Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 98
May 23, 2018
And Some More Water
Last Thursday, I filled you in on some of the challenges of obtaining clean water in much of the third world. Today’s pictures will be filled with water, none of it clean however.
All this spring Kenya has been experiencing record flooding. In some places, it’s not as noticeable. All you see is lots of green.
In other places, especially along the roads, you feel as if the water might just float you away.
These were all taken on the way out to the Masa Mara, so this is a fairly heavily traveled road.
Hopefully, it will help when the current road construction is complete.
But remember, this year was the exception. Most times when I've ridden out in this direction, our vehicle has been surrounded by dust and I would have loved to see some water puddles.
All this spring Kenya has been experiencing record flooding. In some places, it’s not as noticeable. All you see is lots of green.
In other places, especially along the roads, you feel as if the water might just float you away.
These were all taken on the way out to the Masa Mara, so this is a fairly heavily traveled road.
Hopefully, it will help when the current road construction is complete.
But remember, this year was the exception. Most times when I've ridden out in this direction, our vehicle has been surrounded by dust and I would have loved to see some water puddles.
May 20, 2018
God is in control
8 And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.
10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it! 12 For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord’s face is hard against those who do evil.
13 Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. 14 But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. 15 Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.
16 Do what is right; then if men speak against you, calling you evil names, they will become ashamed of themselves for falsely accusing you when you have only done what is good. 17 Remember, if God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong! (1 Peter 3:8-17 Living Bible)
I’ve had a relatively uneventful week, which I guess is a good thing. Nothing has happened in my immediate world which is worthy of shouts of joy or tears of failure. Unlike current events in the world.
Another school shooting. When did “school shooting” become the thing to do and why? How did our society become filled with so many troubled young people set on going on killing sprees? And Prince Harry has taken a wife, an American woman whisked away in a fairytale wedding to become a princess – every girl’s dream.
This morning I was trying to decide what to blog about so I reverted to a list of Bible verses I had in a file for days when nothing else jumps out at me. Well, the verses above certainly jumped out at me today. I thought about picking out just one or two, but they are all too good, too true, too much in need of being shared and pinned on everyone’s wall.
Lord, God Almighty, You and only You are in control. Let us always turn to You in times of trouble as well as in times of joy. Amen.
10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it! 12 For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord’s face is hard against those who do evil.
13 Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. 14 But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. 15 Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.
16 Do what is right; then if men speak against you, calling you evil names, they will become ashamed of themselves for falsely accusing you when you have only done what is good. 17 Remember, if God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong! (1 Peter 3:8-17 Living Bible)
I’ve had a relatively uneventful week, which I guess is a good thing. Nothing has happened in my immediate world which is worthy of shouts of joy or tears of failure. Unlike current events in the world.
Another school shooting. When did “school shooting” become the thing to do and why? How did our society become filled with so many troubled young people set on going on killing sprees? And Prince Harry has taken a wife, an American woman whisked away in a fairytale wedding to become a princess – every girl’s dream.
This morning I was trying to decide what to blog about so I reverted to a list of Bible verses I had in a file for days when nothing else jumps out at me. Well, the verses above certainly jumped out at me today. I thought about picking out just one or two, but they are all too good, too true, too much in need of being shared and pinned on everyone’s wall.
Lord, God Almighty, You and only You are in control. Let us always turn to You in times of trouble as well as in times of joy. Amen.
May 18, 2018
Water, water, water, another thing we take for granted
On Wednesday, I told you a little about the community center we hope to establish to help the Maasai villagers living near the town of Ololaimutiek in Kenya. One of the daily struggles these people have is obtaining enough water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.
Here in America, we take it for granted that all we need to do to have fresh water is to turn on the facet. That is not the case in much of the world.
Along with all their other household tasks, the women are responsible for collecting the water supply for the family. They walk about a mile to get to the nearby river and it takes about an hour every day to bring enough water into their home to last a day.
