San Antonio

I certainly did enjoy myself while Jerry was in Uganda...as soon as he left town, I packed up and headed for San Antonio. On Sunday my friend, Sally Green, and I moved in to the Hyatt Regency on the River Walk and spent 3 days attending a Renovare International Conference--WOW is all I can say--the opportunity to listen to Richard Foster, Eugene Peterson, Chris Webb, and attend several workshops of my choice was a great opportunity. Sally and I enjoyed dinner on the RiverWalk one evening, while Jo and Scott hosted all the Midland folks at their home on the other evening - great time for all! Jo saw a skirt on the internet made out of t-shirts...her seamstress friend, Blanca, said she would do it--and as you can see, its absolutely adorable. Blanca is a master seamstress, and obviously extremely artistic as well. On another evening, Jo & Scott's friends, Tom and Michael, had us over to their home for swimming and dinner--what a marvelous relief from the heat of the day to cool off in their lovely pool. Michael was our chef...and here you see Tom and Jo with the two resident dogs, Sister Bernadette and Sister Scholastica. On Sunday, Jo and I drove over to visit her very special friend, Miss Vicki--Vicki, her husband, and two precious daughters left last week to move (permanently) to Walla Walla WA. Its been so special for me to get to know Miss Vicki over the years that Jo has lived in San Antonio--I met her when she showed up at Jo's house in her painting clothes ready to go to work when they first moved into their home--and there was LOTS of work to be done. She is a delightful friend, outstanding mother, a creative artist in her own right, and the only thing that makes this move more bearable to me is that Miss Vicki blogs frequently and I will be able to keep up with her growing family. For Jo, it was very sad--but she already has a trip planned to WWWa next fall! Jo wrote a wonderful blog regarding Vicki's move which you can read at http://cjoshoot.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html Its wonderful to enjoy your adult children so much...I feel so blessed to have had special visits in both Kansas City and San Antonio while we have been back in Midland. Our kids are all great conversationalists, creative and artistic, with definite opinions, compassionate to a fault, and surrounded by friends....Jerry and I are so blessed!

Uganda 2009 Team is on their way!

The mission team should be in bed and asleep in Entebbe, after having departed Midland International at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Our theme "Sharing the Gospel Side by Side" is the logo on the team's shirts, as well as the shirts they will give to their interpreters in Uganda. These marvelous interpreters are students at the Bible College - and our team could not minister without their care! Sally Green and I were among many at the airport to see the team off. This is Ralph's 7th trip to Uganda, and Jerry's 3rd. We know they both look forward to returning, and seeing friends they have made in previous years. The scene at the airport looked chaotic...at the Packing Party on Monday night, we packed 37 suitcases with medical supplies, Bibles, Sunday School curriculum, games for children, surgical gloves, neosporin and who knows what else! But there they all were at the airport on Thursday morning, and suitcases were checked, weighed, repacked, and finally all loaded on to a Continental plane checked through to Entebbe. Each person is allowed two checked items, and we paid for ten additional suitcases to carry more supplies. They are all happy campers when they finally arrive at the hotel in Entebbe with all their luggage. (Last time, Jerry's suitcase didn't arrive until later, so this year he is prepared with extra clothes in his backpack!) We wish them God-speed, and we covet your prayers for all of them, for their health, for their rest, for their willingness to share the Gospel, and for all the blessings this will mean to them individually and to our brothers and sisters in Uganda.