Pastor's Blog

The Lord has blessed us with another wonderful day.  Eddie & Sue have proven to be such wonderful hosts!  They have gone “above & beyond” to make our time here the absolute best. 

Today, (Saturday) Eddie, the girls, and I spent the morning around the house just hanging out while Sue and Lisa went to Wal Mart!  We had lunch at Pizza Hut and then spent three hours sailing.  We are now experienced sailors and we were taught by an actual member of the Italian sailing team – Enrico Zanella.  What a great afternoon!  We are about to go to an Italian restaurant for supper (Italian is the theme for the day). 

Last night, Eddie & I attended the service at a Chinese Three Self church.  They did a little preaching and a lot of singing.  I didn’t understand the preaching or singing but it was good and the place was absolutely packed including two rooms watching on closed circuit monitors. 

Also, the past two nights have seen us eating supper at the Crowne Plaze Hotel.  Wow!  Food from China, Mongolia, India, Thailand, Mexico, Japan, and Brazil.  Excellent! 

I would ask you to pray for the Freeman family (Larry & Judy Whitehurst) as they gather for Richie Freeman’s service this morning.  Pray for Pastor John Womack as he shares with that family and the others in attendance.  Continue to pray for all of those who are hospitalized and those who are struggling with sicknesses. 

Word has it that today is Alisia Crawley’s birthday.  I think this is her fourth or fifth 39th birthday!  Happy birthday Alisia! 

By the way, my niece, Jamie, has gently let me know that we were not rappelling the other day but were on a zip line.  Whatever! 

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus. 

I am told that the Bible really comes alive even more so after a person has actually visited the Holy Land.  Well, I haven’t visited the Holy Land but today afforded us the opportunity to visit the actual church where Lottie Moon taught and served.  Wow, what an experience to know that Lottie Moon actually taught in that very building.  We met the pastor who is only 85 years young and toured the original church building plus the new auditorium that has a seating capacity of 1,400. 

I am having to do this blog very quickly as we just returned and are about to grab a bite to eat before attending a service at a local Chinese church.  I am looking forward to that experience even though everything will be in the Chinese language. 

Carolyn Barkley has had a difficult time following her knew surgery.  As I understand it, she and the medications are not getting along too well.  Jimmy Moates, Mariam’s husband, was admitted to the hospital.  Carla Kyser was doing a little better.  Vinnie Brewer’s brother-in-law, Earl Ray Sharkey, passed away and his service will be today in Amite, LA.  Sue Carpenter is doing well.  It is my understanding that the Freeman family has not made any arrangements but that could have changed by now.  Kevin Wadkins is still recovering from his surgery.  Pray for these folks. 

We now have 69 scholarships for the pastors conference in October.  Our goals remain to have at least 75 by this Sunday, 4/20, and the 100 needed by 4/27.  Thank you to those who have given thus far and to those who will give in the coming days. 

Lord willing, I will post an entry tomorrow and Sunday.  We have had a great day and thank the Lord for His watchcare as we traveled for about six hours or so.  By the way, I had KFC for lunch so this Chinese food remains not too bad. 

I hope you will have a great Friday with Jesus! 

Wow, this has been an absolutely beautiful day weatherwise in China.  We have stayed around Qingdao.  Lisa, Dana, Gina, & I took a walk this morning along the boardwalk which is located just across the street from Eddie & Sue’s house.  Eddie & I then took Dana & Gina to the Crowne Plaza Hotel to swim while Lisa & Sue went for a massage.  We then walked along the watefront and had lunch at an Italian restaurant.  Great food! 

We spent the greater part of the afternoon on a tour of the mountain located behind Eddie & Sue’s house.  One of the stops included Dana, Gina, Sue & me rappelling from a tower situated above the ocean onto a platform in the parking lot.  I was assured this contraption was OHSA approved – just didn’t want Ann to be worried about her grandchildren! 

According to what I am hearing, there have been no significant changes in those hospitalized or recovering from recent surgery.  I do know that Annette Williams, widow of Pastor Jack Williams, had shoulder surgery on Tuesday but I don’t have a report on her.  Pray for those in need! 

Bro. Jerry tells me that the morning service was pretty well attended but I haven’t gotten an update on the evening activities yet.  (I can’t check my mchsi account from here) 

I believe that tomorrow is going to be the highlight of the trip for me.  I won’t share the details now but will wait until the experience has taken place.  This was not on the itinerary but I am excited! 

