Thanks for the prayers, friends. God held us up at one point and sped us up at another. We missed a huge storm with 50 mph straight line wins so we are so thankful.
I’ll be staying with my folks and Patty will be with her dad tonight and tomorrow as we help out here and there with odd jobs.
On Saturday we will head on to Perryville, AR, to preach revival services beginning Sunday morning.
Blessings,
John

It was a great day yesterday although very busy. I had rehearsal yesterday morning at 8 a.m. then two services. The worship was wonderful and the choir did a great job! Yesterday afternoon we headed up to the church around 4:15 to get ready for Student Choir Kickoff. Patty through a meal together for the kids and along with a little help from some great volunteers the kids were thrilled. We got enrollment done, played a few games, and talked a little to get to know each other a bit. We will begin working music this next Sunday.
This morning began early as I worked on getting all bases covered before heading out on Thursday. I appreciate the prayers. This two job thing (don’t want to hear from any of my bivocational heroes) is pretty difficult.

Blessings,
john

A good day today started off on the golf course with friends. I didn’t play particularly well, but the fellowship was fun although it was very hot!
When I got in and showered, I took a little time to recover before Patty got home (she went shopping with a friend) then we went out to eat. She’s having a little bit of a tough weekend. Today is her mom’s (who passed away last November) birthday. All in all, she has had a pretty good day.
This evening I spent some time in my office, going over the worship service for tomorrow and looking at some Christmas stuff for the choir.
I appreciate your prayers as the work continues.
Blessings,
John

I went into the office this morning to begin working putting the Christmas music together then Patty and I had a lunch meeting. After the meeting, we headed to Dothan to see the latest Avenger movie, Captain America. Lots of comic book fun.
Guess I’ll work a little at home tonight. Still lots to do. We sure appreciate your prayers. God’s doing in a work and we just want to be in the center of it all.
Blessings,
John

Hi friends,
Thanks so much for checking in. It’s been really busy as I’ve spent my time at the church office getting ready first for Wednesday night’s service and choir rehearsal and then I began getting Youth Choir music together for the kickoff rehearsal on Sunday. Also finishing up the Christmas Music Selection so I can get everything recorded on a listening c.d. to hand out to choir members.
I’ll head back up to the office in the morning to continue the work. Right now it’s just a little tough balancing both the home job and the road job but I’m gettng in the flow and things are falling into place.

Patty’s having a bit of a difficult weekend. As you are aware, we lost Patty’s mom to brain cancer in November last year and this Saturday is her mom’s birthday so ……..
Thanks for the prayers! We feel them everyday.

Thank you for your prayers as we traveled home yesterday. It’s not often that we will push ourselves to drive that distance (750 miles) in one day but with obligations here at home with the music ministry of Hillcrest and the yard work and travel prep here at the house, there is much to do.
Travel yesterday went as well as it possibly could have. We knew we had to do everything we could to hit Atlanta before rush hour and we were in camp 9 hours north of Atlanta, soooooooo, we got up and left Montebello, VA,, at 6:30 a.m. pushing pretty hard. We got to the outskirts of ATL around 3:15 (a little later than I would have liked) but got on the bypass and had no problems getting around. We were so relieved.
Once around, we drove about another hour before stopping and sitting to eat. That gave us a nice boost energy wise, then we rolled on in arriving home at 8:30.
Lots to do today, just wanted to thank you for your prayers!!
John

It was a very busy day as we had our last full day at camp here in the Blue Ridge mountains. We experienced several “seasons” of temps as we woke with a coolness in the air, followed by warmth, then hot, then rain, then cool. It’s still right now and a bit humid but the kids are having smores at the campfire. Something about 100 kids with hot sticks and melted marshmellows begged Patty and me to head back to our lodging and get ready to pull out tomorrow.
The decision service went pretty well and we had several kids that responded at the close. I haven’t heard any numbers but we appreciate your prayers.
We will be heading out early in the morning and are attempting to get home, approx 13 1/2 hours away. Safety and strength is needed and if that was in your thoughts we would be grateful.
Blessings,
John

It was a bit better, still with some problems in sound and tech. The kids have been wide open all day, no rest time at all, so before the service they were total zombies. We thought it best to delay the decision service feeling like we’d not be able to get through to some of them.
Turned out, we might have missed it. I pray not but the kids were right with me throughout (at least most all were) and I feel like we could have gone ahead. I pray the counselors follow up tonight in their cabin time.
Got a fair amount of rain today. It was cool and the rain was not hard enough to stop the outdoor games and rec so all in all it was a good day.
Tomorrow night we wrap up and Patty and I will load following the evening service so we can get an early start on Monday.
Thanks for the continued prayers.
John

It was a rough beginning to camp services. Lots of tech glitches (doesn’t matter how many times you try things and/or get sound checks. The sound wasn’t all that good (I’m patching in to a system brought from the church) and using their computer with my program being on a thumb drive. Couldn’t get everything to sync up so it basically looked like I’ve been doing this about a year 1/2 as opposed to 25. Really frustrated and disappointed.
Sure would appreciate the prayers as we press on. Unable to make or receive phone calls but can get emails when we come to the main lodge.
Blessings,
John

Wow, this place is something else. Relatively rustic but set in the blue ridge mountains. High today, 80 with a little breeze. Beautiful. 96 kids present with lots of energy. We have a “warm up” each morning consisting of about 3 songs and a sermon “teaser” about the topic for the night. Each service at night begins at 7 p.m.
We would appreciate the prayers as we do this work.

Blessings,
john