Wacky Waco

9-5-10 2PM


We just left Waco Texas. We have encountered our first, no make that second little glitch. Very little. We are driving in a van headed for Costa Rica singing along to the Revelation Song. What could be better. The first one was a state patrol stop. Our temporary licenses were not taped to our trailer because of the danger of them getting damaged. We got a warning and taped them on. After we got under way our water temp began to climb, and our AC quit. We drove around a neighborhood until we saw someone with a hose. They were having a BBQ and I think we were the entertainment. We put water in to see if that would help, but not to be. We are continuing on without AC, but the temp seems stable.

After leaving Waco, the AC seemed to come back and the temp normalized.  It is nice to have it. Although it is cooling off a bit as we get close to the sea.  I think we are at sea level.  There are palm trees and seagulls around.

Earlier we left the Strengs lovely home. They are the kind of people that seem instantly like family. So gracious. They basically gave up 3 days for us, just taking care of us and showing us around, etc. Besides which they are very fun and on fire for the Lord. You go guys!!

Yesterday afternoon we went to church at Gateway Church.  It is very well known for the worship.  Rod says they produce the most new worship songs second only to Hillsong.  It was amazing.  Huge, modern, beautiful, and the people there really seem to be worshipping.  I have never been in a church so big.  It is already too small, and they are building a Huger campus which will be done in November.  A great place to go to get a blast of good worship.

Last night we had a devo time. Dale gave a message, and 2 of the Streng’s couple friends came over with fresh homemade peach cobbler. The Millers, and the Cranors. Like-minded people of God. They were both encouraging and entertaining. The Millers and the Strengs are headed for Novia Scotia this week.                 

Judith and Rod

                                                           

We are planning to stop in Pharr for the night, God willing, and then hit the border in the am.

We did get to Pharr and our motel is pretty decent. I am happy because I can send this out.  Who knows when the next post will go out. We are treating ourselves to a good place tonight.  I think we may do some van sleeping soon.  It is now 10:20 I think.  We were on the road about 12 hours.  Not too bad although great to be unfolded at last.

Flower Mound Power

9-03-10




We traveled the rest of the way to the Dallas –Ft. Worth area with only a couple of pit stops. It was comfortably unremarkable. There was one interesting side line for us. We were stopped at a traffic stop for construction. The flaggers said it would be 15 or 20 minutes to wait. An older gentleman jumped out of the car ahead and came back to talk. He had a white cross on his hat, and Dale asked if there was significance to it. He said that he was a believer named Clyde Rogers, and we exchanged stories. He proudly told us his wife LaVada is a wonderful professional western painter. He said a mural of hers was on the side of a café ahead, and we would have to stop and see it. We did, and the mural was on the side of the Campo Café. It was wonderful and they were so charming. Apparently he gets out to talk at every traffic stop. He must have millions of friends. That was a lesson to me on taking any opportunity to connect with people, especially to tell them about the Lord’s goodness in some way.

We then went on to Flower Mound which is a city north of Dallas-Ft. Worth. The Streng’s, Judith and Rod, left their door open for us and we slid into beds around 2:30 am. In the morning we met a couple that made us feel instantly at home. Judith calls herself the “sugar nazi” but she was encouraging about health not condemning.

Both Judith and Rod have been very active in a ministry called Angel’s Attic. It is a consignment store described as upscale resale. They use this store to fund lots of mission’s projects. They have bought school uniforms for kids in Costa Rica, enabling them to go to school. They also purchased the larger of the 2 trailers that we are taking down. The store is quite beautifully and artistically laid out. We met the manager, Dave, and saw a picture on the wall that was taken at a church in Costa Rica that we had worked on. It blessed us greatly. We could see some of the artistic painting that our team had done. Shari had helped with that.

Photo op with trailer

Dave Manager in Angel's Attic

                                                                          

Angel's Attic

Picture in Angels Attic of church we painted the inside of in Costa Rica

                                                                     

The store was operated by White’s Chapel Methodist Church. After a photo-op at the store, we went to see that church. We went into a small chapel, Ponder Memorial Chapel, to hold a team meeting. There was a mural on the ceiling and AC inside. We had a great time of prayer, praise and worship and our first team meeting. It was spectacular.

Mural on ceiling at Ponder Chapel

                                                          

We then went back to Angel’s Attic to have another photo-op with the trailer, and met Rev. Jo Ponder who used to pastor at the Methodist Church, and was active in this ministry. We went out to a great Mexican-food dinner and now back to the Streng’s home. Tomorrow Shari and I will try to get to Starbuck’s and post these latest blog entries. I will be learning to add photos to the blog. You all can see how it works out.

It's 11:20 People

09-02-10


This entry is the first written on the road. I know Dale, Shari and Katie left on Saturday from Washington, and we left yesterday from Greeley, but this is “the official leaving.”

Wray was a total blessing. It is beautiful and charming and very friendly. It would be the ultimate great place to raise your kids.

Last night we got to the Swanson’s home in Wray. Jim and Louane Swanson, Marv and Vicky Southard, Randy and Sabrina and Glen and Tracy Kline were there. They make up the board of Simple Wisdom Ministries.

We had prayer, food and lots of stories. Then we went to Clint’s sister’s home. That is the Southard’s.

They have a really great place on the edge of Wray. It is a log cabin full of interesting memorabilia, pictures, old west stuff and antiques. We were totally blessed by their hospitality, and desire to help us all. They basically kept asking if there was anything else they could do to help us. What wonderful servants. How can you not love them?

We had breakfast which included pancakes with Vicky’s family recipe of chocolate syrup. Oh man!!! After the usual loading fire drill, we left did some business in Wray including mailing the titles to the vehicle and trailers to the border. Apparently after the border gets the paperwork we have to wait 3 days at the border for them to process it. It sounds like we will, God willing, be leaving the US on Monday at 9am when the border opens.

We went to Hillcrest Care Center in Wray on our way out of town. While Clint visited with his mom, we talked with Corky who is a resident there. She is still working for the Lord despite having just fallen and broken her wrist. She is writing an article for the Wray Gazette about Clint and his adventures. If I reach that age, I want to still be doing interesting things for the Lord. She said she would like to go with us if she was able. I believe she would be great fun to take along too.

As we pulled out Clint said its 11:20 people!

Trailer in the trailer

LaVadas Mural in Campo

Vicky and Clint

Southards at home

                                                                       

Weerrrre OFF!

Today around 2:30 we are leaving for Wray.  I am quiet happy to see the place as so many world renowned people are from there,  who'da thunk?  The plan is to meet Clint's church folks in Wray and go on from there tomorrow.
Our van cast should be Clint Wisdom, Nick Wisdom, Dale Weide, Shari Weide, Katie Weide, Jerry Chilcote, and Carol Chilcote (primary blogger).
We feel like true celebrities as we have been taken out to dinner, prayed over many times and hugged lots.
My next post should really be from the road.
It will be interesting to see in other countries how many hotspots there will be.  We are looking for the computer kind, not the political kind. :)

An-ti-ci-pa-a-shun

We are still sorting and bringing all the pre-trip elements together.  We looked at laptops so that this blog can go on the road, and perhaps a small video camera to capture more interesting footage to share.  They are as low as $200 for one with a zoom. More when there is something other than excitement to share.  God has done some amazing things to bring this about and so we feel great about taking this step.

Learning to Blog

As you can see, step one is learning how to set up the blog.  It is difficult to get the elements right. The picture on the top is way too big, and I can't get it smaller. Well tomorrow is another day.  Just geting this up is ok for today.