We have been here in Shell four days, busy, interesting days. We are staying in a really nice "hostelria", owned by an Ecudoran woman who has worked in New York City. Even has a swimming pool, but none of us have used it yet. We are working at 3 sites - the orphanage, La Casa de Fe, a new building site for Casa de Fe on the edge of town, and in the hospital's workshop, building school desks for La Esperanza, a school run by a local church. For the desk project, the metal frames were welded together before we arrived, but we had to clean them, paint them and add tops, seats, seat backs, and a box under the desk top for books etc. Means a lot of sawing , sanding, coating with polyurethane, etc. The shop we are working in has all the equipment we need, in fact we wonder if the hospital has a woodshop or if the woodshop has a hospital! The first day at the building site we off loaded 1300 cement blocks, by hand, passing or tossing them from person to person to the stack (and 2/3 of them went to second floor). At the orphanage, we are doing basic child care, taking kids to to the playground, or tutoring. Lois said this afternoon she sorted clothes.
A major concern of all of us is that we are not doing things for the people here they could be doing for themselves, or hiring someone to do. Well, Patty Sue, who began the orphanage, is operating basically on faith, so there is no money to hire more child care workers. She has several "tias" as child care workers to whom she pays probably less than minimum wage. She has 60 kids! There apparently is little or no unemployment in the area. So I don't think we are taking a job away from anyone. But we need to keep asking the question.
It rains every day. They get 15 feet of rain per year here! But the sun shines each day as well, but so far its been more cloudy than sunny. We noted the temperature was 73 deg. F right after lunch. This evening, it was bit breezy, too cold to sit outside, believe it or not.
The team seems to be quite compatable. Some of us are renewing acquaintances from long ago, some we have met for the first time (the 3 from Omer and Mary Jane's church in Florida). For the record, those here are: Jim and Lois Bare, Omer and Mary Jane Troyer, Marvin Stolzfus, and Anna Hochstetler (class of '60), Jim Hochstetler (class of '59), Daniel Kieth and Shirley Yoder, (Class of '58), Dan and Marlene Miller, (class of '62), Jimmy and Marilyn Haar and Harry Hildebrand, (from North Port, Florida).
We'll add photos later, and write more. I knew some of you are probably checking the blog to see what is happening. Thanks to those of you who have contributed to the cause. It's not too late , you can still contribute. I think we would vote for all contributions to go to Casa de Fe, there is a real need there. I'd like to see a 100 % participation from the class of '60 in this project, even if it's a $5 contribution.
That's all for tonight, Hasta luego!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Pictures From Richard Swartzendruber
My wife LaVonne relaxing on a cruise ship
The helicopter we owned for 15 years
Several thousand people waiting in the park below our house for a speech from President George W. Bush
President Bush motorcade arriving by a side entrance because demonstrators were at the main gate.
December 2004 snowfall remains
Yes we do get snow in Reno, but usually not 8 feet in two weekends. This picture was two weeks after the snowfall.
My wife LaVonne during a road trip of southwestern states.
Arches National Park during the southwestern states trip
Inside the mobile command center are 8 radios, 1 satellite phone, 3 cell phones, 2 TVs, 2 VCR sets, 1 computer, 1 copy machine and hundreds of maps.
I also transport and operate this command center when needed for searches, hostage cases or wild fires.
A view of the city of Reno fireworks on the 4th of July just below our house in the park. Reno casinos are in the background.
Our home from the highway below. We built it in 1986. The shop was built in 2005. It is large enough for the helicopter and a 29 ft travel trailer
Our home. A view from the driveway
Everyone raised on a farm should have a tractor. This one is used to plow snow.
It is time to go on patrol. Another pilot picks me up at my house and delivers me home again
Alaska Glacier
An excellent day trip on the Klondike Express out of Whittier, Alaska. Approximately a 4 and a half hour trip. A meal was served and 26 glaciers were seen up close.
On the Alaska cruise. Left to right Retired Dr. David Serviss, LaVonne, Richard, Patty Serviss.
Just me!
A nice day for flying. Big county budget cuts are making for a lot less flying.
I constructed this 32 ft tall cross in 1987. It has red neon lighting up the pole and on the 19 ft cross arm. In 22 years it has become a landmark in Reno plus it serves as a night landing light for my FFA approved helicopter landing area to the right of the cross on the black top.The Life & Times of Richard Swartzendruber
1960 Graduation.
1961 Enlisted in the Army with Pat Harney. Six months later, honorable discharge from the Army with a crushed ankle.
1963 Traveled to Albany, Oregon to visit my sister Gladys. I liked the west coast so much that I got a job and stayed in Albany.
