Quick update on Kathy

Kathy was kind of worn down this morning. Better in early afternoon. Tired when I left this evening--up & down. Still has IV.
Thanks for the prayers.

Service--When It Is Needed:

(Report on Kathy at the end of this post)

If you have followed this blog for the last few days you know that I have spent a lot of time with people who help--nurses, aids, doctors, etc. I have very much appreciated the help that these folk have offered to Kathy & me. I think one reason I am so appreciative is I am very aware of the need that we have.

• Kathy is dealing with pain. They offer relief.
• We are dealing with issues that we don't all-together understand. They give us answers.
• We afe beset with issues that tend to drive one to worry and be in despair. These folk offer the soothing message that things will likely be fine.

I appreciate the compassion, competence and concern that is offered.

I find some great lessons for the church in all of this. Your comments are welcome.

Kathy is progressing slowly. She is still hurting. She has been drinking some juice today. She has been for a walk 2x already today. No news on when she gets out.

Two kinds of progress: one quick & the other slow:

Kathy is doing OK.
The folk here at Good Samaritan Hosp., in Lebanon PA, have been very good to us. I think Kathy is improving, though not yet to the point that she feels it. She is still nothing by mouth. She enjoys her few ice-chips. She is quite sore. Getting up to go to the restroom is quite a chore. She walked 2x today out in the hall.
She is still on antibiotic and painkiller in her IV.
No word on when she gets out, yet.

Thanks to all for the calls, emails, flowers, etc. She hasn't been up to talking on the phone, yet.

On the other progress:
I hear that the folk back home are making great progress on the Worship-Center remodel. I look forward to being there Sunday. Hope to see you.

My experience this last weekend, as well as the reports of Farrah Fawcet, Billy Mays, and Michael Jackson's deaths have reminded me how uncertain life is. Live for Jesus!

Things Change Quickly:

As I said in the last post, we very much enjoyed Bethany and Robert's wedding.
Our plan was to go from the wedding to Chad and Tanisha's home (our son & daughter-in-law), & spend the rest of the weekend with them.
We did arrive at the kid's house, but then our plans changed.
Kathy had not been feeling well all weekend. We decided that we should take her to the ER last night. About 4:30 this morning she had an appendectomy. She is at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon (home of Lebanon Bologna), PA.
Her appendix was not ruptured, but was gangrenous--there was a good bit of infection. She will be in the hosp. for a couple of days.
Thanks for your prayers.

Romans 8:28

I'll keep you posted.

Howard

A lovely Couple:

One of the answers that I have learned to give, is: "I am not in the marrying business. I am glad, however, to help people build Christian Homes.

It was my privilege earlier today to take part in Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gingerich's wedding.

Rob. and his bride, Bethany (Barzee) are graduates of Patrick Henry College, where they met.

The wedding took place in Ithaca New York. .

Living in Construction Kind of Reminds Me of Life:

As you can see from the picture when we met for worship this past Sunday our Worship-Center looked a little different than it did just a week before, and, I hasten to had, how it will look in a short time.

(In honor of DADs we had a picnic Sunday after church. [below]

Can't let a little construction get in the way of a great meal.)

It's like life. Life goes on in the midst of construction. We are all figuring it out as we go along. This past Sunday, as we met under a partially finished ceiling surrounded by patched and unpainted walls, and over a carpet that will be removed in short time, we continued to look at the portion of Ephesians that describes how we ought to "walk." That is Paul's metaphor for living. A current term that is similar is, "journey." Both terms imply a process--even an adventure.

Sometimes the fact that we have to figure it out, deal with the old, and build the new, while we continue on with life can be frustrating, but the Lord has promised to walk with us. Look at Ephesians 5:15-21 for some insight on this process.

(At the left, our drywall contractor, Mike Averill, works on patching a bad spot over the stairs in our foyer. No hymnbooks were used to get Mike up where he could work on this spot. :)

For the CBC family (The rest of you might want to stop here.):

This Sunday we'll still be in a transition, but it is exciting to see the progress. Bill Schuit the Global Ministries Director for Liebenzell USA is working us in between trips to Germany--where he is now--and Papua New Guinea--where he will be early in July. Bill is a great guy and on target preacher. I encourage you to come and hear what God has to say to us through him.

In the mean time, if you would like to get involved in the ongoing remodeling project, drop me a line at covbc@ntelos.net, or call the church at 540 965 4256.

(Continued progress on the ceiling. Moving upward 6 inches at a time.

Sand, brush on and wipe off tung oil out in the picnic-shelter & tent. Let them dry. Move them in, and put them up.)

Continued Progress:

We are mostly past the tearing down phase.
It is good to see things going back.

I had the privilege of taking my Sunday School class, the Jr. Hi Class to Lake Moomaw. It was a lovely outing to a lovely place. Also a great group group of kids.