The Midwest for Mexico Update #4
Through 3-5-01
Written by Paul Smucker
Here is the author with a borrowed laptop.
I am not sure if I can match the humor and candor of the previous writers of these updates. Since I was the driver of the van by default, I did not have the opportunity to write these while the van was in motion. I am doing this update from the plane. I have about 1/4 of the battery left, so we will see if I will have the opportunity to finish this before the battery is dead.
Phil and Anna Smucker and family.
We left Phil's house Saturday afternoon after a late dinner of delicious homemade pizza. Some of the fellows had a little problem with temperance, but we will not discuss that. (Editor's note: It wasn't me this time.) We drove on down to Richland Center. The trip did not take as long as we expected so we got there about 7:00 instead of 8:00 like we had told them. I decided to try something to prove an idea that I had. Instead of turning off to go to Dale Kulp's, I decided to go on into Richland Center, take a circle and then go to our destination. When we travel the quartet is usually so engrossed in whatever they are doing that they have no idea where we are or where we are going. I have told some people I think I could drive in circles and they would never know. We completed our circle and were heading out of town. Three of them never noticed. They still may not know, but David did wonder why he saw the same sign he had seen a few minutes before.
Here's Konrad in a familiar pose, he was hacking his guts out all week.
We were split up into three different homes that evening. Usually the quartet has an elaborate way of deciding by flipping a coin who will go where or who will sleep in which bed. This time Dale figured out a very simple way to decide with three flips instead of 15 or 20. Of course some of the fellows had trouble figuring out how the simple way worked. Byran and David stayed with Dale Kulp, Todd and Conner (oops, I mean Tom and Konrad) (Editor's note: Do NOT ask about that.) stayed with the Mark High family in a house in a pole barn, and I stayed with the Elam Martin family.
Here we are singing downstairs for the supper crowd after our last service.
Sunday morning we added some spice to the Buck Creek Church service. Dale asked us to so we attempted to. The Buck Creek Church was very interesting. It was packed. It was very informal. It was a good service.
After the service we did not go to a home for the meal since we had a 4 1/2 hour drive to the Linn Mennonite Church in Roanoke, Ill. Each of the families where we had stayed had packed a lunch for us. We had about 3 times too much food, but most of us tried our best. (Editor's note: it was the least I could do.)
The service at the Linn Mennonite Church was a fitting ending.
Here's Paul talking about Mexico to the congregation at Linn Mennonite.
These guys don't appear to be listening to the preacher.
Each of us had someone who came especially to see us. Allan and Caroline Miller and family drove 2 hours to see me. A number of students from BMA Bible School drove and some even flew (in a private plane) to see Tom and Byran.
Me and By with Jonny and Heidi Gingerich from Arthur, IL.
Us again with our buds from Goshen, l to r, Nolan Yoder (me and By stayed at his house during BMA Bible Institute), Norrell Lee, and Marnell Lee.
Shelly and her husband drove 1 3/4 hours to see her brother Konrad.
Troy, Shelly, and Katelyn Williams.
Konrad with his niece.
David had lots of relatives from the home church and from several hours away. One even all the way from Florida.
David with a bunch of cousins.
They fed us well after the service.
Jonny, Nolan, and Norrell.
It looks like we will arrive on time. We did not have the chance to get bumped. (Editor's note: I found this highly disappointing. I need some more airline tickets.) We should arrive in Portland around 8:30. Tom and Konrad have had an interesting interaction with the one stewardess. Ask them about it some time. I had better not go into details.
Me either. This is Amy, our stewardess!
My battery is about done. I can hardly wait until I get the chance to see my family again. The trip was wonderful. I feel like we really ministered to people. Many thanked us for informing them about Mexico and challenging them to walk more closely to the Lord.
Thanks to all who prayed.
May God bless you all,
Paul
The Editor.