1964-1967 I worked as a police officer.
1968 I received a grant to attend the new Linn-Benton Community college in Albany,Oregon toward a degree in criminal justice. While there I helped organize a student government and in 1969 I ran for and was elected the very first student body president of LBCC.
1970 I received my AA Degree from Linn-Benton Community College. Then I also married my wonderful wife LaVonne who is from the Albany area.
1972 I received my BS Degree in criminal justice from Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon.
1975 I was hired as a Deputy Sheriff for the Washoe County Sheriff's Dept. in Reno Nevada. At this time we moved from Albany, Oregon to Reno.
1982 After a two year process, I received my State of Nevada Private Investigators License and my State of Nevada Repossession License. Both licenses were used to start a new company named Pathfinder Technology Inc. I operated this company from Reno for 21 years and then I sold the company. My wife LaVonne worked for Safeway stores Inc. in their District Office here in Reno, Nevada.
1986 We bought two and a half acres on the north hill overlooking downtown Reno. There is one other two and a half acre parcel on the west side of our lot. There is a regional park that goes all the way around both our parcels so there is no other private land near us and we have a beautiful view of downtown Reno and the mountains southwest of us. Also we have two daughters who are married and live in Reno. Our first grandchild [a daughter] was born on my birthday in 1986. We are now blessed with two grandsons and four grand daughters.
1990 We bought a Hiller Helicopter through our Pathfinder company. This helicopter would carry a pilot and two passengers. Back when we lived in Oregon in 1970 we were half owners of a hiller helicopter and I at that time had received my private helicopter license. Washoe County Sheriff's Dept. has a large search and rescue department made up of volunteers all controlled by a Sergeant and a Deputy. There are nine different groups within this body,such as ATV, Four Wheel Drives, Snowmobiles, Ski Team, Water Dive Team, Search Dogs, Man Tracker ,communications and the Air Squadron. I joined the air Squadron with the helicopter. There were about 18 airplanes and our one helicopter in the squadron at that time. Each aircraft is privately owned and is called out for a search as needed by the Deputies. All search time is a donation to the county with a motto "So Others May Live". This was very rewarding for me to be able to fly helicopter and also help people in distress in so many different ways. "Yes we do save some lives". When called out, each aircraft must have the pilot and one observer.
1992 I received my commercial helicopter license and was able to do for hire work in addition to the sheriff dept. activities. The sheriff dept. did not own a helicopter until about 1997 so I got to do a lot of police activity for about seven years.
1992-2004 Lots of work and not much else to brag about so lets get to the end of this story already.
2004 At the end of December the business was sold and I became somewhat retired. The last two weekend of December 2004 we got four foot of snow each for a total of eight feet. That was the most we have ever received at one time since we have lived in Reno.
2005 Built a 1500 square foot shop at home to keep the helicopter in but later this year we sold the helicopter. I finally had rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder and it healed very well. LaVonne retired from Safeway after 35 years of loyal service.
2006 We went on an Alaska Cruise which was the best so far out of three. We bought a 29 foot fifth wheel Montana travel trailer which now sits inside the very nice shop. We do local camping and several trips to Oregon with the Montana.
2008 We did a Caribbean cruise which was A OK but not like Alaska.
2009 In the spring I went in to have my annual pilots license physical and was informed that I had prostate cancer. God was looking out for me because I learned that here in Reno we have a leading Institute For Cancer Center where they have the newest Tomo Therapy Radiation treatment. This is where they kill the cancer cells and leave all the good cells live. I went through eight weeks of Tomo Radiation treatments. Now my PSA numbers are going down and the Doctor says the cancer is gone. Once this was done we took a cruise up the St.Lawrence sea way and back down to Boston. Then we rented a car and drove to Niagara Falls and back to Boston to fly home from there. I have been working part time for the Sheriff's Dept. as a court security officer and I used to fly the Sheriff helicopter once in a while BUT right now I am doing nothing because on December 10,2009 I had surgery on my right shoulder to repair a large rotator cuff injury. It is now almost four weeks and I am doing well but there was more pain and longer time to heal than when I had the left side done. I guess you could say this is my reason why I cannot go on the work trip this month. I am hoping that 2010 will bring less stress and more relaxation. I will be 10-42 for now.
A series of pictures will follow in another posting.
