Road trip for Roger and Melinda - September 2-11, 2008

When we began planning the trip to take Kyle to college we also realized that it was just over a week from when two friends of ours were being appointed as missionaries. So we decided to make the most of the time and visit friends along the way as we traveled to Jonesboro GA.

First stop Nashville TN to the home of Rob and Jessica Dixon. Rob had been a journeyman in Romania ministering to gypsies and Jessica a journeyman in Prague Czech Republic ministering to the deaf. Rob also recruited Jordan to Union University when Rob worked in admissions. We had a great visit with them.

Jessica and Rob Dixon

Jessica and Rob are enjoying their new home they bought earlier in the year.

They took us to eat at...Loveless Motel and Cafe. It is a famous hangout for the Nashville music community. It is an old motel that has been converted into a cafe and small shops.

From Nashville we headed to Erwin in the Appalachian Mountains to see David, Janna, Jonathan and Daniel Crutchfield and their church family, Calvary Baptist Church (David is the pastor).

David served as an IMB missionary in Romania and Moldova where he met Janna. We enjoyed meeting the church family at a picnic that Wednesday night. We also had the opportunity to meet Janna's mother. She had arrived that morning from Moldova. It was her first time to the US and to meet her grandsons.

David, Jonathan, Lili, Daniel and Janna

On Thursday we drove to Maryville (south of Knoxville) to see Sean, Kostanza, Paula, Maria, and Jake Wentley. They served in South Europe and were appointed with us in 2001 and went through orientation together. Sean is ministering now through the church association in Maryville and with the North American Mission Board. When we first met them Paula was nearly 4 years old, Maria 19 months old and Jake was not born. Now Paula is 11 years old, Maria is 9 years old and Jake is 5 years old. We enjoyed the evening with them. Roger enjoyed playing with the kids/ I should I say they tolerated his teasing. :)

Kostanza, Paula, Jake, Maria and Sean Wentley

On Friday we headed to Taylors South Carolina. As we traveled we enjoyed the scenery. We stopped in Pigeon Forge TN to see a classic car show and Melinda also shopped. :)

Roger's first truck was similar to this one except Roger's was a black GMC.

From Pigeon Forge we traveled through the Smokey Mountains. It was a beautiful drive.

We arrived in Taylors at the home of Bryan and Karen Holley Friday evening. The Holleys and their sons, Joshua and Jonathan (they are the same ages as Nathaniel and Jordan) were in Romania when we arrived in 1999 . When the field office moved to Budapest Hungary in 2000 they moved too. Bryan was the field treasurer. They moved to South Carolina in 2005 where Bryan is the Financial Services Manager at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville. Karen is finishing up court reporting school. Joshua, his wife Sarah, and Jonathan are attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We had a great evening reminiscing and catching up on each others family news.

Karen and Bryan Holley

Saturday morning we headed to Easley to see Mike, Aimee, Abigail and Macey Mohler. The Mohlers also served with us in Bucharest. We enjoyed holding Abigail as a baby and seeing her grow during her first two years of life. Mike is the pastor of Trinity Point Church in Easley. Aimee is enjoying being a full time mother. Abigail is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. Macey is an adorable little girl who will be 3 years old in December. We enjoyed visiting with them and hearing how the Lord as been using them in their area of SC.

Aimee, Abigail, Mike and Macey Mohler

Saturday afternoon we stopped in Jefferson GA at the home of Gigi and Alina Cristea. Alina is our friend, Dan Cristea's sister. We enjoyed the afternoon with them and 3/4 of the Cristea clan (we missed Dan, Alina, Alex and Andrei being there with us all). Besides Gigi, Alina and their two children, Edith and David, we also saw Dan's parents, his youngest sister, Mimi, plus Dan's two other sisters and their families. Andrea and her husband, Cristi live next door with their children, Joshua and Megan. Dan's sister, Thedi, her husband, Philip and daughters Grace and Joelle were visiting from Germany. We enjoyed meeting the whole family finally since Dan and Adina have shown us pictures of the family during the last 7 years. Edith (in the 9th grade) and David (in the 3rd grade) also gave us a mini concert. They each play the piano. They were great. Of course we enjoyed some Romanian food while we were there. Roger enjoyed the zacusca (pureed veggies spread you put on bread). It was great.

The Cristea clanEdith playing for us. She played beautifully!!

David did not really want to play for us but did. He did a great job too! Their teacher is a Romanian pianist.

We arrived at our Georgia destination Saturday night, outside the town of Williamson, at the home of Keith and Ellen Brewer and their children, Sarah, Jake, Rachael and Jesse. Sarah had been our house guest a couple of times in Bucharest. Have you ever felt instantly at home when visiting some place for the first time. That is how we felt at the Brewers. We stayed with them from Saturday evening until Thursday morning (the 11th). We attended church with Sarah at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Griffin. We enjoyed getting to know the Brewers and also hearing more about Sarah's wedding in June 2009. She is marrying Tyson Moore, who also stayed with us in Bucharest. Roger will be taking part in the ceremony.

