Behind the Bulldog

My dad worked for Mack Trucks for over 30 years, so throughout my young life, we often had a bulldog as a hood ornament. I even remember one of our campers having a bulldog on the front of it! One of the things Dad gave to my husband was a never-used bulldog. Mike has always thought highly of my dad and his loyalty to stay at one place of employment for a long time, so he thought this bulldog was very special. So special, that he put it on our current truck as soon as we bought it.

A few weeks ago, some pictures popped up in my Facebook memories with this picture and the caption “Behind the bulldog.” Why didn’t I think of this before for the blog spot on our website? It’s perfect! So, I am changing the name from The Journey to Behind the Bulldog, because it seems wherever we are going nowadays, God is leading us in the truck, and Mike and I are sitting behind the bulldog hood ornament.

As I have time to post, I will definitely include some of our traveling experiences as we go from project to project, as well as whatever truths God has laid on my heart. Maybe, someday, I’ll even get brave enough to post a few videos on our Instagram account about our travels and campgrounds we stay at along the way.

At present, we are enjoying upstate NY while serving at Camp Pinnacle. We are able to visit our daughters and grandchildren, and we even welcomed a new grandchild last week!

What are some of your favorite travel memories? Please share!

Blessed Are the Flexible

I’m sure I’ve shared this before, and I know I will say it, again: Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Case in point: I just typed this blog, saved it to my computer and closed it out so I could email it to Amanda to be placed on CWCf’s website, and it is gone. I really DON’T feel like being flexible right now. My brain says to me, “How will I ever replicate all of that?” sighs

I see now why my blog post disappeared. I wasn’t finished writing the story. So much has happened since I started writing that post five days ago.

We started out with leaving Albuquerque later than planned, so we made it to a campground that we stop at often as we travel through in Amarillo. We didn’t get very far before the first test came. And I am going to share our experience with you all. Or y’all. Or all y’all, since we were in Texas.

Sit back and relax, or sit on the edge of your seat, for here is the story of how God is working in our lives and wants us to be flexible when the curveballs come our way.

This is how I started the original blog post:

As I sit here, at a Love’s parking lot, waiting on the mobile mechanic working on our truck (yes, our truck, once again), I am learning a lesson on flexibility. We had a late start yesterday, so we didn’t get as far as we would have liked to. Today, I thought we could get more driving done than yesterday. This was not meant to be. As we were deciding on whether to get diesel “sooner rather than later,” I looked at our Open Roads app, and we decided “sooner” was better than “later,” as we could possibly run out of fuel before reaching the second option. It turns out that “sooner” was the best option, since we heard a loud pop as we were turning off the exit ramp and I smelled antifreeze as we turned into the gas station parking lot. I was really hoping it was someone else’s. We have put a lot into this truck over the last year.

Have you ever asked, “Why?” “Why is this happening now?” “Why is this happening to me?” Of course, you have! Sometimes we find out the answer, and sometimes we may not find out until the other side of heaven. We are learning to be flexible. Flexibility is a blessing. It is a whole lot better than being rigid, because when those curveballs come your way (and they WILL come your way!), frustration, disappointment and anger can get the best of us. I learned early in my homeschool days to not have a rigid schedule. It was inevitable that something would pop up during the day: a child gets sick, someone comes to visit, my parents may call, …

Sometimes, these interruptions can be God appointments. Maybe I was going to give a spelling test to one of our girls, but to her relief, Grandma called. Maybe the girls had writing assignments to work on, but now we need to go to the doctor because someone needs stitches. Who might God be placing in your path, today, unexpectedly? Someone who needs to talk? Someone who has never heard the Gospel before today? Or maybe just someone who needs an encouraging smile to get through the day. Who does God have in store for us to meet at a Love’s parking lot?

Today, while the mechanic poured a sealant into the leaking radiator, Mike talked with his assistant. It turns out the assistant is a believer! They had good conversation that, hopefully, the mechanic listened to. A piece of the fan broke off for perhaps just that reason. Or perhaps there was more. Maybe we avoided being in the middle of an accident. We may never know.