1961 Enlisted in the Army with Pat Harney. Six months later, honorable discharge from the Army with a crushed ankle.
1963 Traveled to Albany, Oregon to visit my sister Gladys. I liked the west coast so much that I got a job and stayed in Albany.
1964-1967 I worked as a police officer.
1968 I received a grant to attend the new Linn-Benton Community college in Albany,Oregon toward a degree in criminal justice. While there I helped organize a student government and in 1969 I ran for and was elected the very first student body president of LBCC.
1970 I received my AA Degree from Linn-Benton Community College. Then I also married my wonderful wife LaVonne who is from the Albany area.
1972 I received my BS Degree in criminal justice from Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon.
1975 I was hired as a Deputy Sheriff for the Washoe County Sheriff's Dept. in Reno Nevada. At this time we moved from Albany, Oregon to Reno.
1982 After a two year process, I received my State of Nevada Private Investigators License and my State of Nevada Repossession License. Both licenses were used to start a new company named Pathfinder Technology Inc. I operated this company from Reno for 21 years and then I sold the company. My wife LaVonne worked for Safeway stores Inc. in their District Office here in Reno, Nevada.
1986 We bought two and a half acres on the north hill overlooking downtown Reno. There is one other two and a half acre parcel on the west side of our lot. There is a regional park that goes all the way around both our parcels so there is no other private land near us and we have a beautiful view of downtown Reno and the mountains southwest of us. Also we have two daughters who are married and live in Reno. Our first grandchild [a daughter] was born on my birthday in 1986. We are now blessed with two grandsons and four grand daughters.
1990 We bought a Hiller Helicopter through our Pathfinder company. This helicopter would carry a pilot and two passengers. Back when we lived in Oregon in 1970 we were half owners of a hiller helicopter and I at that time had received my private helicopter license. Washoe County Sheriff's Dept. has a large search and rescue department made up of volunteers all controlled by a Sergeant and a Deputy. There are nine different groups within this body,such as ATV, Four Wheel Drives, Snowmobiles, Ski Team, Water Dive Team, Search Dogs, Man Tracker ,communications and the Air Squadron. I joined the air Squadron with the helicopter. There were about 18 airplanes and our one helicopter in the squadron at that time. Each aircraft is privately owned and is called out for a search as needed by the Deputies. All search time is a donation to the county with a motto "So Others May Live". This was very rewarding for me to be able to fly helicopter and also help people in distress in so many different ways. "Yes we do save some lives". When called out, each aircraft must have the pilot and one observer.
1992 I received my commercial helicopter license and was able to do for hire work in addition to the sheriff dept. activities. The sheriff dept. did not own a helicopter until about 1997 so I got to do a lot of police activity for about seven years.
1992-2004 Lots of work and not much else to brag about so lets get to the end of this story already.
2004 At the end of December the business was sold and I became somewhat retired. The last two weekend of December 2004 we got four foot of snow each for a total of eight feet. That was the most we have ever received at one time since we have lived in Reno.
2005 Built a 1500 square foot shop at home to keep the helicopter in but later this year we sold the helicopter. I finally had rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder and it healed very well. LaVonne retired from Safeway after 35 years of loyal service.
2006 We went on an Alaska Cruise which was the best so far out of three. We bought a 29 foot fifth wheel Montana travel trailer which now sits inside the very nice shop. We do local camping and several trips to Oregon with the Montana.
2008 We did a Caribbean cruise which was A OK but not like Alaska.
2009 In the spring I went in to have my annual pilots license physical and was informed that I had prostate cancer. God was looking out for me because I learned that here in Reno we have a leading Institute For Cancer Center where they have the newest Tomo Therapy Radiation treatment. This is where they kill the cancer cells and leave all the good cells live. I went through eight weeks of Tomo Radiation treatments. Now my PSA numbers are going down and the Doctor says the cancer is gone. Once this was done we took a cruise up the St.Lawrence sea way and back down to Boston. Then we rented a car and drove to Niagara Falls and back to Boston to fly home from there. I have been working part time for the Sheriff's Dept. as a court security officer and I used to fly the Sheriff helicopter once in a while BUT right now I am doing nothing because on December 10,2009 I had surgery on my right shoulder to repair a large rotator cuff injury. It is now almost four weeks and I am doing well but there was more pain and longer time to heal than when I had the left side done. I guess you could say this is my reason why I cannot go on the work trip this month. I am hoping that 2010 will bring less stress and more relaxation. I will be 10-42 for now.
A series of pictures will follow in another posting.
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