Ready, Set...

The Israelites left Egypt with less than 24 hours notice. And they were gone 40 years. Why does it take us so long to leave town for only a few months? Too much stuff, me thinks. All this week we have focused on getting the RV packed, chores done, ourselves ready, other stuff finished, miscellaneous accomplished, and this and that taken care of. We're almost there. We will leave this week and drive down Highway 101 -- We've seen I-5. Lots of times!

Wednesday we helped at Kids Klub with a craft. We had lots of frames so we took pictures of the kids. While I was printing pictures, Joyce was directing the kids in decorating the frames. These will be Christmas presents for their parents.

I concluded the last blog by mentioning a dental appointment. Actually it was for a checkup and cleaning. He did a very thorough checkup and told me I am diseased. I have periodontal disease! The word "disease" makes me feel like I have aids or cirrhosis of the liver or terminal athlete's foot or something like that. Of course he can fix it -- for a price. Just pay lots of money and they will do root scaling and checking and on and on. Whatever I decide to do, it will have to wait until we get back from our sojourn south. Any advice? Have you had this done?

Today we worshipped at Jerome Prairie Bible Church again. Pastor James asked me to do the Communion meditation. I think he would like to see us settle in there. After church "we" went to JJ North's for lunch. The "we" being the Lakers, Fiskes, Curpheys and us. It was a great time of fellowship (sorry, Sue. No pictures). This is part of the group who used to attend Allen Creek.

I'll blog next week if I can. Depends on where we are and if we have internet access. Love ya.

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With a saddened heart I am adding a PS to this blog. One of our church missionaries, Ryan Bartlett was killed in a traffic accident in Malawi on December 2. A link to his blog has always been to the right of this blog. His wife, Katie, just added a note telling about Ryan and the accident. Even though he and I were not close, I felt like I knew him and considered him a friend. He and Katie were one of the missionary families supported by the Oregon Conference and they visited our church in Newport. Ryan and I were in email contact only two days prior to his death. A memorial service will be held for him in Medford but it will happen when we are in Los Angeles. I grieve for him but especially for Katie and their 3 girls, for the wonderful missionary work he was doing in Africa, and for the many friends he leaves behind in that Malawi.