Sunday AM, May 23:  Arrived in Manhattan….Kansas, that is.  We ate at an Italian type buffet with Pastor Steve Henderson, his family, and another couple from the church.  Sunday morning was busy and full, but we felt that the Lord used the music today. 

Sunday PM, May 23:  It was a bit of a drive this afternoon to get to the Heritage Baptist Church in Lawrence, KS.  Folks here were real kind and we tried to rest a bit before the service tonight.  We did quite a bit of singing during the service, and then sang during the ice cream social the church was having.  Not many could hear us, but we did the best we could without a P.A. system.  This church has grown quite a bit, and they are building a new auditorium.  The work seems to be going forward and that is a blessing to see.

We were able to rest on Monday, catch up on our business work a bit, and spend some time in fellowship with some of the single ladies here at the church.

Tuesday, May 25:  For seventeen years, our family was a part of the Deer Park Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.  We practically grew up in that church, and actually lived in the basment for a while when we did not have a bus.  Pastor Tommy Trammel was always gracious to us, and he still is to this day.  Ohio is still home to us in a lot of ways. 

Pastor Trammel’s grandson, Jon Mark Trammel, is now pastoring in Glenwood, Missouri.  It was through Pastor Trammel, Sr., that we made the contact with Bro. Jon Mark.  What a blessing to meet the Jon Mark Trammel family and to watch the Trammel and Marshall families meet after so many years…and see how the Lord has kept us still serving Him!  We had so much fun meeting the sweet people of Friendship Baptist Church.  Our hostess for the night was so very kind.  Meeting people like this along the way has been one of the sweetest things about traveling.

Wednesday-Thursday, May 26-27:  We headed on to Rockford, IL, and the Great Berean Baptist Church.  Pastor Melvin Swanson and Berean have always been such a help to our family over the years.  It was a bit nostalgic tonight to sing one more time together here.  The good people of Berean are like family to us and we have shared a whole bunch of awesome memories with them–at Camp Berean and at the church. 

We sang Wednesday along with a tour group from Golden State Baptist College who were in for the evening.  Pastor Mark had us sing at the end and it was hard not to keep from shedding tears.  We were able to spend some time with the teens on Thursday evening.  Matt & Julie (our younger brother and his family) came to the Youth Activity as well.  (We grabbed some time with them during the day as we could.)  Matt sang with us some and preached tonight, as well.  We tried to slip in a few moments to watch some old footage from Camp Berean videos.  Wow.  The skits were really…dumb, and the hairstyles and clothes were horrendous!  What those campers had to put up with from the Marshall Family…they ought to receive rewards in Heaven.

Friday, May 28:  We stopped in Toledo today to spend some time with Jon & Jess (our other brother and family).  It was a long drive, but we made it and enjoyed some more family time.

Saturday-Monday, May 29-31:  Dad and Mom joined us at this, our last meeting together for who knows how long!  We sang Saturday evening at the Church at Troy in Garrettsville, Ohio.  Pastor James Beatty and his church family always have a great Memorial Day Weekend meeting and we have been a part for several years now.  Dad preached Saturday evening and did an excellent job.  We sang again on Sunday, alternately between Dad and Mom doing duets, the Sisters doing some, and then a few family numbers.  The church here always has a Graduation service on Sunday followed by a delicious meal.  On Monday they have morning services, a meal, and then a time of relaxation. 

We finished up on Monday, packed up the two Subarus, and headed for home.  We had had a full schedule, but the Lord had protected and provided.  If you prayed for us, we thank you, and may the Lord bless you for it!  The Marshall Sisters tours have come to an end (at least for the forseeable future!) but we pray that God will continue to bring fruit from our travels.  Continue to pray for us as we serve Him elsewhere.

Here are the highlights from our last Tour in the month of May.  Forgive us for the delay in posting about it.

Thursday, May 13…

We left a few days early for our trip to Rolla, Missouri.  The car was once again jammed full with instruments, luggage, and other necessities.  Dad took a picture of us right before leaving.  We looked like we had been through the mill already, but that’s just part of the process.  We made it to Louisville, KY, that night–where we had already planned to stop and tried to locate a suitable hotel.  The rates we checked out were outrageous, so we kept on going.  Just when we thought we’d reached the end of the proverbial rope, we found a decent place to lay our heads just across the river into Indiana.  Definitely had to be of God, because the three of us were about done! 

Saturday-Sunday AM, May 15-16:  We finally arrived at our destination on Friday, May 14.  Landmark Baptist Church was gearing up for their Ladies Meeting.  It was going to be more like workshops, where various classes on home management, sewing, and cooking, child rearing, and more were offered.  We were told that one of the ladies who was to have a session that weekend was unable to come and so we were asked to take her place. 

On Saturday, the Workshops began.  Our session was called “Harmony in the Home” and we shared what we have learned over the years, along with some of the worksheets we had given out at the Mini-Music Seminar we had had in PA the December before.  It was a unique meeting, but one that encouraged lost ones in the area to come.  We enjoyed getting to know the ladies of Landmark.  We stayed with a family from the church and were able to rest after our long trip.

We sang for services on Sunday morning at Landmark.  Pastor Darren Myers asked us to sing “Heaven”, a song that he wrote and we recorded on the CD, “I’d Do It All Again”.  We attempted to sing it sans our sister, Sharon.  The Myers family made a delicious meal for us at their home after services, and we then hit the trail again.

Sunday PM, May 16:  We arrived at the Victory Baptist Temple this PM, a bit weary and worn.  The church family was very welcoming and helped us to get set up.  Pastor Elmo Parker and the members of Victory were such a joy to be with tonight.  It’s not every time that we are at a new church that we feel a special kinship to the people and the pastor.  The service was one of great refreshment. 