Because of our late start in NM and the time we sat in TX, we didn’t get any further than OK, that day. The next day, guess what?? Our truck started overheating. When Mike pulled over, coolant was pouring out of the radiator, once again. Another piece of the fan had broken off. We limped to another Love’s station (isn’t it great there are so many along the interstates?). We went inside and had lunch, and then we started making phone calls. There was a mobile mechanic in Tulsa, but being that it was a Saturday, he wouldn’t come so far out of town. We found parts in auto parts stores, nearby, but no way to get there. We were out in the boonies. No uber or Lyft. No taxis. Someone suggested checking with the mechanics at the truck stop, so we walked over there. After explaining our situation, the one guy offered his car to us. To us! Total strangers! So Mike gave him our truck key, and off we went in his little car. Is God taking care of us, or what? But wait! There’s more!

After getting back to our rig, Mike put some more sealant in the radiator. He bought a fan and a new radiator (for just in case), but he was having a hard time hearing the video on how to install the fan with all the trucks rumbling around us. We were near a camp we served at as a CWCf project a few times, so we called and received permission to go there to work on the truck. We never made it.

On our way, the truck started overheating, again, so Mike pulled over so the truck could cool off. Once again, coolant started pouring out of the radiator, so Mike decided to put the new radiator in along the side of the road. While he is doing this, a side-by-side pulls up to us from the property we were parked in front of. THESE GUYS WERE DIESEL MECHANICS! We found out later that friends in NM were praying that we would find someone to help us about the same time the mechanics came. How good is our God that he would have us stopped there, in front of the home of a father & son duo? They not only offered help, but they offered for us to pull into their property to get off the highway and to plug in so we could get our fridge and AC running. Such friendly people, and they ended up being believers, as well! How encouraging to run into so many fellow believers along the way. They are planning to open an RV park on their property. Guess where we’ll be sure to stay sometime in the future?

Anyway, Dale & Mike worked on pulling the fan and radiator out that night, and the next morning, they went to buy the fan we needed and got that installed. By midafternoon, we were on the road, once more.

We finally made it through OK, and into MO. We thought everything was good. The next day, we stopped at Walmart for a few items, and… the truck wouldn’t start. The starter had started grinding occasionally a couple days before that. Mike had just installed this remanufactured one when we were in Florida, this past winter. Thankfully, it has a lifetime warranty! So that afternoon was spent with Mike under the truck, once again. And the cicadas! You all, I mean, y’all know about those, right? They are so loud in MO, right now. You can barely hear anything else over them.

So the starter is in, and off we go. Once again, all is good. Until… something seems off with the trailer. We get to a Buc-cee’s for supper, and Mike asked me to watch the camper hitch. Sure enough, the slider isn’t locked in position, anymore. My handy husband wraps it with a heavy chain many times, so it will stay put. It worked! One more night in MO, and we finally make it into Indiana—we actually made it through two states in one day!

The next day, we notice the truck sounds different. It’s running fine, but it doesn’t sound the same. As the day wears on, the louder it runs. I was thinking it, but Mike actually said it: “I think there is a hole in the exhaust.” So we rumble into a KOA in Ohio. Oh, and did I mention, the chain bent the slide, and it’s sliding again. Everytime, we would stop, the toyhauler would slide a little and slam into the hitch actually moving the truck a bit.

A worker here at the KOA graciously offered a ride to Mike (his name happens to be Mike, too!) to the auto parts store. They ended up at a hardware store to find what was needed. Don’t ask me all the names, but a round collar-like thing (I think it is a clamp) lost a bolt, and they are having a hard time finding the right size. They just left again for a longer one. It is now six days since we left NM. I had really thought we’d be in NY two to three days ago. I am not finishing this post yet, as we haven’t made it to our destination.

Bolt in place, sliding hitch locked into place, and we got on the road! The truck is much quieter than it was yesterday.  Mike noticed a tire on the Cyclone is wearing funny on the inside—something else to keep an eye on. One more day of traveling, and we should make it to our destination the next day.

We stopped for the night at a campground in the Allegheny Mountains in NY. What a beautiful country we live in! God has supplied all we need to know there is a Creator just by looking around us at the creation. Before leaving for the last leg of our trip, Mike changed the tire. It was a good thing, because belts were showing when he took it off.

And now, we are in upstate NY at Camp Pinnacle. We arrived a few days ago and have been settling in and seeing kids and grandkids. Such a blessing to be able to serve the Lord and see our children across the country!

