| Just before midnight on May 13, 2008,
Audrey, Zack and
I flew in to Charleston, SC and began three weeks of music and ministry
in the “Lowcountry” area. This picture was taken at Givhans Baptist
Church, where I was privileged to bring God’s Message in Word and Song
during Sunday Morning Worship, June 1.
In Charleston, the folks at St.
Andrew’s Presbyterian Church blessed me with time and space for rehearsing
on weekdays. I also ministered during Worship there.
Much of our time was spent visiting
with blind students, their teachers, parents and grandparents. Our
thanks to Wando High School and the Charleston School of the Arts, to Jerry
and Betty who welcomed us right into their home for a visit with their
grandson, to the mom who met with us by phone, and to Caroline with the
Commission for the Blind who met with us right in Audrey’s living room!
We covered a lot of different topics at those various meetings. I was asked
about everything from Braille music and computers to my own childhood (growing
up as a blind student).
Our South Carolina ministry included
four-footed folk as well. I joined Audrey and Zack, presiding over
a special dedication service. The guest of honor, Jackie, is a beautiful
yellow lab who doubles as a service dog and a therapy dog for her mom,
Marti. The service turned into a time of blessing for all sorts of
neighborhood animals. This picture was taken as Audrey asked me to
bless Zack with Jackie looking on.
A meeting of Dixie Land Guide Dog
Users found us at Charleston
Pet Resort, where Zack and his buddies participated in a Poochie
Pool “Pawty”, with lots of swimming and fun for guide dogs and their handlers.
During this meeting, DLGDU partnered with me in sponsoring for “Lowcountry”
area kids, books from the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, produced in Braille
by the Assemblies of God National Center
for the Blind. Thanks to my fellow Dixie Landers, five deserving
kids will be able to enjoy the most recent release from this series during
the summer months.
God also blessed us with time on the
beach during this trip. On Memorial Monday, May 26, Audrey, Zack
and I piled into friend Dorace’s car along with our gear and headed for
Edisto Beach. After Dorace dropped us off at the beach, Audrey and
I pitched our tent independently while Zack supervised, and enjoyed four
days of camping and swimming.
All too soon, it was time to return
to Illinois. We arrived safely back in the Ramsey office on the evening
of June 3. Thanks to Joan
for minding things in Illinois while we were away, and also to Dorace Lackey,
Marti and Bill Hyatt, Laura Green and Kathy Ouzts, for warm hospitality
and help with transportation in Charleston. We look forward to seeing
y’all again, very soon!
Philemon 1:4:
“I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers…”
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