During the testimony time, one man mentioned that he knew our family from years ago and used to listen to the song sung by Dad and three of our sisters, “Did You Think to Pray?”.  He said he knew that Dad lived what he was singing.   When he heard that we were coming to Victory, he was curious to know if we had changed at all over the years.  Was our stand on music still the same?  He attested to the fact that it was and that he was encouraged by seeing us once again.  It is testimonies like these that show us God is still working even when we don’t see the fruit for years.  

Pastor Parker and his family were such a blessing to us.  We had a wonderful time with them after the services, and then again on Monday when they had us over for dinner.  We had never heard of their church before, but they are an amazing family doing an amazing work for God in a small town in Missouri.

Tuesday, May 18:  The next four days were absolute insanity as we had services every night.  Tonight we were at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Emporia, KS.  We had some time before the services to eat with Pastor James Scott and most of his family.  The church is meeting in a former nursing home.  There was a good crowd tonight, including quite a few visitors. 

Wednesday, May 19:  It was time to move on to Cherryvale, KS.  The First Baptist Church is without a pastor at this time, but the members were very receptive.  Bro. Tim Holloway was in charge tonight.  We sang for about 40 minutes or so and then there was a time of refreshments. 

After the service, several couples in the church led us over to our accommodations for the evening: an old hotel near the railroad.  We waited for a while for a train that was slowed almost to a complete stop in front of us.   Here in Cherryvale, the railroad goes right through the center of town, and the Leatherock Hotel (where we were to stay) sits right next to the tracks and used to house passengers on their way to various Kansas stops.  However, this night we sat on one side of the tracks with the Leatherock on the other side of the tracks–there was no sign of the train leaving anytime soon.  Lightning flashed all around us as we waited for ten…fifteen…minutes.  Finally, Bro. Holloway took us another way around the train and we made it to our rooms.  The Leatherock was a pretty neat little place to stay. 

Thursday, May 20:  Pastor Richard Haley and the Riverside Baptist Church was our next stop this week.  We were able to spend a little bit of time in fellowship with the pastor and his family at their home prior to the service.  Then it was another wonderful night of ministering, fellowship, and refreshments. 

Friday, May 21:  We made good time getting to Dodge City, KS today.  This was our furthest point West, and we actually were in the West at this stop!  It was a very warm day, but we arrived at Bible Baptist Church in fair condition.  Pastor Albert Schrock and family were so much fun to be with.  We have known Mrs. Schrock for many years as she used to attend the Cleveland Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.  We enjoyed sharing memories with her.  We also squeezed in a little bit of time down the street a ways, just scouting out a bit of the West in Dodge City before the service.

The service tonight went very well and we sang for a good bit.  We fellowshipped with the Schrocks for some time afterwards.  Not many make their way out this far, and so we hoped to be a spiritual uplift while we were here. 

The next day we took the oldest Schrock, Gracie, with us to see Front Street and tour a bit of Boot Hill and more.  It was fun to pretend we were really a bunch of old cowhands for a little while.  And my, it’s windy here in Dodge City!  We reluctantly packed up to leave for the next meeting.

To Be Continued…

April 2, 2010…

Our flights to California went smoothly.  We even had a layover in Chicago and were able to spend some time with our brother, Matt, his wife, Julie, and their three cute little boys: Timmy, Zach, and Caden.  We were so happy to be able to grab a few minutes of time with them while we could.

We arrived late and met Pastor Bill Rench and his wife at the airport.  They were bringing our wheels for our stay in California.  They allowed us to borrow a church vehicle–the Ole’ Jeep.  We prayed for sanity as we drove on to San Diego, arriving late at our place of rest for the next few weeks.  Rachel Fisher, a friend from days of yore, allowed us to stay at her apartment for awhile.  We stepped right into some fellowship tonight, and didn’t get to bed until about 2 or 3am West Virginia time.  Whew…reminds us of the days long ago when we used to travel with the bus all over California, all ten kids in tow.  Lots of time spent fellowshipping…

During our stay with Rachel, we were able to take some time to relax and sight-see and just pretend that we really were on vacation.  San Diego is a beautiful area and offers many things to do and see, of which several we partook.  We were so thankful that Rachel was kind enough to let us take over her place for a short while. 

Sunday, April 4:  After some trepidation, we did make it to Gardena (a suburb of L.A.) on Saturday.  The Jeep held up and we experienced minor difficulties in L.A. traffic.  (I remember people doing 80-90 mph around us as our caravan–a bus, van, and motorhome–tried to keep up years ago!)  Easter Sunday was a great day as we ministered to the Bible Baptist Church.  Pastor Scott Kirkland and family took us to eat at Marie Callendar’s for lunch and then we went back to our hotel for a nap.  Joanna and I awoke to an earthquake this afternoon…during which Monica soundly slept.  It was quite the experience.  Even though we have been to CA numerous times, I had never felt a quake and so was rather interested to find out that the rocking of the bed and slight dizzy feeling when I tried to walk afterwards was actually an earthquake!  Certainly had something to write home about now.

Wednesday, April 7:  We have heard about the Bible Baptist Church in National City.  We actually met up with several people in North Carolina and Florida who have gone to Pastor Larry Obero’s church in the San Diego area.  We were excited to be there ourselves tonight.  The choir music was a blessing, the preaching was uplifting, and we were thankful to be able to minister here this evening.  We went to eat afterwards with Pastor Obero and his wife and another missionary couple. 

Thursday, April 8:  We were able to squeeze in a few extra meetings this month during our stay in California, and tonight we were at the Lighthouse Baptist Church in San Diego.  Pastor Doug Fisher was unable to be here due to a previously scheduled meeting.  We missed seeing him, but it was nice to see the Lighthouse family again.  Time has marched on, but they are still going strong for the Lord.