We have met some interesting people along the way on this trip! The mobile mechanic and his assistant, the guys at the truck stop, Butch & Dale and families, Mike and Chris at the KOA, the Jewish campground owner in NY,…

Have we learned to be flexible? sighs

I don’t know that I will ever totally accomplish that. Do I wish we could have been in NY sooner? Yes! We have things to do and people to see! But apparently God has things for us to do and people for us to see that we didn’t plan on. Is it worth getting frustrated and worked up about these delays? No. Have I been eating more dark chocolate? Yes! But we are making memories, and some day we can look back and laugh remembering this trip. But maybe not today.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Time Flies

I’m back! I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted. I have recently been asked to blog for the ministry we are with (Construction Workers Christian Fellowship). I am hoping it will make me more regular for our own blog on Nomads for Christ. If you are interested in the other blogs I write, you can find them here:  Blog – Construction Workers Christian Fellowship (cwcf.org).

Can you believe January is coming to an end? Didn’t we just celebrate New Year’s yesterday?

Every year, I buy a planner. Every year, at some point, I get so busy I forget to use said planner. This year is no different.

I have yet to find the “perfect” planner for me, but in the fall, I bought a Prayerful Planner that popped up in my Facebook feed (they are listening!). I like it. Well, I like the look of it and the pages and options, therein. I bought stickers for it. Everything is better with stickers! And I purchased a tablet with pages for verse mapping, as well. After the first week of using this planner every day, I went through the second week of January very busy on our current project and promptly forgot to use the planner for 4 days. And the verse mapping. sighs Even the fun stickers didn’t keep me faithful! I think I can safely say I’ve used this planner for half of the month somewhat successfully. I say somewhat, because I really need to learn how to use this planner effectively.

It is kind of scary to think that someone needs to LEARN how to use a planner, right? This one has a monthly view as well as weekly views. It has a verse for each week and places to write down prayers. I can even track my water consumption—if I remember! But it has a “pause and ponder” section. I think I can be creative here, since it has dots instead of lines. BUT I don’t have a lot of time to pause and ponder and be creative. Oh, and there are a couple of pages for sermon notes for each week IF I could only remember to take it with me to church!

I’m a planner mess. All of this comes down to being intentional. I bought this planner with good intentions, but I need to be intentional in using it.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man (or woman), but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

What kind of plans have you made that have not gone quite the way you expected? I like to say, “I make my plans, and God laughs.” He knows the way we should go, planner in hand or not. Of course, we need to be flexible to His Will, but we should still have some sort of plan to follow and not be surprised if something else pops up. I know some folks who are rigid with their plans/schedules, but I’m sure they miss out on some blessings along the way.

How are you with planners? Are you successful or a hot planner mess, like me?

Oh, excuse me while I go check my planner for today.

Camping Favorites

Everyone has their favorite vacation or camping foods. They are the tried and true, easy to fall back on, comfort foods and remind us of relaxing times. Since I’ve been camping all my life (since I was a baby), we have our camping meals we rely on for weekend camping. Now that we live in our camper, I try to continue healthier eating for every day. I told Mike when we were moving into the fifth wheel that he wouldn’t be finding those Little Debbies or other goodies in the cupboards like he would on vacation!

Two things I do try to keep on hand, especially if I know any of our kids and grandkids are coming to visit, are the fixings for s’mores and doughboys. Now I’m pretty sure you all know what s’mores are: those gooey delicious treats made by toasting marshmallows over the campfire and putting them between two pieces of graham crackers and a piece of chocolate (or peanut butter cups), but I know there aren’t too many of you who know what a doughboy is.

A doughboy is a camping treat my family learned about when I was around twelve years old. We were camping with my aunt & uncle, and some of their friends, when this man pulls out an aluminum pole with a wooden handle on it. They then proceeded to teach us the way of what they called “doughboys.”

Take a biscuit from a can of refrigerated biscuit dough (try not to buy the buttery or flakey variety or they come apart while baking) and stretch it out. Make sure you have no holes in your dough! Cover one end of the metal pole (or a stick about 1″ in diameter) with the end of the stretched-out biscuit and then wrap it down the pole, overlapping the edges. Next, you bake it over nice coals from the campfire and turn the biscuit so it doesn’t burn. It is done when you grasp and turn it gently on the pole and it doesn’t stick. Take that baked biscuit off the pole and fill it with goodness: we use butter and jelly, cinnamon & sugar, or Nutella. I recently discovered some friends who call these pole pies and fill them with pudding. Maybe you can find something else you’d like to fill them with, but these are a family favorite, and my girls will expect them when we go camping.

