My crazy birthday came along again — those of us with Halloween birthdays are a special species.  I can’t help but act up…

And now I will have to settle down again as we get ready to go to Cuba for three pastor conferences.  I’ll be taking wedding dresses, sweet little dolls made by Grandma Darlene, some new shirts and ties, some wonderful children’s flannelgraph Bible lessons — and more.  Les will teach, alongside one of his colleagues, and another new friend is going to be with us, too.  We look forward to this next trip and what God has planned while we are there.

Grandchildren and friends are our great joy — we love every moment we find with these growing up and wonderful young people.  Daniel is here at the University of Miami. 

Our youngest Miami grandson keeps us entertained with all his ball games.  Right now it’s football — and their team has won 6 of 7 and David’s quarterback skills are making the news. 

So, even though birthdays make us older, life is wonderful and we are so blessed.  The Lord has given us way more than we could have ever imagined. 

Until next time,

Grandma Carolyn

#1

David and his family

We started summer out with young grandson David (15) and his baseball team going all the way to state championship!  The games were up the state and we were there, you betcha!  The first game, the first inning — David was running to catch a foul fly ball, crashed into the wall, turned his ankle and collapsed. The stadium went silent.  But he limped on, ending the game in crutches.  We were in despair.  A wonderful orthopedic doctor made it possible for him to keep playing – and he did heroically.   End result:  STATE CHAMPIONS and yes, David was one of the great players, wounded ankle and all.

What a great way to begin the summer!  David has been named to All Star Dade County, the All Star State of Florida, and gasp! a National list of All Star young baseball players.  We are amazed and thrilled!

#2

sisters

Summer plan #2:  a visit to California to visit with my sisters.  We aren’t able to see each other very often, and our big sister, Dorothy, was celebrating a big birthday, so we got together and had a wonderful time. We took a day to tour San Francisco, but most of all, we loved being together these special days.

Dorothy has  three adorable grandchildren.  When she lived in Florida, we helped raise her son, Mel,  along with our four boys.  We dearly love them all and wish we lived closer.

#3

Alex & Ben (Ben's Dad/Our Son officiating)

Next was a wonderful third grandchild’s wedding for us to celebrate. Our grandson, Ben, married his college sweetheart, Alex.  We are proud to have a new, lovely and dear Mrs. Thompson in the family.  They plan to go to seminary in a year and we are simply thrilled and blessed to see God’s faithfulness and love to our family.

When Grandpa said in his charge to Ben and Alex that he’s kept a picture of Ben, as a little guy,  in his bathroom and that it’s been a reminder to pray for him all these 22 years, all the boys said they want to be there, too.

So, the following pictures will soon be added:

The Grandsons (one missing) with Grandpa

The Granddaughters with Grandma

Goodbye, wonderful summer!  Hello Fall!  What a great family we have!  What great friends you are! And what a great God we serve!

Grandma Carolyn

Jessica, Grandma, Rebekah

Les’s eye surgery kept us from getting to Macon, Georgia for granddaughter Jessica’s graduation.  So, their sweet Dad sent her down to us, along with her big sister.  What fun we had entertaining two lovely granddaughters!  Since we raised four boys, it’s always fun to see how different and charming girls are! Of course, we had to go shopping.  I don’t know, but I think heads turned as we moved along…a waiter even gave us a free dessert, so we blew him kisses.  Hey!  I love being with my grand-girls. 

At the end of the school year, David’s baseball team at Westminster Christian School became State Champions for their division.  David was named a “super-star” in our county among all the schools, as well as being named  ”rookie of the year” in his school.  He’s 15, so we have some great years ahead to watch him play. 

Here at LOGOI, we struggle because donations are not as they used to be.  We’re not off on any overseas conferences, letting them be taught by the ones who are there.  That’s good, but we do miss being a part.  Les keeps his computer aimed at helping pastors and others with their deep and difficult questions.  Of course, he can’t answer them all, so we have others who also are able to give biblical answers.

The internet has made it possible for us to press forward.  With all the resources on our website, we are kept busy.  But, as you can see, the family will always be a priority.  Love from Grandma Carolyn.

Les was asked to perform the wedding and so, of course, it was a special  privilege!  As we were moving on to the party after the ceremony, the lady ahead of me said to her friend, “Have you ever heard a priest talk like that?” It was a sacred time to speak of God’s love and I don’t think anyone missed it.

This month, we’ll have two graduating granddaughters.  Don’t you know, both of them graduate on the same weekend, but in different states.