Sunday, April 11:  Pastor Bill Rench is an incredible man.  He once helped us get into the churches in California, and he has never let us forget it…but we never could.  We really are indebted to him, as our ministry seems to have been expanded in that great state and we always enjoy coming here.  We were once again with Pastor Rench and Calvary Baptist in Temecula.  The church has grown and with it, their buildings.  It is amazing to watch a church go on for the Lord and expand both spiritually and physically.  We had a great time with the Renches, reliving old memories and making some new ones.

Thursday, April 15:  It’s not been that long ago that we were at Mountain View Baptist in Hesperia.  We sang on a Thursday evening and there was a good spirit.  Pastor Ron Webb took good care of us during our stay here.  Their church even allowed us to stay several nights instead of one at a nice hotel.  We were able to catch up on much needed sleep, get some work done, and recuperate from some sickness.  (Of course, that was me…seems the colds never leave me alone.)  They even gave us some gift cards to several restaurants…the Starbucks card really made our day!

Sunday, April 18:  We made it in Saturday afternoon to Bakersfield after stopping at West Coast Baptist College to take a tour.  (Lots of changes there…the last time we sang at Lancaster Baptist was in 1998, and the new auditorium wasn’t even built.)  Clemencia Limon was the lady that we were to stay with this weekend.  She and her husband were great hosts.  We had fun trying on all the hats that Clemencia has collected.  What a gracious lady.

We sang all day at Faith Baptist today.  The church is meeting in a tent, but the spirit is still strong and they responded well.  Pastor Joe Grande and Family had us over to their house for dinner and a nap.  They are a great family and have a servant’s heart. 

Wednesday, April 21:  Another meeting that was added to our agenda this month was a mid-week service at the West Coast Baptist Church in Vista.  This church is near Camp Pendleton and so they have an active ministry to the military, as well as many other ministries.  We had a great service and enjoyed fellowshipping with members afterwards.  There are some sweet people here.

Thursday-Friday, April 22-23:  We were privileged to be at the Ladies Meeting at Faith Baptist Church in Wildomar these two days.  It was not our first time to be at Faith, but it was the first time for us to meet Mrs. Jack Schaap.  Before services started Thursday evening, we met in a conference room with Pastor and Mrs. Bruce Goddard and the other ladies who were speaking this week to go over the schedule. 

Pastor Goddard mentioned that someone had asked him to name a few things that had influenced his church the most.  He said one of the influences that helped shape the church was our family coming years ago and singing.  The music had set the tone for their young church as they were starting out.  I sat in the conference room and could only be in awe at what the Lord had allowed us to do over these many years.  It wasn’t anything to do with us, but only the fact that He had lead us and kept us in His will. 

What a precious time we had at the meeting this week!  We sang here and there for different sessions.  The second afternoon we were able to sing for the teen girls and encourage them to stay true to the Lord.  We also spent some time with a group of them at the California Pizza Kitchen.  The pizza was great and memories were made. 

Sunday, April 25:  We were almost shaking in our boots today as we mounted the platform at the great North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, California.  Almost.  Everyone kept asking us beforehand if we were nervous about being on the internet live and all.  Nah…why should we be?  It’s not like we haven’t been live before.  Yet, we still were a tad nervous today.  (What an understatement…)  Pastor Jack Trieber was ever so kind to us and made us feel right at home.  We sang all day and enjoyed some time of fellowship at Outback with some of the staff ladies.  We had a great time at North Valley and were blessed to be able to minister there.  You can listen to our rather shaky performances at North Valley’s website.  Just click on the date of the service–April 25.

On our way back home, our schedule allowed us to stop to see a few friends–Sarah Roy and Malinda Benefield–in Morgan Hill at the Shadow Mountain Baptist Church.  They took us to San Fran for our flights home.  Our hotel in San Fran the night before flying home was quite unsavory, but we put a chair in front of the door, prayed, and fell asleep.  And yes, we did make it back to West Virginia safe and sound.  Thank the Lord for the opportunity to sing and serve in California during the month of April.

The Pete Montoro Family welcomed a new addition to their already large, active family.  Jason Samuel Montoro arrived in the afternoon on April 5, 2010, a whopping 10 lbs., 14 oz.  His arrival evened out the ratio of boys to girls in the Montoro Clan.  They now have six sons and six daughters. 

The Montoros have been serving in Astoria, Queens (Long Island City), since the fall of 1992.  Pastor Pete Montoro and his wife, Julia (the oldest Marshall child),  have been faithful to the Lord since the inception of Open Door Bible Baptist Church.  They have seen their ministry grow and now have a Spanish church that meets in the church basement, as well as Portugese and Russian Bible studies.

Bro. and Mrs. John Marshall thank the Lord for the newest addition to the extended family.

The last trip the Sisters took to the South (from mid-February to mid-March) was a whopper.  Covering over 4,600 miles, we made the month-long journey from Tunnelton, West Virginia–to Winter Haven, Florida–to De Queen, AR–to Sevierville, TN–and everything in between–in our little white Subaru Outback.  That car has been pushed to the limits, and yet, it’s still running. At least for the time being.  With that many miles, you can imagine that there was a lot, and I mean a lot of “squish times” in the car.  It’s unbelievable how much we can get into that vehicle!  You would be amazed, I’m sure–if you could see us. 

To Pack a Car

Usually, the suitases are lined up first in the back.  There are three gigantic ones, of course.  A violin and a bag of hair products goes on top of the suitcases.  After this, we put in the guitar, with a few mic stands and such for emergency’s sake.  (There may be a church or two that doesn’t have enough of a system to use.)  Then, you place the harp into the mix and add another violin on top of the guitar case.  All of this is performed with much care and a lot of “Do you think this will be ok?”s. 