On the evening of the 10th we attended the missionary appointment service at FBC Jonesboro. If you have never attended one of these services you need to. We always come away praising the Lord and rejoicing in his awesomeness. I can't explain it. We went to see friends appointed. Because of security issues we can not say their names. We can say we have known them since 2000 when they came to Romania to help build a chapel with the Romania Chapel Project. In 2001 we celebrated Easter with them while we were at missionary orientation in VA. They have been awesome prayer partners for us. We look forward to seeing how God will use them in South Asia when they depart in January 2009.

After the appointment service.

We departed Georgia for Mississippi on the 11th. We headed to Stringer to spend the night with Richard and Wanda Clark. Richard and Wanda served in Romania for two years before returning to MS in 2005. Now they are preparing to return to Bucharest in December. They are being appointed as career missionaries November 11th at FBC Houston. We enjoyed catching up on their news and also seeing their daughters, Rebekah (a sophomore at William Carey University), Jessica and her husband, Adam (both middle school teachers).

Richard, Wanda, Rebekah, Jessica and Adam

Returning to Texas we again crossed over the Mississippi River this time at Vicksburg Mississippi.

It was a great trip! A trip planned by the Lord. It is always amazing how the Lord arranges schedules, plans and events. Thank you Lord!

College Life begins for Kyle

People have been asking me, Melinda how do I feel about Kyle going off to college. Yes, it is hard to believe our youngest is now grown and ready to spread his wings. The years have definitely gone by too fast for me to have three grown sons. I miss hearing their young voices, seeing them make things with their Legos, and enjoying life as boys. I realized (finally) when Jordan went off to college three years ago that they are in God's hands to use for his glory. Yes I definitely miss my boys but know each of them are where God wants them to be. Of course we live close to Nathaniel and Kelly so we see them regularly and talk on the phone. It would be nice if Kyle and Jordan called more but... Of course even though they are away from us they are not out of mind and are prayed for.

Here are a few pictures from when we went with Kyle to Union University September 1st -
We departed Mt. Pleasant TX (where Melinda's mother lives) early Monday morning, September 1st for Tennessee. The Lord gave us a beautiful sunrise to see as we began our journey. Melinda was following Kyle and Roger.Entering Tennessee over the Mississippi River at Memphis (home to Elvis Presley/ I had to mention that for Donna Brown. Yes I thought of you Donna!)

I was a passenger in Kyle's car at one point in the journey.We finally arrived at Union University and Paschall dorm, Kyle's new home.Kyle's front door.We unpacked Kyle's car and before we knew it Kyle had his dorm room organized. Kyle's Romanian roots visible for all to see. Hai Romania! Come on Romania!

No, I did not make Kyle's bed as Roger said I would. Kyle did it. Forgot to get a picture of Kyle's living room, but did get a picture of his kitchen. Between Kyle and Zach (one of his other roommates who is also a MK) they had their kitchen pretty stocked with items for using.Kyle at his dorm room door and ready to begin his college adventure.Jordan and three of his friends showing how sad they are that Jordan had been in the hospital.

Celebration in August

After Jordan was out of the hospital we headed back to Belton. Melinda's mother arrived a few days later for us to celebrate her birthday at our house with us and my sister and her family. We enjoyed the day being with everyone.Nana with her seven grandchildren (l to r) - Nathaniel, Kelly, Jeremy, Nana, Jordan, Kimberly, Natalie and Kyle.

Mother with her two daughters, Nancy and Melinda.

Tonsillectomy

When you hear about someone getting their tonsils out do you think it is a minor surgery? Well we have learned IT IS NOT!
Jordan needed to have his tonsils out. He never had tonsillitis when he was younger. It has been within the last year that Jordan has started having problems. He decided he wanted to have them done in Mount Pleasant where Melinda's mother lives and where he stays when not in school.
On Monday, August 11th checked into Titus Regional Medical Center to have his tonsils removed. Melinda and Nana, her mother sat in the waiting room waiting to hear all went well. The surgery started at 10:25 and at 10:45 the doctor came out and said all went well. He told us that indeed the tonsils were really bad. Jordan's tonsils had stones in them (spongy like) that causes bacteria and infections.
Well soon after that the doctor returned to tell us that Jordan had started hemorrhaging and he needed to my (Melinda) permission to do a tracheotomy so Jordan could breathe. I said yes! I think it was two hours later when we learned they finally had been able to get the bleeding stopped. Two other surgeons had been called in to help. Jordan's throat was packed with gauze. Jordan had been given two units of blood since he had lost so much. Jordan was sent up to ICU to recover.