We took in as many bags as we were allowed,  with their maximum weight   The van was totally stuffed and then we were off!

We went to beautiful Granada for the pastors’ conference. They came from all over the countryside and because of one man’s generosity, all of us stayed in little hotels around the city…even though some couldn’t figure out how to turn on the AC,  shower or fan.  Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in our hemisphere.  What a treat for everyone. 

The pastors got pretty serious when Les taught Malachi: a study on how God sees his servants who are unfaithful to their calling. 

Dr. Rogelio Aracena joined us from Cali, Colombia to teach biblical basics on marriage and divorce. There is so much common law marriage and confusion about what God says about  marriage and the causes for unfaithfulness and divorce.  

The biggest air conditioned conference room in Granada only holds 50.  We were 80 — but not a complaint was heard as we stuffed ourselves into that little room.  (It was in the high 90′s outside!)

Matt set up the computer to show the website for the first time ever.  They were dazzled.  Since less than 1/4 of them had emails, Matt helped get a pastor set up with email for everyone to watch.  Bingo!  The line formed so others could do it, too.  How helpful of Matt!  We want these men to jump aboard.  All of them have children/friends who know how to use our modern tools.

After Grandpa taught his classes, Mary, Matt and I explored as much as we could.  Check out the pictures below:

We set up shop for our pastor friends to choose things we took in.  The men’s dress shirts were so appreciated, and we had to have a drawing for the five coveted wedding dresses.

 Horse and buggy was the common mode of transportation,
with different prices for locals and tourists.

We climbed up the main cathedral’s bell tower.  We were
there for the 6:00pm ringing of the bells — yowch! 

A climb on Mt Mombacho (a dormant volcano that is
jagged, slippery & beautiful). We are between lava walls.

Mary on the Mombacho zipline

Matt showing off on the zipline.

Grandma holding on for dear life on the zipline.
 I was the oldest on the lines. 
You never know what you’ll do with your grandchildren.

A boat tour on Lake Cocibolca, the largest lake in Central America. 
What a view! That’s Mombacho Mountain as it stands today
without the tip that blew off centuries ago.

Matt got inside a “fast food” shop on the plaza where he made a
vigarón — a yuca, cabbage soaked in vinegar, pork rind delicacy
wrapped in banana leaves.  They love them — we didn’t.

Street children were not shy.  After Matt gave one 8 year old boy a little wooden car, he came back , banged it on the table and said, “I’m going to sell this!” and ran on.  But we saw him later and he still had it.

Our experiences were great as we saw again some of this needy world Christ came to redeem.  How we admire those faithful pastors and wives who continue to seek those who are lost in difficult places.

You can read the rest of my history on our LOGOI website, since the main letter is by yours truly and right on the front page.  www.logoi.org

But, before you go, here are a couple of 2009 photos to let you know I’ve not been sitting around too much.

Curtains: miles of fabric

I made new curtains for our family room/kitchen.  It’s never as easy as you think but hey!  They’re simple and they’re up and we are glad to have curtains again. 

The new 2009 bat

The old baby bat

Grandpa helped David (15) get a new baseball bat for this season.  He didn’t much care for the old red spongy one.  He’s Mr. Sportsman if you ask me:  varsity football QB, varsity basketball first string, and now we’ll see where he goes with varsity baseball.  Grandpa and I can hardly stand it if we miss a game of whatever season. 

OK.  That’s it!  I’ve been trying to get this posted all of 2009!  Now click on over to see the rest of my family news.

See  ya!

I get Christmas fever every year.  I love the decorations, music and activities.  A contest this year at our house will be to see if the local grandchildren can count all the nativities I have spread all over the house.   (I’m not sure I even know!)

With our large family, we always exchange names and this year whatever it is, it has to be black and white.  It will be lots of fun to see what we get.  All our family will be doing their individual things this Christmas,  so we’ll be home with our “snowmen” (made from fence siding) and gorgeous balmy weather.  Come on down!

Antonio with some of the LOGOI staff

AT LOGOI, we just enjoyed the company of  Dr. Antonio Cruz from Spain.  The pastors’ conferences next year will be on the Beautitudes.  He’s  written the textbook and he came so we could videotape his teaching and get him ready to travel — by video!  Now the race is on to get the videos edited.

However, because of such economic stress — we’ve postponed ALL the pastor conferences until later on in 2009.  Finances are just too tight and we want to be careful and wise as we step into the new year.  We’d surely appreciate your prayers.

