeness and joy and blessing that will blow your socks off!

Thank you Cheryl and Terry and all the children for opening not only your home to us but more importantly -- your hearts!

Until next time . . . remember tomorrow is Easter and let's all go to church and celebrate our real Freedom! Susan and Monty

Working and waiting

Well, we almost worked from sun up to sun down!

Monty is working on another mobile home. He's skirting and sealing the roof. Today I got to go along and learn how to remove old skirting -- I have a whole new appreciation of it, that's for sure! He also got the sealer on the roof -- an amazing feat to accomplish in one day. He said the sealer is like mixing glue and takes stirring for almost forever to get it to the right consistancy.

I had to leave him by early afternoon to come back to our subdivision and mow lawns. The gentleman who has been mowing for residents the past few years has a full time job now so I decided to try and earn some income by posting flyers on everyone's door offering my mowing services. In 2 days I had 4 lawns lined up for the summer! And with the rain we''ve had and more on the way everyone wanted theirs done today! I managed to get 3 of them done (one wants to wait till next week) and then our own.

By the time Monty and I both stopped the sun was going down -- and we were starving and filthy!

Now we are full and clean and exhausted!

But it was a good day, the sun was shining and it was such a blessing to be outside enjoying it all day long!

And now we wait for the storms forecast for tonight and possibly severe ones tomorrow!

Until next time . . . let's all take some time tomorrow -- Good Friday -- and remember what our Lord Jesus went through -- all for us! We will never be able to thank Him enough!

Susan and Monty

80 mph

Yep -- it's quite a bit after midnight and we are in the hospital parking garage riding out the severe thunderstorms!

The winds are nearing 80 miles per hour and we know well enough what high winds can do so we head to the concrete parking garage, park on the lowest floor which has us under ground level and wait it out. Yes, the dogs are with us -- they know the drill and expect to "go" as soon as the first clap of thunder hits!

It does seem it's nearly over so home we go and hopefully for some sleep.

What a way to spend the night after an amazing missions training class --- under the protection of God's arms!

Until next time . . . Susan and Monty

Hear it in her words . . .

These are just some of the people we will be meeting in Ecuador.

There is a You Tube video just released and for all of you who would like to know some of the background of this upcoming trip I encourage you to go to this video and hear it from Pastor Martie herself, hear her passion, hear her joy and hear how God works through those who take the phrase "send me, send me" literally!

Go to You Tube and do a search for "Pastor Martie Spaulding" and it should come right up. It was just released a couple of days ago. You'll be glad you did.

Blessings to all.

Until next time . . . Susan and Monty

Dealing with the government!!!!

I needed this picture -- taken in December of 2009 while Monty and I were in San Antonio. After spending literally hours working with taxes here and documents there and forms elsewhere . . .

We all know this is the week all our taxes have to be completed. We sent our off to the tax man the first part of February but I didn't receive anything until today -- the same day I also received our property tax statement that has a BIG mistake on it --- which caused the amount due to be 6 times higher than it should be! Guess who will receive my first phone call tomorrow morning!!!

Then I had a form that had to be completed and could only be done online. No problem, I did it on Monday afternoon and after all 8 pages were filled out and the payment being entered I was ready to push the "submit" button -- and away it went --- or I thought so. It then gave me a screen saying there was a problem on their end and gave me a phone number to call. Of course it was after hours by that time so today I made the call ----many calls!!! Turns out there's absolutely no record of my paperwork but the payment sure enough went through! And now I have to do the paperwork all over -- and pay the fee --- again --- and they can't even start the process of refunding the first payment until I fax over a bank statement showing the deduction.

Frustrated???? You bet!!!!!! But tomorrow is another day -- I pray it's a bit smoother!

Yesterday was more than a busy one! Bible study in the morning followed by a meeting about the Ecuador trip. We covered so many questions and I was able to provide Pastors with a list of information we hope they can bring back with us on their trip. They leave tomorrow. As soon as they return we will begin holding "general information" meetings for anyone here locally interested in the trip.

I had to make one more stop on the way home, which ended up taking nearly 2 hours so both Monty and I got home just in time to wash our hands, let the dogs out and head to our missions class. It was a great class teaching us in depth about ethics, character and integrity. Wow! It had our heads spinning and brought about some great conversation!

So the past couple of days have been pushed for enough time -- Monty is working on rebuilding a mobile home and has the skirting done, the deck done and another one jacked up and ready to be moved before starting on the remodel of the inside! Not enough hours!

But . . . standing on the promises of God to always be with us we know tomorrow is a new day, a day to praise our God with. Today I am praising Him for forgiveness! What about you?

Until next time . . . blessings to all. Susan and Monty

Another week forward . . .

