Pastor's Blog

Carly Kyser e-mailed me last night to give me an update on her grandfather.  The doctor has now told the family that there is nothing else they can do for Mr. Frank from a medical standpoint.  The family has some decisions to make regarding his situation.  Pray for Mr. Frank and the entire family.

Carla also told me that her port has indeed gone bad and will have to be replaced.  In light of the situation with her grandfather, she will receive her next treatment via an iv and will have the port replaced later.

I do not have any other updates.

As far as I know, the team that left Guatemala yesterday morning arrived home safely.  I am living by the “no news is good news” philosophy.

Today is Bro. Robbie Howard’s birthday.  This is number ?.  The Lord has certainly blessed Bro. Robbie with good health and the amazing ability to keep on preaching.  I thank God for Bro. Robbie and his ministry.  Happy birthday Bro. Robbie!

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.  Remember, He is the Reason!  (and not just for the season!)

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

Just got notification that one of the young couples out of our church has been approved to begin serving as foreign missionaries!  For security reasons, I cannot share their names or any other information.  However, you should know which couple has been preparing for this opportunity for the past several years while living in another state.  I am excited for them!  Hallelujah and praise the Lord!

Just learned they will be appointed on September 12 at a service in North Carolina.  Lord willing, I will be there as this is an answer to prayer for our church family.

I am posting this entry from Guatemala.  Caroline Ford and I left Mobile early yesterday morning and arrived at the mission house around 4:30PM.  I came a day ahead of our group for two primary reasons – was suppose to have a meeting with our lawyer (did not materialize) and it gave me a chance to visit with the team led by Bro. Jerry.

Talked to Marisa Felps yesterday morning and her dad’s situation had not changed per the nurse as they had not seen the doctor at that point.  Carla went for her treatment but there was a problem with her port.  Replacing that port may be the only option.  Pray for Marisa and her family.

Talked to Edna on Tuesday afternoon about her brother, Henry, and he just continues to decline physically.  Her cousin, David, is in pretty tough shape as well.  Pray for them.

Got an e-mail from Mike Parker last night and he said that his wife, Carla, is doing good with her treatments.  Keep praying!

It was a real blessing to join Bro. Jerry’s team for their share time last night.  It was good to see Pastor Travis Northcutt and Bro. Wes Bates as they had folks on the team.  From all accounts they had a very blessed week – praise the Lord!

As their team flies home today (some left at 3:00AM while others leave at 7:30AM), the team I will be leading is flying to Guatemala from Mobile and Grand Rapids.  Pray for all of the groups to have safety in travel.

Lord willing, I will be doing a dual blog (GRACE & Pastor’s) for the next eight days.

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

Lisa and I visited with Marisa’s dad, Mr. Frank, yesterday morning.  Marisa and Carla were there with him.  He remains in ICU.  Marisa called last night to say that the doctor is very concerned with Mr. Frank’s condition.  He is certainly in need of our prayers!

Carla got a less than hoped for report from her scans taken on Monday.  She is supposed to get another chemotherapy treatment today but that depends on yesterday’s scan results and how the doctor interprets Monday’s.  Keep praying and pray for Marisa as she has a lot on her plate right now.

Miss Martha Patrick seemed to be doing better and “may” come home today.

Pastor Bob Harvey is having a test today.  Pray for him.

The team in Guatemala is doing well.  They had another day off yesterday as they finished building the houses they went to build.  They will do the house dedications today.  Keep praying for them.

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service and the evening activities.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.

Are the Lakers going to get Dwight Howard?  Probably not but it would be interesting to see him, Kobe, and Nash on the same team!

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

Visited with Marisa and her sister yesterday at the hospital.  Mr. Frank is being kept lightly sedated so that he will not be so aware of the ventilator i.e. the tubes.  Keep praying for him.

Martha Patrick was admitted to the hospital on Sunday.  She has an infection and they are growing a culture in order to chart a course of action regarding antibiotics.

Terry Lucky had foot surgery (I think on Friday) and is at home recovering.

Edna’s brother, Henry, fell but did not suffer any breaks.  He continues to be very weak and in need of our constant prayer support.

Edna’s first cousin, David, is in an Arkansas hospital with congestive heart failure.

Virginia Morris’ father is in an Iowa hospital too.

The team presently in Guatemala did not update yesterday so I assume that no news is good news.  Keep praying for them.

I read this morning that 55% of our nation is suffering from drought conditions.  As it stands presently, this is the worse drought since the 1950’s.  It does not yet rival the dust bowl of the 30’s but the farmers in the Midwest are hurting.  God knows and we need to pray to Him.

Ronnie Cottingham sent an e-mail yesterday expressing his heartfelt thanks to the Friendship family for your love and support.

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

We had a very blessed Sunday and we give God the glory!  Evangelist Ronnie Cottingham was used by the Lord to minister to us in a special way.  The members of the Friendship family were used by the Lord to minister to Ronnie & Beverly.  It was definitely a win/win situation.  Praise the Lord!

Marisa Felps father, Mr. Frank, remains in ICU and is now on a ventilator.  He needs this help with his breathing.  Pray for Mr. Frank and his family.

Speaking of Marisa, Carla is scheduled for scans today and tomorrow followed by a chemo treatment on Wednesday.

Pattie Suthoff fell yesterday morning after leaving Sunday School.  She and Bernard  made a stop on their way to Mobile and that is when the fall took place.  She broke one of her ankles.

Edna’s brother, Henry, continues to seemingly linger near death’s door.  Keep praying for him and his family.

Our team in Guatemala is doing well.  Keep praying for them.

Rita arrived safely in Uganda.  Uganda will never be the same!