Meanwhile, the packing doesn’t stop there.  Typically, there is always a basket of snacks for those moments when one of the gang just can’t wait for McDonalds or some other such place of refuge.  (McDonalds, a refuge?)  At any rate, that takes up the only empty seat in the car, right behind the driver’s seat.  There is a music book of various songs, three or four boxes of CDs to sell, the datebook (in case a pastor calls), coats and jackets, a lunch cooler, an old beat-up map (we did pick up a new one on this trip, thank the Lord!), numerous CD cases (for when the driver needs a bit of a wake-up tune), purses, Bibles, and then there are….the bags.  When I talk about bags, I mean bags. 

On this trip, we limited ourselves to one and one only.  We told ourselves that we would not have room for more.  But somehow, we always end up bringing more things to do than is humanly possible, even if it is all squeezed into one bag.  With all of the meetings, traveling, fellowshipping, and such things, I’m not sure how we think we’ll get anything else done.  But Marshalls always find a sort of comfort in knowing that in case there are ever some “leisurely” moments available, the bag is always ready and waiting.  I suppose it comes from those days when we were younger and we did a lot of sitting around and waiting while the bus was in the shop being repaired.

We haven’t even mentioned the extra cups filled with tea or lemonade from some restaurant…or the “to-go” boxes which are ever present.  We are famous for our “to-go” boxes.  As if that is something for which one wants to be known!

Backseat Driver

Sitting in the back seat is the worst spot.  There is usually a mountain of stuff on your left, and if the car suddenly jerks to a quick stop or a crazy driver takes a corner a bit sharply, you may end up with an avalanche on your hands, maybe even possible suffocation.  The upside to sitting here–possibly the only one–is getting to sleep as much as you want.  Which is a rarity, actually, because how can one sleep calmly while an avalanche is imminent?

Riding “Shotgun”

The person in the passenger seat has to maintain a measure of alertness, as this is the one who has to keep track of where we are going.  Google maps, mapquest, and various and sundry websites have been relied upon, as well as the beat-up old map.  Thank the Lord, after our first GPS had to have some work done on it, we were given another one which has proven to be a boon.  Now the passenger seat occupant has only to alert the driver to the turn coming up next.  They must, though, keep the driver well supplied with water or coffee or snacks, and have a CD ready to pop in the player at a moment’s notice.  Besides juggling bags and bottles and other items around her feet.

In the Driver’s Seat

The driver, although having to keep on top of her game, gets the luxury of having the most room to herself.  Also, she is entitled to whatever she wants to eat or drink, providing the person in the back can find it amongst the piles of stuff.  She is well rewarded for her labors with the feeling of actually being able to do something on the long drives, instead of having to sit and stare vacantly out the window.  She must remain vigilant at all times, making sure to avoid potholes, which always create anxiety.  (We all hear Dad’s voice in our heads, “Hard on the tires!”)  She must also try to keep focused in traffic, whether we are in Dallas, Tampa, or L.A. 

As you can see, traveling with the Sisters can be quite the adventure!  We would have to say that although it can be wearisome and downright draining, we never lack for some kind of new twist to the road we’re taking. 

Or the opportunity to make a memory for a lifetime.

Our last trip to the South lasted over three weeks and was filled with much ministering, fellowshipping, and traveling.  (Of course!)  We were in seven churches in Florida, one in Alabama, two in Arkansas, and one in Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 

Down to Florida

In Florida, our stops were at Redemption Baptist in Winter Haven, Colony Baptist in Ellenton, Colonial Baptist in Bradenton, Liberty Baptist in Sarasota, Landmark Baptist in Haines City, West Gate Baptist in Tampa, and Victory Baptist in Milton.  What a blessing it was to see familiar faces and pastors who have remained faithful throughout the years.  We enjoyed catching up with them and seeing the work that God has done in their ministries in recent days.

Along the way we were able to catch up with the Freemans (friends of the family) in Nokomis, where we spent two days.  They are friends of Dad and Mom and have helped our family in many ways over the years.  As well, we were able to visit with Lauren Potter, another friend of the family.  Lauren works at Pensacola Christian College, and she allowed us to stay in her apartment on the campus.

Up to Alabama

Next, it was on to Troy, Alabama and God’s Way Baptist.  Apparently, the Lord’s way for us during our stay there was to get the flu bug that was going around.  It hit Monica on Sunday evening, after the busy day of singing and ministering.  Then it was Jessica….and then it was Joanna.  Yep, right on through the ranks.  At least it didn’t last long, and we had a nice place to relax and recover.

Out to Arkansas

March 11, 2010, will be a day long remembered.  That was the day we awoke at 4 am, packed the car, and headed out from Pensacola, FL, to De Queen, AR.  It was an eleven-hour trip and we tried to keep our stops to a minimum.  We made it on time and were able to get through the service with some measure of coherence.  (Needless to say, the map wasn’t clearly in sight when the meeting was scheduled, but we will try to forget that oversight.)  All in a day’s work, ya know.  Pillow and blanket looked mighty good that night.

While still in AR, we were able to stay one night with Bro. Buddy Blunkall and his family in Hot Springs.  They have invited us to come if we were ever in the area, and finally, we were in the area.  We reminisced about the “Good Ole’ Days” at Camp Berean in Rockford, IL.  Unfortunately, our schedule didn’t allow for a stop at Champion Baptist College, but we have heard many good reports about Gospel Light Baptist and Pastor Eric Capaci’s ministry.  (Last time we were there, they didn’t even have the college or new buildings.)