We were there during the rainy season. You can tell by all the recent erosion, yet it had previously been so dry that here you can’t really tell that they have had any rain. Imagine hauling a twenty to thirty pound jug of water up this bank and then carrying it home, a mile away?
The women also wash the family’s clothes in the river.
Further downstream, more water is flowing, but it is also the place where the men of the tribe graze their cattle and goats. You’d rather not drink water that livestock has been using, right?
On the other end of the river, our partner organization, Marafiki Community, has tapped into a spring which provides constant clean water.
Izzo, the founder of Marafiki, holds up a bottle of clean water and one from the river. Again, because it is the rainy season, more water has been flowing through the river so it doesn’t look too bad here. During the dry season, though the river doesn’t dry up, the water in it looks more like mud.
Though the walk to retrieve this water is still about the same distance, at least the water is clean.
We are looking into ways for the women to easily bring a clean, unlimited water supply into their homes.
If you would like to help, you can mail your tax-deductible donation to Tumaini Volunteers, PO Box 537, Wausau, WI 54402. Or click on this link to donate via PayPal. Any size donation will be appreciated.
Here in America, we take it for granted that all we need to do to have fresh water is to turn on the facet. That is not the case in much of the world.
Along with all their other household tasks, the women are responsible for collecting the water supply for the family. They walk about a mile to get to the nearby river and it takes about an hour every day to bring enough water into their home to last a day.
We were there during the rainy season. You can tell by all the recent erosion, yet it had previously been so dry that here you can’t really tell that they have had any rain. Imagine hauling a twenty to thirty pound jug of water up this bank and then carrying it home, a mile away?
The women also wash the family’s clothes in the river.
Further downstream, more water is flowing, but it is also the place where the men of the tribe graze their cattle and goats. You’d rather not drink water that livestock has been using, right?
On the other end of the river, our partner organization, Marafiki Community, has tapped into a spring which provides constant clean water.
Izzo, the founder of Marafiki, holds up a bottle of clean water and one from the river. Again, because it is the rainy season, more water has been flowing through the river so it doesn’t look too bad here. During the dry season, though the river doesn’t dry up, the water in it looks more like mud.
Though the walk to retrieve this water is still about the same distance, at least the water is clean.
We are looking into ways for the women to easily bring a clean, unlimited water supply into their homes.
If you would like to help, you can mail your tax-deductible donation to Tumaini Volunteers, PO Box 537, Wausau, WI 54402. Or click on this link to donate via PayPal. Any size donation will be appreciated.
May 16, 2018
The Whole Purpose
In April of 2017, my daughter, two other girls, and I journeyed to Kenya to complete a rabbit project at Southern Cross Academy at the SIDP camp in Maai Mahiu. After returning home from the trip, we jumped right into researching a new project to work on in 2018.
By the fall, our sister organization in Kenya, Marafiki Community, started telling us about a new idea they had. To build a community center near one of the Maasai villages. The thought was to have a center where the local women could create their crafts as well as take classes. Adjacent to this, would be a shop where they could sell the items they have made. In addition, a third area would offer gourmet tea and coffee along with snacks for tourists traveling through on their way to safari in the Masa Mara Game Park.
It sounds like a wonderful idea. But also a lot of work.
There is so much involved with this project, so the purpose of our most recent trip was to find out as much as we could about this village and the area. I wish I could spend a few months with these amazing people; there is so much to learn. As it was we spent a few hours one afternoon and most of the next day in their village and the surrounding land to learn as much as we could.
First, you can’t help but be in awe of the beautiful place where the Maasai live. For all it’s beauty, yes, it can be a harsh environment. You can see the town of Ololaimutiek in the distance. The village of Nkoirero, the one we will be working with, is just below that and to the right, pretty much hidden by that brush.
This is one of their homes, from when I was there in October 2015.
Every nine years or so, they have to move the entire village, because termites erode the wood frame of their homes. Also they feel the land needs to “rest”. So the women build all new homes a few hundred yards away, and it takes a group of them about a month to make each home from sticks, mud and dung.
