The Greene Family

Feb. 14 - Back In Congo

2009-02-14T20:16:00.007+01:00

Mbote and Bon Jour! It's been a while since I've updated the blog, but we've been busy since January 19th, which is the day we left America. We flew out of Atlanta, then Washington D.C. for a 15 hour plane ride to Johannesburg, South Africa. We overnighted there with some missionary friends, then had a 4 hour plane ride to Congo the next morning, arriving on the 21st as scheduled.

We just got connected to the internet today, so I've been catching up on emails and other stuff. Pictured here is the last day I had with my boys in September 2007, just before coming to the States on furlough. There were 60 of them that day, and the first Sunday afternoon I had with them a couple weeks ago, there were also just above 60! I've played a lot of soccer in the last couple weeks, so I'm enjoying that and staying in shape.

Willy and Jean have done a fine job in keeping the church together during our absence, so our work continues with them. I'll be able to update the blog more regular now, so bear with me as I need to take some new pics and upload our latest ones from our plane trip. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us on furlough and for our safe return to Congo.

January 1, 2009

2009-01-01T23:59:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year to all of you. It has been exactly 2 weeks now since our granddaughter was born. The Greene family is busy packing and preparing for our return to Congo, but also enjoying some time with family. Our son Joshua has been home on leave since December 20th, and Tally's mom arrived in Tennessee today to see the baby.

The kids and I are currently in Georgia, then mom and granny will drive down tomorrow to join us for the weekend. Joshua returns to Camp Lejeune on Sunday the 4th, then on Monday the 5th we will return to Tennessee to visit with Nina, Brad and LeAnna Rose.

For those of you who follow this blog, I wanted to let you know that I have posted many pictures of the baby on facebook, as it is easier than posting on the blog. I will continue to update the blog, but if you would like to see pics on facebook, feel free to look me up and send a friend request.

Dec. 22 - She's Here!!

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LeAnna Rose was born on Dec.18, 2008, 2:30pm CST, in Carthage, Tennessee. She weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. and was 19" long. Mom and baby are both fine, so we thank the Lord for a safe delivery and a healthy child.

Tally was there for the birth (on Thursday), and I went up to see my new grandbaby over the weekend. Joshua arrived to our empty home in Georgia (from Camp Lejeune) that Saturday, and he'll be with us for 2 weeks. The kids & I came home today (Monday) to be with Josh, then we'll all go up to see the baby at the end of this week.

My wife has a bunch of pictures on our old camera, but I forgot to download them onto my computer. So, you'll just have to settle for the few pics I got on my new camera!

Proud New Parents

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9 Year Old Uncle Josiah!

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Grandma Price

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Grandpa Price

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Dec. 18 - Baby On The Way!

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We got the call at 5:30 this morning, so Tally and Bethany left at 6:15 for the 2 1/2 hour drive up to Tennessee. Nina's contractions are 3-5 minutes apart, so they should have plenty of time to be there for the birth. Pray with us for a safe delivery.

Nov. 26 to 30 - Thanksgiving

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We spent last Thanksgiving with the Ratterree family, as our little house in the woods didn't even have a kitchen sink at that time! Now, 1 year later, with the house fully furnished, we were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with the entire Greene family. (more below)

Surprise!

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We didn't know if Joshua would be able to make it from Camp Lejeune or not. I called him on Wednesday afternoon, but as he was en route, he wouldn't answer my call. He caught a ride with a buddy on his way to Kentucky, who dropped Josh off in Knoxville. A family friend picked him up there, and at 10:15 he popped his head inside our front door! Needless to say, we were thrilled.

Our Two Oldest

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Nina called Josh on Thanksgiving day to see if he was coming to our house, but he wouldn't answer her call either! Nina and Brad drove in on Thanksgiving day, so she was glad to see her brother in uniform as they pulled into our driveway.

On Friday, Nina and her mother spent the day shopping and visiting friends. The rest of us went to the Chickamauga Battlefield. Bethany & Josiah went inside the Museum, while I took Brad and Josh on a run through the half marathon course I ran a few weeks ago. Brad went about 4.5 miles with us, then turned back to the Museum. I took a wrong turn around the 9-mile mark, so Josh and I only ended up running 11 miles instead of 13!

Together Again!

2008-12-01T18:25:00.004+01:00

This Thanksgiving was the first time our family has been together since Josh graduated from Boot Camp in February. So, here it is, the latest Greene family photo, including the newest (Greene / Price) member on the way!

Nina & Brad left Friday night to have Thanksgiving with Brad's brother on Saturday, but Josh stayed until Sunday. We drove him up to a truck-stop in Knoxville after the evening service, had supper at Hardee's and hung out with him until 11:30 pm. His buddy from Kentucky had to drive through some snow, so he didn't meet Josh until way after midnight. They arrived at Lejeune at 1:00 pm on Monday.

Only 1 More Month!

2008-12-01T18:20:00.002+01:00

Nina is due on Dec. 29th, so here she is at 8 full months along. She is doing fine, but is suffering with back pain much of the time. Naturally, we desire the Lord's will, but we're also hoping for an early arrival. Please pray with us to that end.

November 16 - Nina's Baby Shower

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I stayed home in Georgia this weekend, while my family went up to Carthage for Nina's baby shower. Sitting on Nina's far right is Brad's mother, Mrs. Lisa Price, and next to her is Hannah, noting the gifts.

The Baby's Room

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As always, friends and family from Cornerstone Baptist Church blessed Nina and Brad with many nice gifts. Nina cleared out her sewing room to prepare it for the baby.

