Monday, November 26, 2007

Personal News

Over the river and through the woods! This year Melissa and I spent Thanksgiving at my mother’s. Both of my brothers were there, Charles and John, as well as my sister Ellen and her children Ben and wife Jennifer, Mina and husband Ronnie, and Hannah and boyfriend Cory. Ellen’s number two son Andrew was at Princeton Seminary and was unable to make the trip. Mama baked a twenty-two pound turkey with all the fixin’s, and a good time was had by all.

I hope your Thanksgiving was an equally blessed time. We have much to be thankful for.

Shipping News - Nov. 26, 2007

Our container (shipped on October 22) arrived safe and sound at our ‘bodega’ in Guatemala on November 17. Thanks for your prayers. We had hoped to send another before the end of the year, but we’ve run out of time. The next ship sails on December 3 and arrives in port two days later, but that wouldn’t leave enough time for customs clearance before the Guatemalan customs office shuts down for the holidays. They re-open on January 7, and since it’s much cheaper to store it here rather than in port we’ve decided to hold off shipping until January. Samaritan’s Purse and MAP International are both preparing containers for us, which will also ship in January. It will be a busy month for our co-workers, Dennis and Doris Rice.

We’re importing a container prepared by a ministry in Georgia for Phil Plunk Phil is a dentist who has been ministering to the poor in Guatemala for many years. That container is in port now and we expect it to clear customs in a week or two. Phil’s a great guy who does a great work. My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at his house in Quetzaltenango a few years ago when we were on a work trip, and he even loaned my his motorcycle so that I would have some transportation while we were there.

Please continue to keep Vine International in your prayers as we serve those who serve the poor on the Name of Jesus.