Catching Up!

Just this Sunday I finished a two month fall Mission's tour speaking in Alliance Churches and sharing about my ministry and that of the Bongolo Hospital. In September I started out by attending the MidAmerican District Alliance Womens' conference that was held in Orange City, IA. From there I spoke in Colorado and Nebraskan churches, finishing up two days ago. I was blessed by meeting many praying friends in these eight churches.

Now with just three weeks left before leaving for Gabon, I am playing "catch up" here in Omaha. With last minute purchasing to do, thank you notes to write, boxes to be packed for UPS to Ohio where a container is being prepared for shipment to Gabon and the hospital, emails to write, etc, I am enjoying the time to do these things. I'm also going out to eat with friends, still doing some speaking and enjoying watching the TV series "The Biggest Loser".

My date to fly to Gabon is December 8^th. Pray that my entry permit (visa) be granted so that I can get on that plane. Thanks.

More to come….

Steuert Cousins' Reunion

Last Sunday we had a Steuert Cousins' reunion at a restaurant in Colorado Springs. Steuert was my Mom's maiden name.

I had not seen my first cousin Wayne since 1962, just before I turned 13 years old. He came with his wife Glenda and his daughter Keri and son Matthew (see below). My brother Bill was there with his wife Shari. My brother David was there with his wife Leslie and her daughter Courtney.

We had a great time trying to piece together our memories of growing up knowing the same people: Grandma, Aunt Harriett, Wayne's Dad and my uncle Jimmy, etc. We remembered sliding down the fire escape of the grade school in Bancroft, Nebraska where my Mom was born. We remembered Aunt Harriett's roses that were in her back yard. We got caught up on those missing years.

We decided not to wait 45 years again before having another Steuert reunion!

On the way to Fort Collins from the dinner Bill and Shari and I stopped in Denver at the Fort Logan Military cemetery to visit the graves of Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Irma.

Glance at the Past!

Recently I have been going through my old slides and choosing some to digitize. Take a look at some from the 1970s and early 1980s:

Thorson Cousins' Reunion

Last Sunday, September 13, I went to a Thorson cousins' meal at a restaurant called "Taxis". It was on 120th and Blondo here in Omaha. The reunion was actually for Dad's generation but I went anyway. I knew almost everyone. After eating our lunch at Taxis, we went to Steven & Honor (Thorson) Schwid's home to continuing our chatting. See here some photos from that day.

Trip to the Zoo!

Yesterday I went to the Henry Doorly Zoo here in Omaha. That zoo is one of the best zoos in America. I had not been there for about five years. I went with the Agrawi family, a couple with three children. They are from my church and we attend the same Sunday School class. We saw about everything there was to see and enjoyed getting to know each other. Mariam brought a lunch that we shared at the zoo. When we got to their home after the zoo they invited me in for a cup of tea. We chatted another hour. Here are a few photos of our trip to the zoo.

Preparing for Tour

My fall speaking tour will soon begin so I have been busy preparing talks, Power Point presentations, a display table and so forth. My tour will start by attending the fall Alliance Woman's Retreat that will be held in Orange City, Iowa the weekend of September 18^th. Next I will be the missionary speaker at the Millard Alliance Mission's conference. Millard Alliance is in Omaha so I will stay at home during this six day conference. Thanks to those who are praying for me as I prepare to speak in eight different churches located in Nebraska and Colorado. My last conference ends November 15^th.