November 14 - NHL Hockey!

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Back in summertime, Bethany & Josiah participated in a book-reading club at our local library here in Chickamauga. By simply reading 5 books each, they earned free tickets to both an Atlanta Hawks (basketball) and Atlanta Thrashers (hockey)game. As their parent, all I had to do was purchase 1 discounted ticket for myself, so it was a pretty good deal.

But, back when gas was close to $4 a gallon, I wasn't going to makes 2 trips to Atlanta, so I told the kids to choose 1 team to go see. Bethany is a Carolina Hurricanes fan, and the Thrashers are division rivals, so the photo reveals which sport we chose! This is Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta, where the 3 of us enjoyed our first professional hockey game.

Coming Out Of The Tunnel

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Bethany & Josiah watching the Carolina Hurricanes coming out onto the ice to warm up before the game.

Pre-Game Practice

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It was amazing to get a close-up view of the players on the ice. They skate by you so fast, executing passing drills and taking shots on goal. Hockey is one of the only sports I have not played, but I could easily get into it!

Our View

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We had "end zone" seats way up near the top. However, a hockey arena isn't nearly as large as a baseball or football stadium, so it's still a decent view of the game. Amazingly enough, these are $32 seats, but I only had to pay $25 for mine. But, that's a whole lot better than paying $96 for 3, amen?

Thrashers Win!

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Bethany was rooting for the visiting Canes, but they fell short that night. The Thrashers won 3-2, but she enjoyed her evening anyhow!

November 8 - Race Day!

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Well, the day of the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon has finally come. The clock shows 2 minutes and 5 seconds til race time. It was a brisk, cool morning, with a race time temperature of 45 degrees at 7:30am. That's too cold for my liking, as I like to run in the hot afternoons, but I was more than ready to begin this my first race.

There were a total of 1,222 participants in this race, 551 runnning the marathon (26.2 miles), and 671 of us "slackers" running the half marathon (13.1 miles). Continue to scroll down and follow along as I give you a chronological account of my day.

What A Crowd!

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Have you ever wondered how a race works? When you have 100's or 1,000's of participants, how do the all the runners who begin nowhere near the starting line have a fair chance? The answer is simple.

There is the "gun time" that begins the race, which is the clock on display at the start / finish line. However, each runner has a timing chip attatched to one of his / her shoes.

You can be at the very back of the pack, starting several minutes behind those in the front, but each individual's time begins when they cross the starting line. Therefore, you can cross the finish line behind others, but if your individual time is faster, you will be the winner.

Patiently Waiting

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Slowly We All Start

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Crossing The Starting Line

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Finishing The Loop

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A Colorful Event

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And Away We Go!

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After completing the loop taking us back to the start / finish line, we turn into the entrance and venture out into the open road. Now the runners have the chance to spread out and pick up their paces. From there we would wind through the woods of the Chickamauga Battlefield on paved tour roads.

Coming Down The Stretch

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There were several spectator points where shuttle buses were supposed to transport people. However, this part of the event was not coordinated very well. About halfway through the race, I was looking for Tally and the kids at these points so I could shed my sweatshirt, but they weren't there.

They ended up driving to a certain area of the battlefield, and I'm glad they did. Soon after I passed the 10-mile mark, I saw a crowd of spectators up ahead. I discerned my wife's distinct whistling cheer, so I knew I could remove my sweatshirt and finish the last 3 miles in my T-shirt!

Finishing Strong

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All the runners normally just keep their pace as they approach the finish line. But when I passed the 13-mile mark, I sprinted the last 1/10 of a mile. Not that it mattered much in the overall standings, but I did pass a half dozen or so. My gun time was 2:08:43, but my actual chip time was 2:06:58. This was an improvement from my previous runs of about 2 hours 20 minutes.

Still, I didn't make an impressive showing in my age group, 45-49 year-old males. Out of 40, I placed 28th, but I was just glad I didn't finish last! However, I did have a faster time than a bunch of other men and women, plenty of them younger than me. Out of 671 participants, I placed 308, beating just over half. The sad things is, there were plenty of older men and women that beat me too!

Though I didn't win anything, to me, my run was a success. I was just glad to participate and get some experience as to how all the logistics work. All participants were fed a nice meal after the race (soups, pizza, fruits and assorted baked goods). We also received a runners cap, a quality running shirt and a nice medal to commemorate the event. If you prayed for me, thanks.

November 7- Josiah's 9th Birthday

2008-11-12T17:37:00.000+01:00

Hard to believe that 9 years ago today, our little man was born in a tiny hospital in Congo. Josiah has spent most of his life in Congo, except for the 2 years we've been home on furloughs (2003-04 and 2007-08). He enjoys both countries, but particularly likes America because he has the liberty to shoot guns! Today had some light drizzly rain, but not enough to spoil our party. This is the view we had from our little house in the woods. You'll have to click on the photo (to enlarge it) to see the rainbow better.

BB Gun Shoot

2008-11-12T17:36:00.000+01:00

Josiah invited about 6 of his little buddies, and we had a shootin' contest. The boys were ages 4-9, and they got at a target 55 feet away.

Giving Out The Prizes

2008-11-12T17:35:00.000+01:00

With all the candy kids consume at this time of the year, I think I got on the moms' good side by awarding boxes of fruit & granola bars to the top 3 shooters! (And a mini Snickers bar for all participants.)

The winners were all 9-year-olds. With a total of 5 shots, Tyler had the highest score with 30, then Nathan scored 18, and Josiah came in 3rd with 16.