I hear through the wind that today is Lynne Watson’s birthday.   Happy birthday Lynne! 

T. Garrett, I can be your hook up in Antigua.  Let me get home and I will get some information to you!  Great idea! 

I hope you will have a great Thursday with Jesus! 

Good Wednesday morning on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon!  Is that strange or what?  I know that some of you (insert Deidra’s name here) can’t get used to me posting at night when it is really the same day’s morning in the States.  I did tell Eddie this morning that if I died while in China that I would have lived one day longer than if I had been at home! 

We had an uneventful flight from Shanghai to Qingdao (pronounced Chingdow) last night.  China Eastern Airlines reminded so much of Philippines Airlines which we used 14 years ago on our mission trip to the Philippines – crowded and not much room between the seats.  Thank God for Delta! 

Wow, Qingdao is a beautiful coastal city!  I wasn’t too impressed with Shanghai but not so with Qingdao.  I have come to work with Eddie today (take your brother to work day in China – not really but it sounds good) in another city and this place is very beautiful too.  We had lunch at McDonalds after Sue had cooked us breakfast.  Again, this Chinese food isn’t too bad!  Sue, Lisa, Dana, & Gina are doing something back in Qingdao but I don’t know what.  The weather today is wonderful!

Qingdao is where the Olympic sailing competition will be held this August.  I have learned since being here that Lottie Moon actually sailed from Qingdao on her final trip from China. 

Larry Whitehurst had a nephew, Richard Freeman, pass away Monday so please pray for that family.  Carolyn Barkley & Sue Carpenter continue to recover from knee replacement surgery; Kevin Wadkins is recovering from a surgery this past Monday although I don’t have an update on his condition; Miss Exie Woods came home Sunday; and Carla Kyser remains hospitalized awaiting the test results from her latest PET scan.

We have had 67 pledges for scholarships thus far.  Our goal is to be at 75 by this Sunday’s end but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to come home to 100!  Thank you to those who have pledged/given thus far! 

Pam Landry is engaged!  Congratulations!  I knew she was flying to SC this past Saturday to visit Brandon.  What I don’t know is whether Brandon proposed or some guy sitting beside her on the plane?  At any rate, she is engaged and I know she is happy! 

It is nearing 2:00PM here and Eddie and I are about to leave “work” and head back to his house.  I feel like his little boy having been put in a conference room with my computer & a diet coke and told to be quiet! 

I hope you have a great Wednesday with Jesus.  Students, remember that your Bible study begins at 6:30PM tonight in the CAB!   

For some unexplainable reason, since being in Qingdao I am not able to access my personal e-mail account.  So, if anyone has sent me an important message since around 6:00AM CST Tuesday morning please send it again to pastor@friendshipfamily.net. 

Also, for the time being, please send any messages to my personal account or the pastor@friendshipfamily.net. 

Please note that I cannot reply to the messages sent to me via our website.  Thanks for your help and understanding. 

I have a call into Al to find out what is going on!  Hope you have a great evening!

Greetings from China where it is raining and fairly cool today.  I am sitting in a Shanghai restaurant called Johnny Moo.  They have free internet access so Eddie & I came here while Lisa and Sue continue to shop.  As for the shopping, I feel like I am in Guatemala – okay mister, how much?  Want a watch?  Buy a shirt!  Please mister! 

We are leaving Shanghai at 7:00PM to fly to Qingdao which is where Eddie & Sue live.  We will be there until Sunday and we will then take a train to Beijing.  I really had plans to lose some weight but I think I am gaining as we ate at Tony Roma’s last night, McDonalds this morning, and Johnny Moo’s for lunch.  This Chinese food isn’t too bad! 

Carolyn Barkley and Sue Carpenter (Deanna’s mother) both had knee replacement surgery yesterday.  Carla Kyser was still in the hospital the last I heard.  J.B. Kelley had a procedure done yesterday morning too.  The funeral service for James Swann will take place today.  Annette Williams is supposed to have shoulder surgery today.  Please pray for all of these folks and their respective situations. 

Ben Vickers sent me a clip of WLOX’s coverage of Bro. Robbie’s anniversary celebration.  That was nice.  Thanks Ben! 

I see where Delta and Northwest have merged which probably isn’t good for helping find cheaper air fares in the days ahead. 

I want to remind all students who will be attending either of the Wild Week camps this summer that there will be a mandatory meeting on Sunday, 4/27, immediately following the evening service.  This is a must and at least one parent must attend too as there will be forms to sign and get notarized. 