We moved on to Harrison, AR, and the Ozark Baptist Church.  Pastor George Smith and the church members were very gracious to us this Sunday.  We were the first guests in their new missions quarters, and we were impressed with the way they have furnished the place.  They held services in their new auditorium (which was almost completed), and are anxious to move in soon.  It was refreshing to minister to this church.  They had a potluck dinner and another afternoon service.  Pastor Smith arranged for us to sing at another church in the pm.  We headed up to West Branson, MO, and sang at the Talking Rock Road Bapt. Church.  Pastor Delbert Davis was very kind to let us minister to his people on such short notice.

Over to Mississippi

Pastor Don Sculley and his family took us to an official Southern eatin’ place this evening before church.  We filled up on some fish and then headed back to the church to get ready for the service.  Grace Bible Baptist in Corinth was receptive and we had some time of fellowship with various members and visitors afterwards.

On to Tennessee

The last leg of our Southern trip was in the shadow of the beautiful Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, TN.  Pastor Aaron Swain and Victory Bapt. were quite friendly and accommodating on this Wednesday evening.  We saw a few friends from Crown College and other areas nearby, and we enjoyed catching up with a friend, Rhonda Setser, who put us up for the night in one of the condos her family owns.  We certainly hope to visit the area again real soon.  It was just a lovely spot.

And back at home…

It took almost a week to recover from our scurrying all over the place the last month.  We were thankful for the Lord’s Hand guiding us along the way, for His safety in our travels, for His blessing in our ministering, and for His love and care for us through the kind people we met on our journey.

Friday, January 22: We had been invited to come to a “Gospel Sing” hosted by Worth Baptist Church, which was being held at a golf resort. Tonight we managed to make it to the location without too much trouble. We had a good time at our table, meeting some people from Worth Baptist. There were several groups participating in the “Sing”. We were up last and ended the evening with about six songs or so. Hopefully we were a blessing to someone tonight.

Sunday, January 24 AM: Services at Grace Baptist in Midlothian with Pastor Dale Harris went well this morning. We had the Sunday School hour to sing and testify (which has been the norm on this trip), and then sang again in the Worship service. There was a good crowd and a good reception. We spent some time talking and getting acquainted with Bro. Harris and his wife and daughter at a great BBQ place.

Sunday, January 24 PM: We headed over to Worth Baptist in Ft. Worth this afternoon. Since we had arrived early, we took advantage of the extra time to get a little nap. Services went well tonight. We sang a good deal. Pastor Willie Weaver brought a good message. We were surprised to see Bro. Dan Knickerbocker and his wife tonight. He is now the director at Crown Southwest/Norris Seminary in Ft. Worth. It was wonderful to see them again and to catch up a little on what’s happening in their lives.

Tuesday, January 26: Tonight we went to a Senior Citizens meeting in Grand Prairie called “The 39ers”. They were receptive and fun-loving. We had a good time with them.

Wednesday, January 27: Bro. Dan Knickerbocker had invited us to chapel at Crown Southwest/Norris Seminary in Ft. Worth this morning. We had a bit of trouble getting there, but we eventually did arrive safely. The college is small, but Bro. Dan & his wife are doing an excellent job. He showed us around the building and then we got ready for the chapel service. We felt the Lord ministering through us to the students. Bro. Knickerbocker brought a great message. Mrs. Knickerbocker later took us out to see the Stockyards and to an antique store/tea house. We had a lovely, impromptu “ladies outing”. It was nice to visit with her again and meet her daughter-in-law, Heather, who also came with us.

We hurried back to the “Little House” to get ready for our sister, Jennifer Martin, and two of her girls, Melissa & Heather, who were coming to spend a few days with us. We had so much fun with them: visiting the Dallas Galleria, going to the Dallas Symphony, shopping till we dropped at the mall (Grapevine Mills Mall), and just having fun as sisters, aunts, and friends. It was special to be able to sing “Count the Cost” with Jennifer playing the piano on Wednesday evening at Lighthouse. The Lord was so good to give us this time together.

Sunday, January 31 AM: It was a longer drive this morning, but we managed to stay alert and finally reached Trinity Bapt. Ch. in Wills Point. We went to a SS class this morning instead of singing (for the first time on this trip) and sang in the Worship hour. Pastor Jeremy Ogdie is the pastor here, having taken over the work from his dad. It appears there was a good response from the congregation.

Sunday, January 31 PM: We finished up our Texas Tour with our last meeting at Victory Bapt. in Weatherford. We’ve been with Pastor Chuck Wetherbee before. It was a joy to be with him and the church again. We sang for about an hour tonight. The Spanish pastor asked us to sing a song for their church, who were sitting in tonight. We did our best with “Vino Cristo” (“Then Came Jesus”). It had been quite a while since we had sung that one, so we tried to quickly remember the words as the service was starting. We had a nice time of food and fellowship with two young families in the church.

And so…our Texas Tour came to an end. We felt God’s Hand leading us all along the way. It was amazing to watch His protection as we traveled. We felt His Presence going before us, and we are thankful for all that He did. Thank you, as well, for your prayers. We trust that you will continue to pray for us in the coming months.

Tuesday, January 5: A foot of snow had fallen at home the weekend before “The Tejas Trio” (as we later came to be called) left for the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Dad & Mom very kindly drove us to the Pittsburgh Airport. The plane took twenty minutes to de-ice, but our flights to Atlanta, then on to the DFW Airport went smoothly enough. It was rather strange to not see any snow on the ground upon arriving in Texas, although with the temps in the teens around Dallas, it wasn’t hard to adjust. We found out after arriving that Dad & Mom received another foot of snow that evening…the Lord was gracious in allowing us to fly out at just the right time…as they received another foot or so several days later.