Pizza!

2008-11-12T17:34:00.000+01:00

Thank God for Little Caesars' $5 pizzas, amen? 2 pepperoni, 2 ground beef, 2 black olive, 4 half-gallon boxes of ice cream, 7 choices of syrup, I mean soda pop (yuk!), and a cake made up the menu. We had no broken bones and nobody threw up, so I'd say our day was a success!

November 6 - Closet Project

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Once again, I did a little project to enhance the Ratterree's little house in the woods. The 2 bedrooms are next to each other, separated by a wall on opposite sides with 1 long closet space in the middle. I built a 2 foot panel in the middle of the closet space, then hung a shelf and clothing rod. It turned out pretty nice, and has given us some much needed space to hang clothes and store things. Josiah is helping me drill a 1" hole in the side support.

2" x 4" Side Supports

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Done!

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Nov. 1 - Fall Festival - Mt. Pisgah, GA

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We were sorry that we were gonna miss Bible Baptist's Fall Festival here in Georgia, as it was scheduled last Saturday while we were in Tennessee. However, because of rain, they pushed it ahead a week, so we were able to enjoy that one as well.

Jail Ministry?

2008-11-12T17:15:00.000+01:00

This year's Fall Festival saw a new fund raiser event for the young people's missions fund. Brother Lee was deputized as the new Sherriff in town, and he had the authority to arrest folks and put them in "jail" (the church bus) for 5 minutes. If you didn't want to be incarcerated, you could post bond of a dollar.

Also, if you wanted someone arrested, you could pay a dollar and the Sherriff would go after that person. If he came to get you and you felt you were being arrested under false pretenses, well, all you had to do was cough up a dollar and you were free to go.

Mrs. Cheryl Ratterree must have burned the biscuits last night, cuz her husband was the first to put up his dollar to put her in jail! He probably filled up on hot dogs that day, knowing he probably wouldn't be getting any supper that night.

"Hill-billy Skiing"

2008-11-12T17:08:00.001+01:00

It's simple...all you have to do is pick up one foot and put it in front of the other...in unison...and proceed forward. In this battle of the genders, the males proved dominant once again!

Hog Round-Up

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Capture 3 young hogs one at a time and put them in a box in the fastest time possible to win $45.

The Winner!

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This young man had a winning time of 15 seconds! Other notable times were between 19 and 30 seconds, one of which was our daughter Bethany's.

October 31 - Battlefield Trial Run

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While the world was busy preparing for Hell-oween festivities, I took a trial run of the half marathon course through the Chickamauga Battlefield. It was nice and sunny out, but the course of paved roads runs through many heavily wooded areas, so there was plenty of shade as well. Deer also abounded, which is common is this area. This was my last day of training for the race to be held next Saturday.

October 28 - Woodwork in the Fall

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Brother Doyle would like to insure the old house that we're staying in, but the company said it needed some safety rennovations first. Carpenters came in and repaired parts of the rotted porch, and I built a handrail for the stairs. Chainlink is my forte, but I enjoy doing some woodwork now and again as well...especially when it turns out right!

October 25 - Fall Festival - Carthage, TN

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The Fall Festival at Cornerstone Baptist Church is one of the highlights of the year. Nealy the whole church turns out for it, and they enjoy dressing up in various costumes and old-fashioned attire. Nina made both her and Brad's outfits, which took first place in the Best Dressed competition. The prize was $40, which will be expended upon the baby!

Touch Football

2008-11-12T16:45:00.002+01:00

After losing at horseshoes, I was glad to participate in a game of touch football with the younger boys. Pastor Ron Ralph was our quarterback, and he hit me with 2 long touchdown passes. Pictured is me ready to confront the runner on a kickoff return. Yeah, I got him!

3-Legged Race

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Brother Ron Ralph is pretty much the horseshoe champion at Cornerstone. He and wife also took first place in the couples 3-legged race (dressed in black to the left). Preachers just hate to lose, don't they?!!

October 24 - Another Wedding

2008-11-12T16:36:00.002+01:00

On Wednesday the 22nd we attended the last night of a Missions Conference in Helenwood, Tennessee at Trinity Baptist Church. Thursday we drove to Carthage to spend the weekend with our daughter. On Friday afternoon I went for a nice 14-mile run, and that evening we attended the wedding of Nina's sister-in-law, Ms. Rachel Price. This is her father, Ernie Price, walking her down the aisle.

Mr. and Mrs. Cody White

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Cody is from East, Tennessee. Rachel & Cody met at Music Camp, which is an annual event at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Carthage.

Nina & Brad

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Nina & Hannah

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Mr. and Mrs. Price have married off 3 of their 4 children in the past 4 years! - (2 sons and a daughter). Pictured here is their youngest daughter, Hannah, who is 17. Brother Ernie says he'll be ready for her wedding in about 10 years!

Nina & Mom

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Oct. 13 to 21 - "Grandpa" Swim

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Today (Mon. 13th), I did a gate repair job for a friend. In the evening, we were informed about the passing of a dear family friend. Eugene (Gene) Swim was an elderly saint in our home church, who was actively involved in the Prison and Sound Ministries up until the end. After enjoying good health for most of his life, he suffered with cardiac problems for the past several years. He went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 12, 2008. He would have turned 89 on November 26.

