Larry McQueen

Larry McQueen was our house guest this past week. He was in town for research as he begins a doctoral program.

Discipleship Students

This evening we had the privilege of hosting many of our students from the Church of God Theological Seminary.

McNeely Family Photo

This photo of Cheryl's Great Grand Parents (McNeely) and family was taken near the turn of the twentieth century. Do you ever feel you just don't fit in with your family?

Thelma's 90th Birthday

We made a quick trip to South Carolina to celebrate Cheryl's mother's birthday. She is ninety.









Cheryl, her sister Glenda, her sister Ruth, her mother, her nephew Joshuah, her niece April (left to right)


Ruth with Cheryl's cousin Jane


Glenda's Family; Glenda, Rockie, April & Zachary, (left to right).

Ruth and her family; Greg, Ruth, Eric & Seth (left to right)

Without rhyme or reason

Below are a few pictures that no organizing theme.

Camdyn is trying to get to know her brother.


I know its not Christmas yet, but ...


My dad on his 65th birthday. His brother George in in the hat.


Cheryl's mom and dad.

Mountain Ride

We took the afternoon to ride through the mountains. Our tour took us first to Copper Hill, up to Coker Creek, and Telico Plains. We drove across the Cherohala Skyway into North Carolina and returned to Telico Plains. The trip home took us through Reliance and Benton.

On the Skyway

Remember when

Alethea on a trip in South Dakata -- at Wall Drug I believe

Karisa at an early New Covenant outing

A Johns family birthday party




Jimmy and Shirley when we lived on Eighth Steet in Jacksonville and "no" I didn't take the picture.

Mountain Meal

We drove down to the Cohutta Lodge this evening and had dinner with my sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Mike. We had fun and enjoyed the view. After the meal we went out on the deck and watched the beauty of God's creation. Cheryl enjoyed a cup of coffee there. As we left she politely carried the cup inside and left it on a table that appeared to need bussing. Unfortunately, the couple had only returned to the seafood bar. I wonder who got the coffee?

Also, if you know Mike ask him about his father's recent movie experience. You might also ask Cheryl about her Great-aunt Fanny.

A recent photo of me and my sister Darlene.

No New Pictures

I have no new pictures for this post, so I've added an old one.

Since the Assembly we have been quite busy getting ready for the new semester. Last week (Sunday through Wednesday) we had our faculty retreat. It was very productive and God truly blessed especially during our footwashing/communion service.

Things have gotten busy at the church as well. I had a deacons' meeting Sunday afternoon and we hosted the elders' meeting last evening. Cheryl preached Sunday morning and I took the opportunity to spend time with the children in children's church.

My dad in the Navy

Blessed

Johnmark came down for a visit, Tuesday through Thursday. He seemed a little nervous. We had a nice conversation on Wednesday evening -- You can read between the lines. He is a fine young man; Cheryl and I appreciate his presence in Karisa's life. They are blessed. The picture is a few months old.

Remember Karisa when you pray. She is ill with a severe cold (it's monsoon season) and a couple of other discomforts.

By The Way

I have not mentioned that Alethea will have a boy in December. She and Justin have decided on a name, Charles Ellis Allen (Charlie). Camdyn is excited; she often speaks to Charlie, talking into Aletheas belly button or there abouts. Recently she and ALethea were playing a game that involved spinning around. Camdyn asked if Charlie likes to spin around. I wonder if she will give much thought to what he likes once he is out in her world.




Karisa sent these pictures: (1) her roommate and co-worker Paramella, (2)People she ministers to, (3) this elephant tickeled her (literally) in the market. She still loves her work in the slums. Please continue to pray for her. You might also pray for Johnmark; he is coming to visit us this week.

Blue Hole

We took Josh to the Blue Hole yesterday afternoon. There were too many people (do you remember the days before it was discovered?) but we were able to get by ourselves.

Assembly & Family

I returned from the General Assembly last evening. It was good to see old friends. God spoke wonderfully during the worship services.

Cheryl had several members of her family visiting since Thursday. From left to right they are her aunt Dot, her mother, her sister Glenda, her nephew Josh, and her cousin Jane. Josh did not come until yesterday and he will be with us a few days. Everyone else left after Sunday dinner. They were most kind in their compliments of my sermon. Actually, Thelma slipped and said Cheryl was lucky to have married me.

Beautiful Homegoings

There is not much to post from Cleveland, at least not about us. It is a season of death for those we love. Last Monday I assisted in the funeral of Lamar Stillwell's mother in McCaysville, Georgia. Tomorrow we will bury Dr. Hollis Gause's son, Val. Both were beautiful homegoings. They now rejoice in the presence of Christ.

