the rest of the week

Hi all -- Thanks for visiting my blog. Wow, I hadn't realized the last post was Tuesday. So, since then, I've helped the Catholic parish pack bags of household goods for needy (t.p,, soap & other items not covered by food stamps -- orgs from around the area come pick up bags as needed), done literacy work at at drug rehab house, took my truck in for repair ($800+), helped Sr. Judy spruce up workshop by washing windows and shopvac-ing up webs and sawdust, tagged items for sale at the David Appalachia crafts center -- chatted w/ one of the artists about art shows, coal mines, and local and int'l politics, accompanied a pastor's wife on home visits to woman who'd just lost husband after long illness, woman who has brain cancer, and woman whose mother died unexpectedly while sitting on her front porch. In addition, I've helped extend hospitality to married physicians from Belgium who have worked w/ the indigenous people of Bolivia for seventeen years. Though the husband had always dreamed of working for dr's without borders, after they both "experienced a powerful conversion to Jesus Christ," they began their work, which seeks to heal not only body, but body, mind, and spirit. I believe the org's name is Doctors on Mission. Also joining us this weekend is a Lutheran woman from N. Carolina who is considering a vocation. I said to Sr. Judy, "Wow, you're full of protestants this weekend," and she said, "That's our mission. That's our goal." They are ecumenical, and welcome all. One interesting point, you'll rarely hear the male pronoun "he" or terms "father" or "son" in reference to God. One doxology begins, "Praise to the Creator, and to the Redeemer, and to the Sanctifier." Oh, can't forget mentioning that Sr. Jan and I attended Prestonsburg Idol. It was a little hard to hear w/ the portable mic and the traffic noise in the background, but some of the folks, from teens to 40-somethings, could really carry a tune. Have to run now. Need to stop at the store for bottled water (water here is not tasty) and get back for 4 p.m. prayers and return the borrowed car (mine's still in the shop). Tonight I'm attending a revival. Hope to update again Monday. Thanks again for checking in, as well as leaving messages that cheer me immensely.