I flew out to San Diego on Thursday the 16th to attend the memorial service on Saturday the 18th. It was one of those services you didn't want to miss, as "Grandpa" Swim's life touch many people. He and his son, David, have been faithful supporters of our ministry for many years, financially & prayerfully, and have also proved to be sincere friends. Grandpa Swim allowed our family to stay in his home during both of our furloughs when we came to spend time at our home church. We were privileged to spend about 3 months with him this year, and we shall always cherish his memory.

In February (2008), our church had a men's all-night prayer meeting (10:00pm - 6:00am). Grandpa Swim, weary in body & soul, but not in spirit, made it all the way to 6:00am, then we went home and I made a pan of scrambled eggs & toast for the both of us and enjoyed some fellowship. After that, I went to bed for awhile. He stayed up and went down to the prison at 9:00am!

I was one of the honored guests to be invited to the gravesite service on Monday the 20th, and that was also a blessing. Our pastor and a few of the Associates did a great job of commemorating the life of Bro. Gene Swim. We were scheduled to return to Congo in September, and though I will miss Grandpa Swim, I'm glad I was able to return to San Diego this week to be with the Swim family. I flew back home to Georgia on Tuesday the 21st. I thank the Lord for his provision.

October 11 - Battlefield Marathon

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Yesterday I worked all day repairing some dog panels. This morning we had a work day at Bible Baptist Church. After finishing there, I went and looked at a gate repair job, then drove to the Chickamauga Battlefield.

The Chattanooga Track Club sponsors a marathon race (26.2 miles) each year through this memorial park. This will be the first year that they are offering a half marathon course (13.1 miles), which is just right for me.

I've looked up the times of previous winners in my age group (45-50), and I don't even come close to them. Nevertheless, I want to enter this race just for the experience of participating in this popular event. I drove the course in my truck to familiarize myself with it, then went home and changed into my sweats. I normally run 10 miles, but today I stepped it up to 13 in preparation for the race.

I don't expect to win, but I would like to make a decent showing and maybe finish in the middle of the pack somewhere. So, if you think of it, pray for me. The race will be at 7:30 am on Saturday, November 8th.

October 3 - Good Ol' Football

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After working 9 hours a day on that fence Monday - Thursday, it was nice to have a "day off " on Friday. I did some stuff around the house, went for a 10-mile run in the afternoon, then took my daughter to see a local high school game in the evening. It was an awesome game between the Ridgeland Panthers against the Warriors of Lakeview/Ft. Oglethorpe (LFO). Ridgeland was the home team, winning 28-20.

Sept. 17 - Oct. 2

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I spent the rest of September doing some fencework, which was my trade before becoming a missionary. A friend of mine owns this rental property in Chattanooga. The fence was 4 feet high, but I raised it to 6 feet and added this commercial double drive gate.

"Yo me habla poquito Espanol"

2008-10-08T18:02:00.008+02:00

Living in San Diego for 20 years, I learned some Spanish in school. I never became fluent , but I knew the basic grammar and a lot of vocabulary, which enabled me to speak casually with my Mexican friends.

Since learning the Lingala dialect in Congo and preaching in it for 8 years, it is very difficult for my brain to conjure up Spanish words and make halfway intelligent conversation! The renters here are Guatemalan, and speak hardly any English at all. Needless to say, I had a hard time communicating with them. All I could think of was Lingala or French words when trying to put together a sentence.

The Lingala word for children is "bana." The Spanish word for children is "ninos" (neen-yos). When I went to ask this man how many children he had, my brain combined the 2 words and I said, "Cuantos BANOS tienes?" He looked at me funny, so I repeated the question. After another pause, I finally realized the Spanish word "bano" (ban-yo) means "bathroom!"

Another Job

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Another friend saw my work and asked me to do some for him. This was a 4-day job, digging 27 holes by hand, setting the posts in concrete, then putting up 210 feet of 4 foot high fence, a 12 foot double drive gate and a 42" walk gate. Though I'm called to preach and ultimately to be a missionary, I'm always glad to do some manual labor in the way of fence work.

Dad's Little Helper

2008-10-08T17:38:00.003+02:00

When my oldest son, Joshua, was little, he always used to like going with me on side jobs. Following in his brother's footsteps, Josiah spent a couple days with me on this job. Here he is tightening the bolts on a corner post. Below are some more pics of my little helper.

Hanging Chain Link

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Stretching it Tight

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Gate Hinges

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Hanging The Gate

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September 16 - Biggest Loser

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This furlough my family and I became fans of the Biggest Loser program, which some of you may know started its new season tonight. Criticize or call me silly if you wish, but I enjoy following the progress of 300 lb.+ people "gutting it out" (pastor Fisher's famous quote) and losing 100 pounds or more. It is a worthy and admiral accomplishment.

I realize that the show (like all TV shows) is all about ratings and commercial sponsors. But regardless of this, they are also promoting the necessity of proper diet and exercise with believable facts and information. Not only do they teach you how to cut calories and reduce your fat intake from various food groups, but more importantly (and sobering), they show computer images of how the body struggles and deterriorates when overburdened by excess fat.

And yes, I understand that our spiritual condition takes priority, but I fear too many Christians neglect the importance of good physical health, proper diet & weight management. This might rub some of you the wrong way, but I must say it. It is WRONG for overweight preachers to stand in the pulpit and make prideful jokes about their huge "Baptist Bellies." The congregation might get a good laugh, but somehow I don't think God is laughing.

I also realize that some of the contestants on the Biggest Loser just want to lose weight so they can look good in swimwear and other immodest attire. However, the fact is, MOST of the people on this show NEED to lose weight BECAUSE THEIR LIVES DEPEND UPON IT! I fear too many folks in the body of Christ are in the same situation. It would behove many of our full-time leaders in the church to watch this "worldly" program and allow it to motivate them (and our congregations) to become better stewards of the earthen vessels they live in.