What are your favorite camping treats?

The Journey Recap

Wow! It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a chance to write on here. And my technically challenged brain was struggling to change the title of the blog page and accidentally deleted it. So all the prior blog posts are dated for today. I had to go through and add the actual publication date to each post. Sorry!

We were asked to share our story for the ministry of Construction Workers Christian Fellowship’s newsletter, and I thought, “What a perfect way to get back into blogging!” So I’m sharing that article with you now to remind you where we’ve been and where we are now. A quick update since last fall, if you will.

“You know the saying, “The best-laid plans…”  We never would have dreamt we’d be where we are at this point in our lives.  High school sweethearts, Kim never wanted to leave her hometown, but five years into our marriage, Mike felt the call to be a pastor.  With a three-year-old in tow, we left our hometown to attend Lancaster Bible College.  Thirteen years and four (more) kids later, we set off for our first field with Village Missions in upstate New York as missionary pastor, wife, and family.  We served five churches in 12 years, and then God led Mike into a discipleship ministry for men recovering from addictions at Huntersfield Christian Training Center.  He helped them learn the carpentry trade and find their niche to help support themselves and their families.  During our time there, Kim worked as a secretary for the local lawyer.  Mike has been a carpenter for over 40 years, and even as a pastor, he has used those skills. 

We had always thought we’d do construction mission work traveling in our camper AFTER we retired. Yet, here we are in our 50’s raising support to go full-time with CWCf. We started living full-time in our 2010 Keystone Cougar fifth wheel a little over a year ago. It has been quite an adjustment! We grew up camping, so one would think transitioning to living in a camper would be easy. It is, but it isn’t.

We have volunteered at four different projects with CWCf so far. Two years ago, we went to Rendezvous to check out the ministry and helped at New Life Ranch in Oklahoma while we were there. Last winter, we went south and served at Camp Victory in Alabama where Mike enclosed an open horse barn and work on adding bathrooms to a girls’ cabin with the help of other RV’ers. From there we went to Camp Gilead in Florida and Mike helped put on a sheet metal roof, put siding on one of the lodges, and installed flooring in a staff house. This summer, we are at Camp Pinnacle in upstate New York helping with maintenance and small carpentry projects. Mike is excited to finally renovate a large cupola that has needed repairs for years.  He was also able to help with four weeks of motorcycle camp.

What does Kim do? She has helped with painting, some office work, and lots of housekeeping. Kim is also the Administrative Assistant for CWCf’s Board and tries to keep things in order “in the cloud.” She also helps to plan the Board Retreat each year.

We look forward to when we can be full-time construction missionaries. We are at 83% of our support. We need $650/month yet to reach 93% where someone has committed to getting us to 100% support. In the meantime, we volunteer when we can, and Mike picks up carpentry jobs to supplement our savings account so we can go to the next project.  We are excited to be part of this ministry and invite you to partner with us and/or become an RV’er for Christ yourself.

Hope to see you down the road with hammer in hand!”

The Journey

From June 27, 2021

Life is a journey. This journey has a lot of twists and turns, and ups and downs. You think you know what your life will be like, and suddenly, everything changes. We have had a lot of change in our lives: some of it was our doing, but most of it was not. We had one plan in mind, but things change. And so goes the journey…

I married a carpenter, but God called him into ministry. I never planned to leave my hometown, but we ended up living in several different places in the Northeast. We thought we would retire with Village Missions, but here we are ready to embark on a new adventure.

Mike has likened himself to Abraham in the Bible with a nomadic life. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.” (Hebrews 11:8-9)

Abraham left all that he knew, to go to a place he didn’t know, because God called him to. Little did Abram know what his life would hold in all of this! He traveled quite a bit to get to Canaan with a small layover in Haran. And even after being in Canaan awhile, he ended up in Egypt and back again. Even though he may have made some mistakes along the way, God’s hand was in all of it.