This is inside a home. I love the way they built the shelves right into the walls.
But I wanted to show you the people. I interviewed the women with their children, explaining the project we want to undertake and asking them what they thought. They applauded me when I was done, so I guess they thought it was a good idea.
Some of them told me they go to bed hungry many nights, so I think they are ready to do what they need to so this can succeed.
This is Mary, who is one of the few women who knows English, so she interpreted for me. She is with her three-month-old named Brilliant.
My son Nick met with the men at the same time, to learn their perspective.
In their spare time (which I can’t believe they even have), the women make beautiful, intricate beaded jewelry and other crafts. We have brought some home in the past and have sold it to raise money. When this community center is up and running, the women can sell these crafts to tourists and benefit directly.
The three different sections of the community center will cost $5,000 each to complete. A big undertaking. If you would like to help out, you can mail your tax-deductible donation to Tumaini Volunteers, PO Box 537, Wausau, WI 54402. Or click on this link to donate via PayPal. Any size donation will be appreciated.
Watch for more pictures next time!
By the fall, our sister organization in Kenya, Marafiki Community, started telling us about a new idea they had. To build a community center near one of the Maasai villages. The thought was to have a center where the local women could create their crafts as well as take classes. Adjacent to this, would be a shop where they could sell the items they have made. In addition, a third area would offer gourmet tea and coffee along with snacks for tourists traveling through on their way to safari in the Masa Mara Game Park.
It sounds like a wonderful idea. But also a lot of work.
There is so much involved with this project, so the purpose of our most recent trip was to find out as much as we could about this village and the area. I wish I could spend a few months with these amazing people; there is so much to learn. As it was we spent a few hours one afternoon and most of the next day in their village and the surrounding land to learn as much as we could.
First, you can’t help but be in awe of the beautiful place where the Maasai live. For all it’s beauty, yes, it can be a harsh environment. You can see the town of Ololaimutiek in the distance. The village of Nkoirero, the one we will be working with, is just below that and to the right, pretty much hidden by that brush.
This is one of their homes, from when I was there in October 2015.
Every nine years or so, they have to move the entire village, because termites erode the wood frame of their homes. Also they feel the land needs to “rest”. So the women build all new homes a few hundred yards away, and it takes a group of them about a month to make each home from sticks, mud and dung.
This is inside a home. I love the way they built the shelves right into the walls.
But I wanted to show you the people. I interviewed the women with their children, explaining the project we want to undertake and asking them what they thought. They applauded me when I was done, so I guess they thought it was a good idea.
Some of them told me they go to bed hungry many nights, so I think they are ready to do what they need to so this can succeed.
This is Mary, who is one of the few women who knows English, so she interpreted for me. She is with her three-month-old named Brilliant.
My son Nick met with the men at the same time, to learn their perspective.
In their spare time (which I can’t believe they even have), the women make beautiful, intricate beaded jewelry and other crafts. We have brought some home in the past and have sold it to raise money. When this community center is up and running, the women can sell these crafts to tourists and benefit directly.
The three different sections of the community center will cost $5,000 each to complete. A big undertaking. If you would like to help out, you can mail your tax-deductible donation to Tumaini Volunteers, PO Box 537, Wausau, WI 54402. Or click on this link to donate via PayPal. Any size donation will be appreciated. Watch for more pictures next time!
May 13, 2018
Not What I Deserve
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version) A week ago, I returned, safe and sound, from my fifth trip to Kenya. We hope to provide the financial support in the creation of a community center near the village of Ololaimutiek, so we needed to gather as much data as we could about the area and the people living there.
Wednesday, I had a follow-up appointment with my foot doctor. After tromping all over Africa and half of Europe (ok, a wee bit of an exaggeration, but it still felt like that much), I was sure she was going to yell at me. But, no, she gave me the green light, turned me loose, said to take it easy and not do anything stupid, but to start walking on that foot, do some simple exercises, get it strong again.