1 Corinthians 6:20 - "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Notice the scripture did say "body" first. It did not say "spirit" first, as if to imply that our spiritual lives are supposed to consume the majority of our waking hours, then if we happen to get around to it, we could throw in a little exercise and health consciousness as an afterthought.

Now I realize that "glorifying God with our bodies" doesn't just mean eating right and keeping fit. I believe the primary way to glorify God with our bodies is to walk in righteousness, be actively involved in the local church and doing our part to spread the gospel to a lost and dying world.

My point is, how can we effectively do all of this is we're unhealthy and sick all the time? Why is it that so many people in their 20's and 30's have no energy and are suffering from ailments that folks didn't use to have to deal with until they were in their 60's or 70's? Well, I'm no specialist and I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in on the importance of good health.

Lastly, if you have seen the show, one can safely conclude that most of the contestants are non-believers. So, if non-believers can commit themselves to better diet and exercise, whether for carnal or health reasons, then why can't (shouldn't) we?

The principle of Luke 16:8 does apply:

"And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their genereation wiser than the children of light."

September 1-15

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The first week of September was a quiet one for me. I mostly rested after my 16-mile run the week before (Aug. 29), then picked it up again on Sept. 6 with a 10-mile run.

Tally and the kids went up to Carthage, TN on the 10th-12th for a dental appointment and to visit Nina. The girls also attended a bridal shower for Nina's sister-in-law, Miss Rachel Price, who will be getting married on the 24th of October.

Here is Nina at 6 months along, feeling very heavy now! As with most women during their first pregnancy (especially smaller ones), the extra weight tends to be quite a burden on their bodies. Other than this discomfort, Nina is doing well and looking forward to becoming a mother.

August 29 - Ran 16 Miles

2008-09-08T23:41:00.006+02:00

In previous posts I've already explained in detail the reasons why I've taken up running this furlough. When we landed in the States nearly a year ago, I purchased a nice pair of Adidas running shoes, but I never dreamed I'd put as many miles on them as I have come to do. When I ran 13 miles on the 4th of July, I wasn't sure what my next goal would be. But as I've mentioned before, upon meeting 51-year-old Charlie Reagan (who runs marathons), I was inspired to strive for more.

Pictured here is "my" mailbox (actually our neighbor's), which has served as my starting and finish line as I run up and down highway 193 here in Chickamauga, Georgia. I normally run 5 miles down the road and back, which gives me my 10. Last week I marked out 8 miles in my truck, so I knew where my new halfway point would be. This night's run was much less eventful than my run on the 4th of July (scroll down to older post for full details), but it was just as gratifying, if not more so.

It was tough, but I successfully ran the full 16 miles (non-stop), this time with my family meeting me at miles 11, 12, 14 and 15 with some juice. I definitely didn't break any speed records, finishing in 2 hours 52 minutes (10 minutes 45 seconds per mile), but this 45-year-old man was just happy to finish the course. I weighed 139.5 pounds after this run, but I'm normally around 143.5. Thus, I've lost 25 pounds this furlough, as opposed to gaining 25 pounds last time. My soccer boys better be ready for me when we get back to Congo, amen?!!

August 21 to 28 - Back Home

2008-09-02T23:36:00.002+02:00

Tally and the kids returned on Thursday the 21st, so our 17 days as a "split family" have ended. Beth and Josiah were happy to be reunited with a couple of kittens that have (regrettably for me) taken up residence on our porch. We spent the week in "relax mode," just happy for all of us to be in our own place again. We enjoyed watching the last of the Olympics, the Little League World Series finals, and the start of the U.S. Open (tennis). I continued my workouts running 10 miles on Friday and Monday, but rested the rest of the week as I prepared for my big day on Friday the 29th.

August 20

2008-09-02T23:24:00.000+02:00

Went for a 10-mile bike ride today, watched some more of the Little League World Series and went to prayer meeting in the evening. Tally and the kids took Aunt B to the airport in Nashville to fly back to San Diego. They thought about driving home to Geogia after that, but they decided to spend one more night in Carthage.

August 17-19

2008-09-02T23:08:00.001+02:00

In 22 years, my family and I have spent very few days apart from each other, and it was never very enjoyable. As our 2 oldest are now out on their own, the wife and I miss them a lot, but are slowly adapting to our new family situation. Sunday the 17th was very quiet for me. Being alone, I took the opportunity to visit 2 small Baptist churches that are within a couple miles of where we're staying, just to see what the preachin' was like.

On Monday, I spent the day going to the bank, getting a hair cut, visiting a widow friend, and doing some grocery shopping for my short stay in "bachelor" mode. Put the food away when I got home, went for a 10-mile run, then enjoyed a quiet evening watching the Olympics. Today Tally dropped off her mother in Nashville to fly back to San Diego. On Tuesday, I watched some of the Little League World Series and updated our blog.

August 16 - Lebanon, Tennessee

2008-09-02T21:48:00.000+02:00

When I got home last night, I noticed my new lower radiator hose had a slight leak. I couldn't get it to stop, so I spent all of Saturday afternoon shopping for a better quality hose and putting that on. After supper, Brad took Nina and Bethany to a tractor pull in Lebanon. I'm a big fan of almost everything about southern culture, but I have NO interest in NASCAR or tractor pulls!

