Halfway Around the World

From Mary Margaret Willems:

Bob and I were at the end of our vacation - one week in Beijing, China, then a week in Phuket, Thailand.

We were having our last morning at the pool when I noticed another American couple sitting near us. We had heard some British English along with every other language, but not much "American" that week.

I was in the pool and struck up a conversation with the wife, Linda, who I found out now lives in Williamsburg, VA, but had moved from Ohio.

I mentioned that we retired to middle TN for my husband to work with a ministry there. We chatted some, then Linda asked if I'd heard of Mountain T.O.P. I got goose bumps. There we were halfway around the world and I had started a conversation with someone who had been to MTOP. (Some 15 years ago, however, her former church in Ohio still comes.) I recognized the name, Jerome UMC.

On our way to check out of the resort, we passed Linda and her husband having lunch. We stopped and chatted about this meeting being a "God thing." She had already e-mailed the youth director at Jerome to tell of our encounter.

At Wednesday night Bible Study before our trip our pastor, Von, prayed for our safety and for us to be of service when the need arose. I was thankful for his prayer, but also thought how in the world are we going to serve when we are headed for a fun 2 weeks of new adventure?

As soon as we got home, I couldn't wait to tell Julie of our meeting. In the meantime, I didn't know that the youth director, Denise, had already e-mailed Sam to say that she thought her friend Linda had met Julie's mother. She also said that Linda mentioned that in the five days they spent at the resort, I was the only one that had spoken to her!

God had used me to serve, even on vacation.

Friends Weekend projects are waiting for you!!!

Where's waldo (aka Smitty)?!?! As you can see the Friends Cabin restroom is coming along nicely but has a long way to go.

Ron Combs and Corey Jewell are preparing the worship center for pillars/footings. The concrete arrives on Wednesday!!!

The Dining Hall wall is getting prepped for sound proofing!!!

The Boys Cabins are waiting to be reconstructed for YSM campers.

Friends Weekend is coming up soon, February 29 - March 4th. These are the projects that we will be working on (and completing this spring). Right now there are 21 Friends signed up. There's still room for you though.