What a joy to be a part of the Bloys Camp Meeting once again. This is Jerry's 3rd year as the Bible Study leader representing the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bloys preached 4 times a day to the cowboys and their families back in the beginning, but later invited a pastor from the Baptist, Disciples of Christ and Methodist Churches to share in the leadership--and so it is to this day. Our leadership team was incredible--including Tommy Potter (Brite Divinity), Keith Wyatt (New Braunfels TX) and Jim Denison (Center for Informed Faith, Dallas.) At the top you can see our dear friends from Redmond WA, Peter and Diane Wilson...they are long-time Bloys folks. We met them two years ago on our first day there, just when we knew we were going to Sammamish WA for a year, and we shared a lot of wonderful times in WA. Our picture was snapped by their grandson, Chandler, who couldn't resist getting himself in one photo! Ralph & Sally Green joined us for part of the week, and we ate dinner one evening at the Paisano Hotel in Marfa--a nice outing. Before camp actually opened, we were invited up to a nearby RV park to join several other couples for a hobo lunch--and here you see those yummy foil packets cooking over the open fire--they were delicious! In the photo on the middle left you see that long white thing hanging from the rafter?
That is a rattlesnake, caught and killed by Diane's nephew..and provided great entertainment for all of us as we watched him gut and skin it. I'm glad I didn't see it when it was alive and rattling along the road! Along with the gifted preaching and teaching we heard all week, the music was heavenly--we have both piano and organ, as well as shared talents from many of the attendees, whose talent is all beyond description. It is an opportunity for many family reunions, and the fellowship and conversation is great. Not only that, we had plenty of rain early on, so the Ft. Davis area is beautifully green--and cool at night or in the shade during the day. I wish each of you could have the Bloys experience--it is a page out of the past and a real treasure. The Holy Spirit permeates the whole place--it truly is a sacred week.
R is for reunion...a special evening with our college friend, Meredith. Many years ago Mere's Dad lived part of the time with us while he went to college...and now 20-some years later, Mere goes to college near Jo's, and just finished spending her 2nd summer living with daughter Carla in KC while she did an internship.
R is for rewarding...and thats what this week has been.
R is for rejuvenation and restoration.
And what better way to relax than with Jo's stylist, our friend Robert, who somehow manages to work miracles. And indeed we did feel refreshed and radiant as we headed off to some of J&S's good friends for a magnificent evening - and plans for a fly fishing trip come December!
R is for rest...and could there be a prettier place to relax than around this pool?
R is for rejoice! And that's what we are doing as we begin yet another phase of our adventures in retirement as part of the Family of God. We relish the time you spend with us...whether we see you in Missouri, Texas, or Kansas..and the time you spend reading our blog and following along with us. We plan to leave late tomorrow afternoon to head across east Texas into Arkansas, and then southwest Missouri, after going to a matinee celebrating the History of Country Music at a theatre on the Riverwalk. These weeks that lie ahead of us promise to be days of reflection and re-creation in one of our favorite parts of the country--Table Rock Lake. Come on - let's go!