God has called us, and we are going. Thankfully, we have a fifth wheel, and we won’t have to dwell in tents! We don’t know exactly where this journey will take us, but we are trusting Him to lead us where He wants us to go. Because no matter what happens, we know God’s hand is in it all.

How has your journey been? Things turn out exactly as planned? Or have you found yourself changing course along the way? Rest assured, if you let God lead you, it will all work out as He has planned!

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

Camperless

November 3, 2021

I thought I would do some posts about actual RV life, but I find myself in a conundrum. Our problem is that, right now, we are NOT living in our fifth wheel. It has a bent frame and has been at a welder for two weeks now. So now, my writing today will be about living in a camper without the camper being with you. Are you confused?

We have some lovely friends with a guestroom that have allowed us to stay with them. We are hoping we are not taking advantage of their hospitality, so we are doing our best to be gracious guests. I am trying to help with the cooking and some groceries, and Mike is looking for things to do to help out around the farm. He isn’t finding much as pumpkin season is now over, but he did fix a screen door. There is also the possibility he will fix the kitchen floor that has some soft spots under the fairly new laminate flooring. He is currently mulling that project.

The day after we dropped the fifth wheel off at the welder, we flew to Oklahoma for some work with our ministry hoping that the frame would be fixed by the time we returned. So we only have about 6 days’ worth of clothes with us, which seems to be sufficient at the moment. Except it is getting colder, and my warmer jackets are not with me. And I don’t have all my office supplies, personal as well as for the ministry, so I can’t pay all the bills. Oops!

I did have to bring all our perishables into our friends’ home. Thankfully, they have two refrigerators. It is amazing how well I packed way too much stuff into our little refrigerator in the camper. In case you are wondering, you really do not need all those condiments. I just have a hard time throwing things away!

We are learning patience and flexibility while we wait for the frame to be fixed. And how to live out of a suitcase for more than two weeks. What are your current challenges?

Mission Possible!

September 10, 2021

Is the theme music playing in your head? Will this message self-destruct in 10 seconds? Nope! Because this mission is POSSIBLE!

This title makes me think of the song “Rattle” by Elevation Worship (now I want to listen to it!). One line in the song says, “Since when has impossible ever stopped You?”

Sometimes, the thing just seems impossible. Sometimes, we wonder why we even try. But here we are on the verge of a new ministry, and we are trusting God to see us through. We are building our ministry team to back us while we are on the road: prayers, finances, and more are needed to be productive in God’s work. Some might ask, “Why even bother?” or “Why this ministry?”

We are called to serve: not just Mike and me but all of us. So I guess the real question is, “Why not serve?” What keeps us from doing what we are called to? Mission work doesn’t just happen overseas. Mission work can happen in our own backyard. You don’t have to watch the news to know there are hurting people everywhere. People need to be cared for and to know others care. This can look like many different things: conversation, cook a meal, clean a house, fix a car, mow a lawn, do some shopping, … The list goes on & on! Just a random act of kindness to someone you know, or don’t know, can go a long way.

In the midst of helping a neighbor (and when mobile, your neighbors can become many!), we will also be “Serving Those Who Serve Others” as the CWCf motto goes. We are looking forward to being servants to those who need some help. We will be doing construction projects and so much more, including encouraging those who come across our paths. Right now, that seems impossible. We are not yet ready to go, but the time is coming and we eagerly wait for it.

What impossible thing has gotten you down? How can that be made possible? Steps need to be taken to get from impossible to possible. Sometimes there are a lot of steps, sometimes a just a few, but the important thing is to be moving ahead.

A year ago, living in our fifth wheel seemed impossible, but yet, it was our only option. We have since been able to replace our truck (a miracle in itself!), find a ministry to serve with, have been renewing friendships and are building a ministry team. One step at a time, and all things are made possible in Christ. We’re getting there. Are you?

The Great Purge

From August 24, 2021

The minimalist’s lifestyle was like a dream for a mom of five: no clutter, clear countertops, little mess, and easy organization. I love to organize, but I have a hard time clearing the clutter. Cleaning became basically moving one pile to a spot, and another pile took its place. Can you relate to that? If not, you are amazing!