Merry Christmas everyone!  May you be blessed and joyful as this world celebrates our King’s birth.  (Isn’t it amazing that those who  don’t love the Lord Jesus like I do love Christmas, too? )

Grandma Carolyn

I had a first-time experience:  going on national TV with Les. I had gone along just to watch, but they insisted I join him on the set.  They called me “Pastora” and I quickly told them I was NOT a “pastora” nor even a “profesora.”  They said, “What, then?”  “I’m Les’s wife, the mother of our children, and grandmother of 14.”  So, when we were on the air, don’t you know, this came up.  In my gringa Spanish, I told them how blessed I have been since I married Les and his boys so long ago.  When Les was asked how we’ve managed to stay happy and together all these years, he said he has always asked for forgiveness before  the sun went down on his anger.  I quickly jumped in and said, (in Spanish), “Of course, I have NEVER had to do that!”  We have a copy of this historical (hysterical) thing — some of it may turn up on our Spanish website. 

The conferences were amazing to me, as always.  Some pastors came down from the Andes with their sunburned, leathered skin — anxious to learn and be encouraged.  I love watching them soak up all the studies and then ask questions.  The study of the Trinity and the God we worship has been a challenge this year! 

At the end of our third conference, we were presented with Peruvian alpaca hats, which I love.  As always, it is a great joy to go see our Christian brothers and sisters. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  Talk to you later.

Carolyn

Beautiful Cancun

Pastor Nery

We were in Cancun almost immediately after Cuba, where we were with young church planters who live on the “other side” of the road from the fancy hotels along the Riviera Maya.  The workers set up squatters’ villages and slowly develop a town with electricity and water and pastors go to start up churches.  Nery Gonzalez has had his huge water barrel stolen, his generator stolen, his sound and music equipment stolen — but he didn’t miss a class, never said a word about his losses, and was always smiling. 

Behind us: the Mombacho Volcano, Nicaragua

nd then, it was on to Nicaragua!  These pastors were better trained than most we’ve seen in that country.  I called one the “antagonist” since he didn’t believe in eternal security (even though he was a Baptist) and was stunned to discover he was the lone ranger with his view.  In spite of it all, they became good friends and it was obvious this pastor wants to search for the biblical truth.

Wedding dresses for churches

Of course, I always take along wedding dresses.  One of the pastor’s wives wept for joy to have one because she’s begun a women’s ministry and in the past year and a half, she’s helped over 50 couples get married (instead of living together) and the wedding dress represents all she’s been teaching and praying for.  I wish I’d have had a dozen more for her!

Grandson David, QB

Office Home-made Pumpkins

One more thing:  many  friends know my birthday is on Halloween.  I’ve enjoyed acting up on my birthday ever since I can remember.  I’ve got permission from David’s mom to go to the football dinner tonight –in costume — so I’ve got to go!

Until next time!

Carolyn & Friend in Cancun

PS  While in Cancun, of course I took in some sun and fun time!  Along came a photographer and lookee, lookee!  If you’d have been there, you’d have done the same thing, I know.

The travelers

How do you sum up an incredible journey you’ve planned for so long?  Twenty-five of us set out a week ago to Los Pinos Seminary in Placetas.  Over 3000 people came for their 80th anniversary.  There were people everywhere.  Loudspeakers were attached to the outside of the tabernacle, but they couldn’t reach everyone who came. Somehow they found rice, cold water and a couple of roasted pigs.  

popular pork

She couldn't take her eyes off her new doll.

We got to visit a church in Colón and set up a “store” on the benches and after a quick estimate, we decided everyone could walk through the “store” and take 4 things.  Nobody grabbed or horded.  Even though we’d been told underwear was badly needed, we didn’t realize how much until they crowded around the “underwear bench” first.  Our college boys had wooden trucks and cars and kids started showing up everywhere.  Grandma Darlene’s handmade dolls quickly went into the hands of little girls.  It was a wonderful party for all of us.

treasured trucks

And then, we got back in the bus with our patient driver.  After our “church store visit,” he told one of our missionary retirees that he’d never seen a group like ours before.  She told him we were Christians and had a lot of joy and peace.  Would he like to have it, too?  Before long, he was asking the Lord Jesus into his life.  He called his wife to join us on the bus so she could hear the good news, too.

Arriving at Los Pinos was overwhelming as we watched hundreds of people arriving to be encouraged and blessed through God’s Word.  We were given the joy of dividing sheets, towels, underwear, medicines, and everything else we took in for 10 geographical church districts.  When we knew which ones were the hurricane districts, more was given.  We even met two brides for the two dresses! 

thrilled bride & groom

Los Pinos crowd

Los Pinos and the people