Then Friday I had an appointment at the dentist, where he was planning to replace fillings on two teeth and get two other teeth prepped for crowns. After he got all the old fillings out, he was like, these teeth don’t look so bad, I think we can just go with fillings on all of them. Really? Like save me a couple thousand dollars, as well as the hassle of going back to get those crowns glued in.
So, I had a good week and am feeling especially blessed. But these triumphs are by far not something that I deserve. For all the work I am doing in Kenya and even whatever I do for others here in my hometown, it would never be enough to buy my way into heaven. You may all think I am perfect, but my list of sins is as long as an elephant’s trunk. And that’s not why I do what I do anyway.
I try to do good because I am a child of God.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all the countless gifts you bestow upon me, gifts which I do not deserve. Forgive all of my sins. And bless those who are struggling right now, show them Your Love and offer them the free gift of salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.
Some of the children and women from the village we hope to help. You can make your tax deduct donation to this cause by going to our website, by clicking here. Also watch for upcoming blog posts where I will tell you more about it.
Wednesday, I had a follow-up appointment with my foot doctor. After tromping all over Africa and half of Europe (ok, a wee bit of an exaggeration, but it still felt like that much), I was sure she was going to yell at me. But, no, she gave me the green light, turned me loose, said to take it easy and not do anything stupid, but to start walking on that foot, do some simple exercises, get it strong again.
Then Friday I had an appointment at the dentist, where he was planning to replace fillings on two teeth and get two other teeth prepped for crowns. After he got all the old fillings out, he was like, these teeth don’t look so bad, I think we can just go with fillings on all of them. Really? Like save me a couple thousand dollars, as well as the hassle of going back to get those crowns glued in.
So, I had a good week and am feeling especially blessed. But these triumphs are by far not something that I deserve. For all the work I am doing in Kenya and even whatever I do for others here in my hometown, it would never be enough to buy my way into heaven. You may all think I am perfect, but my list of sins is as long as an elephant’s trunk. And that’s not why I do what I do anyway.
I try to do good because I am a child of God.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all the countless gifts you bestow upon me, gifts which I do not deserve. Forgive all of my sins. And bless those who are struggling right now, show them Your Love and offer them the free gift of salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.
Some of the children and women from the village we hope to help. You can make your tax deduct donation to this cause by going to our website, by clicking here. Also watch for upcoming blog posts where I will tell you more about it. May 10, 2018
First Leg of Another Trip
Hard to believe that it was only two weeks ago that I was on the first leg of my fifth trip to Kenya. As you should already know, this was the first time that I traveled there with my son Nick. Three of the previous trips were with my daughter Val and one was with my friend Denise. This journey would be a whole new adventure, letting Nick call the shots.
Because we had made our plane reservations only four weeks prior, we got what some would say was a rough itinerary. We flew out of Chicago O’Hare at 7:30 pm and arrived in Zurich at 10:30 am. Our plane to Nairobi wasn’t leaving until the next morning. Not to worry, we decided to see as much of Zurich as we could in that 23-hour window.
I would love to tell you what each of these pictures is of, but that would take all day and then some. I can tell you that we took the train and a bus to the top of Mount Uetliberg. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm.
I wish you could see the Alps on the horizon better.
The rest of the pictures are just from wandering the streets around the hostel we got for the night. It was within an easy walk to the train which took us to and from the airport. There was so much more we could have seen, buildings, museums and churches, which were close by, but a person can only absorb so much when they are going on a couple hours of sleep. I would do it again, though, in a heartbeat.
Because we had made our plane reservations only four weeks prior, we got what some would say was a rough itinerary. We flew out of Chicago O’Hare at 7:30 pm and arrived in Zurich at 10:30 am. Our plane to Nairobi wasn’t leaving until the next morning. Not to worry, we decided to see as much of Zurich as we could in that 23-hour window.