Pastor David Grice, his family, and his assistant pastor met us at the airport. They took us to get a bite to eat before dropping us off at the church’s mission house–which we had the use of this month. They also let us borrow their church van. We were ever so thankful for their kind hospitality. Pastor & Mrs. Grice became our second set of “parents” or “guardians” while we were here. It was great to know that if there was a problem, we could call them right away. Pastor Grice had helped schedule our meetings this month–no small feat. It was such a blessing to know we didn’t have to shoulder all of that on this particular trip. It was enough just finding our way around the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Whew. Talk about adventure! (By the time we left, we just about had the area down. Sigh.)

We rested up for a few days before diving into our schedule for the month. Our first meeting was 3 hours away, the longest “away” meeting for us this month. Since we were going to be near Austin, we decided to try to squeeze in a few visits with friends in that city. We headed to Burnet, Texas, on Friday–and stayed with Pastor Jimmy Frazier and his family, who we were to be with on Sunday. The Lord worked out all of the details as to timing, and we were able to meet Mrs. Hank Thompson at a restaurant in Austin for several hours on Saturday. We spent some time catching up from the past ten years, looking at pictures, and talking about the present. It’s been such a long time since we have seen the Thompsons. Bro. Hank has been in Heaven for about a year now, and it’s hard to believe we won’t see him again this side of eternity.

After meeting with Mrs. Thompson, we headed to Starbucks to meet up with Jenna Simpson, a friend from Rochester, NY, as well as Maressa and Hannah Thompson. It was the first time for us to meet Hannah, and we had a nice time of fellowship and “girl talk”. We went to Jenna’s house for supper, and it was great to see her husband, Nate, and their children, Brooklynne and Joey. We spent a few hours in sweet fellowship, and then headed back to Burnet.

Sunday, January 10 AM: This weekend we were with Pastor Jimmy Frazier and the Northside Baptist Church in Burnet, Texas. Pastor Frazier and his family put us up in their home, and we enjoyed spending some time with them and with their little dachshund, Ranger. (He was a big hit with us!) We shared many laughs and stories. The fact that we barely knew them before this weekend didn’t seem to matter.

The church was praying for a total of 100 in attendance this Sunday, and 10 souls for Christ. Since we had arrived a day early, we were able to get in on their prayer time on Friday, and it was encouraging to join them in prayer for these requests. On Saturday (while we were in Austin), a young man stopped by the church where Pastor Frazier and other members were preparing Sunday’s dinner. He had run out of gas and came looking for help. He came to the right place! Pastor Frazier helped him get gas in his car, and then had the opportunity to tell him about Jesus. He asked the Lord to save him that afternoon.

Sunday morning was cool and crisp. There was one main service, during which we sang a good deal and Pastor Frazier gave a clear message of the Gospel. There were around 60 in the services–not quite what the church had been praying for, but plenty of new faces nonetheless. A lady came forward for salvation during the invitation. This was her first time here, and she had been invited by her friend. What a way to start out our Texas Trip! The church served a delicious meal of brisket and all the trimmings in the fellowship hall. True Texas cuisine.

Sunday, January 10 PM: We were able to rest a bit between the morning and evening services. Our next meeting was just down the road…at Victory Baptist Church, which was on the other side of Burnet. (In fact, the pastors and their families live a few blocks from each other.) There were several visitors here, as well as the Fraziers and others from Northside Baptist that came to join the services tonight. We sang and gave testimonies. Pastor Michael Wiggins preached a great message. There was a good response. We ate at a Mexican restaurant afterwards and fellowshipped with Pastor Wiggins and Pastor Frazier and their families.

On the trip home Monday, we took a bit of time to stop on the way and visit the grave of Billy the Kid, as well as the town where he had lived in later years and where he died–Hico, Texas. Of course, a little chocolate shop and a great restaurant called “The Koffee Kup” helped revive spirits, as well. It was nice to get a bit of sightseeing in and just enjoy a little bit of Texas along the way. (And if you’re ever near Hico, make sure you stop at “The Koffee Kup” and get a piece of their key lime pie…I’m almost sure it will be served in Heaven.)

Wednesday, January 13: Bro. Sam Reed (music director) took us to dinner tonight before we were to sing at Trinity Baptist Church in Arlington. One good meal at a place like Saltgrass Steakhouse, and we are set for a couple days. (Marshalls are famous for their “To Go” boxes.) We still had enough time to set up our table and check out the church’s sound system before the service. Pastor Bob Smith wasn’t here this evening, but there was still a great spirit and folks seemed to enjoy the music.

Saturday, January 16: Pastor David Grice had graciously allowed the other pastors on this trip to have us in on Sunday mornings or evenings. He had not planned to have us on a Sunday at all, and so decided to do a special Saturday evening of food and fellowship, along with lots of singing. The church brought some amazing dishes and there were several visitors that showed up tonight. We had a great time together. The three of us sang and sang, and then Pastor Grice had us sing again. Lighthouse Baptist Church in Grand Prairie has some wonderful members and we were glad to be able to spend some time with them tonight.

Sunday, January 17 AM: We were a bit tired this morning, as our next door neighbors had a fiesta for a good portion of last night. We probably could have given you a near perfect rendition of the songs that had been played over the radio. Needless to say, it made for a tiring day. We were to be at the Countryside Baptist Church in Mansfield. Upon arriving, we were greeted by some of the men of the church who helped us carry in our stuff. I would have to say…this church was certainly a joy to be with. Just about everyone shook our hands, and there was not one member who wasn’t friendly and smiling. It says something about the pastor and the leadership when you find people so kind and outgoing.

We sang a lot this morning and heard a good message by Pastor Claude Sutton. Afterwards, he and his wife took us to eat and we had a good time of fellowship. The Lord has allowed us to meet many wonderful saints of the Lord over the years…what a privilege.

