Missions conference is over now at our church, Temple Baptist Church in Powell. (www.templebaptistchurch.com) We had such a great time! Missions conference has always been one of my favorite times at church. I'm sorry to say my home church in Illinois no longer has a missions conference, and I am very sad that those children do not get exposed to such wonderful works the Lord is doing throughout the world through New Testament missions.
Paul and Kelly Childers and their family were her for the conference. They are missionaries now to the people of Italy. They are doing such a great job over there. Paul was my room leader my freshman year, and Kelly was Janell's room leader her freshman year at Crown. We have a long history with this couple. We love them dearly. I wish we had more time to spend talking with them, but things didn't work out that way. Maybe we can get with them again before they go back to Italy.
Paul and his brother David were some of my best friends my freshman year at Crown. At the time Paul was dating Kelly and they were preparing to marry the next summer. He was working in the kitchen (where I worked) and worked a couple other jobs to get enough money to find a house. I remember him coming home late at night from work then having to leave early in the morning to go to the kitchen to serve breakfast. He was always faithful to the Lord and I knew he would be used greatly in years to come.
We would laugh and sing many nights. Paul and David could both sing beautiful harmony and loved the old country and bluegrass songs I played on my guitar. I was the weak-link vocally, but we had a great time. I also met their parents several times. Greater people the world have never known. I hope to see them again someday, though they probably wouldn't remember me.
David went home to be with the Lord the summer of 2004 while traveling with a Crown College singing group in Florida. The entire group went home that morning. I couldn't believe it when I heard about it. Another of my dorm-mates, Brad Askew, was also with the group. I didn't make it to the memorial service held just a few weeks later. I couldn't stand to go.
Crown College now has two displays with memories of the members of the group. The first time I say David's suit and Bible in there I had to walk away. Its hard to lose a friend, especially when you don't get a chance to say goodbye. Now I can look at the items and laugh with memories we made and I am overjoyed that I will see David and Brad again. I still miss them. Especially Dave.
Some other of our friends and members of TBC were in the conference as well. Jeremy and Amanda Tyler and John and Julie Kokenzie are both missionary families to Brazil. They have been good friends to us over the years.
Jeremy is originally from Brazil through missionary parents. He understands fully the country he is going to and the people he will be ministering to. Amanda is from good ole Clay County, Illinois. She has known me since before I was born. Her brother Andy and I still talk several times a week. I consider the King family another branch of my family, we were so close growing up. Amanda and her sister Kerry (now a missionary to the people of Haiti) used to babysit us quite often. I'm sure we were much harder on them than we should have been!
We haven't known John and Julie quite as long, but they are wonderful people. They have invited us to their house tonight to have dinner. We are very excited! I hope we get to know them better before they leave for Brazil. They were at our church in IL for a week helping the pastor some time ago. That is where we first got to know them. They are working hand-in-hand with the Tylers and hope to continue to do so in Brazil.
I'd like to post some pictures of the conference, but we don't have any. This is due to: 1. we didn't take any pictures and 2. we lost the cable that goes from the camera to the computer. As soon as we get some money together, I'll buy another one.
Continue to pray for us. I started work last week as a security guard. The money is lean, but we are trusting the Lord. We will barely be making enough to cover our expenses, but that does not cover the school bill. I would like to be done in 3 years (for 2 years of schooling). Pray the Lord works all this out. Plus there is the baby!
See y'all later!
