More GroundCrew Ladies

The lunch room at MMS Thursday evening was a hive of activity as MMS wives and volunteer Stephanie prepared the GroundCrew for mailing. Donna and Sherry joined us a little after this picture was taken. They were put in the mail on Friday, so you should be getting your copy soon!
Dana has taken on the supervisory role for getting the GroundCrew volunteers together and making sure we are keeping the envelopes in zipcode order (as per postal regulations) and taking them to the post office. Deborah was the former supervisor and has been training Dana in her new role.

The GroundCrew Ladies

Sherry Shelly and volunteers

At MMS as I was preparing the Tuesday receipts to be mailed, I could hear lively chatter and laughter in the next room which we call the "Conference Room." The conversations were about local doctors, Medicare and subjects that are elderly concerns. Sticking my head through the doorway I greeted four senior ladies and Sherry Shelly, wife of Dave Shelly, our Safety Director. These delightful ladies are very committed volunteers who come in to the office each time we are ready to mail out our MMS publication, the "GroundCrew". For years they have come in to prepare the GroundCrew to get ready for stuffing into envelopes. The envelope stuffing happens a few days later with more help from MMS wives (this time on Thursday). So when you get your "GroundCrew" next week, you can say a prayer of thanks for the many volunteers who make this happen so that you can be informed of what God is doing at MMS!

Operation Christmas Child

Sunday afternoon, Jen and I (Rena) had fun helping Chanelle and Javin shop for Operation Christmas Child. They had each selected an age and gender child for whom to select gifts. All purchases had to fit into a shoebox or box of equal size. That was quite a challenge! It was a great lesson on giving to those who have little.

All packed up and ready to go

The Cessna 206 for Mission Aviation Fellowship, after passing the FAA inspection is now packed into a sea/land container waiting to be shipped to South Africa. Our prayers go with this airplane as God uses it to further His Kingdom.

Celebrating the Color

The landscape around Coshocton is rapidly approaching the monochrome of winter, but Saturday morning the sun shone briefly and lit up the tree just behind our house. The tree is a Bradford Pear which is strictly ornamental. It is one of the last trees to drop its leaves in the fall and, as you can see in the picture, it was really showing off.

Javin was over for much of the day Saturday while his mom and sister were participating at a craft fair and his dad was working. Having had a cold earlier in the week, he was feeling better and didn't lack for ideas of fun things to do. He's getting a pretty good grasp of the game, checkers, and beat Rena this time. (Of course, Rena was playing by "grandma rules".)

AWANA

Wednesday night is prayer meeting and Awana (for the kids) at church. I (Rena) enjoy leading the song time for the Awana kids. They love to sing and are an enthusiastic group. What a joy it is to plant the truths of God's Word in their hearts through song.

The One that Got Away

Today the Cessna 206 that was sent from Chad (Africa) made its first flight following extensive repair. I was standing by to take pictures of the takeoff when I took a phone call from Ryan, an MMS graduate who serves in Brazil. My phone conversation occupied me throughout the takeoff and much of the initial flight. I did get a picture of the plane as it taxied by our hangar on its way to to the active runway.

In spite of missing the picture, it was a privilege to talk to Ryan and discuss solutions to a challenge he's facing.

A Beautiful Fall Weekend

Friday was a gorgeous day and after work, thanks to daylight savings time still being in effect, I had time to mow the lawn and turn the fallen leaves into little bitty pieces. This seems to make the leaves disappear so I don't have to pick them up and I like to think if they lay there all winter they will make the soil richer.

At the church we attend I've been the treasurer for several years. Two couples at church count the offering each Sunday and prepare the bank deposit; however, I do the accounting and pay the bills. Each Sunday afternoon I enter the contributions into the computer so everyone can receive their annual record of giving.

Jen, Chanelle and Javin came mid-afternoon. Javin and I put all the picture puzzles in the house together after which we made all kinds of wonderful structures with the dominoes. Not too exciting, I know. However, I think a steady schedule of excitement is overrated.