With every move we made, we have gotten rid of things here & there, but about a year ago, we made THE GREAT PURGE. Yes, we got rid of just about everything we knew we could not take in the fifth wheel. Living the RV life makes for instant minimalism. I haven’t decided yet if I like it or not. And to make matters worse, my parents were downsizing and asking me to take things I didn’t have room for! I have saved a few family antiques that could have dual purpose: such as a butter churn that came down through my mom’s side of the family; it stores some yarn, and it is an end table. Other things were passed on to other family members.

I was continually asking myself, “Is this necessary?” It isn’t easy choosing what is or isn’t necessary to live each day. Memories, craft stuff, favorite things, clothes (we have too many for our little closet!), and so much more: we had to decide what is really important in life.

Even though we have purged a lot, we are in a continued process of downsizing. I may have a place for everything in the camper, but it doesn’t mean those items are always easy to get to. My only solution? Get rid of more stuff! It is so hard.

And my poor carpenter husband! Our ministry is construction based, so he needs his tools. But he has so many! He is still downsizing, because even though he may have made the space, the camper and truck can only handle so much weight.

What is weighing you down? Is it physical stuff that is getting in the way of a better life? Is it stuff from the past that is messing with you spiritually and emotionally? Or perhaps some bad habits or addictions that are not good for you? Hmmm…. I may have some more stuff to weed out!

Remember the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11? Some of those saints had stuff in their lives that could have brought them down, but God used them anyway. He took their messes and brought them to a place where they could bring Him glory. But I want to focus on Hebrews 12 (which comes right after that famous chapter). Verse 1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,…”

We need to get rid of all excess in our lives whether it be physical or emotional so we can run that race, or live out the plan, God has for us. How can we better love or help others? Sometimes stuff can get in the way.

Have you ever seen someone who seems to have it all together? I remember, back in the day, when I was homeschooling the three oldest and had two preschoolers, this one woman in our homeschool group just seemed like she was on top of everything. I wanted to be like her: a godly mom, looking like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine, putting out a beautiful spread in the Mom’s Room when it was her turn to bring a snack,… You get the idea. Imagine my surprise, when one day, she comes up to me while I was holding the door for her, and she says, “Kim, you amaze me with how you have it all together.” (!!!) I felt frumpy on my best days, and I was always scrambling to get everyone out the door on time. I felt far from “together.”

Trust me, no one has it altogether. Everyone has something that isn’t the way they would like it to be. And whatever that is, helps us to rely on God more.

Even though our GREAT PURGE has taken place, we are continually purging stuff from our lives. It is part of The Journey!

Full Time

From August 5, 2021

You may be wondering how we became full-time RVers. It is not something we really planned on doing until we retired! We have been in ministry for 14 years, and in the places we have served, housing was provided. We had no home for retirement, so we bought our fifth wheel four years ago to take from daughter to daughter throughout the year when those golden years arrive. We have five daughters, so we figured two months at each one and then two months to do whatever we wanted. Since we both grew up camping, we figured this would be a fairly easy transition.

That was the original plan. I like to say, “We make our plans, and God laughs.” Ultimately, it’s God’s plan that always wins out. We make some detours along the way (and maybe those are part of God’s plan, too), but we always get to the destination God wants for us. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21)

God has called us out of the previous ministries that had provided housing. For a few months, we really didn’t know what our next step was, but we have been led into the ministry of Construction Workers Christian Fellowship (CWCf).

Mike has over 40 years carpentry experience and 12 years of pastoral experience. We will be helping with construction projects across the country while living in our fifth wheel (and maybe even flying overseas!) and, also, doing soul care, which is basically encouraging other missionaries, ministry workers and others along the way. “What kind of construction projects?” you might ask. Churches, Christian camps, missionary headquarter, Christian schools & colleges, … anywhere we are invited to help with the labor of building, renovation or maintenance projects.

Mike has skills. 😊 I am his helper. Plus, there are sometimes other projects that need a woman’s touch: sewing, cooking, maybe childcare…. And I am our administrator. That is why I am blogging, and Mike is not. lol

I hope to keep you all in touch as we journey along God’s path for us. Right now, we are parked in a friend’s backyard in upstate NY. We will be visiting different places until we have built our ministry team to stand behind us. We definitely need this team in place before we can head out fulltime!

I have some topic ideas for this blog, but if anyone wants to hear something specific, please leave a comment below! Thanks for reading!