I hope that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

Marisa Felps called yesterday afternoon to say that her dad, Mr. Frank, had been placed back into ICU.  Obviously, he is not doing well but the doctor really wants to make sure he is getting one on one medical attention.

Ronnie & Bev Cottingham are set to arrive in Grand Bay late this afternoon.  Remember, Ronnie will be in both of our morning services and then will have the entirety of our evening service.  I think we are going to have  a very blessed day.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will join us for these services.

Did we catch any fish?  I am insulted that you would even ask!  We limited out on red snapper by 10:00AM as Dale put us on a very sweet spot with some “golly whopper” (term borrowed from Opie Taylor) fish.  Soy screamed like a girl the one time he caught a fish!  Good weather and great fishing!

Trying to eat some weeds and mow but these thunderstorms are wreaking havoc with me right now.  They will pass in time.  I thank God for the rain.  He has blessed us this summer in that regard and I do not take that lightly.

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

Bro. Jerry’s team was delayed in Mobile yesterday morning due to severe weather in Houston.  However, all of the team members arrived safely in Guatemala.  I had to call last night to speak to John King and they were in a meeting at that time so I assume all is well.

Talked to Sam Schjott last night.  His grandmother basically spent Wednesday night in the ER at a local hospital but was sent home early Thursday morning.  She rested all day yesterday and seemed to be much improved.  Sam thanks everyone for their prayer support.

Marisa Felps called last night to say that her dad would not be coming home this weekend.  Mr. Frank continues to need our prayers.

Mrs. Yetta Hill was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning.

Special thanks to each member of the Friendship family who attended the visitation/service for Joshua Heacock yesterday afternoon.  A very special thanks to the 20-29 SS class for their attendance and for feeding the family afterwards.  They did a wonderful job!  Thanks to Bro. Chris for all of his help yesterday too!

The funeral service drained me emotionally.  I was honored to do it but would rather not be preaching services for young people.  It was two years yesterday that Lisa and I were in Greenville, SC for the funeral service of Susan Quinn.  That fact has not been lost on me in recent days as I have prayed for Susan’s family.  Death stings!

Lord willing, Lisa, Dana, Gina, Soy & I will head out into the Gulf today to catch some red snapper.  Dale Gaulden will be our captain!  I have a thing or two to show Tony Hacker, Joey Guidry, Scotty Bowden, et cetera.  Of course, I will be a deck hand baiting Soy’s hook as he is afraid to touch live bait or dead bait.

Ronnie Cottingham will be our guest this Sunday.  Hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance.

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

Marisa Felps’ father, Mr. Frank Boykin, was moved from ICU into a regular room yesterday.  Rachael Jackson’s mother, Mrs. Yetta Hill, has plans on being discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  Betty Carol Neal “may” be discharged from the hospital on Tuesday of next week.

Carla Kyser will have scans on Monday and Tuesday followed by another chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday.

Sam Schjott called last night to say that his grandmother was very sick.  It was possible that she would be transported to the hospital but I do not know if that took place or not.  Pray for her.

Bro. Jerry Hovel’s team left for Guatemala early this morning.  They should arrive shortly after noon our time.  Pray for them to have a great week of ministry.

The visitation with Joshua Heacock’s family is from 11:00AM until 2:00PM today.  The service begins at 2:00PM.  Everything takes place in the church auditorium.

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

Not in much of a writing mood this morning and really do not have any updates on those folks in the hospital.  Suffice it to say that I did not get to the hospital to visit Betty Carol yesterday afternoon.  Bro. Jerry visited with the folks in the other hospitals but I have not talked to him about their condition.

Bobby & Deidra Crawley’s baby is a girl.  The shower takes place this Sunday afternoon, 7/15.

Bro. Jerry’s team leaves for Guatemala early in the morning.  I appreciate Carl Ray Moulds being the bus driver who will take them to the airport.  Pray for them to have a blessed trip.  (Bro. Johnny Tucker’s team comes home tomorrow)

Rita Vice leaves for Uganda on Friday morning.  She will spend a month with Alisha.  Good for them!  Alisha is excited!

If you are in our Sunday School class and want to help with the food for the Heacock family, please contact Deidra Taylor if you have not done so already.  Here is the obituary as printed to today’s paper:

HEACOCK Joshua Gene Heacock left this earthly world on July 9, 2012. He leaves behind his Aunt Ingrid (Ning Ning) Patrick and Uncle Matthew (Matt) Patrick who will miss him more than words can express. His life was also shared with his Aunt Belle (Bee) Hughes, Uncle Kenneth (K.D.) Hughes and Cousin Kevin Allen Hughes. He was a bright happy young man who was loved and will be mourned by the Grand Bay Community. He is survived by his father, Alfred Gene Heacock Jr.; his mother, Lorri D Owens; and his brothers and sisters, Gaynell “Rose” Nelson (B.J. Nelson), Margaret Hervert, Alfred G Heacock II, Kay Heacock, Marsha Elmore, Franklin Helveston, Alexanderia Heacock, Irene Helveston, and Isiah Helveston; his Paternal grandparents, Alfred G Heacock Sr. and Desie Heacock; his maternal grandmother, Gaynell Hayes (Harold Hayes deceased). He will be missed by many uncles, aunts, and cousins. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 2 p.m. from Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL with Rev. Teddie Turrentine. Visitation will be at the church Thursday, from 11am until service time. Pallbearers will be Matthew Patrick (Ingrid), Cory Hughes (Kimberly), Jeff Hernandez (Rhonda), Jason Tackett (Joanie), Kenneth Heacock (Stephanie), K.D. Hughes (Belle). Interment will take place in Serenity Memorial Gardens.

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight with our services.

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