Once again I find myself wondering where this past week went! And I refuse to believe it has anything to do with age!!!!! :) Thinking backwards . . . this morning's church service was awesome. Pastor Dave has been focusing on the last 7 words Jesus spoke while on the cross and each week I have had a new revelation on those words. Today's were "it is finished" and once again I came out with a new perspective and a renewed sense of thanks for all God has done for me! Last night we were blessed to be guests at the banquet honoring the homeless here locally. The Genesis Shelter opens tonight and the banquet was a fund raiser with a guest speaker that had some excellent points on poverty and homelessness and how we should all not only be aware but be involved. One statement he made has really stuck with me -- "what if every homeless person, every struggling mother, every addicted father, every person going through a tough time had a personal, one on one, mentor?" Think about that for a minute . . . it's life and world changing -- or could be! We have turned in our volunteer forms and are awaiting a schedule to see when and how often we will be volunteering. Yesterday was also our church work day -- mixed in with some pretty hefty thunderstorms! It was time to pull weeds, clean out leaves, trim shrubs and spread new mulch. Through perseverance through winds, rain, storms and then sunshine it got done. I left late afternoon to get cleaned up for the banquet but Rob obviously stayed until the job was done because this morning it was beautiful! Friday was the Hannahthon where everyone chipped in to raise funds for our Crisis Pregnancy Center and maternity home. I answered incoming calls for a couple of hours and then moved to the prayer room where we had prayer requests that were continually covered with prayer. The announcement was made today that the goal was reached, just barely, but my oh my the blessings that will come from every dollar pledged and given! Friday was also the day I got word back from my bloodwork and some re-adjusting was done with my thyroid medication -- and I am not liking the results so will be making a phone call tomorrow! Thursday Monty and I went to check on a request for mobile home repair work. We met a wonderful man and his wife who need some new skirting and roof work done. It was great to visit with them and Monty will be getting back with them tomorrow to see if we can get things worked out. Wednesday was my day with grandchildren and while Liv was napping I took the opportunity to go outside and do some yard work and clean up some flower beds for my daughter and son in law. I love working outside so this was an added joy for me. Tuesday was morning Bible study -- always uplifting and amazing -- and I came to the realization that God's "word" for me here recently has been "mountain." Whether in song or scripture that word is there -- I love how God speaks to us! Tuesday evening was our missions training class and the video for this week was an eye opener. It was the story of missionaries who went into Indonesia and by the end everyone in the class was thankful they had committed themselves to learning more about missions! They are all working on their research papers and must be doing well as no one had questions -- at this time anyway. They have until June 7th to get it completed! Pray for them. :) And now we look to this week. Severe thunderstorms with high winds forecast for tonight and into tomorrow -- always fun! Tomorrow Monty will be working on more mobile homes and I will hopefully get class homework graded after taking my grandson to preschool. Tuesday is back to Bible study with a meeting about the Ecuador trip following. And that brings me to the newest announcement about that --- we will START BUILDING ON MONDAY, JULY 11th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So either wipe the dust off your passport or go and get one if you don't have one, find a tent and sleeping bag, check airlines flying into the capital of Quito and let me know you are interested in joining us and not only changing the lives of thousands of Ecuadorians -- but also yours!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are only booking volunteers for 2 weeks ---the weeks of July 11th and 18th so don't let time get away from you! I have all the info you will need so just leave a comment here or email me if you have our email or call me if you have my cell phone! I did talk with Joe (Ms Faye's speed build - March 2007) and he is definitely interested in going along with some of his guys from the WV team, the NC team and the FL team! We are so excited and so anxious to see what God has in store! God gave us the "mandate" to "go to the nations" and this is exactly what we are planning! We would love to have you join us in building this church on the mountain (Guangaje) for Pastor Francisco so all those who currently walk for hours to come to a broken down "building" for church can come to a real church to praise and worship and thank our Lord! Same Lord - different culture = life giving and life changing! So our new week has already begun -- and I know it will be one filled with blessings from God! I plan on listening for what He has for me and then being ready to say "send me, send me" knowing He will do exactly that! "Today I choose life by choosing Your way!" Service = active helpfulness; simple assistance in trifling, external matters Take the step of faith into servanthood today! You'll be glad you did -- God promises you will! Until next time . . . be a blessing to someone every day! Susan and Monty

Looking Ahead

Monty and his "uniform" needed for skirting mobile homes -- and the end result! His perfectionism is a gift -- the folks in the mobile home park are very happy!

Our weekend just flew by -- probably because of the wonderful weather. Sunshine and warm temps always make the time go by quicker. We spent the entire two days outside cleaning up our storage barn and tool trailer and Monty's truck. Or I guess I should say we "tried" to get them all cleaned --- 1 out of 3 completions isn't too bad --- considering how messy each one was/is!

Our Monday started off with severe thunderstorm warnings that combined with tornado watches. Each of those is with us for the duration of the day! Atleast I was able to get my granddaughter to her sitter and my grandson to preschool before the skies opened up and the rain came in downpours! Such a day gives me the time I need to grade the homework of our missions training school students and put together a few more plans for our upcoming trip to Ecuador.

Our students are really doing well and continue to amaze me with their homework! In the beginning we told them that they would each get out of this class exactly what they put into it and they listened and took it to heart! Their homework is well thought out and very insightful! We are really enjoying facilitating this school and thank God for the opportunity to teach others about missions and God's mandate to tell the world of His amazing love and forgiveness!

Of course, on a fun note --- tonight is the NCAA basketball championship game and we are so thrilled that Butler is in the final two! We live less than an hour from this school and will be cheering for a win!

As I look ahead to this week this is a glimpse of what I see -- so far:

tomorrow morning is Bible study with our missions class in the evening. It's also the day my youngest daughter gets back home and the day I hopefully get to see that big diamond engagement ring adorning her left hand!!!!

Wednesday is taking the kids to babysitting and school, stopping off for some bloodwork and xrays to check a few things, then back to babysit my granddaughter for the day.

Thursday is set aside for school paperwork and to hopefully talk with our tax man!! Pray for us!

Friday is the telethon for our local Crisis Pregnancy Center and Hannah House. Hannah House is the home for unwed mothers and this is the big fundraiser for them both. I am volunteering to man the phones for as long as they need me! If you know me at all you know that putting me on the phone is a good spot for me! :) Let's all pray they bring in more than enough and that God showers them with more than abundance!

Saturday is our spring work day at church and that evening is the banquet for what's called Genesis Shelter. Genesis church, along with the help of many local churches (Vineyard included) opens a shelter for the homeless during the spring and summer. Monty and I have volunteered to help out and have been through our training so now we wait for them to open. They are shooting for April 10th. We were't able to help last year since we arrived home in the middle of it and were trying to settle ourselves but this year we are looking forward to joining in. Please pray for the homeless, no matter where they are -- they are everywhere and it's our responsibility to care for them -- without judging them!!!

So this week is a busy one! Nothing new, all awesome and hopefully all to the glory of God!

May God bless you this week and until next time . . . Susan and Monty

It's Official

Yes, it's official -- Lindsay and Zac are engaged!!!!!! God is so good! Zac actually called me on Tuesday to let me know his plans and ask for Monty and my blessings and we were more than happy to bless them! Every mother just wants her children to be happy! This mother knows that her youngest daughter is more than happy! Zac is an amazing blessing, not only in Lindsay's life but in mine! I still smile when I remember how they went to grade school together and it took all these years for God's plan to come to fulfillment! I couldn't ask or have dreamed for a better son in law to be! Please join Monty and I in prayers of thanksgiving for Lindsay and Zac! Until next time . . . "what God joins together . . ." Susan and Monty