I would love to tell you what each of these pictures is of, but that would take all day and then some. I can tell you that we took the train and a bus to the top of Mount Uetliberg. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm.
I wish you could see the Alps on the horizon better.
The rest of the pictures are just from wandering the streets around the hostel we got for the night. It was within an easy walk to the train which took us to and from the airport. There was so much more we could have seen, buildings, museums and churches, which were close by, but a person can only absorb so much when they are going on a couple hours of sleep. I would do it again, though, in a heartbeat.
April 25, 2018
A Plane is always waiting
I’ll make this short, as I have a million things to do. I leave home first thing tomorrow morning for my fifth trip to Kenya. Every time I start planning such a trip, I intend to get my ducks in a row, get myself in good mental and physical shape, and not run around like a crazy nut the last few days trying to get everything done I should have done weeks before. And here it is, almost crunch time and my ducks have run amuck, my foot is still aching (though not nearly as bad as it had been a few weeks ago), now I have a horrible pain in my right arm and can only lift it to shoulder-height and well, basically a hundred of those things are not going to get done.
But I’ve gone through this every time I’ve gone to Africa. The first time, in 2006, I was just plain a nervous wreck because I had never taken such a trip. In 2013, I had just taken up running and was already having heel pain. I came home alone after two weeks, with a cold and leaving my daughter there for the next three months while she tried to figure out if we were really going to start our own nonprofit and how that was going to work. In 2015, I had bursitis in my hip to the point that just five days before we left it took me three hours to get off the couch one morning because of the pain. Just last year, my mom had died just two months before the trip, so even though I was for once physically sound, my head and heart were absolute mush. Returning to Africa then was maybe the best thing for me, except I came home in an even worse state emotionally.
And here I sit with my left ankle in a brace, knowing that I can power through the pain but wondering how much damage all the walking is going to do. And my right upper arm, killing me and kind of reminiscent of that hip bursitis, just not even allowing me to move that arm in every position it should go. (Of course, that reminds me of another trip to Kenya, this one in 2010 when Val went there for six months and I had a frozen shoulder most of that time.)
I know. When am I going to say, “enough, your body really does not want to go there again.”
The very first time we went to Kenya, our team leader said that all kinds of bad stuff may happen leading up to the trip and it is all Satan trying to make you stay home. If that’s true, it is pretty scary that Satan is that vested in my travels, right?
Well, no matter, I believe that God has got me covered, no matter what afflictions assail me and no matter where my travels take me. Away I go.
Seems there is always a plane waiting to whisk me away.
With Val in 2006
With Val on the back of a motorbike in 2013
With Denise and Maggie in 2015
With Val in 2017
But I’ve gone through this every time I’ve gone to Africa. The first time, in 2006, I was just plain a nervous wreck because I had never taken such a trip. In 2013, I had just taken up running and was already having heel pain. I came home alone after two weeks, with a cold and leaving my daughter there for the next three months while she tried to figure out if we were really going to start our own nonprofit and how that was going to work. In 2015, I had bursitis in my hip to the point that just five days before we left it took me three hours to get off the couch one morning because of the pain. Just last year, my mom had died just two months before the trip, so even though I was for once physically sound, my head and heart were absolute mush. Returning to Africa then was maybe the best thing for me, except I came home in an even worse state emotionally.
And here I sit with my left ankle in a brace, knowing that I can power through the pain but wondering how much damage all the walking is going to do. And my right upper arm, killing me and kind of reminiscent of that hip bursitis, just not even allowing me to move that arm in every position it should go. (Of course, that reminds me of another trip to Kenya, this one in 2010 when Val went there for six months and I had a frozen shoulder most of that time.)
I know. When am I going to say, “enough, your body really does not want to go there again.”
The very first time we went to Kenya, our team leader said that all kinds of bad stuff may happen leading up to the trip and it is all Satan trying to make you stay home. If that’s true, it is pretty scary that Satan is that vested in my travels, right?