I don’t know exactly where we are on our scholarships for the pastor’s conference.  Bro. Jerry sent me a figure from the past two Sundays but I believe I already had some of those in my count.  He will send me a list and I will check against mine and then give a report as to where we stand.

The time has come for us to begin heading toward the airport.  Lord willing, I will blog again tomorrow morning. 

I pray you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Don’t forget that today is tax day! 

We are in China, safe and sound, thank the Lord!  We left Atlanta at 10:05AM Sunday and arrived in Shanghai via a direct Delta flight around 2:00PM today.  Actually, the fifteen hour flight wasn’t bad at all as they had movies, games, two good meals, and a snack.  Dana & Gina did very well.  I slept initially (as in never knew when we took off) and then read a book.  I spent most of the day looking at my watch and praying for the services at Friendship.  I do pray that all went well!

We have checked into the Westin Hotel and are in the process of getting ready to go out and begin to do the tourist stuff!  Eddie & Sue met us at the Shanghai airport and had a driver bring us to the hotel.  (Of course, Sue isn’t real happy with me right now as her new grandson in Hartselle, Alabama is literally hours old and she is here hosting us instead of boarding a plane for the US.  It is not my fault that Jamie delivered early!) 

Okay, miracle of miracles.  This one tops my getting our taxes done before 4/15.  Lisa did all of our packing and she evidently used the Mark Mast formula for packing as we only brought two (2) suitcases for all four of us.  Even the Delta agent checking us in was impressed!  This is the same woman who packed four suitcases for the two of us to spend about 24 hours in Michigan the other weekend.  If only Al Michaels were here! 

As you can see, Al has been to China and installed the internet so I should be able to blog daily.  (This post may show 4/13 under my title as this laptop is on a USA calendar)

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus! 

This will have to be short and sweet as we are about to board the plane bound for China.  We left GB around 12:30AM arriving at the airport in Atlanta around 7:00AM ET.  Thank God for safety in travel. 

I forgot to mention yesterday about Sarah Thornton’s brother’s memorial service.  My schedule was drastically changed with Mr. Swann’s passing so I was not able to attend.  However, I have been praying for Sarah and her family. 

There is a new Turrentine (almost) in the world.  Our niece, Jamie, and her husband, Adam Glenn, are the proud parents of Jace Elleson Glenn who checked into this world this morning around 6:30AM.  He weighed 5 lbs 14 ounces and was about one month early.  Mother and son are doing great! 

Thank you to each person from Friendship who attended the service at Helena Baptist last night.  I had a great time sharing about Bro. Robbie. 

As I type this, Bro. Johnny is preaching for us.  I am praying for him and Bro. Jerry as they preach today.  By the way, I missed church the Sunday following our wedding as we were bound for Mexico. 

 I will tell you about the miracle of miracles in my next post.  It is unbelievable!

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus! 

I was called by Miss Louise Gibson around 6:00AM to ask me to come to the Grand Bay Convalescent Home.  Martha Patrick’s brother, James “Bubba” Swann, passed away around 5:00AM this morning and I went to be with Martha as she received the news.  Mr. Swann was 90 years old and, ironically, his wife passed away exactly one year ago today.  Pray for Martha and the family as they go through this time. 

Also, I learned this morning that Mr. Emmett Gaston passed away yesterday.  Mr. Emmett was a member of 1st Baptist and is a long time Grand Bay resident.  The visitation will be tomorrow night with the funeral service taking place Monday.  Pray for the Gaston family too. 

I seldom blog on the weekend but wanted to share a couple of quick things with you.  It is 2:30AM and I just got in from Faith Academy as Hien has been with the choir in Montgomery.  You would have thought one of our young adults would have offered to make that run for me – but no! 

Carla Felps Kyser was admitted to the hospital last night.  She has been sick since her treatment on Tuesday and began running a fever yesterday.  The doctor wanted to give her some IV antibiotics and plans on letting her go home this morning if all is okay. 

Candy Povilonis did come home from the hospital.  I saw her a couple of different times yesterday in Grand Bay. 

I attended the service at Helena Baptist last night.  Randy Von Kanel did a good job of preaching the Word.  I will be preaching tonight at 7:00PM and hope a good number of the Friendship family will join me. 

We picked up a new blog reader – Rex Looney.  Rex is the worship leader at a church in the Huntsville, AL area and a longtime friend.  He and I come from the same neck of the woods originally. 

I pray that you will have a good Saturday with Jesus!