Big Tuesday

Tuesdays are always quite busy for us. This one is no exception. Bible Study this morning was power packed and filled with blessings and thoughts to carry throughout the day, week, year and life. When Pastor Martie entitled her message "Pitch Your Tent in the Land of Hope" I had an affirmation from God ring quite loudly in my ears. One of the things we are working on for our trip to Ecuador in July is how and where to house the volunteers. We are doing construction on the side of a mountain at over 10,000 feet elevation! There are no hotels, no bed and breakfasts, no power and no running water! As I have been working on this a suggestion was made that the volunteers bring their own tents! At the time I did think it was the perfect solution and when she gave the title to her message this morning God affirmed that it IS the answer I have been looking for! That mountain will indeed be transformed into a mountain of Hope and each volunteer that comes will be Hope in the physical sense! As I returned home and got on the computer to email a document to the gentleman taking care of the website for the church (stonegatefaithcenter.org) I found an email that I have been waiting on for weeks! Our dear friend from West Virginia (who has since moved to Florida) who was responsible for the building of Ms Faye's house in 5 days back in March of 2007 (you can go back through the blog to read all about it) contacted me to say he is definitely interested in Ecuador and will be less than an hour from us next week, on a business trip! We drew up the "design" for Ms Faye's house on a napkin while having dinner one night and I feel another one of "those" nights coming up! And now we are in last minute preparations for our missions training class tonight. We are doing an in depth study of one of the assigned books, "Go to the Ripe Fields First." This is a great book and I know each student will be blessed with this teaching. Not to mention blessed by all the snacks that have started appearing each week! After all, food always makes the evening better, doesn't it! So, another Tuesday filled with blessings, relationships and God speaking out with the things we need. I am so thankful that we don't have to "figure this stuff out" all by ourselves! How about you? Stuck on something? Have you asked God? If so, have you been quiet enough to hear His answer? Until next time . . . continue to be blessed and be a blessing! Susan and Monty

The Greatest Victories . . .

First of all --- as a response to the comment left on the last blog from "George" -- our testimonies are not recorded anywhere, just day by day through this blog. Thank you for your kindness and yes, God is in the business of miracles and transforming lives! And He is a perfectionist! In my Bible studies a few days ago I ran across a comment that I had to write down -- it really spoke to me and although I wasn't sure why, at the time, the past few days have brought about the answer. "The greatest victories can only come out of the greatest conflicts." It seems conflicts have not only surrounded me personally, but my entire family lately! There really is no need to go into details as the details aren't the important part. We all know about conflicts and I always have to go back to one of the things Monty stands on ... "I always know I'm on the narrow path if satan is beating me up along the way." I think my whole family has more than their fair share of bumps, bruises, scrapes and scratches from the recent "conflicts." "But God !!!!" God ALWAYS has a plan, a perfect plan, the ultimate plan! We are just too blinded by the conflicts to see it. And we are amazed as we see it unfold page by page, paragraph by paragraph! Even more amazing is how God goes about accomplishing His plan -- the "surprise" person He uses to speak through! This is what is happening in my family. Probably the one we all least expected has risen to the "challenge" and listened to what God told him to do -- to reach out, to share personally, to lift up those struggling and to help bring peace to everyone! I love the scripture "blessed are the peacemakers . . ." So if you find yourself in conflict (and who doesn't !!) --- remember that God does have the plan and He is trying His best to teach us something through that conflict. None of us like correction, no matter what our ages! But sometimes it's necessary and in that correction the truth comes to the surface, the problems can be addressed, healing can take place, love can be restored and even strengthened -- and the one you least expect can be the peacemaker! Oh, what an awesome God we serve! Until next time . . . Happy Birthday to my brother, Johnny!!!! Susan and Monty

Boggled Mind

There's been so much going on the past few days I hope I can remember it all! I love it when God is busy showing us new and exciting things!

Sunday was a great morning at church and immediately after I headed off with my youngest daughter to make a visit to her other grandmother. She fell a couple of weeks ago, had a bout with pneumonia and is now in a local rehab trying to get better. The added problem is that she has been diagnosed with Alheimer's disease and so her mind isn't working as it should be. None of my children have been faced with anything like this from their families and it's a bit more than tough for them. We had a nice visit with her and some other members of the family and also had time to visit with each other. Hopefully we can make another visit before too long.

Monday started with Monty and I making a trip to a couple of mobile homes that Monty had been asked to take a look at to possibly skirt them. We checked them out and then made a stop at the local salvage yard where I learned how much fun it is to check crashed and trashed vehicles for parts! I found a radio that should work in my truck and now all we need is that special little tool "thing" to remove it from the crashed truck. That's for another day because Monty got a call from his step dad and they were ready to move a shed and put up an awning on a trailer they had moved over the weekend. That kept him busy till way after dinner time.

Yesterday was my Bible study day -- one of the best times of my week! Pastor Martie and Susan had asked if I could stay after for a meeting to make further plans for our Ecuador church building trip. We sat in the front of the church for another 2 hours answering questions and creating more. They will be making a "look-see" trip next month and I will be providing them with a list of things we need answers for before we start building. For now it looks like the building will be scheduled for the first part of July -- probably right after the holiday of the 4th. We hope to have a 2 week period to schedule volunteers. The church itself will be cement block and roof so not alot of detail but yet an amazing blessing for the Pastor Francisco and his congregation who all live in the mountains. I promise I will keep you posted with any and all recent updates as I get them. Monty and I will be overseeing the project for its duration. We hope to arrive a few days before the volunteers so we can get the tents set up for housing and materials brought up to the mountain and staged for the build. There are so many preparations that need to be made and I ask for your prayers to cover us both during the planning but also during the building. This is an awesome ministry relationship that is being built and we pray to follow God's direction and His perfect timing in it all.

After that meeting I had a 5 minute stop at home before heading to yet another meeting. It lasted until time to pick up Monty and head off to our missions class. It was good to have everyone back from spring break. Our lesson was a tremendous education on the Muslim religion and very eye opening in so many ways. Everyone got alot out of it and all of us are becoming closer and closer to each other each week. This week the snacks were brought in by quite a few folks and we all had fun -- that joy of the Lord thing again!

This morning Monty was up and out working on the trailer skirting before it was even fully daylight. I was off to my Mom's to help her cater her ladies church dinner held this evening. It was a full dinner for 60 women and we had our day cut out for us! My sister in law also came to help and it's a good thing as we were all 3 busy the entire day! My nieces joined us for the evening to help serve and clean up. My dad and brother came to help dish up the meal so it was quite the family event. I had so much fun and am amazed at how much work my Mom puts into her meals! Everyone there enjoyed every bite and left with huge smiles on their faces and more than full tummies!

So now it's late night and although my body is more than tired my mind hasn't stopped racing! I have phone calls to make tomorrow to hopefully get some more answers on the Ecuador trip, laundry that has piled up and bookwork to tend to. Somehow I know God will give me the rest I need and the renewed spirit to get it all done. Monty will be heading back to contine work on the other trailer skirting so hopefully the weatherman is wrong when he says the temps will only be around 40 tomorrow! It's been in the high 70s the past few days and wonderful!