I will be leaving for the General Assembly after the funeral. Oh, joy.

VBS

Tonight was the last evening of VBS. Camdyn had a very good time.

Kitty First

First. Today is the first day this week Camdyn has not been out before 7:00 (with Papa) to feed apples to Aaron, Rose and Pride. At breakfast (honey, waffles, and cantelope from the garden) we told Camdyn she was going home tomorrow, her Mommy and Daddy missed her. I asked if she would miss Nanny, "yes." Cheryl asked if she would miss Pappa, "Yes, but I miss kitty first." I guess I know my place.

She wanted to hold kitty and I snapped this picture. With the camera out she decided she wanted a picture in her "pretty dress."

Camdyn is Here

Camdyn has been with us this week. We are having VBS this week at New Covenant: Camdyn is having a blast. We took her to Chilhowee to swim yesterday. She really clings to her Nanny.

I have been battling an ear infection.

News From Karisa

Karisa sent this email and pictures recently.

Hello all!
I thought that since I had received so many emails wondering about my safety (thanks so much for them, by the way!) now would be a good time to update! For starters, I am perfectly safe and well. For those who haven't heard: there were seven bomb blasts that went off in various train stations and trains around the city of Bombay yesterday. It was all within and hour and very well planned. We've been praising God for our group's safety and protection! I was actually in one of our slums when it happened and had no idea anything was going on until we were on the way back to our apartment and hit horrible traffic with police everywhere. Please pray for the city as this is the second bombing in the past year and there are over 200 dead and hundreds more injured. Our team here is looking into ways to help out so please pray for wisdom with that as well.


As for normal life here in Mumbai, I've settled in and am thoroughly enjoying this city of juxtapositions. As I walk to the bus everyday I am met with so many contrasts of this wonderful city. There's the smell of rotting food mixed with the ever present scent of incence, the large mansions along side of the tin huts, the cool monsoon rains along with the hot Indian sun and so much more. I have the joy of living with two wonderful Indian women who are part of the team here (the team is made of of two Indian women and two Indian men who lead the ministries here). They have been an incredible blessing and have taught me so much about the culture and life here!

The ministry here has several different aspects. There are the schools (one in each of the 3 slums), a church, job training (i.e. sewing classes), medical care on Mondays, Bible studies, kids programs, youth meetings, and house visits. While the things we do are interesting enough, it's undoubtedly the people that we work with that make me love this place. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to know, to laugh with, and to worship with people with such faith, such joy, and such trust in the Lord. They have been encouraging me and challenging me in many different areas. There's something about praying with a mother of seven that they would have enough food when the rains were so bad that her husband couldn't work brings new depth to the prayer "give us this day our daily bread", and there's something moving about listening to a woman who you know has so little in the eyes of the world (and in my own eyes) to be thankful for shouting out "thank you Lord, thank you Lord!" at the top of her lungs.

[Karisa's Apartment Building]


As for what I'm doing here- I've been substituting until now. :) For two weeks I taught a class of 9 year olds until they could hire a teacher. Along with that, everyone takes turns teaching at our 4 Bible studies, 3 kids programs, youth program, and preaching on Sundays. Now that we've hired a teacher, however, I'll be focusing more on visiting the homes of the people in the slums and praying and talking with them as well as developing an English class. In order to go anywhere in India- to go onto a good school, to get a good job, one needs to know English. Unfortunately, the kids in the slums aren't taught English in schools, so I'm going to be teaching them in the evenings in hopes that they'll have more opportunities.
Please pray for me as I, who has no background in teaching English, attempt to build this from scratch. :) Also, please pray that God would guide me as I preach during the week and that I would continually learn to strengthen myself in Him. Finally, please pray that God would bless the relationships I build and that I would continue to learn and grow.
Thanks so much for your prayers and I love you all!

Peace,
Karisa

PS. I'm using this email address now because I had to get a secure one which couldn't be scanned by the government.

Also, my super long address here is
Karisa Johns
C/O Bama KR
Flat No B-20
Plot No 17 B/C
Sector 4
Vashi, New Mumbai
India

PS: Her email address is Karisa.Johns@Swissmail.org

Spring Trips

We were blessed in the spring to make several trips. We went to Memphis to see Alethea, and Camdyn (Justin was out of town). We went to Wheaton for Johnmark's graduation and to help Karisa move out of the dorm. I don't have photos of my ride with my brother Jimmy in the Smokey Mountains. Neither did I take pictures of my two accreditation trips. Cheryl did not take pictures of her trip to speak to the Arizona Council of Churches.

Johnmark with his two grandmothers

At the U of Memphis fountain

U of Memphis tower