Well, no matter, I believe that God has got me covered, no matter what afflictions assail me and no matter where my travels take me. Away I go.
Seems there is always a plane waiting to whisk me away.
With Val in 2006
With Val on the back of a motorbike in 2013
With Denise and Maggie in 2015
With Val in 2017
April 19, 2018
MO Vacation Log - Day 6
All right, this will be my last post covering our spring vacation in Missouri. I still can’t believe that a month ago we were complaining about the weather. I would take those 40 degrees sunshiny days back in a heartbeat compared to the two feet of snow that fell around here in the last weeks.
The forecast for our last day in Lake of the Ozarks was sunny and seventy. About time.
Earlier in the trip, while perusing a travel brochure section somewhere, I found a handout of the “Self-guided driving tour of the Highway 134 Historic District”. It looked like a mission I was willing to take on, all within the Lake of Ozarks State Park.
First stop was the Portal Structure, which was originally built as a shelter and place for gathering information. Too small to serve that purpose today, it stands as a reminder of a simpler past.
The Park Office.
The Trail Center.
Airport Bridge is one of three single-arch stone bridges along this highway. When we went over the other two, I naturally wanted to stop for more pictures, but kept quiet and let Hubby keep driving.
We did stop at the Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport. It only looks like Hubby is standing atop those boulders.
The Old Homestead Building.
Wandering around the grounds of this building, I suddenly got the feeling I was being watched.
Yikes.
The Open Shelter.
The Restroom.
The Beach House.
And then, not on the list of historic sites, was the Beach.
And what must have been a fish cleaning building which has seen better times.
Last, with the sun warming up nicely, we drove through the campground and then hiked along the Fawn’s Ridge Trail.
The trail was appropriately named, as we discovered these four deer and I took way too many pictures of them.
Lake of the Ozarks.
And that’s all folks.
The forecast for our last day in Lake of the Ozarks was sunny and seventy. About time.
Earlier in the trip, while perusing a travel brochure section somewhere, I found a handout of the “Self-guided driving tour of the Highway 134 Historic District”. It looked like a mission I was willing to take on, all within the Lake of Ozarks State Park.
First stop was the Portal Structure, which was originally built as a shelter and place for gathering information. Too small to serve that purpose today, it stands as a reminder of a simpler past.
The Park Office.
The Trail Center.
Airport Bridge is one of three single-arch stone bridges along this highway. When we went over the other two, I naturally wanted to stop for more pictures, but kept quiet and let Hubby keep driving.
We did stop at the Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport. It only looks like Hubby is standing atop those boulders.
The Old Homestead Building.
Wandering around the grounds of this building, I suddenly got the feeling I was being watched.
Yikes.
The Open Shelter.
The Restroom.
The Beach House.
And then, not on the list of historic sites, was the Beach.
And what must have been a fish cleaning building which has seen better times.
Last, with the sun warming up nicely, we drove through the campground and then hiked along the Fawn’s Ridge Trail.
The trail was appropriately named, as we discovered these four deer and I took way too many pictures of them.
Lake of the Ozarks.
And that’s all folks.
April 17, 2018
MO Vacation Log - Day 5
I keep thinking that I could just stop boring you with our family vacation to Missouri last month. But the OCD person in me insists that I finish. One more after today, and I’m on to something else. Like my upcoming return trip to Africa!
So, it was mid-week in mid-Missouri. Our kids had gone home the day before, so Hubby and I were on our own and hitting the open road. Two years ago, when we vacationed in Illinois, we drove part of historic Route 66. Our plan for Wednesday was to see another section of the Mother Road.
First, we drove by the Haunted Castle House B&B in Brimley.
Not so much for the house, but because when I looked up the satellite picture of it on Google, next door was a ridiculous collection of lawn mowers and we wanted to see if there really were that many. Yup. There was.