Be sure and stay tuned and if any of you have any interest in volunteering for the Ecuador trip or making a donation towards it please leave a comment at the end of the blog with your contact information and I will get details to you. Note that the comments you leave will be seen only by me and if you do leave personal information I will not post them for others to see.

We appreciate your support and prayers!

Until next time . . . be blessed. Susan and Monty

She's ready to meet Jesus

I don't know where this week is going? Can it really be Thursday already?



Backing up . . . our Tuesday night missions class was awesome! The teaching was packed with so much valuable information that we all could have stayed around talking for hours! It focused on 21st Century Missions and how we must change with the changing times. So many more things were brought to light for me and things I know God placed directly in front of me to use on this upcoming trip to Ecuador. We also were blessed when the wife of one of our students brought pizza dinner in for everyone! Many thanks to Del and Jean!



Wednesday brought a taste of spring to all of us! Monty was off and running quite early. He had received a phone call from a little elderly lady the night before saying the skylight on her mobile home was leaking. She had been referred to Monty by the park owner who had seen one of the skirting jobs Monty had done. Monty had also made a visit to his office letting him know that if anyone in the park needed help with anything . . . thus the phone call. She had no idea what to do but he reassured her he would be there the following morning to check things out. She couldn't believe he wasn't going to charge her a fee to just come and look!



So off he went. He's always said God puts little elderly ladies in our path and he's always right! He said she was "quite" elderly and in very poor health. He climbed up on the roof to find a seal around the skylight was cracked so he headed to get the parts to do the repair. Within a short time he had it resealed and she was one very happy lady. When he only charged her for the parts she was happier -- and in disbelief. Monty took the time to visit with her and to pray with her. He said she was ready to meet Jesus and was such a joy to visit with! Ministry at its finest once again!



I spent most of the day putting together odds and ends for Ecuador and the volunteers who will be building the church. Forms and more forms with letters of basic information and more forms and more information. Like I said, I don''t know where the time goes.



Today we had an early morning meeting and once again Monty headed off to work. This time his step dad called and needed some help moving a mobile home. It's a great day to be outside as spring is even closed today -- or atleast feels like it with the temps pushing 70!



I got the joy of babysitting my grandchildren this afternoon. We had lunch together and the littlest one decided it was just too nice of a day to waste time taking a nap! Outside they headed and just in time for Mom to take the rest of the day off and come home. They were waiting on Dad and then headed to the park!



It seems we are going in many different directions lately. God is stretching us, teaching us and preparing us for the next step -- whatever that might be. As long as He holds the planning book we're okay. It does break our hearts to watch what all is happening in Japan and we beg of you to please keep them all covered in your prayers! This is a disaster of many proportions and we all need to let those who are experts get in and do what needs to be done. They all need constant prayer and if we all band together the power of those prayers will be unsurpassable!



Until next time . . . blessings and peace! Susan and Monty

The incredible shrinking tree

Don't be fooled by the picture -- I'm not the one who cut down the tree -- I'm the one the rope was tied to and it was my job to pull the branches as Monty was cutting them -- so they wouldn't fall on the house!!! My, oh my did the neighbors get a kick out of watching us over the weekend!

All went well and the tree did "shrink" according to the description of my 2 year old granddaughter! The woodpeckers fought us with each branch being cut -- they literally would land in the tallest remaining branches and squawk and squawk begging us to stop. But they did return after it was cut and seemed quite happy. It really wasn't about the tree -- it was about them not having food hanging in that tree for a couple of days!

The other two pictures are from the mountain in Ecuador where we plan on building the church, hopefully in July. One is Pastor Angel with his family and the other is Pastor Edison digging the foundation. Now we don't even have any building plans to them and yet they are up there diggin away -- trying to get a head start! We might have to re-adjust it a bit but who are we to stop them from preparations! What an exciting adventure this is going to be! I know God has so many miracles just ready to show us and we are thrilled to be a part of this project and to be able to see what He has in store for everyone!

This is spring break here at home so we are able to drive where we want with less traffic, get in and out of check out lines with record speed and even park on campus or downtown if we want to. Sure makes a difference when you live in a large college town!

We are also in the process of making plans to travel to Bettendorf, Iowa to make a visit to one of our very special teams and their church. We are always trying to raise financial support and especially with this overseas project coming up and we haven't been to see our dear friends so we plan on doing both in one trip! They have opened their hearts and homes to us and after a phone call to their Pastor tomorrow I hope we have it all set. We love speaking at churches and sharing our hearts with them and opening their eyes and ears to the calling God has placed on our lives! We hope to get the opportunity to do alot more of those kind of visits!

Until next time . . . pray for all those in Japan who are enduring hardships that really are beyond description. If you are like many who would like to donate financially to this relief effort our suggestion is to donate to UMCOR -- United Methodist Committee on Relief as we know that 100% of your donation does go to the people! Thank you and may God bless you for your helping hearts! Susan and Monty

The planning begins

My mother made it back from Florida and her little dog made it back to her! My dogs haven't stopped sleeping even today - exhausted from their little visitor!

Tonight is our first official meeting about Ecuador and building a church there. Please keep us in your prayers as this isn't like building a church here in the states. Monty and I have volunteered our services - we agree to go and stay for the duration of the build. Many, many things will need to be put together - both ahead of time and while there. We do not have a time plan at this point but will let you know the minute we do.

Please keep us, Pastors Jan and Martie and Schel and Susan in your prayers as we meet this evening to "get the ball rolling." Pray that we are right in line with God's plan and His perfect timing!

Until next time . . . blessings to all. Susan and Monty

Always Learning!

Incredibly powerful Bible study this morning! I found out I'm not the only one being beaten up by satan! Seems many of us were in the same boat! It was so helpful, so spiritually refilling, so uplifting, so energizing to learn more about how to operate in our annointing and our calling! Thanks Pastor Martie!

From there I enjoyed a non-planned lunch with a couple of the women who also drive from Bloomington to Bedford for this study. We all ended up at good ole' Wendy's and spent quite some time getting to know each other better and continuing to fill each other up. Thanks Bev and Donna!

Now we put together the final plans for our missions training school class tonight. Everyones homework is graded and ready for them to pick up. The DVD for tonight is entitled "Hungry Decisions" and really good. All the studens will also get information on their research paper that they will be writing. We have handouts and plenty of instructions to go with them! They will be selecting an "unreached" people group and after introducing us to them - in great detail - they will be writing about a "plan" they would use to reach those unreached people with the Word of God. It's detailed, takes alot of research and preparation and reading and typing -- but it's a wonderful project when completed. Please keep them in your prayers.

