We're in Virginia Beach, spending Thanksgiving with Donald and Angela and Scott & Becky and the kids. We got away a little later than originally planned, but hey, what else is new?

I'm taking advantage of the broadband connection here to update software on the laptops (both ours and the church's) and also get some software (freeware) to update what we have on the home computer.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to ... Scott's going to fry a turkey. oooooh.... :-)

grace & peace 

On Sunday, the 6th of November, Jerusalem Baptist Church (Emmerton) Warsaw, ordained Leslie M. Park to the Gospel Ministry.

It was a truly joyous occasion, with approximately 150 people (both Anglos and Hispanics) present. The service was conducted bilingually, and we had a combined choir that sang "In Moments like These" (En Momentos Asi) in English, then in Spanish, then together in whichever was one's heart language.

The Charge to the candidate was given by the Rev. Karen Park, and the charge to the Community of Faith was given by the Rev. Kenny Park.

Taking part in the service were Helen Schools, director of the WMU (who brought the recommendation before the church initially) Donald K. Maccubbin and Hannah M. Park, Leslie's father and daughter, and Felix & Raquel Dominicci, who were Leslie's Sunday School teachers her senior year in High School at her home church, Thalia Lynn, in Virginia Beach. The ordination prayer was brought by Rev. J. Kenneth Park, father in law of the candidate. The laying on of hands began with all ordained deacons and ministers, 48 in all, from both Rappahannock Baptist Association Churches and from other Churches in the community, and continued with an open invitation to the gathered.

It's been an altogether odd week. There've been good moments, and even days, but there's something going on ... i suspect it's just the change of the seasons, and the accompanying funk, but ... who knows ... could have something to do with the business meeting we had at church on wednesday and the pastoral evaluation forms, which are trickling in ...

The kids got their report cards this past thursday. Hannah and Caleb got all A's. Judson got all E's and S's ... the equivalent, i suppose, for 1st graders.

Not sure .... glad its saturday ... looking forward to tomorrow's encuentro ... the folks who come are going to do a lot of the cooking ... they're actually looking for someone to slaughter a goat ... THAT'S gonna be interesting ...

more later ... who knows, i MAY get the sermon done before midnight ... but then ... the monkeys would scare me pretty bad...

We went to Farnham Manor today, as we usually do on the third Sunday of the month, for an afternoon worship/devotional time. There were only a few residents there, but we had a sweet time with them. It is a special time to be able to share with them, sing and pray with them.

This was the during the 'free time' at the beginning of the afternoon. Leslie started giving ESL classes (that's her - lower right - in the blue).

We held an Encuentro (Gathering) at Kilmarnock Church yesterday afternoon/evening. There were a little more than 30 people there. Served communion (you can just see the elements between the boom for the piano light and the sheet music), and that is always a moving time. It went a little longer, I think, than usual ... although the devotional time seems to be getting longer as the weeks go by. We just enjoy BEING together.

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All of the extended Park clan who was able to attend Mom & Dad's 50th anniversary reception at the beginning of July in Louisville. From Left to right, going strictly by location -- nobody is DIRECTLY beneath someone else, so here goes: Judson Park, Caleb Park, Leslie Park, Benjamin Martin, Hannah Park, me, James Kenneth Park, Laura Park, Emma Martin, Divina Park, Becky Martin, Elizabeth Kapuscinski, Bill Martin, Jacques Kapuscinski, Aaron Kapuscinski, Karen Park, Johnathan Martin. Not present: Jimmy Park (a long commute - he lives in Osorno, Chile, so he's only MOSTLY excused) :-)

On a separate note: regarding the backpack distribution in August and the beginning of September, we distributed 191 backpacks altogether.

" … we were driving by the church and the cemetery this morning and noticed the black cat and the pumpkin on a grave, and we’re, really, am- ... you know, upset that in a Christian graveyard we would have these things that represent the goblins and the ghosts and the evil things that are out before all saint’s day on November the 1st, it’s none of my business at all, but it really, it really struck a bad note in our mind, and I just wanted to make a comment that uh, I know that the graveyard is connected with the church, and as Christians, I feel real bad about us playing up things that are of the devil. I just wanted, I don’t mean to be ugly or anything like that, but I just did want to make that statement. Thank you very much."

The message was left on our voice mail yesterday afternoon. The woman may have identified herself at the beginning of her message, but had already started speaking before the message began recording, so there were no identifying remarks on the message. We do have callerID. They are not members of our congregation, but do live nearby.

It struck something. While I can, on one level, understand where she's coming from, by the same token, it needs to be noted that the person doing the decorating is a woman who has lost the love of her life, and is alone, and is in the habit of decorating her husband's grave whatever the season or holiday. She spends time at the grave also. I don't go out there when she's there, but it does appear that she is talking to her husband.

The long and short of it is, people deal with grief in their own way. I think we should allow as much room and grace as possible for her to do that.

Grace & peace

this was the back of the van -- with the rear seat removed, when leslie got back on monday from picking them up.  

it's backpack distribution time! we've collected close to a hundred backpacks, and today we gave out the first two - Brenda and Cristal. It has been overwhelming again - to see the generosity of the churches here in the association as well as back in Virginia Beach - Thalia Lynn collected and filled 54 backpacks - one more than they did last year! :-) It's all good.  

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Grace & peace

for a quick reference. took this picture the day we arrived, june 13th, in the evening. before any of the work started. whatever plant that is that was growing in front is still there, we had to trim it down to do the work, but Norberto told me last night that it was already growing back when he left. hopefully it will be back in full swing by next year.  

Saw Norberto and Isidra yesterday at the encuentro. They brought me a roll of film that they took just before leaving Mexico to come here, with pictures they took of Romualda's house. I didn't know they were going to paint it, but it looks AWESOME!!!

They went ahead and painted the interior. Painting the exterior MAY be something we can do next year ... but we'll have to wait and see... she may have gotten to it by then ... or not. It's not unusual for folks to leave the exterior unpainted, but concentrate on making the interiors beautiful.

A merged picture of Norberto and Gumaro doing the finishing work on the floor of the storefront room.
Don't ask about the VW bus out in the street with the flat tire. At first I thought it was from the place where the doors were made, but something tells me it wasn't, and I haven't asked yet. I'll let you know when I know.

Saw Isidra yesterday. Stopped by in the afternoon, just to say hi and welcome back and give her a hug. They arrived this past Wednesday morning, worked Thursday, but there weren't enough crabs for them to work on Friday. So she was trying to busy herself by washing clothes and getting the house in order. They brought pictures. Here they are.

DONE!!!

I called and spoke to Victor, Norberto and Isidra's oldest son, this afternoon. He told me that they finished everything. Romualda will be able to move in in the next few days!

Norbert and Isidra were at their Visa interview when I called. If all goes well, they will be arriving next week sometime.

Grace & Peace

Kenny

As Of Today

The finishing touches were being done on the bedroom - Valentin was there working on getting all the light fixtures and electrical outlets installed, and the doors and window will be the last things to go on. that should be done by the end of the week.

Norberto and Isidra got word last week that they need to get things in order to come up to Virginia to work, so they are scrambling to get THAT ready as well as have the building completed for Romualda.

Please pray that these last few days and last few items wrap up smoothly, and that Romualda and Guadalupe can move into their new rooms without too many hassles.

grace & peace

Kenny

the finished product ...