Comfort

This morning in my devotions, I came to I Kings 14 and a verse that particularly comforted me when our Cherish went to heaven 4 years ago. I still am comforted by it. It's verse 13,



"And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him, there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam."



This verse reminds me that there are worse things then dying, and it can be a privilege to die and miss those worse things.



Jeroboam was so bad, he set the standard for badness, and any other bad kings that came after him were compared to him, "he walked in the way of Jeroboam." But still, his child's death was not a punishment.



I like that the Bible doesn't say how old this "child" was. Maybe little like our Cherish, or maybe as old as Solomon when he became king. He was 40, yet he called himself a child.



Brother Andrew told in his book, God's Smuggler, about the death of his brother. He couldn't understand how God could let his brother die. Later when Holland was in the grip of famine caused by World War 2, he was so glad Bas wasn't there to suffer through that.


I haven't had that feeling about Cherish, that I'm glad she isn't here for any certain thing, but I do have the feeling that we have one safely tucked in to heaven.

Back to reality

Wednesday saw the Young family hopping into the car about 5 AM, and heading North on the N2, a nice highway that goes right up the middle of South Africa. The first few hours were clear sailing, then we came to road construction sights where only one lane was open.

I was good to get out and stretch our legs.

And there's the offending toe, that crooked one on the right foot. I have to get it operated on in October. I'm planning about that now, planning to turn the big freezer back on and stock it up and what books will I read when I have to have my toes higher then my heart for 2 weeks.

Camp

The nicely renovated camp stands amid trees, trees, and more trees. We had forgotten how many trees there are in Maine, but I love them. Any time I smell pine trees, it takes me right to Maine. Square Pond ought to win a Pulitzer Peace Prize.

From the other side, out by the road, Mom's flowers brighten up the place.

And then there's the view from the outhouse. We don't usually go there often, but we had reason to make many trips up the hill and into the little house. The septic system was having problems, so we went back to the old ways. A friend we visited on Sat. was shocked, "I didn't know anyone in America still used outhouses!" We're a dying breed, but there are a few of us left.

We did leave Maine occasionally, even dipping down into Pennsylvania where Eagle Heights Bible Church gave us a delicious anniversary cake. They had a baptism in that lake. About 10 people were scheduled to be baptized. After Pastor Hicks finished, he asked if anyone else wanted to obey the Lord to be baptized. Three more people came forward and went out into the lake too! What a joyous occasion.

Last but not least, my dear parents. They put up with a lot from us with all our comings and goings.

Reminiscing

I thought we had a new Christmas card here, but I was having a bad hair day, and Evangel is missing so we'll have to keep trying. Here's a sweet memory. My Dad was given a special book written and autographed by Warren W. Wiersbe. My pastor gave it, and got the special signiture from the 90 year old author, and then, my Dad thought it was a joke! That's what he gets for being such a joker himself. :-) He doesn't even trust the pastor.

We were out in the Boonies so far, it was even labeled: The Boonies. Paul and I hiked with the boys about 3 miles to get... something. I can't remember what. I just know we didn't buy any donuts, tempting though they were.

A stunted blog. I want to add more pictures, and am having no success so will start another entry.