And tomorrow morning I will be meeting my Mom to return her little dog to her. She is flying back from Florida as I write this and won't arrive home until late this evening so we will meet half way tomorrow. I hate to tell her but he (Humphrey) has made the decision to stay!! Of course our dogs, Bitty and Samson, aren't so sure that would be the right decision! The green eyed monster of jealousy runs through their veins!!! :)

Tuesdays are always a day of learning for me. A day of wonderful revelations, of remembering what I already knew and forgot and of learning new things -- new ways to feel the love of God and new ways to follow Him and the calling He has placed on my life!

I love Tuesdays!

What have you learned today?

Until next time . . . blessings to all of you! Susan and Monty

Babysitting

The past few days have been a bit busier than usual. My mother is in Florida visiting some of her other grandchildren and great grandchildren! She loves going to visit them and my dad is a bit more content at home. I think he's actually started clearing another wooded area!!! If you don't know what I mean, look back a few blog entries and see his picture!

Anyway, my parents have a little white fluffy dog -- if it were only that easy! This little feller has a really tough time in life! He is a Bischon mix and more than enough skin problems for an entire litter of dogs! He itches constantly and has bare patches all over his little body. Mom has made numerous trips to the vet, tried nearly everything known to man and still he itches and scratches himself raw. Yes, completely raw! He has a special diet and meds to be applied to his skin not to mention keeping a kids size shirt on to keep the itching from doing so much damage. He is just too much for my dad to care for alone so he's with us.

If you already know us you know we have 2 small dogs of our own. They have their routines, whether we are living in our camper trailer out in the field or here at home in our house. But now those routines have been "interrupted" and watching them fret is hilarious! Today is day 4 and we can see some "settling" starting to happen!

Yesterday was bath day and haircut day and by the time they were all done I was exhausted, soaked to the skin and covered in dog hair -- and smiling from ear to ear! It was a blast!

And today I got to check facebook and see pictures of my mom in Florida and that also brought a smile -- so glad she is enjoying some time away, some time to play!

And now some "sneak peaks" at what we have going this next week: Monty will be finishing the mobile home skirting job tomorrow and hopefully picking up another in the very near future. He is taking on these jobs to try and bring in more financing for us -- yes, times are more than tough around here but God promises and we believe!

I have grandkids school duty tomorrow, Bible study Tuesday along with our missions training class, more grandkids school and babysitting on Wednesday and hopefully Thursday evening we are having our meeting to discuss the plans to build the church on the mountain in Ecuador! Monty and I are so excited about this next adventure! It will be great to start on some concrete planning. Please keep us, and the entire country of Ecuador in your prayers.

And those things are just what I have written on the calendar! You know how that goes!!!!! :)

Be sure and stay tuned as I know God has some surprises in store. One big one -- my daughter is going to start "trying" to get me in better shape by training me in her gym! Oh my, this should be good! She has her certification and has been busy as can be since her competition last weekend. She even had a fitness photo shoot this past week so I figure I better take full advantage of her offer while she still has openings!! :)

Until next time . . . thank you for all your prayers and support! Susan and Monty

Sunshine!

Yes, today the sun was shining and the temps actually reached the mid 50s! It was great!

Class last night was also great! A really in depth study of prayer and prayer walking. I don't know how many of you have ever been prayer walking. I had never even experienced such a thing until we had a couple of teams of volunteers come and work with us while we were in New Orleans. They had specially appointed team members who prayed over the homes, neighbors homes and properties while the rest of the team worked inside the home. It was quite powerful and even though we may never know the results of any prayer walk I know God answers prayer and the Bible tells us that "wherever two or more are gathered together He is there in the midst of them" so I believe blessings were poured out over those prayers!

We got into some really good discussions last night and were able to minister to one of our classmates who lost her job yesterday for being "too joyful" at work??? It's that "joy of the Lord" thing and for those who don't understand . . . We know God has something great in store for her and all she needs to do is stay obedient and listen for His direction for her life.

Today was my day with my grandchildren -- taking Luke to preschool and babysitting Liv in the afternoon. They are just so much fun and always come up with the funniest things. When we were talking about how Monty and I are going to cut down the tree in front of our house Live was certain we were going to "shrink" it smaller! And she wants to come and watch! Out of the mouths of babes . . .

I also have another very special prayer request this evening. Our own Pastor Dave has a cousin that has been diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer! Please cover, really cover, him and his entire family during this tough time. None of us realize the power we have inside of us, God given, and we all need to use it more often and with more faith and trust and power.

An added prayer request -- tomorrow my mother will be flying to Florida to spend some time with her other grandkids so please pray for safe travel and a blessed time with all of them.

Until next time . . . try some prayer walking and see how much better you feel.
Blessings, Susan and Monty

Prayer

Tonight is our missions training class and I'm so excited because the lesson on prayer and prayer walking ties directly in with our lesson at Bible study this morning! God must have something big in store since He is covering it in both the morning and the evening!

We always look forward to our weekly classes and it's just amazing how all the students are becoming family in such a short amount of time! I love it that God is all about relationships!

I also received an email from Pastor Edison in Ecuador today! He thanked everyone for their hospitality and prayers while they were all here. They are working away digging the foundation for the new church to be built -- and they are digging by hand! Men along side women, all with shovels in hand and some women with babies strapped on their backs! Literally! There still is no time table for the actual building but they are getting ready and thanking God with every dig of the shovel!

Please keep all of them, and their congregations in your prayers! We are going to the nations and these missions training classes are preparing others to do the same.

Until next time . . . blessings to all of you! Susan and Monty

She did it!!!!

Yes folks -- her very first fitness competition and she comes home with a trophy!!! She took 5th place and it was incredible! When they called her number out of the crowd -- and I mean a crowd of participants -- I thought I was going to faint. And then I looked up and saw her calm and collected smile and so I kept on taking pictures!

She has been training for this for over 4 months and has dedication like no other. I got to meet her 2 coaches today and they agreed that they can designate the menus and plan the workouts but she is the one who had to do the work! And do the work she did! She was relentless! And during it all she got more than her fair share of not so supportive comments but she hung in there -- stayed focused on her goal -- and thus took home the prize!

My heart is bursting with joy for her! To see that smile on her face after it was all over was amazing! She was ready to take a shower and wash off the spray tan -- but first -- she planned on drinking a couple gallons of water since part of the final program was limiting her liquid intake!