Tally's mom and sister were scheduled to stay until the middle of next week. Naturally, Tally and the kids wanted to stay and visit. I had a nice week in Carthage, but I didn't want to stay for another one. I needed to get back to our home in Georgia, so I could get back in communication with folks on my cell phone and the internet. So, I packed my stuff and got home right at midnight, just in time to watch Michael Phelps and the Olympics!

August 12-15

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Brad & Nina Price (22 weeks along) in their front yard - August 15, 2008.

2008-09-02T21:09:00.002+02:00

Back in the holler where Nina & Brad live, deer and wild turkey abound. Oftentimes we see bucks right in the middle of the road. There is no cell phone reception here, and they don't have a computer in their home either. So, I spent a quiet week away from the internet and busied myself with yardwork, vehicle maintenance and tract translation.

Did some mowing on Tueday and Wednesday, and went for a 10-mile run before church. While replacing my lower radiator hose on Thursday, this doe and a couple of her spotted fawn came into the yard. I got a couple pics of the fawns, but I couldn't get as close, so they didn't come out as clear. I keep a 300 pound weight set with a bench in the mission house basement at Cornerstone, so I went there to work out on Friday.

2008-09-02T20:55:00.000+02:00

Tally's father and his family drove down from Ohio on Friday. After I returned from working out, we enjoyed a nice taco supper.

2008-09-02T20:48:00.001+02:00

Dr. David McDonald is a very popular dentist in Carthage. Our family kept him busy all week, as Tally, Becki and Bethany all needed work. Bethany got 2 teeth pulled and braces on her uppers, so she looks more like 13 instead of 18 now!

Yes or No?!!

2008-09-02T20:46:00.000+02:00

August 11

2008-09-02T18:52:00.004+02:00

My 2 youngest and I returned from the camp meeting on Saturday the 9th. On Monday the 11th, we drove up to Carthage, Tennessee to meet up with the rest of the family (who were driving back from visiting Joshua in North Carolina). Upon stopping first at an auto parts store in Georgia to pick up a new jack, I noticed a steady stream of water leaking out from under the hood. Thankfully, I spotted it then, as my upper radiator hose sprung a leak. I replaced it there in the parking lot, went back in to purchase a lower hose (in case it blew on the way), then made the 3 hour drive without incident. Praise the Lord for my faithful old 1982 Chevy, still going strong with 260,000 miles.

2008-09-02T18:47:00.000+02:00

Speaking of "old and still going strong," I went for a 10 mile run just after we showed up at Brad & Nina's. Upon my return, the family was enjoying some of the gifts that Joshua sent back for his younger siblings. Tally's sister Becki is on my left. Across from her, Bethany is opening her gift, a DVD set of biographical horse movies.

2008-09-02T18:42:00.004+02:00

Josiah's gift from "Bubba" - a set of Woodland Digital cammies and a SG 550-Mini air soft rifle.

August 9-10

2008-09-02T18:35:00.001+02:00

Tally's sister, Becki (aka "Aunt B"), and their mother flew in from San Diego earlier in the week to visit each other up at Nina & Brad's in Carthage, Tennessee. This weekend the 4 girls drove to Camp Lejeune to visit Joshua. They stayed close to the base in Jackson, North Carolina, did a little shopping, went out to eat and just hung out at a hotel. Here's our 2 oldest behaving as if they still lived at home with each other!

August 8

2008-08-19T23:59:00.000+02:00

There was about 1,000 people in attendance for the week. Brother Phil Kidd closed the meeting out on Friday night, and the altar call lasted about an hour. I believe it was 34 teenagers that got saved that night, so there was lots of rejoicing and weeping. I didn't go to present our work or raise support, so it was good to just sit and watch God work in the lives of so many people.

August 7

2008-08-19T23:57:00.001+02:00

Brother Tony Hutson preached tonight and just "knocked it out of the ball park." Phil Kidd followed him and preached a sobering message on sexual impurity amongst teenagers in America, including those raised in church. The altar call was full of young people making committments.

August 5 - Faith Baptist Camp

2008-08-19T23:52:00.000+02:00

My wife left this morning to pick up her sister (Becki) in Nashville, Tennessee. Their mother will fly in on Thursday, and they will all be staying at Nina & Brad's for the week. They will all drive to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to visit Joshua over the weekend. Meanwhile, Josiah and I drove down to join the Maunsells at Sammy Allen's camp meeting in Resaca, Georgia. I'd heard of Sammy Allen for years, but had never been to his church or camp meeting, so since it was only an hour down the road, we went and stayed for the week. There was lots of shouting, running the aisles, good old-fashioned hymn singing and family groups playing fiddles, guitars & banjos, and some real good preachin'.

August 4 - Resaca, Georgia

2008-08-19T23:21:00.002+02:00

Today my daughter Bethany went down to Sammy Allen's camp meeting with the Maunsell Family. She is pictured here next to their daughter, Bethany, and 2 of the many girls that stayed with them in the dorm.

August 3

2008-08-19T23:01:00.001+02:00

This is the Bill Maunsell Family (minus their oldest daughter Bethany). Brother Bill is the son-in-law of Brother Allen Jones, and has been the associate pastor of his church there in Lebanon Ohio. Their family drove down from Lebonon, this Sunday to spend the night with us on their way down to Resaca, Georgia for Sammy Allen's camp meeting. They attended the evening service with us at Bible Baptist Church in Rossville, then I cooked a big fish dinner for all of us. The kids had a good time getting reacquainted from our meeting with them back in April.