Sunday, January 17 PM: We returned to our “Little House on the Grand Prairie”. We tried to take a nap, but once again, our neighbors were having another fiesta, so not much sleep was to be had. Tonight we were at Lighthouse Bapt. again. Apparently, there was an open evening, and so Pastor Grice had us sing again. They usually do their bus routes in the evening and there were quite a bit of kids in the service–so we tried to gear our songs that way. They listened well. Pastor Grice preached. A lady came forward for salvation tonight. There was also a lady in the UK who had listened to Pastor Grice’s messages on YouTube. She asked the Lord to save her early this morning. Pastor Grice was rejoicing, as were we, that the Gospel was reaching out across the ocean…and someone got saved while we were sleeping. How about that?

After the services, it was time for some Mexican food and some fellowship with folks from Lighthouse.

Tuesday-Thursday, January 19-21: Our oldest nephew, Peter Montoro, and his younger sister, our oldest niece, Sarah, are going to school at Heartland Baptist Bible College. We had planned to visit them at some point convenient for us both, so we settled on a few days this week. It was great to be with them a bit the first evening, and to attend some classes at Heartland for a few days. The chapel service on Thursday was especially an encouragement. Peter and Sarah are doing well in their respective courses of study and it’s amazing to think we have a nephew and niece at college…wow. Time flies fast!

We were able to get together with a few other friends while in Texas this month. The Potter family had us over for dinner one night. The food was delicious and playing “Beyond Balderdash” was a blast! (Their daughter, Lauren, traveled with us for the summer of 2003.) As well, we had a former violin student come for dinner at our little mission house. Kendra has moved to the area to work at a church school in Mesquite. It seemed like this month was full of re-connecting with friends. We’re thankful that the Lord allowed us to do so. It gladdens the heart to know others who are faithfully serving Him, and to encourage each other to keep on keeping on.

Sunday, December 6:  We have ministered at a jail the last couple years that is about an hour from us.  We were there again today, as well as at the chaplain’s church in the morning services.  The inmates are always receptive and the place was packed today.  Dad preached in the AM as well as the PM.  We “practiced” our Christmas songs on the public today for the first time.  Whew.  Gotta love those Christmas songs…tortuous as they are.  By the time you get them down well enough, the Season is over and it’s time to move on.

Friday-Sunday, December 11-13:  The three of us were asked to come to the Willow Grove Baptist Church in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and hold a “Mini Music Seminar” for the church.  Joanna headed up the choir clinics, Jessica spoke about the requirements for special music and the church musician, and Monica gave some vocal tips.  This was a new adventure for us, but we had a lot of fun.  Pastor Scott Blair and his family were very gracious, opening up their home to us for delicious meals, sharing their Christmas cookies and sweet spirits. 

We started out Friday evening with a couple sessions, easing them into how to read parts from the hymnbook.  They did very well, and the next day it was more sessions, especially with the instruments and choir songs.  We even had a small jam session in the evening.  Sunday we sang all day and enjoyed more time with the Blair family.  We left after church Sunday night (with those delectable cookies in tow!) and made it home in one piece.

Thursday, December 17:  The Faith Bapt. Church of Morgantown, West Virginia, was having their Super 60s Christmas Banquet tonight.  We were asked to sing and bring a devotional.  Dad & Mom came along for this evening.  The White Elephant Gift Exchange turned out to be lots of fun tonight.  We sang what meager Christmas songs we had and Dad brought the devotional. 

Sunday, December 20:  Our last official meeting for this year turned out to be quite the fiasco.  We had had a tremendous storm the day before…leaving us with 14 inches of snow and no way to get to Victory BC in Homer City, PA.  Pastor Alberding was very kind to allow us to wait it out and not come on Saturday.  We did make it to the morning service, however…though we missed Sunday School. 

We arrived about 11am, just as the morning service was supposed to be starting.  We had tried to get the frogs out of our throats while we were still in the car, but our poor instruments were sadly struggling.  We had to skip one song on the list after Dad so kindly introduced it…because the harp was sadly out of tune with our other instruments.  Sigh.

After lunch with the Alberdings and our friend, Rachel Bourque, the three of us girls went to the nursing home to sing for the afternoon service.  Even there we had some trouble as the piano was way out…way out of tune.  We managed to bumble our way through.  (Hopefully, most of those gathered were unaware of this.)  We made it back to the church to rest a few minutes.

The evening service went a bit better than the previous ones.  Dad preached for the pm service.  Mom tried to work the P.A. system the church uses.  It all went well–considering all that was to be considered.  We said our goodbyes and squeezed back into the car for our 3 hour trip home.

And yes, now to catch you up on our Southern Tour–which has fast fallen behind us.  Unlike the other trips we have taken this fall, this one was not as full in schedule as far as meetings go.  But we’ve kept ourselves out of trouble for the most part…I think.

Sunday, November 1:  Faith Baptist Church was starting their Harvest Party when we arrived Saturday evening.  We joined in the food and fellowship.  Dad and Mom were with us on this particular part of our journey.  They have been able to come with us for a few meetings this year.  People have asked us many times where they are and how they’re doing when we travel these days.  It seems that their example is still reaching out to many.  We sang both morning and evening services and Dad preached in the evening service. 

The following day, Dad and Mom returned home and the 3 of us went on to visit with our cousin, Amy Long, her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Mercy.  Janna Marshall (Amy’s sister) had ridden down with us on Saturday, and we all enjoyed catching up with each other.  Chris and Amy have a beautiful home and are very gracious guests.  Visiting them is always refreshing and encouraging.  We hit some second-hand stores with Amy, watched some of the Duggar Family DVDs, got to know Mercy better, and just had fun jawing about everything. 

As we didn’t have a Wednesday night scheduled, we set out for home on Tuesday.