Tomorrow she heads home -- a true winner! And a bit more icing on her cake -- she starts her brand new job as a full time fitness trainer at one of the city's largest gyms on Monday!!!!

God is so good!!!!!!!

Until next time . . . thank you, Lord -- thank you!!!!!! Susan and Monty

Missions Class

There they are -- our missions training class right here at home! God selected an amazing group of folks with real hearts for missions.

Last night our class focused on "Building Strategies for Missions" and we all gained quite a bit of knowledge from it. We covered everything from how to define our mission to planning approaches to the greatest commandment and the greatest commission to defining our goals to finding out what all is involved in each area and how to be flexible in everything! Alot !! you say? You're right!

This group was laughing last night at how quickly they have bonded into family and it's such a blessing for Monty and I to be facilitating it all! Another of God's perfect timing things! He sure is good at that sort of thing!

We are almost counting the hours until our daughter's fitness competition! She continues to do well and now her diet is undergoing some last minute changes and she is thrilled -- she gets to eat hamburgers!!!! Please continue to cover her in your prayers -- and we thank you for doing so.

Speaking of prayers -- also cover Timothy -- our dear friend in Florida. He and his wife are going through some tough trials in ministry and again we thank you ahead of time for your prayers.

Until next time . . . what's your concept of missions?? Susan and Monty

A Life Changing Power

Here she is folks -- my daughter who has been training for months for her fitness competition! THIS Saturday is THE day and yesterday was the day to do some hair "fitness"!! She invited me to come along and as you can see by her expression -- we had fun!!! Please keep her in your prayers as each day she gets closer to her dream, her goal and whatever else God has in store for her! Love you Lindsay!

The title of this entry is "A Life Changing Power" and is directly from Pastor Dave's message this morning. I sent him a text message after telling him it was all I could to to stay seated and not stand up and shout a quite loud "amen" all during the morning!!

He started a series entitled "A Declaration of Independence" a few weeks ago and each week has been awesome but this morning . . . priceless! Allow me to share some of the highlights from my own perspective . . .

The subtitle of today; "Compassion: More Than a Feeling" taken from Mark 6:30 - 44.

1. Compassion involves: commitment!

When Monty and I started out on our mission to help those suffering in the wake of hurricane Katrina we "committed" to one year in the field; 365 consecutive days in the field. We looked at it as an opportunity that God gave us. It came at what some might (and did) say was an inoportune time! We both had full time jobs, health insurance and our first grandchild. We own our home, have 2 dogs, both of our families are right here, we taught the youth at Sunday School and were head over heels involved with numerous projects at church. Leave for a full year?

2. Compassion involves: assuming leadership!

Our belief was that God was showing US the need because He wanted US to do something about it! We were the "somebody" in "will somebody please do something?" The definition of compassion, according to our missions training class is "a consciousness of the needs of others coupled with the desire to act" -- well . . .

3. Compassion involves: teamwork!

There was no way the two of us were going to head south and make much of a difference on our own! It was going to take teamwork, teams and teams and more teams of volunteers who also felt that compassion and the desire to act as God tugged on their hearts.

4. Compassion involves: cooperation!

Thousands of folks needing help and thousands wanting to come and help. And of all those thousands, on both ends of the spectrum, very few actually knew what to do. But with their cooperation in working together to do whatever needed done -- guess what! It got done! Homes were rebuilt, one at a time and lives were rebuilt in the process.

5. Compassion involves: God's Intervention!!!!!

"It's impossible" was the first reaction of many, homeowners and volunteers alike! But you know what? When the impossible happens -- God intervenes Bib Time! As we are obedient to use our power -- God uses His and miracles happen -- right before our eyes!

Now -- let's apply this in a REAL way with a REAL story!!!

Some of you may remember from back in March of 2007 the story of Mr Mike and Ms Faye. For those of you that don't -- a quick refresher. We received the paperwork for Mike and Faye with the word "emergency" written at the top of it in Sept of 2006. We called and were at their house the very next day. Rain was literally pouring in their home, the bedroom ceiling had already collapsed onto their bed, the floors (carpeting still in) were soaked with so much water it came up over the tops of our shoes, holes were in the floors and walls and mold had taken over. The more we looked around the more we realized we were "up against it" for sure. Monty even told them "there's nothing I can do for you, but I know someone who can -- so let's pray!"

That initial prayer, using what little power we had was all God was waiting for as He stepped in and . . .

Shortened version --- 6 months later we put them in a brand new, stick framed home, fully furnished and landscaped! It was built with 23 obedient, not so skilled folks who just came to "do whatever needed done."

God moved mountains, God touched inspectors, God broke barriers, God touched the hearts of so many, God brought funding where there was none, God brought donations where there weren't any, God took every single thought of "my little bit won't make any difference" into miracle after miracle!

As Mike lay in his hospital bed, having his leg amputated due to diabetes -- God took what satan meant to steal, kill and destroy into blessings beyond measure, beyond explanation and beyond anything we simple humans could have done! God changed lives! Not just Mike and Faye's -- He changed the lives of complete strangers, those who just read about it in the paper or saw it on television and had to drive by and see for themselves, those who stepped onto the property and said they just "felt something special", those who dropped off food for the volunteers, those who prayed for everything and everyone, those who worked day and night and sometimes got those reversed due to lack of sleep, those who did not believe came to believe, and most of all -- we (Monty and I) were changed! Our lives have never been, and never will be, the same!

I experienced commitment, the assuming of leadership (blind leadership at times), teamwork, cooperation and God's intervention! I experienced TRUE compassion! I experienced miracles! I experienced the human race at it's best (and worst)! I experienced God like never before!

So my thanks, true, heartfelt thanks -- to Pastor Dave for this message! It ignited that spark inside me that has been a bit on the dim side for awhile! That spark of compassion that -- when lit -- can change the world!!!

Dear Lord, take our obedience and bless it and increase it so the needs are met."

Until next time . . . take control of YOUR life away from others and experience life changing power from our Lord, our Savior, our God -- our Everything! Susan and Monty

"Double" school!

What a busy week it's been and it's only Thursday!

Monty has been very busy helping his step dad in their business of relocating mobile homes. He's headed out again tomorrow morning for another one. He's also finding some "winter" muscles that aren't real happy about being found!