First real stop was the St James Winery in St James. They open at 8:00 am, and even though it was after that when we got there, it was still way too early for any wine tasting.
Next stop was the Donut King in Rolla. Don’t know why it’s listed as one of the Route 66 stops, but because it was, Hubby had to stop and buy us donuts.
Next in Rolla was their replica of Stonehenge.
Then we drove through Hooker Cut,
Past the Elbow Inn,
Over the Devil’s Elbow Bridge,
And stopped at the horribly touristy, glitchy place called Uranus, next to the town of St Robert.
Interestingly enough, there is nothing about the Uranus stop in any of the Route 66 literature.
Then drove through St Robert, apparently home of the Tigers,
Past WH (for Waynesville Hill) Croaker,
To the Old Stagecoach Stop in Waynesville.
Motored into Lebanon, where we saw the famous (but I don’t remember why it’s famous) Munger Moss Motel,
The deserted Forest Manor Motel,
And Wrinks Market.
Last we toured the Route 66 museum inside the Laclede Public Library.
Whoa, it didn’t seem like that full of a day, but it sounds exhausting here. I might need to order a root beer float.
So, it was mid-week in mid-Missouri. Our kids had gone home the day before, so Hubby and I were on our own and hitting the open road. Two years ago, when we vacationed in Illinois, we drove part of historic Route 66. Our plan for Wednesday was to see another section of the Mother Road.
First, we drove by the Haunted Castle House B&B in Brimley.
Not so much for the house, but because when I looked up the satellite picture of it on Google, next door was a ridiculous collection of lawn mowers and we wanted to see if there really were that many. Yup. There was.
First real stop was the St James Winery in St James. They open at 8:00 am, and even though it was after that when we got there, it was still way too early for any wine tasting.
Next stop was the Donut King in Rolla. Don’t know why it’s listed as one of the Route 66 stops, but because it was, Hubby had to stop and buy us donuts.
Next in Rolla was their replica of Stonehenge.
Then we drove through Hooker Cut,
Past the Elbow Inn,
Over the Devil’s Elbow Bridge,
And stopped at the horribly touristy, glitchy place called Uranus, next to the town of St Robert. 
Interestingly enough, there is nothing about the Uranus stop in any of the Route 66 literature.
Then drove through St Robert, apparently home of the Tigers,
Past WH (for Waynesville Hill) Croaker,
To the Old Stagecoach Stop in Waynesville.
Motored into Lebanon, where we saw the famous (but I don’t remember why it’s famous) Munger Moss Motel,
The deserted Forest Manor Motel,
And Wrinks Market.
Last we toured the Route 66 museum inside the Laclede Public Library.
Whoa, it didn’t seem like that full of a day, but it sounds exhausting here. I might need to order a root beer float.
April 15, 2018
"I am with you always"
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:16-20, NIV
Hard to believe that Easter Sunday was only two weeks ago. On that day, we celebrated – and on every day we should celebrate – the joyous resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Forty days after that, which would be May 10 this year, we celebrate Jesus’ return to heaven. During those forty days, Jesus appeared to the disciples at least ten times and the above verse is what He said on one of those occasions. Perhaps it is a familiar passage to you.
I share this today because I don’t plan on posting here again until after May 10. My calendar is pretty full. Next weekend I will be in Milwaukee at a conference for my career as a medical assistant. The following Thursday I leave already for Kenya, returning late on Saturday, May 5. I was going to power-through and put together those missing three blog posts, have them automatically fire on their assigned day. Then I said to myself, “Chris, what would Jesus do? Would He be all crazy, writing these things when His heart and mind was some place else? (which of course would be no problem for Him coz His heart and mind are always in a million places at one time, looking after all of us) Or would He be like, my children, I am with you always, whether you see Me or not?”
I don’t want you to think that I think there is any similarity between myself and Jesus, but I am going to take a rest from my Sunday devotional blogs for a couple weeks, keeping you all in my heart and mind and hoping that you do the same right back at me.