July 29 - Atlanta, Georgia

2008-08-18T01:25:00.001+02:00

It's been 22 years since I've seen a major league baseball game. My Bethany got into baseball during our last year on the field, so I promised her we'd go to a game "sometime" on furlough. She likes the St. Louis Cardinals, so when they came to town, I took her, Josiah and 2 boys from Bible Baptist Church (who just lost their father) to see the Atlanta Braves. We got there early enough to watch batting practice, but it started pouring rain about an hour and a half before game time. It let up to a slow drizzle, so they went ahead and started on time at 7:00 pm. Yep, we sat in the "cheap seats" way up in the "nose bleed" section (only $6 a ticket), but it was fun. Braves lost 8-3 that night, and 3 out of 4 in this series.

What's A Ball Game Without a Dog?

2008-08-18T01:17:00.004+02:00

Yeah, they're way overpriced, but I've gone 22 years without a ball park hot dog, so I splurged and got one for all the kids and myself. Besides, I ran 10 miles the day before, so my waistline could afford it!

July 28 - Running 10 Miles Now

2008-08-09T23:49:00.004+02:00

I told you earlier how I bumped my routine up from 5 to 7 miles. I did that for 3 weeks, but today I started 10-mile runs. It sure takes longer, but I love the challenge and I continue to shed the pounds. I'm weighing in at 145 pounds now and feel great. I would encourage all you men (40 and up) who have been putting off the idea of working out to just go ahead and get started. Yes, you WILL feel pain, but I am compelled to quote that wonderful phrase used by the Marine Corps - "PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY." Ooo-rah!

When I started running last September, my chest and lungs burned on my first quarter mile lap, I was out of breath and I felt like quitting. But, being the athlete that I am, I HATE to lose, even to MYSELF. I learned to run through the cramps; now I never cramp and I can run 10 miles without breathing hard at all. Even when I ran my first 13 miles, I wasn't out of breath; just a little sore. Believe me, I'm not being boastful. I simply want to push those of you who know you need and want to work out, but just can't find the motivation. YOU CAN DO IT... JUST DO IT!!

July 25-27

2008-08-09T23:27:00.001+02:00

Yup, our Nina is almost 21 weeks along now (19 weeks in picture), and is due on December 29. She just had the ultrasound done this week, and it's gonna be a girl. Our family left Milan and stopped in Carthage to visit for the weekend. Her and Brad are doing well, and couldn't be happier. We were scheduled to return to Congo in September, but we will be extending our furlough to stay for the birth. I really don't want to stay longer, but I also don't want to pay for another ticket to fly my wife home just 3 months later. But, I am glad that we will all get to be here for this special event, so I trust you all understand.

July 19 to 24 - Milan, Tennessee

2008-08-09T20:26:00.000+02:00

We attended a Missions Conference at Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Doug Powell. Milan is in west Tennessee, just north of Memphis and Jackson. It was a good meeting with several new missionaries on deputation and a few of us veterans.

"Tearing Up Jack!"

2008-08-09T20:21:00.003+02:00

Brother Powell put all us missionaries to work this week, as the church is doing some serious rennovating. We tore down paneled walls, 2 bathrooms and 2 block walls. We ate good, but we earned our keep! Preacher was pleased with what was accomplished, and the title of this post is how he described our efforts!

A Fellow Runner

2008-08-09T20:14:00.005+02:00

While in Milan, I needed some work done on the brakes of our Suburban. The pastor referred me to a Mr. Charles Reagan, who owns and runs a muffler shop. "Charlie" quit smoking when he was 42, started running, and within a year entered the Boston Marathon! He came in at 3:01, but has bettered that to 2:52. In this photo he is holding a box of Wheaties featuring him on the front. Charlie is 51 years old right now and still competes in local races, sometimes winning overall, besides beating out those in his age group.

I never thought I would be able to run 13 miles, let alone a marathon. However, after my latest accomplishment and meeting Charlie, I am inspired to possibly one day run my first marathon. I'm nowhere near fastest enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which requires you to run a prior marathon in 3 hours 25 minutes or less. My goal is to simply finish one, even if it takes 4 hours or longer. I doubt I will be able to do it this year, but perhaps next furlough. (?)

July 16 - My First Oyster

2008-08-09T19:37:00.000+02:00

Here in Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia, there's a fine Chinese buffet with seafood. I worked at a steakhouse in San Diego that served oysters everyday as appetizers, but I never had a hankering to slurp one down. My family and I took Mrs. Dave Gilbert (Judy) out for supper this night, and since my daughter, Bethany, ate one, she challenged me to do the same. Not too bad with a little cocktail sauce, similar to a clam!

Sushi

2008-08-09T19:32:00.004+02:00

While in San Diego, one of my wife's friends took her and Bethany out to a nice Japanese restaurant. They ate sushi, among other first-time items, and actually enjoyed them. This restaurant in Georgia had a pretty good selection as well, so Bethany is sampling some of those.

July 7 to 12 - Lost 20 lbs in 2 Months

2008-08-09T19:27:00.002+02:00

Had a good rest over the 4th of July weekend, so on Monday I increased my normal 5-mile run to 7 miles. It felt pretty good, so I was able to do it again on Wednesday and Friday. For those of you who may be wondering how and why it is that I've taken up running so seriously, it's like this:

Nearly 6 years ago, January 2003, I weighed 150 pounds. In February, just 1 month before coming home on furlough, I got sick with malaria and spent 3 1/2 days in the hospital. That, plus working up in our hot and humid attic afterwards, brought me down to 137 pounds. I probably weighed about 145 when we hit the USA in March, but after 4 straight years in Congo, I was craving my Burger King Whoppers, BIG TIME. Needless to say, with all the cross-country driving we did and everyone feeding us so well, I gained 15 lbs. by summertime. By the end of furlough in March 2004, I was up to 170 lbs., and it hurt to tie my shoes!

