A Simple Life - Fall 2011

Summer is over; the leaves are falling; and it is time for us to head South.  It has been a great summer on Lake Henry in NE PA.  What a special place Clayton Park Campground is - filled with special people and some great memories and friends for us to relish.  If you are ever in that part of the country and want a "Golden Pond" type of experience - be sure and spend some time on Lake Henry at www.claytonpark.net.  Bring a fishing pole, some good reading material and enjoy the abundant tranquil, peaceful atmosphere.  Tell Sonja and Maurice hello from us - we know you'll fall in love with them as soon as meeting them.

We are currently spending some time with the Amish in Lancaster County, PA.  As you can see we are parked right across from the family's barn, and it is harvest time.....which makes me feel extremely lazy!!!   The Lancaster County Amish are known locally as "The Plain Folk"; their simple, slow-paced lifestyle is very enticing - until you notice their workday begins before sunup and runs past darkness.  But it is certainly fun to watch their family interact and work the farm.   Their major crop is tobacco, but they also have their own dairy and raise all the crops needed to support that enterprise (corn, alfalfa, etc....).

 That means all of the children, regardless of age, have duties they are responsible to perform.  Notice the six year old boy hitching up a mule team and getting them ready for a days work in the field.  It is almost comical to watch such a little person lead around two huge animals; however, he takes his job very seriously and the mules follow him wherever he leads!  Other times in the day "Josiah" kicks his heels up while having fun racing his 10 year old brother, who is driving a corn harvest machine and wagon home from the field.

Some people describe heaven as just a place where everyone will be sitting around singing songs and praying all of the time.....to be honest - that always seemed pretty boring to me - however, I hope it is not quite as busy as what happens on an Amish farm!!!  Somewhere in the middle would be just right!

Speaking of the Amish, I took advantage of this week to study the history of Anabaptist - which includes the Amish - and includes most of the denominations that are prevelant in mid America.  Ana-baptist is translated as Re-baptized.  The original movement did not agree with child baptism and instead taught that one should be baptized when old enough to make a decision to become a Christ follower as the central focus and purpose of their life.  Of course, not all of us decided to do without electricity and ride in buggies wherever we go, but underneath all of the outward appearance, we found we have much in common with the Anabaptist movement that we were not aware of.

                                                                               Tomorrow we must say goodbye to Pennsylvania as we head South through the Appalachian Mountains, West through the Smoky Mountains and eventually end up in Mountain Home, Arkansas where we will spend the weekend with Terry's youngest sister and Husband.  Then on to NE Oklahoma to be with family through the end of November.  December first is our next commitment at the campground where this all started in Kerrville, Texas.  We will spend the winter there and then head west to help in a New Mexico church camp next spring and summer.

So.......that catches you up with us........how are you doing and what is going on in your life.  Please send us a note, we would really like to know.

Oh......and by the way....... Happy Birthday to our new great-neice Kylee

my sister Kim's first grandchild.  Born 10/6/2011

Looks just like you Kim!!!  Hopefully she has Chris' brains!!  :-)

Settled In Pennsylvania

Well, you can almost see our rig - we are setting on Lake Henry (honest!) in the beautiful tree covered Pocono mountains of NE PA.  (Just East of Scranton)    After spending the last year in South Texas, we are working hard on acclimating to the new temps.  Here it is June 4th, with  44 degrees last night for the outdoor movie - which is shown on the lake front with the cool breezes caressing us!     Refreshing!!!! 

We are camped for the summer in this family owned campground which reminds us of the old movie - "On Golden Pond".  Very relaxing and soothing to the spirit.  We are learning our duties which include = camp store coverage, cleaning bathrooms, rental units and tent camp sites, picking up trash that is loose on the campground, lawn care, flower & vegetable gardening, helping with activities, "Honey-Wagon" duties [if you have to ask - don't]  :-)  and any thing else needed to help the team.  We are enjoying new challenges and learning new skills - but most of all enjoying spending time together outside as we accomplish our assignments and develop new relationships.                                                                          

                                                                      Clayton Park Recreational Area (http://www.claytonpark.net/) is basically a summer fishing community, where over 75% of the campers are "seasonal" - which means they are here all summer long.  Some come in on weekends and some stay out here all of the time, with children and/or grandchildren along.   For those who love to fish - they mainly catch Pickerel, Calico (which is an enlarged crappie) and small mouth Bass.  You can rent a row boat or canoe, fish from the shore or just take a swim and lay on the beach.  It's a tough life!

We will be here through early to mid October and then on with our Journey.  We are already falling in love with the people we are sharing life with this summer - - - oh, and Terry already has some tomatoes and other veggies in the ground - - - so if you are in the area mid summer, stop by and check it out!