Tuesday night we had our missions training school class and the focus this week was on the Heart of a Missionary. It was taught by one of our IGO missionaries who has spent the past 18 years as a missionary in southern Mexico. He really nailed it! All of our students are also doing very well with their homework and finding the geography quite challenging! They also are required to write small book reports on each assigned book reading and it's really been interesting to see their personal responses! They are doing such a great job! Some are even asking for details on the upcoming research paper but it's way too soon to start on it!

Tonight is our Spanish class! I think I have some sort of mental block with learning this language! Either that or it's age?? I refuse to claim that but . . . I am really struggling! We bought the book the teacher is using, we get videos from the library (some are cartoons) and yet it just doesn't seem to click with me. Monty is doing quite well so . . . We'll keep trying! Pray for us!

Today it finally feels like spring just might be around the corner! Yesterday the temps reached above 60 and the same with today. I spent most of the day outside trying to clean up the yard and pick up limbs that came down in the ice storm a few weeks ago. I know it's not going to last but it's nice to get out in the fresh air and not freeze to death! I must not be the only one as the neighbors are out and the walking trail through the city is packed!

Until next time . . . thanks to all of you who continue to cover us in prayer and continue to support us. It's been extremely tough (financially) the past few months but we stand on God's promise of provision! Blessings, Susan and Monty

He Did It!!!!

This is my Daddy! He just turned 80 years old last month! And yesterday when I went over to visit my parents he wanted my mom and I to come and take some pictures. I can't EVER remember my dad "asking" for his picture to be taken??!!

Nearly 10 years ago he bought a piece of farm land that had an old house and a woods on it. Ever since then, all during the winters, he takes his chainsaw and 6 wheeler and heads to the woods. He cut each and every tree down on his own. He cut some into firewood and the large logs were sold. He has piles and piles of branches and twigs and who knows what kind of critters have been blessed by these large piles of "home."

And now -- he wanted pictures because the last tree is down! Yes, 10 years later and the last tree is down! A true Kodak moment if I've ever experienced one!

They say that age is just a number and we're only as old as we feel and there's no such thing as retirement . . . I say he's a special gift from God -- to me! Yes, I have to share him with my 3 brothers but I am the only daughter so . . .

This Daddy of mine, along with my mother who also doesn't know the meaning of the word quit -- instilled a work ethic in me, a passion for others, a passion for helping, a passion for nature and a love for God that is unsurpassable!!!

I am so blessed and so thankful and am so happy I got to share in the joy of seeing that last tree on the ground and the smile on his face and the joy in his heart!!!!

Daddy, you're the best! You set the bar high in your example to me and I intend to do the best I can but . . .

I love you and Mom so much!

Until next time . . . thank someone in your family for being your family! Susan and Monty

Equiped?

Indulge me -- this message has been resounding in my head so it must be for someone else too!

The Holy Spirit leads us --- satan drives, pushes, presses and causes us to panic! He's the one who brings in the doubt and fear. Do we settle ourselves enough to know the difference? Do we turn off all the outside noises and voices to really hear Him?

Do we know whose we are? satan sure does! Why do you think he fights us when we are following God?

Has God called you to a time of resting? If so, He just may have you doing so in order to prepare you for an upcoming battle that you're not aware of. Are you truly resting? In Him? In His Word? What about the annointing of the "shut up"? Are we just wearing ourselves out?

Do we try and go in our own strength and our own reasoning? Do we really know better and more than God?

Do we use the power God gives us? Really? Do we take God's Word for "real" and let it speak to us and calm our spirits? Or are we double minded, tossed and blown around in doubts and fears and panic?

Do we know our destiny and realize that if we don't fulfill that destiny it's gone! No one else will be selected to pick up our slack. God calls us -- each and every one of us -- and He doesn't call the equipped, He equips those He calls!

Like I said, this message has been running around and around in my head and heart and try as I might, I know I fall short in every single area. But acknowledgment is the beginning and so . . .

The book of James is a great one -- go there and do some reading, rest in His Word and see if you gain some of the extra power and knowledge and wisdom needed to fulfill the calling He has placed on your life!

Until next time . . . all of that can also come from attending church tomorrow!!!!

Blessings and love to all. Susan and Monty

Special Dedication

Lindsay -- this one's for you!

I am going to get a little personal this evening -- get ready!

After the birth of my second child I was advised against having any more children. My son had weighed in at a whopping 10 1/2 pounds and the daughter that followed a little over 9 pounds. I was only 23 and just couldn't face making that decision at such an early age.

And so . . . 5 years later another daughter was born. That pregnancy had had more than its share of difficulties and the birth was no exception. Within hours of her birth, which ended up being nearly a month early, one of her lungs collapsed and we were told that if we were "religious" people we might want to have her baptized. Our Pastor came to the intensive care unit of the hospital, cracked open a baby bottle of water and baptized her through the arm openings of the incubator. Within hours her other lung collapsed and the pediatrician told me he'd "done all he could do" and now "it was up to the man upstairs." We were given the time period of 72 hours -- waiting -- and at the end of that time she would "go one way or the other." All during those hours of waiting I had a sense of calm that was indescribable -- and for any of you that know me you know just how ridiculous that sounds -- me, calm???

Sure enough, at the end of 72 hours she was breathing on her own and improving by the hour. After another week in the hospital she was able to come home. We were to keep her away from people for atleast 6 months to allow further healing of her lungs and hopefully at the end of that time period she would have doubled her birth weight of 8 pounds.

At her 4 month check up the doctor was nearly speechless. She had more than doubled her weight and all the tests they did showed she was perfectly normal!!!

As time went on she grew and grew and was nearly attached to my hip 100% of the time.

At the age of 3 she got very, very sick. The doctors said it was mono! They also said it was so severe her liver was swollen to 4 times its normal size and more than likely she would have permanent liver damage. But God . . . no liver damage and just fine.

By the time she was 6 the stomach aches she had occasionally were becoming more and more frequent. Stomach aches in children? Very common. But these were different. These were worse than stomach aches. We went from doctor to doctor to doctor with no results. Her temperature was nearly 104 every single day. After 9 months of this we finally went back to the pediatrician who cared for her at birth and he knew it -- Crohn's Disease. My first thought? What in the world is that and how do we get rid of it?

Riley Hospital here we come --again and again and again. We made weekly trips for years. There is no cure for Crohn's Disease. It's a cruel and extremely painful disease and reeks havoc on ones body. No matter what the prescribed -- it didn't work. At one point in time I was giving her 38 pills a day -- and no improvement.