When we got back to the field I lost 10 lbs. quickly, and kept my weight around 160 for the rest of the term. So, just before we came back to the States this time (September 2007), I remembered what happened last furlough, did the math, and said, "Oh no!" I determined that things were going to be different this time, and I purposed in my heart that I was gonna work out regularly as we traveled all over America. I would do sit-ups, push-ups, and as much as I hated it, I determined I would also run.

Well, sure enough, after just 1 week of tacos and burgers, I gained 5 lbs! I started running last September, and it killed me to run 1 mile, but I forced myself to do it. However, in spite of pretty faithful workouts this furlough, and improving my running to 5 miles regularly, I wasn't losing weight. I didn't gain much, but I wasn't satisfied with my weight at 168.5 pounds on May 5, 2008. So, for the rest of May and all of June, I biked as much as 30 miles a week, ran a lot, and seriously cut the calories and fat intake. When I completed my 13-mile run on July 4th, I weighed in at 147.5 lbs. Thus, I beat my goal of trying to get back down to 150. So, as ESPN's Stu would say, "BOO-yeah!"

July 4 - Ran My First Half Marathon

2008-08-02T21:06:00.007+02:00

For many years now, the 4th of July has lost its luster, as compared to when I was a boy. However, this year's was a memorable one for me. During the spring months, I faithfully ran 5-7 miles at a time, 3-4 days a week. My previous longest run was 8.4 miles, back in January in San Diego, so I was due to try my first 10-mile run. On Friday, June 27, I knew I was ready, so I set a goal of doing this the following Friday, not realizing it was the 4th.

I started my day (at 9:00 am) playing tennis with Bro. Terri Thrun, missionary to Papua New Guinea, and a long-time friend. We then joined his family and a couple other missionary families for a BBQ around noon. I passed on the wonderful smelling burgers and dogs, beans & potato salad, chips & cokes. Instead, I ate a grilled chicken breast sandwich and some cole slaw, and washed it down with grapefruit juice. We played a little backyard baseball with the children afterwards, then went home about 4:30. My family had been invited to another friend's BBQ in the evening, so I told them to go ahead while I stayed home.

For the carbs, I ate a small baked potato with salt and cayenne pepper at 6:15, then started my run at 7:00 pm. The weather that night, here in the Chattanooga valley of north Georgia was perfect - hot and humid, but overcast with a slight breeze. Now that dusk was approaching, several families along the asphalt, 2-lane state highway we live off of were enjoying the preliminaries of their private festivites, setting off small firecrackers and bottle rockets. These homes run along my normal 2.5 mile course (which I do twice to complete 5 miles), so tonight I passed them all several times. My goal was to run 10 miles, but at my 6.5 mile mark, I felt really strong and confident that I could go longer.

After I finished 10 miles, I figured I would try for 12, but then I remembered that a marathon is 26 miles, so I shot for 13. So, at around 9:15 pm, good and dark now, I completed my 13 miles as the big fireworks began to fill the air. The one home near my "finish line" indulged in a very expensive load of fireworks, the kind you see when you go to an event. Thus, as I began my 2 mile walk home, I was accompanied by lots of colored explosions, smoke and the smell of sulpher! I stopped at another home where a little 5-year-old girl always waves to me, and they were kind enough to give me a bottle of water. I sat and chatted with them for a few minutes as we all watched the neighbors shoot off the last of their fireworks, then started my way home again.

It was a long walk, but I felt very gratified and relieved when I walked in the door at 10:30 pm. My family wasn't home yet, so I took a nice hot shower, then soaked my muscles in an Epsom salt bath while sipping on cranberry juice. My family returned at 11:00, asking me about my big night, so I proundly recounted all these details to them as we sat around the living room. And that's how I spent my 4th of July!

July 2 - Rossville, Georgia

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We went to 1 night of Revival Meeting at Victory Baptist Church. I'm holding the Thrun's newest addition to the family (#6), Hannah Grace. Sometimes I'm the only one who can pacify her!

June 22

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45 years old today. My wife gave me a picture frame of Joshua in his dress blues.

June 15 - Fathers Day

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Just another quiet Sunday. Church in the morning, rest in the afternoon, and service again in the evening. My family gave me a few "fun" T-shirts and a bottle of Braggs organic apple cider vingegar.

June 12-13

2008-08-01T16:26:00.001+02:00

After our softball game on Tuesday the 10th, my friend Mike said he was going to put up a chain-link fence in his backyard. I asked him if he's ever put one up before, and he said no. I offered to help him, and to make a long story short, he was so glad I did. We dug and set 14 posts on Thursday and stretched 120 feet of 5 foot chain link on Friday. Mike's wife took some pics, but they still haven't emailed them to me yet.

June 8 - "Give Us The Old Paths"

2008-08-01T16:09:00.003+02:00

This Sunday morning, we visited Oakwood Baptist Church in Chattanooga with Mike's family, but while residing on the east coast, we regularly attend Bible Baptist Church in Rossville, Georgia. Brother Ricky Gravely (seated) has been the pastor there for about 12 years. The pastor before him (for 37 years!) was Bro. Berman Cape, pictured here singing with his wife. He is 86 years old, is still preaching Revivals, and is on the platform every Sunday when he's in town.