Wishing you a very blessed New Year.

We are looking forward to reading about the mission trip to Ecuador. I trust the Troyer's will do their fine job of reporting via their blog. We were tempted but this just was not the year for us to go along. It will be an experience of a lifetime. Savor, enjoy and thank God for opportunities to share yourselves.

We will be leaving soon for South Texas, which means the blogging will begin again. So if you want to catch up on what is going on with the Litwillers, just check out Litwiller Travels Blog.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

VELDA AND JIM CHAPMAN

Mission Trip to Ecuador

As of November 22, six class members have decided to join the group. A total of 12 people have joined the team from around the country. We are still talking with several others and hope to have a group of 14 to 16 people.

Several class members have either sent or have promised to send financial support for the supplies. A big "thank you" to this group!

Anna Hochstedler has recently written a comment to the posting of Martha which I will re-print below:

Jim and I officially committed ourselves to going on the mission trip to Ecuador. I have always dreamed of going to some place where there is an orphanage and now I have the chance. We are so excited to go and know God has something special for all of us. Come on some of you others, lets make a dent in our class list for January work project. Anna

The ecouragement from Anna is very direct. There is still time for any of you who have had second thoughts to join the group.

Where is everyone?

What's happening to all the bloggers? We were on a roll but seems like we have resorted to email. Is that because some folks don't like to blog?

Mission Trip to the Blue Fields of Nicaragua

Thought I would add a few lines on by recent Mission trip to Nicaragua. We left Paradise at 3 pm on July 8th and returned at 1 am July 22. It was arranged through the Quiet Hour of Southern Ca. There was 25 from Paradise, 12 from West Virginia, 3 from Washington State, 1 from Atlanta and 3 from Michigan.
We went to build a Church, do Medical work, and in the evening we would have Vacation Bible school, and Evangelistic series. For an example the vacation Bible school had 25 the first night and by the 3rd night there were over 125.
My main job was to help with the building of the Church, which became difficult, because it rained 6 to 8 inches a day. Many Miracles happened. One was when we were laying the foundation, we really couldn't work in the rain. And as a big black cloud approached, we prayed it would pass. It separated and poured rain on both sides, and we only got a few sprinkles. Praise God. Also many miracles in the medical work, where they seen over a thousand patients.
It's very humbling to see how Happy people seem to be, and with smiles on there faces, with little or nothing. And we in America, who have way to much Stuff, seem to be always complaining. I could go on but for now I will say so long. Dennis
Read: James 2:5 and as Winston Churchill said "We are stripped bare by the curse of plenty."

If you haven't been on a Mission trip, I highly recommend. I've been on 5 and you never return with out being a changed person, and thanking God you have been Blessed, to live in the USA.

We had a delicious dinner tonight in a lovely Italian Restaurant
with Nelson and Margaret Gingerich.

We spent the day in Anchorage. We went to the Mennonite church this morning and then to the downtown market this afternoon with our friends, the Martins. Late afternoon we enjoyed a visit in the home of Nelson and Margaret. We saw fabulous artwork in many forms in their home. Margaret has made marvelous picture quilt wall hangings and she also shared a lovely slide presentation of a recent trip to Tennessee. Nelson has been making beautiful vases out of wood. It was so good to reconnect with them.

We also drove down 4th street in downtown Anchorage, where the Iditarod Sled Race begins every March. Yes, Wilbur had goose bumps.

Seniors Traveling

Where are you traveling these days? Let's hear about your travel adventures and learn from each other about places that should not be missed. Like the book title says, 1000 Places To See Before You Die, let's share some first hand stories and experiences.

Consider yourself challenged - be the first to post on this blog! Lets get a thread going on this subject.