Through the years we battled this disease constantly. Each year she would miss so much school that we would receive the ever expected letter saying she was in danger of being held back. We installed a fax machine so the teachers could fax over her homework and I would take it in to school. This worked out well but each year I would have to make the trip to the school and explain that when she says she has a stomach ache she actually does have a stomach ache! By the time she reached high school I thought we might have to withdraw and do homeschooling. She did manage to graduate with flying colors -- her grades were always excellent.

She made the cheerleading squad two years in a row but had to withdraw the second year due to being so ill. Her years of playing soccer were also in the past. She was rail thin and had no color. Those years were very difficult to say the least.

After high school she enrolled here at Indiana University and did well, but she couldn't take the full load of classes like the others so it took 5 years to get through -- no big deal. But she just kept getting sicker and no medicine seemed to work.

All I could do was pray, long and agonizing prayers -- please help her! And at the age of 18 her doctor said there was a new medicine. It had it's share of possible side effects but what did we have to lose? She would go to the chemo area of the hospital where she would be hooked up to an IV and sit for nearly 5 hours while this medicine dripped into her system. It was a blessing from heaven because it worked!!! She did this for years, every 6 to 9 weeks.

Through her adult years this was her life. Get the medication and feel good for a few weeks before starting to feel sick again, get the medicine and . . .

Her health was never good. She was plagued with anemia. Numerous problems along the way but she fought and she hung in there and did the best she could.

Adult life brought jobs and trying to not miss too many days because of not feeling well. She lived in southern Florida for a few years and a summer in Boston before finding a job that brought her back home. With that new job came new insurance that didn't like the cost of that medicine and refused to cover the cost.

Back to the doctor who pulled out all the stops and prescribed yet another medicine that she has to inject herself with every 2 weeks. Thank the Lord, it works!

As she began to feel better she started getting into fitness. She did some workouts on the beaches of Florida and even thought about doing some personal training. When she came back home she got into it even further and really started concentrating on fitness and exercising. She worked up to working out every single day. We could all see the positive results and then she did something amazing --- she created a website to reach out to others who are dealing with physical problems. Her goal was to help them help themselves to a better life. She started with just a few followers and they grew and grew in numbers and they started commenting back to her with thanks and positive comments of their own.

And now . . . she has a gift --- and she is using that gift! She has been in intensive training over the past few months -- training for her first fitness competition! She has given it all she's got, her dedication and motivation unlike any other. She has a couple of trainers and has stuck to her nutrition regime better than probably any other person I have ever known. She gets up at the crack of dawn to do her workouts and prepares her meals better than a chef.

Her body has changed and improved and now she is 2 weeks away from her first competition! Tonight she called to say she reached her goal with her body fat --- 9% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, the single digit of 9%. Her trainer said he's going to ADD fat to her diet for the next 2 weeks! ADD fat??? You've got to be kidding!!! Amazing!!! Her dedication, her obedience and her example to others is unsurpassed!

When I called to get tickets for this upcoming competition the gentleman on the other end of the phone was in stitches -- I had no problem telling him I was one proud mother who wanted front row seats!!!!! He got us in the second row!!!!

And now she has accomplished yet another goal -- she passed the test and is certified to be a personal trainer! She wants to reach out and help others with their own personal goals! It's her dream -- but more than that -- it's her calling! Is that incredible or what??!!

To go through what she has gone through, to be this successful, to be this inspirational . . . I am so proud of her (yes, Daddy -- proud) and I just wanted to share her story with all of you.

We all have a calling, we all should be an example for others, we all should . . .

Lindsay IS DOING IT!!

My dearest daughter, you are truly a gift to me from God and I thank Him daily for you!

No matter what the outcome is from this upcoming competition -- you are a TRUE winner in my book --- and the book of so many others!

May God bless and keep you -- may He uplift you and fill you with all His love!!!!!!

I love you!!!! Mom

Congrats Packer Fans

Yep -- the Packers did it! We didn't really have a favorite team but we do have alot more friends in the Wisconsin area than in Pennsylvania -- sorry! We were blessed to go to Tony and Kristen's house last night for a fantastic super bowl party -- restaurants don't have as much food as they did! Wonderful!

The past few days have been days of trying to thaw out -- and not fall down! I wasn't sure we would ever get Monty's truck unfrozen! The doors seemed like they were welded shut but finally we got just enough sunshine on one side that I got it chipped open and then the other side! What a mess! Our front sidewalk, on the north side of the house, just thawed out this afternoon! It's been quite the challenge but we survived!

School is back in session and my grandkids were thrilled when I pulled in to pick them up this morning! Grandma's "sweet ride" back on the road to school!

We've been busy grading homework papers from our missions training school students and all are doing well. This week we will see about scheduling our make up class. Hopefully we can get 2 classes in 1 week so we can get back on track.

Tomorrow is my weekly Bible Study and I am anxious to see how Pastor Martie is doing after her arm and shoulder surgery. They are also planning another trip to Ecuador to survey the land on the mountain in preparation for the construction of the church. I think it might be next month before they can go but . . . I emailed a few of our volunteer teams who have worked with us over the years and told them to brush the dust off their passports and learn a few basics in Spanish as they might need to head south, far south, and build a church! And not at all to my surprise -- they all responded that they would be ready when the time came!!!! Family!!!

We will keep you updated as we are updated. God has some very exciting plans ahead so hang on -- we're going for another ride!!!!

Until next time . . . be safe and be blessed! Susan and Monty

Frozen!!!!!

If I didn't know better I would think we were in Antarctica!!

The ice came in sheets, then the rains poured and added to the ice, then the winds started blowing and gusting to nearly 50 miles per hour, the tree limbs weighted down to the point of dragging across the roof of our house all night long! I wondered if they would hold up under all that weight -- they did!

The temps did warm to freezing allowing some of the ice to melt off -- just in time for the snow to fall and our power to go out for most of the night! Monty said he could look out the window and see the transformers blowing all across this area of the city! Thank goodness for extra blankets as all we could do was wait it out. There are thousands and thousands still without power and the entire state is nearly shut down!

The county just to the east of us, among many, has issued a warning to drivers that no one can be on the roads unless it's an emergency!

So our missions class last night was cancelled along with most everything else in the state. Even Indiana University closed! I can't ever remember that happening! But it is just that dangerous out there -- with all the ice you can't even walk!

So . . . a great day to be inside, do a little Bible studying, watch the birds at the feeders outside our window and be thankful that we don't have to go anywhere!!!

Until next time . . . be safe and be blessed. Susan and Monty