The March Gang

I know, hold on to your seats we have made a post within a week of the last one.  I always have good intentions, but seem to get distracted.  Tara has really been doing good with this thing.  We truly are thankful for all of you who stop by and see how we are doing.  We also love the comments you leave especially any you leave for the kids.  It lets them know they haven’t been forgotten and someone back home is thinking of them. It lifts their spirits and puts a smile on their face.  I assure you Tara and I appreciate it very much.

I got back from Scotland on Friday night after a long week.  I must say that at first I was a little on edge about the whole “teaching at a college” thing, but after the first day it went great.  The students there were also great and a lot of fun to be around.  I enjoyed getting to know them and the time spent with them outside the class room.  There is a large variety of nationalities represented at the school.  I also enjoyed my time with Bro. & Sis. Kelly.  They have been missionaries to Scotland for at least 25 years now, and have a awesome work there.  The church is running on average now  100 plus people and no signs of slowing down.

I did have a little bit of excitement on my flight to Glasgow from Belfast.  We boarded the plane and was taxiing onto the run way when one of the passengers got sick.  I wasn’t paying attention real close because I had my iPod on, but by the time I realized what was going on we were heading back to the terminal.  They have this guys laying flat down in the seats and have given him oxygen.  We sit for awhile waiting for the EMT’s to show up.  They arrive and check the guy out and then take him off the plane.  That is when the real excitement began.  All the stewardesses gather around the seat the man was sitting in and make everyone in the three rows in front of him and behind him get up.  They then tear all the seats apart.  They take all the coverings and cushions off the seats and then make everyone standing claim all the baggage in the overheads.  The thought didn’t even cross my mind until they started searching for possible planted bombs.  They were making sure the guy didn’t plant something and then fake an illness to get off the plane.  I was glad they searched, but since they brought it to our attention I was hoping they didn’t miss anything.  We were delayed about 40 min, but finally was cleared for take off again.  We arrived in Glasgow without a hitch.

Tuesday I am leaving to attend the Central Illinois Men’s Conference held in Herrick.  There are seven of us from Ireland that will be attending.  We are looking forward to it and know we are going to have a great time.  I of course am leaving Tara and the kids.  She is a trooper I tell you that for sure.  God has blessed me with an awesome wife.  I will say that the next trip to the states everyone will be with me.  My father-in-law has given me strict orders to the fact.   We are planning on coming home for a visit around the end of May, first of June.  That is when we actually have to come back and raise our new budget.  Lord willing that wont take long, but the time spent home will be good.

What a busy weekend. Some times it feels like all we do on weekends is run at full speed. This weekend was no different. Riley helped the Bunch’s move out of their house. They came back last week to finish packing up, so they could move back to Louisiana. They had to be out of their house on Saturday, so they stayed the weekend with us. We enjoyed having them here this weekend.  We want to say “Thank you David & Farrah for all the food and items from the container that you donated to us.” We will keep you in our prayers.

We had great services on Sunday at both churches. Bro. Jim Connolly from Belfast ministered in the services. Sasha was baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus. This is a young lady that is Peyton’s age. She has spent the night with us before. She is a really sweet girl, who is becoming good friends with Peyton and Kirsten. We were all excited that she was baptized. Then it was off to Dublin for the 1 1/2hr drive, along with a stop at McDonald for lunch in the car, because we have no time to sit down and eat. After a awesome service there we loaded back up for the drive home, along with a stop a Dominoes for pizza, to once again eat in the car on the way home. Most of the time we pack our own lunch, but this week it just didn’t work out. So, as you can see we feel as if we run all weekend long. It is worth every minute though. We have precious saints at both churches and we really enjoy the work at both.

We had to get Riley packed yesterday to go to Scotland. He flew out last night, so that he could teach at Harvest Bible College this week. He is teaching two classes a day for fifty minutes each. He was nervous about it, but I am sure he is doing great. He flies home on Friday night. Then flies back out on Tuesday to go to a men’s conference in Herrick IL. He is the world traveler. While the kids and I get to stay here by ourselves. My dad told him he better not come home after this without his daughter and grandchildren.

Bro. & Sis. Mac and I took Peyton to have an x-ray of her hand today. She has two knuckles on her right hand that have been swollen for a month. Riley took her to the Doctor on Friday and he wanted her to have x-rays. We now have to wait for two weeks for the results to be sent to the Doctor. I am just thankful that I had the Mac’s with me. I know that I wouldn’t have found the place by myself.  Please keep Peyton in your prayers that God will take care of this for her.

Like everything else in Ireland, we only got a “wee” bit of snow.  It started last night and we thought we were going to get a big snow.  When we woke up this morning, it was barley covering the ground.  We did get enough for the kids to build a snowman, or more like a snow woman.  They were so excited this morning to get to play in it.  Simeon was so excited that he dressed himself, which included his pajamas and a coat, and then went out to make a snow angel.  I had to make him come back in and get properly dressed, so he could help make the snowman.  Peyton and Kirsten worked really hard to get it finished to surprise me.  Simeon, however, lost interest and came back in to warm up.  He then went out to take his picture with it.  It was a very wet snow, and is almost gone already.  It did provide a couple of hours of fun.  Peyton and Kirsten were upset that they could not have a snow day and take off from school.  We told them it would have to be pretty bad for them not to make it to school, since they are home-schooled.  It was a good effort, though.