Terry and Connie getting the Veg. garden up and going.  Looks like it is going to be a "yummy" summer!

One Year Later & Still Smiling!!!

We have intentionally taken a years' hiatus from posting on this blog - as we wanted time to mature and "cure" under God's purpose and timing without injecting any of ourselves into the process. Per our last posting - our trip to Costa Rica was greatly enjoyed; however, no doors opened and extended any long term possibilities, so we returned to the states and decided to discontinue our roles as "Houseparents" at the children's home. Within the same week an opportunity (door) opened to experience life as full-time rvers and workampers at a RV resort in Kerrville, Texas. So within the week, we purchased an RV, packed all our belongings from the Children's Home into the RV and "hit the road".

We have now been living the full time RVer lifestyle for almost a full year and are so happy we made this decision. The picture at the top shows us sitting by a branch of the river (with our Niece's puppy dog - Abby) at the campground we have worked at this past winter
(http://www.bytheriver.com/).

It is always interesting to see whom God crosses our path with and how He orchestrates the relationships to benefit and challenge each one of us spiritually. The lower picture is of a neat couple we are currently "workamping" with - Bill & Cheryl Fitch. They are retired Christian Counselors and we help keep their Psychology tools sharp as they get to know us better! :-) They have been a real blessing and a lot of fun to work and grow with. And some times we actually get a little work done around the campground!

We will finish our year in Texas campgrounds this April and depart for a summer and fall season in the Pocono Mountains of NE Pennsyvania. Not quite sure what our plans are for next Winter, but are excitingly looking forward to see which doors open and what they contain! We will try to do better at keeping you in the loop during our travels.

Thanks for hanging in there and tagging along!!!

Remember - - - our only truly security lies in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is soverign and knows what our true needs are and how to meet them - - - if we will only trust Him and let go of the controls.

In His Service-based Love,

Henry & Terry

Costa Rica - Here we come!

We depart this Thursday for a two week visit to Puerto Viejo, Limon, Costa Rica.

The primary purpose of our visit is to check out a grass roots ministry called "The Bridge". This is a grass-roots group of retirees from the U.S., Canada and Europe who are ministering in practical ways to an indigenous indian tribe called the Bri-Bri's. Nutritional assistance, Education Encouragement & Support; and, Micro Loans to encourage continued self sufficiency are the major three areas of helping at this time. More is in the works - which is where we may fit in. Check out their existing efforts at www.elpuente-thebridge.org

There will also be plenty of time for R&R on the beautiful carribean sand beaches and/or in the neighboring rain forest where howler monkeys, sloths, dart frogs and many other interesting creatures still thrive in the wild.

We will post an update upon our return.

Thanks for your emotional and spiritual support.
Henry & Terry

New Year - New Decade - Ready or Not

The new decade began with a blast of Artic Air than desended all the way to the Houston area. We didn't recieve any snow (to the chagrin of our boys) but we did have a couple of heavy frosts, which led to the creation of "Frost Angels" in our front yard. We left a couple of our water faucets running through the night and had running water the next morning with no frozen pipes! Yeah.......hot showers!!!! Warm air has now returned and we are back into the 60's daytime and 40's at night. That was a short winter!

Change is in the air with more than just the weather, as we are nearing the end of our first year as Teaching Parents. This has been a true culture change, certainly exceeding our comfort zones and energy capabilities. "Growing" times are never without some pain, but the end product is hopefully worth the efforts. Working with six ADD/ADHD boys who also have many emotional scars has been more than difficult at times, but infiltrated by rays of hope from time to time.

We are currently assessing our position/situation, as other options for ministry have presented themselves to us. More on a later post, please keep us in your prayers and feel free to give us your insights and/or personal advice.

We pray your Christmas-Holiday season was filled with the Peace and Love of Christ as your created many new memories with loved ones to savor over the future years.

Blessings in 2010,
Henry & Terry

Culture Shock Re-Defined!

(Houston's summer rains bring out the fierce crawdads and brave crawdad hunters!)

"Voluntarily choosing to leave a peaceful, relaxing home where everything happens stress-free, as expected, on a regular time basis - - - moving to a chaotic, loud, stressed-out home where everything happens when someone else decides and without any warning." What does that definition describe? Insanity . . . Stupidity . . . Masochism? We choose to think of it as willful culture shock!

Moving from our quiet residence and nearing retirement roles in Tulsa to an extremely active children's home in the Houston area as Houseparents for young boys has been much more of a culture shock than we could have imagined. Much more so than our months spent in Honduras! Thus the delayed updates to our blog site. We are just now getting adjusted physically, emotionally and spiritually to our newest chapter on our journey.