Sunday, November 8, 2009:  It was kinda crazy, but we turned around this weekend and went back down to Virginia to “officially” start our Southern Tour.  The trip was longer this time, but we did arrive safely.  Pastor Warren Skinner and his wife met us at the church and we tested out the P.A. system the church uses.  After this duty was finished, we set off to find some sustenance.  With great difficulty we arrived at Wendy’s.  (After several turns that proved misleading.)  It was there that some more blunders were made, and instead of the two sandwiches and one chili we ordered, we left with four sandwiches and one chili, amidst other necessities.  It was with great thankfulness that we obtained our bedding for the evening.

Diamond Springs Baptist Church was a blessing to minister to the following day.  We sang all day and had some fellowship with Pastor Skinner and his wife at Golden Corral.  He told us that the news of the shootings at Fort Hood certainly had had their effect on the military in this area.  Pastor Skinner and the church have a great burden for those serving our country. 

We had a good service this evening.  At the end, the church presented us with a GPS…we were quite speechless, as we had been wanting to get one for a while now.  Yes, we’ve been roaming the countryside without one…three ladies, and only a conventional map and Google directions.  Now, things should be a bit easier.  Needless to say, we were quite thankful.  Pastor Skinner also gave us an extra computer, another answer to prayer!  He invited us to stay and eat and fellowship with the teens and College & Career after the service.  Their church was a delight to be with, and their giving spirit touched our hearts.

Monday-Tuesday, November 9-10:  With a couple days open in the schedule, we had planned to visit with some friends of ours who were vacationing at the Outer Banks.  The Clopper Family kindly allowed us to slip in a few days of fun with them.  We took a late night walk on the beach, tried to slide down the dunes (unsuccessfully, I’ll add), did some second-hand shopping, ate, talked, and stayed up late.  (Sounds like one big PJ party!)  We had hosted the Cloppers and some of their friends at our home this summer, and it was fun to catch up with them.  The weather turned a bit nasty and there was some kind of sickness sweeping the crew, but we had a great time.  (Hey, thanks again for letting us crash your vacation, Cloppers!)

Wednesday, November 11:  We drove all day in relentless rain to get to Walkertown, North Carolina, this evening.  Hurricane Ida was making herself known and it was a bit draining to travel.  Thank the Lord we made it in one piece! 

We’ve been with Bro. Bobby Roberson in several meetings here and there.  He had invited us to come if we were ever in the area, but sadly, he was not here this week.  We missed seeing him, but the Gospel Light Baptist Church family was very welcoming.  They took us to eat before dinner.  We sang and testified in their mid-week service tonight.  The following day, a staff member and his family took us to eat for lunch.  They allowed us to stay several extra days in one of the houses the church owns and we were very appreciative.

Sunday, November 15:  We arrived in Sylva, North Carolina, at the Victory Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon.  Bro. Buddy Driggers, the youth pastor and his wife and family helped us set up and then took us out for a great meal afterwards.  Our lodging for the week was unbelievable….a cute little A-frame cabin out in the woods.  It reminded us a bit of home and so we felt quite comfortable.

Sunday was full of activity.  We had not had time to test the sound the evening before, so we were a bit rushed this morning.  We managed to get things in tune as well as warming up the old vocal chords before heading to separate classes.  We had been asked to give our testimonies and acquaint the church with the history of our family’s ministry.  Joanna spoke to the adults, Jessica to the singles, and Monica to the teens.  Then we sang in the Worship hour.  Pastor and Mrs. Bennie Bagwell invited us to their home for the noon meal.  We enjoyed the fellowship with them, as well as two other single girls from the church.  We found out that Mrs. Bagwell is a sister to Deborah Wynne, the wife of Missionary Kevin Wynne.  We had fun relating our travels to Mexico City and our memorable times with the Wynne family. 

The evening service was a blessing as we sang and answered a few more questions about our family.  We met the Neely Family for the first time–a sweet family who have recorded in the same studio we have in Greenville, South Carolina.  (Bro. Gary Emory is the engineer.)  We ate a quick bite at Wendy’s with a family from Victory before heading to our little cabin.

Monday-Friday, November 16-20:  This week we stayed at the White Plains Baptist Church in Mt. Airy, North Carolina.  Pastor Bill Tucker was not here this week, but his daughter-in-law, Teresa Tucker, was our faithful guide.  She made sure we were settled in the mobile home on the church property (complete with snacks and treats from the ladies in the church) and that we were shown around the various buildings so we would know where things were…the most important thing being the connection to the internet! 

One night we locked up the mobile home and went over to the school library to get some work done online.  (For some reason the key would not work, but we thought we had the key we needed…so we went ahead and locked the door.)  We finished up our work and headed back to the mobile home.  Alas, the key would not work in the door.  After calling Mrs. Tucker and one of the janitors, we waited for Mrs. Tucker to bring another key to us.  That one was tried out, only to prove unsuccessful in opening the door.  It finally dawned on us that the key we needed was inside the locked mobile home!  We eventually had to settle down for the night in our clothes in another prophet’s chamber and wait till mornin’ to get another key.  Whew.  That episode sure had everyone talking!  Somehow the word got out and we couldn’t live it down. 

On Wednesday evening we sang quite a bit and gave testimonies.  The church members seemed receptive and we even joined in on the choir specials.  The rest of the week (besides our usual practice times, financial course, and business work) was spent doing a class for the school choir, playing instruments one evening with some of the church members, eating lunch with the school, taking a squad car tour of Mt. Airy (also known as “Mayberry”, where Andy Griffith lived), singing at the Saturday bus breakfast and then visiting a bus route, and fellowshipping with Mrs. Tucker.  What a full, but fun week!

Sunday, November 22:  The last stop on our Southern Trip was in Roanoke, Virginia, at Bible Baptist Church.  Pstor Tim York and the church took good care of us and responded well to our ministry.  We headed home on Monday, with the car packed to the gills and our hearts full of the memories we had made along the way.