Jordan on Tuesday, August 12th in ICU.

Jordan was kept sedated until Thursday, the day after the packing was removed from his throat. It took him a couple of days to realize what was going on but still not fully understanding what happened.
Roger, Kyle and Nathaniel arrived on Tuesday, the 12th. Nathaniel was able to stay until Wednesday afternoon then returned on Saturday and spent the night with Jordan when he went to a regular room. Kyle headed to Tyler on the 15th and Roger returned to Belton on the 16th (to prepare to preach at FBC Belton on the 17th).
Yes on Saturday afternoon, the 16th, Jordan was doing well enough to move to a regular room. His throat was looking good but was still being monitored because of the trach.
Jordan was given steroids to help reduce the swelling in his throat so the trach could come out. On Monday Jordan's doctor brought a scope in to check out Jordan's throat. Everything looked good so he removed Jordan's trach. Jordan's neck was bandaged to help the trach area to start closing. No stitches. This is one area that will closed on its own.
On Tuesday afternoon Jordan was released to go home. Hurrah! Thank you Lord!
Please pray for Jordan as his throat continues to heal and also for the trach area to close and heal quickly. He can feel air still going in and out so it is bothering him.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Thank you Lord was taking care of Jordan and healing his body. Thank you for being with us all during this time. We love you Lord! Thank you for loving us! Amen

Hot Springs Village in July

Hot Springs Arkansas holds fond memories for Melinda. This was where her grandparents lived as she was growing up. We would come to visit them every two or three years (we lived in California). Playing board games in the two story house at 409 Alcorn Avenue with her sister, Nancy, and Uncle Victor (who is only 8 years older than Melinda), watching the rain fall while sitting on the swing on the front porch (it always rained when we visited), playing miniature golf with Granddaddy and her two uncles, and watching Granddaddy make wooden objects (such as Barbie doll furniture for us) in the basement workshop are special memories for Melinda. So when Melinda's parents started going to Hot Springs Village (resort outside of Hot Springs) when the boys were small Melinda and Nancy and their families wanted to tag along too.July 12-18 Roger, Melinda and Kyle had the opportunity to go with Melinda's Mom, Nancy, her husband, James and their youngest child, Kimberly to Hot Springs Village. Roger enjoyed the long walks on the trails through the woods and along side the golf courses and the daily swimming at the pool. Kyle enjoyed the pool and bugging his 11 year old cousin (and she bugged Kyle alot too). Melinda and Nancy took a paving stone class one afternoon. Melinda has her stone displayed on the hearth in our missionary house.
One evening Kyle, Melinda, and the Ervins played miniature golf. Nancy won! She made two hold in ones while Melinda was just trying to make par.

One day James, Nancy, Kimberly, Kyle and Melinda went to Mid-America Science Museum. It is a hands on museum. It is a fun way to learn science.Captain Kyle and his crew, Kimberly preparing to blast off.ICE!Kyle in the air?!?WOW a giant Arkansas crystal!

Have you ever heard of the Tesla coil? Google it and learn all about it!Electricity!Electricity!?!The word is Grossology!Kyle learning about Burps and Belches.Kyle and Melinda having a Kodak moment.

We took a pontoon boat ride on Lake Balboa in Hot Springs Village one evening. We enjoyed seeing all the beautiful homes built along the shoreline.Roger and Kyle checking out their messages on their phones.

Melinda and her Mom enjoying the ride.We saw some very beautiful homes on the shore of the lake. Nana with the Ervins and the Russells at the end of the ride.

We finished the week having breakfast at The Pancake House (www.pancakeshop.com) in downtown Hot Springs. It is a family tradition to go to the Pancake House for breakfast. They are known for their fried ham steaks, buckwheat pancakes and apple butter. YUMMY!We had a great week!

4th of July

It has been 3 years since we were in the US for the 4th of July. We had a house full of family and friends for lunch.

The Russells and Ervins with Nana.Never too old to swing. The missionary house has a tire swing in the yard. Kyle is enjoying it.Roger took our 11 year old niece, Kimberly for a ride on his touring bike.Jordan heading out on Roger's bike back to Pittsburg.

In Texas

We departed Romania on June 28th. We arrived in Dallas about 1:45pm Texas time. We were met at the airport by Nathaniel and Kelly and my sister, Nancy. All our luggage arrived also with us.

We spent the first 3 days with Nathaniel and Kelly at their apartment in Temple.

On July 1st we moved into First Baptist Church Belton's missionary house. It is very nice and big. It is a furnished house so we are lacking nothing.We are trying to get used to the hot weather when outside AND trying not to freeze when going into stores with air conditioning. We keep the temp at our house about 80 degrees since below that we freeze.