Our visit to California has expanded our knowledge of American history. I had never before heard of Cesar Chavez. But out here his name is a household word. He was the Martin Luther King, Jr. of the Latino-American population. Using non-violent methods, he raised public awareness of their needs and helped to improve their working conditions. Also, what we in the Midwest would call Tijuana is simply "T.J." to Californians.
Check out the picture on the right. In case you're wondering, those are pork rinds in the case, in an assortment of shapes and sizes for your cooking pleasure.
After our week on Cape Cod, where a young man received the Holy Ghost in a hotel meeting room, we traveled to Morrill, Maine, beginning services on Wednesday night. The meetings climaxed on Sunday night, with five people making the decision to be baptized in Jesus’ name. Little Wyatt and his grandmother were both baptized, as well as Shawn and his father. Friday night, we were surprised to see Tina, a woman we went to Bible college with. She'd heard that we were in the area and had come to see us. We hadn't seen her since our wedding in '93. She is partially responsible for Bill and I being together. But that is another story for another day, much too long to include in this blog!
Monday, we drove up to Bangor for lunch with the Fowlers. We had not seen Brother Fowler since we left Milo in 2007. Since then, his precious wife Etta passed away after a battle with cancer. The Lord blessed Brother Fowler and we were happy to meet his new wife. Also with them were the MacCauslands, who now pastor in Milo, where we were from January 2005 to July 2007. We are so happy the Milo Pentecostal Church is blessed with their ministry. They brought pictures of the church. When we left Milo, the sanctuary was nearly remodeled. But since then, not only did they finish remodeling the sanctuary, they also completely renovated the fellowship hall, kitchen, and Sunday school classrooms. They sided the outside and put up a new sign. It was gratifying to see that their hearts are invested in the work. We loved the people in Milo. Bill accepted the pastorate on an interim basis, with the intention of helping the people after the death of the previous pastor. We would have stayed there permanently if the Lord would have wanted us to, but He had other plans. We are glad that things are progressing well there.
We began our vacation Tuesday, driving Downeast along coastal Route 1. This was not just our vacation, but also a time to celebrate our anniversary (18 years), Thanksgiving, and my birthday (39 years). In Morrill, a couple of people told me that they’ve wondered why people choose to vacation in Maine. They think Maine is nice, but they can’t understand its attraction to outsiders.
What is so appealing to those who are “from away?” (“From away” is a term used to refer to anyone not born in Maine.) It has to do with the pristine coastline with authentic fishing villages of people who have lived in those little places for generations. The mountains of Maine, though not like the Rockies or Smokies, are unique in that they also are untouched by mass tourism. The lakes are gorgeous no matter the season; even in winter it is fun to look at all the little portable fishing shacks out on the ice. It's clean air, crisp and fresh. It's a way of life, simple and minimally materialistic.
And where else can you go where “wicked” means “good” and “numb” means “stupid”? Maine has a unique vocabulary that takes some getting used to. When people say, “John is up to the store,” they mean, “John is at the store.” And there are many more phrases unique to this cold, northern state.
In Maine, accents differ depending upon where you are. The Downeast accent is the most difficult to understand. A missionary told us that he and his son were guests in the home of our friends Matthew and Majel Beal, who live in Jonesport, Maine. True to Downeast hospitality, Majel was serving lobster. She said to the missionary’s son, “Do you want fox stew?” The missionary’s son said to his dad, “Wow! We get to eat fox stew!” It took a few minutes for the missionary to realize that Majel had asked, “Do you want forks too?” That missionary told us that if he ever writes a book about his life during deputation, he would name the book Fox Stew.
Sea Winds: It’s a destination. And it is exactly what the doctor ordered. Bill found it online and booked it for a week. It’s an oceanfront house, past Machis, Bucks Harbor, and Jasper Beach. It's almost the end of the line. No cell phone service. Limited Internet. Secluded, quiet, and peaceful. That is what we wanted.
Wednesday morning, which happened to be my birthday, we woke to falling snow. It was positively beautiful. That night, we drove into Machias to do a little shopping. On the way back, we ran into a downed line. We assumed it was a telephone wire, but it may have been an electric wire. Fortunately, it was not “hot.” Bill alerted another motorist, who called for assistance in moving the line, while we continued on our way.
Throughout the week, we sat in the observatory and watched the ocean and listened to the surf. We read books. We sat by the fireplace and roasted chestnuts. Bill ate shellfish to his heart’s content, indulging since this is the area where he can buy lobster, mussels, shrimp, and crab for a fraction of the cost elsewhere in the States.
Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), we ate dinner at the Chandler River Lodge. I opted for the traditional turkey dinner, and Bill raved about the salmon he ordered. We got back to the rental house early. I unsuccessfully searched the radio stations for Christmas music. I settled for a French radio station, able only to discern a word now and then. (High school French class is a lifetime ago.) That got annoying after a while, so we listened to an acoustic music CD as we wiled away the evening hours.
Sunday, we opted to visit the Channells at the church in Machias. Brother Channell asked Bill to preach both services and we had a great time. We’ve known the Channells for about a decade now. Before they accepted the pastorate of the church in Machias, they assisted Brother David Smith in Brewer. I was always impressed by the Channells, their faith and devotion, and their love for people.
Tuesday, we left our perfect vacation home happy and refreshed. I was so thankful for the time off. We headed for Noway, Maine. Oxford Hills Christian Fellowship (OHCF) is one of our most frequented churches. Throughout the years, we have probably preached there more times than anywhere else. This time, we were there to specifically teach and preach about physical healing.
For five to seven years, Kathy Frechette endured pain in her shoulder, neck, and face. She relied on Advil and muscle relaxers to get her through the day. She had been treated by three physical therapists and multiple doctors. Through the years, she’d had to part with hundreds of dollars in her quest to relieve her pain.
Wednesday night, November 30th, when Bro. Ferrin prayed for her, she said she instantly felt her shoulder relax. Her pain is gone. Sunday night, she shared her testimony with the church, an undeniable example of God’s miraculous ability to do what no one else – even the best doctors – can do. We’re trusting that other people at OHCF will also soon see the fruition of their healings.
We were also happy for Lexi, a teenage girl, and Teresa's mother, who both received the Holy Ghost.
Many more great things happened this past month, but I only have time to mention the highlights. All in all, it was a productive month. Now, back on the West Coast, we are in a holding pattern. Every once in a while, God pauses our ministry, as He is doing now. So, with nothing on the books as of today, we will wait on the Lord to direct our next step. While we wait, we will work on our writing projects and take care of some necessary chores that don’t get done when we are traveling a lot. We have learned to not resent these times. Usually, times like these prepare us for whatever He is planning for our future. So, we wait. Soon we will see what lies around the next bend!
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