Now, with school out, we have our boys to share life with 24/7. (Be careful what you pray for!!!!)

Our new family is extremely healthy and on-the-go. Most of our boys have some form of ADD & ADHD diagnosis, which tends to increase the intensity level of everything we do together.

These boys are basically very loving and accepting - especially considering how many times adults have let them down during their young lives.

Monday we are beginning our "Summer Program" which can best be defined as 10 weeks of day long Bible School that will keep us on the run and, at the minimum, well tanned.

A couple of our boys are returning to their birth families this month. (bitter/sweet emotions) We are told to expect two or three new boys to be added to our family this summer. (mixed fear & excitment)

Boys And Girls Country has a great reputation in the greater Houston Metro area. The children, as a whole, have all of their physical needs taken care of three times over. But, things do not replace love - and that is why we feel called here at this time in our lives.

Please be praying that our boys' tender, moldable hearts will receive the seed of Christ's love during our time with them this summer. They are so easy to love!!!!

Please also pray for our physical endurance as we attempt to keep up with our gang on bikes, skateboards, up trees and wherever else the wind blows!

Mostly we covet your prayer support for our ability to hear God's voice as we lovingly deal with and develop close-knit relationships with these little men. There is so much potential in those smiling faces . . . . but also way too much pain, fear and bad family experiences hidden behind those smiles of Brandon, Austin, Jared, Jacob, Michael, Harley and Kiewan.

Please keep us informed on what is happening on your journey this summer.

Foward on our journey,

Henry & Terry

Onward on The Journey

Wow! It's been 90 days since our last posting.......how time flies when you are unsure of which direction to proceed.

Six months ago we were certain of our direction - knowing it was God directed and therefore must be long term in essence of time. (The more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know!) The door to Honduras has closed.........and finally after 90 days of checking on many, many doors of opportunity, we found one Divinely opened. (Another one of those "God things"!)

We are now Houseparents for up to eight young boys at a Christian Children's home near Houston, Texas.

We were so tied up in the organized church when we raised our own children.......to the point of ignoring some of their needs in lieu of supporting church programming and traditions. That has left some guilt scars and regrets that cannot be erased. However, we are hearing God say - "I still believe in you........you are not expected to be perfect........just love them as I love you - now take this second chance and have fun with it!"

And that is exactly what we are planning to do! It helps being part of a group of like-minded Believers who are also Houseparents along side of us. There are a total of eleven cottages on campus; so there are ten other sets of houseparents who have the same heart and desire for God and His children. We are looking forward to learning and loving so much!!!!

Boys and Girls Country (BGC) is a working ranch that houses up to 88 children plus support staff, houseparents, horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep and rabbits - but no chickens! :-)

Education is the key focus at BGC. The children attend area public schools and can earn priviliges to participate in various extra curricular activities such as 4-H, athletics, band, etc....... Privileges are based on scholastic and attitude grade averages. If the child remains with BGC and graduates from High School, they are gifted a college education at a Texas university of their choice.

High School Grads also qualify to move to a second campus that focuses assistance to college and vocational living. This gives a "home" to return to during semester breaks or when home on leave from the armed forces; or some needed structure when begining their first job of a new career.

This is a picture of the fishing pond located on the second campus. This gentleman is one of the other House-Dads from our campus. That is his baby in his arms, as many of the other House parents have their own children living with them.

By the way, there are currently two House parent couples who are from Central America! How does God do that? I know He loves to smile and laugh with us!!!!

Personal Disciplines and Spiritual Life are also major points of focus at BGC; which are the primary roles of the Houseparent team. Each cottage has a houseparent team that consists of a married couple and a single adult. We all live in the cottage with separate living quarters - just think of the Walton family on the old TV series "The Waltons" - several generations sharing one large home. Terry & I work eight days on and then have four days off - during which time the Single parent (Aunt Victoria in our case) is at "home" and keeping things running smoothly.

We hope to learn much from Victoria, as she already knows the boys and has great relationships in place with them and their birth families. What a blessing she will be for us! We hope we can be the same for her.

This is a poor picture of the swimming pool on campus - two years old......and in the background the new community life building that should be completed early summer. (The old one was a casualty of Hurricane Ike last November.) We are told summer is like twelve straight weeks of Vacation Bible School - 12 hour days of programming in every area you can imagine. Houseparents are strategically involved and extremely glad when school starts back up in the fall. Pray for endurance for these old bodies of ours!!!

I will get back on a regular schedule for posting updates ........ no less than monthly. We hope to eventually introduce you to our new family (first names only) so you can be in a better position to pray and make suggestions as we continue along this path of the journey.

Thanks for your interest and support! Let us know how we can best remain involved in your life!

Loving God and loving You,

Henry & Terry