My Mother Taught Me: The Blueberry Lesson

It is blueberry time at our house. They usually begin to get ripe during the last week of June and proceed through most of July. This year they are about a week ahead of schedule. [Last year we had none due to a late freeze after they had bloomed.] They need to be picked ever couple of days. Two hours of picking renders well over a gallon and that doesn't even get half of them.

So far we have picked three or four gallons. Cheryl made a wonderful pie. She has also decided to make blueberry jam; so far she has made four batches (about a gallon total). As I write, there is over a gallon of just-picked berries draining in the sink. I will freeze and vacuum-seal a few gallons before it is over. We have given some away. A few of our friends will come and pick some for themselves and for some elderly friends and members of our congregation. My sister Shirley may come pick a few.

Every year while I sweat and pick I keep remembering one of the last lessons my mother taught me. Dad gave me my bushes (off-shoots from his) the year we bought our house. Momma told me what to expect. She said, "Son it will be a couple of years before they bear, but once they start expect more and more every year. The first year you will be excited about the handful you will pick and eat. The next year you should get enough for a pie or a cobbler. The next year you will be thrilled to put a bunch in the freezer to use during the year. The next, you will have more than you need and be so happy to give some away and see the joy people have in your gift. The next you will invite people to come pick all they want, but they won't and you will wonder why. The next you will make the same offer and you will learn to be content to let the birds have all they want. Finally, you will start daydreaming about cutting the bushes down, but you won't."

Once again, Momma knew what she was talking about. She died the next spring, long before the blueberries got ripe. When Dad died a few years later, there were still gallons of blueberries Momma had put in the freezer.

By the way, Dad had an equally insightful but far more brief lesson. "Son, one bush will produce about all one family can use, but you will need two kinds of berries for them to produce well. How many do you want? You can have as many as you want." I didn't listen and took eight or ten. They all lived. Anybody want some blueberry bushes?

Just for Camdyn and Charlie

Camdyn and Charlie,

I took these pictures today so you can see the cows and horses.

Love,
Papa

India Revisited

[Please scroll down for a photo of and tribute to Eric Mycho, Cheryl's nephew. We will for some time be grieving his death.]

In India we were guests of Moses and Ammaji Choudary and Maranatha Visvasa Samajam. You may click on the highlighted name to visit their web site where you will see the great ministries they conduct. We were especially blessed to visit two of the children's homes and the elder care ministry. Without Maranatha Visvasa Samajam many of the children and seniors would literally be living on the streets. We were treated royally by everyone. Ammaji is a phenomenal cook.

I know of no ministry that more effectively uses its resources for the cause of Christ and the care of people. Please visit the web site and pray about supporting a child, an elder, a ministerial student, or a pastor.

Bible College Students in the laundry.

Children's Home Dorm Room


Children at lunch

Faculty "Offices"



Baptism of Suchi, granddaughter of Moses and Ammaji, daughter of Jyothi who lived with us for one year circa 1987-88.

The camera does add weight especially as you scan right.

Silas and Padma (graduates of the Church of God Theological Seminary, members of New Covenant, daughter and son-in-law of Moses and Ammaji) with their two sons.

We were honored on Sunday morning.


Wedding congregation. (In worship chairs are only placed in the rear and most sit on mats on the floor.) Many are Muslims. Notice none are wearing the traditional black.

The entire family got together for a photo.

Cheryl Preaching

Wedding Couple (Muslim Converts)

Eric Mycko

Eric Mycko June 29, 1985 -- June 14, 2008

Greg, Eric, Ruth & Seth: September 2006

Eric was a kind, gentle and quiet young man. To be with him was to know the world could be a better place; he was a promise for our future. His tragic death begs for answers that can not be known.

One of my favorite memories is of a time before he learned to be circumspect. He and Karisa were babies together. He was so full of life. Wearing only a diaper, and running as only a toddler can with his knees pumping up to his waist and down again in an adorable syncopated beat, feet landing flat with each tiny step, he would charge up to her, give her a big kiss, turn and run away. Always wearing the biggest grin of a child discovering the joy of living.

I will miss him. He was a ray of sunlight in a cloudy world.

----------------

We arrived home late last evening. Thank you everyone for your prayers for Cheryl's family and us. Ruth and Greg seem to be grieving well. Seth is also doing well. We arrived at their home shortly after they got home from the cemetery and spent Tuesday evening, Wednesday, and Thursday with them. Seth took me fishing on Thursday morning (not a bite, but a lovely morning).

We spent Thursday evening and most of Friday with Cheryl's mother. She was as gracious as ever (for those who know her). On the way home we stopped in Central, SC to see Cheryl's sister, Glenda who is struggling with health problems. In Seneca we stopped and spent a couple of hours with Cheryl's nephew Joshua and his girlfriend Bethany who drove over from Emmanuel College to see us. Josh had preached Eric's funeral. Everyone said he was powerfully anointed, ministering comfort and the gospel to all.

Tragedy at Home

Please remember Cheryl's sister, Ruth, her husband, Greg, and son, Seth, in prayer. Ruth and Greg's oldest son, Eric, was accidentally killed over the weekend. We received word this morning and have made arrangements to fly home on Tuesday. We will go straight to South Carolina.

Another Picture

One Picture

We're Here

We are having a fun and fast-moving time here in India. We have been blessed to speak at one graduation, one wedding, one water baptism, and one roof-top baby dedication (a wonderful experience). Our connection is slow, making it difficult to add pictures.

Off to India

Cheryl and I are leaving for India in a few minutes. I will try to post some pictures from there. We will return on June 26. Kim Belcher will be house sitting for us. If you need us, you may call and leave a message with her, or email us. We will check our email when able.

Alethea & Children Visit

When I got back from Jamaica Alethea, Camdyn and Charlie were here for a visit. They had arrived last Friday. They went home today. Here are a few pictures. [OK -- I can offer no proof Alethea was here, but they didn't drive themselves.]

Jamaica Maun

I was blessed to travel to Jamaica last Thursday. I was on the south side of the island, the real Jamaica I was told (no beaches/tourist attractions). I was invited primarily to speak at the commencement exercises of Bethel Bible College on Friday. On Saturday I attended a work-session in Kingston of educatinal leaders for the Church of God. These were leaders of church programs, officials in public education and leaders of private schools. They are forming a denominational association of educators with a view toward developing a comprehensive approach to church and public education. It is exciting to think of the possibilities, something that seems far beyond possibility in the States. I also spoke at a Church of God in Mandeville on Sunday.

It was a great honor to be asked to speak. The president of Bethel is Dr. Barrington Brown. Barrington is one of our most outstanding graduates in discipleship studies. He returned to do the Doctor of Ministry degree. I was somewhat concerned because this is not my typical speaking format -- I'm a Pentecostal, expository preacher. I have attended dozens of graduations and only remember two addresses well, one for how good it was and the other for how bad it was. I decided to hope and pray that I would simply be inspiringly forgetable. Time will tell.

Barrington Brown, a COGTS graduate and current president of Bethel Bible College



James Small, a COGTS grad and current Dean at Bethel



Bethel Bible College Administrative Building



New Testament Church of God, Mandeville, Jamaica