Journal: March 30
March 30, 2006
Now we’re in Tallahassee. It’s been a long time since I recorded my thoughts and activities and much has happened. We are almost ready to begin a new chapter. We are leaving Florida and I have mixed emotions. I have enjoyed being here with all the sunshine. I nearly forgot that it’s winter in NY. However, now it’s spring and many people are leaving because it’s going to start getting hot. I’ve noticed that many sowers work only in the winter months and then head home. Most of our last group was not going on to another project. We are and I have mixed feelings about that too. I am looking forward to helping with the hurricane relief work in Mississippi, but everyone keeps remarking about how hot and humid it will be. So, I begin to fret and think we made a mistake. Then I think about the suffering already endured by many and realize mine won’t compare.
Thinking back over the past several months has made me realize how good life has been. I think my last entry was kind of negative and I wasn’t too happy with the group or the work, but that changed. I spent the three weeks remodeling a house and it was kind of rewarding work. I met the woman who was going to move in and she was so excited about her new house that I became inspired. What a privilege it is to know that my work was going to bless a missionary who has spent a lifetime in service of the Lord. I’ll take that kind of pay anytime. The longer I worked at A.I.M. the more people I met and the closer the relationships with other sowers became. The community was rich in relationships and also it is such a pretty place to live. I felt happy that these retired missionaries have such a nice place to live out their days. They may have left Africa, probably because they had to due to age requirements, but they haven’t stopped working. Many have found ministries to be involved in.
Before moving to central Florida I didn’t see much beauty in the countryside. If it were not for the beaches the coastal areas would be pretty devoid of beauty. However, the area north of Orlando is quite pretty with its hills and lakes. Now that I have visited Tallahassee I think this is the prettiest area. There are lots of trees here and even forests. The city itself is quite attractive. We went to the top of the new capitol, the 22nd floor observation area, and looked out over Tallahassee. We spent most of the day seeing city sights and had a very nice lunch at the local hot spot. Not only was the food great, but the senators and gov’t staff were all eating there as well since the senate was in session. Earlier, we got to see the senate session and the unveiling of the outgoing senate president’s portrait. After viewing the museum exhibit of Napoleon, we headed fifteen miles south to Wakulla Springs State Park where we enjoyed a riverboat cruise. We saw all kinds of wildlife including alligators, turtles, fish, snakes and many kinds of birds. The water was clear and shallow and it would have been fun to take the glass bottom boat tour, but they said the sun conditions were not right. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it greatly. We topped off the day with milkshakes made with Haagen-Dazs….mmmmmm!
Tomorrow we will head for Mobile, Al and stay overnight in the parking lot of the Nazarene Church. Then it’s just an hour or less to our new home in Gautier, MS… another Church of the Nazarene lot. I think this will be an adventure.
Now we’re in Tallahassee. It’s been a long time since I recorded my thoughts and activities and much has happened. We are almost ready to begin a new chapter. We are leaving Florida and I have mixed emotions. I have enjoyed being here with all the sunshine. I nearly forgot that it’s winter in NY. However, now it’s spring and many people are leaving because it’s going to start getting hot. I’ve noticed that many sowers work only in the winter months and then head home. Most of our last group was not going on to another project. We are and I have mixed feelings about that too. I am looking forward to helping with the hurricane relief work in Mississippi, but everyone keeps remarking about how hot and humid it will be. So, I begin to fret and think we made a mistake. Then I think about the suffering already endured by many and realize mine won’t compare.
Thinking back over the past several months has made me realize how good life has been. I think my last entry was kind of negative and I wasn’t too happy with the group or the work, but that changed. I spent the three weeks remodeling a house and it was kind of rewarding work. I met the woman who was going to move in and she was so excited about her new house that I became inspired. What a privilege it is to know that my work was going to bless a missionary who has spent a lifetime in service of the Lord. I’ll take that kind of pay anytime. The longer I worked at A.I.M. the more people I met and the closer the relationships with other sowers became. The community was rich in relationships and also it is such a pretty place to live. I felt happy that these retired missionaries have such a nice place to live out their days. They may have left Africa, probably because they had to due to age requirements, but they haven’t stopped working. Many have found ministries to be involved in.
Before moving to central Florida I didn’t see much beauty in the countryside. If it were not for the beaches the coastal areas would be pretty devoid of beauty. However, the area north of Orlando is quite pretty with its hills and lakes. Now that I have visited Tallahassee I think this is the prettiest area. There are lots of trees here and even forests. The city itself is quite attractive. We went to the top of the new capitol, the 22nd floor observation area, and looked out over Tallahassee. We spent most of the day seeing city sights and had a very nice lunch at the local hot spot. Not only was the food great, but the senators and gov’t staff were all eating there as well since the senate was in session. Earlier, we got to see the senate session and the unveiling of the outgoing senate president’s portrait. After viewing the museum exhibit of Napoleon, we headed fifteen miles south to Wakulla Springs State Park where we enjoyed a riverboat cruise. We saw all kinds of wildlife including alligators, turtles, fish, snakes and many kinds of birds. The water was clear and shallow and it would have been fun to take the glass bottom boat tour, but they said the sun conditions were not right. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it greatly. We topped off the day with milkshakes made with Haagen-Dazs….mmmmmm!
Tomorrow we will head for Mobile, Al and stay overnight in the parking lot of the Nazarene Church. Then it’s just an hour or less to our new home in Gautier, MS… another Church of the Nazarene lot. I think this will be an adventure.
Comments
Do you think you would retire there? Be snow birds maybe? Good luck and best wishes for your next assignment and keep posting, you guys are the heart beat of this blog. :0)!
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