1 Peter 2:24,25 24) Who HIMSELF bore our sins in HIS Own Body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes we are healed. 25) For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Allelujah!!!
Wednesday 07/28/10 The sun is hot this morning and our cabin is quiet and still. Terry takes an early morning photo of the cabin before we eat breakfast on the porch then off we go to the local grocery store and get a cup of coffee and buy WATER. The hike that we were supposed to take today is full (no more cars aloud in) so we take another hike to ‘Sentinel Mountain’. We start the hike around noon passing by ‘Kidney Pond’ where we see a father and son getting into a boat afar off, the young boy has braces on his legs so Terry and I pray for him and we envision him being healed by our Savior’s beautiful Hand, we hear them on the water but they are too far off to meet. The trail woods are dense and it is not as pristine and neat as the typical Canadian trail. America has too many people in it to keep it as untouched as Canada. We gradually climb the mountain and it gets steeper and steeper. Since our hike at “Gros Morne’ a week ago my right hip, leg, ankle and arch of my foot has felt like it may have tendonitis, and we have been praying asking the LORD for healing, it is slowly getting better but today is a challenge. The hike is estimated to last for 6 hours. A short way up we meet Jessie, her son Max, and her niece, Isabella. They are ahead of the rest of their family on the trail, two 4 yr old little girls and their parents and Grand-dad. We talk to Jessie and there is no interest in the things of the LORD. At the mention of Name of JESUS we experience rebuttal – please pray for the children at least that they may meet HIM and accept the gift of Salvation – Isabella, Sonya, Max and Lila. Onwards and upwards we trek to get to the top to see the breath taking view (see photo) that we have heard about. As we ascend I notice the bark from the birch trees have fallen to the ground and it lies in rolls, of what looks like, rolls of wallpaper but when I see it stretched around the trunk of the tree it always puts me in mind of Taffeta and Satin with its beautiful slightly pink and beige hues, and when I touch it, it feels smooth and knotted all at the same time - Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, YOU have made the heavens and the earth by YOUR great power and outstretched ar m. There is nothing too hard for YOU. - Jeremiah 32:17. Finally, we approach the top of the mountain and the view is amazing but it gets even more amazing as we take a walk around the top, Terry takes photo’s while I lay atop the mountain and bask in GOD’S beauty. Across the vast expanse we see six long. Sloping mountains, that shape the skyline, and as I watch the white puffy clouds move across the mountains forming patterns I see that one cloud moves away to make way for another changing shapes all the while - just like all of GOD’S creation, we live and our lives are but a vapor, the flower flourishes and dies - a paraphrase of what James says in the Bible. Absolute beauty is input into our memory boxes- will it stay? Will we remember this visible paint palette of the LORD’S after a while ? We pray so. We start to descend the mountain and we meet not another soul. The hike takes us 4 hours by the time we get back to the pond and as we walk along side it we observe the large cobbled stones that sit out in it the water with the occasional duck or bird perched on one or two of them. All is quiet and beautiful as we continue around the pond to our parked chariot. We are so blessed and so thankful and all we need now is a shower - so we head into town and ask if there may be public showers and Thank the LORD there is, we’ll be back a little later. We go to McD’s for a cup of coffee and meet young Steven ( a jolly large young man ) who tells us he is applying for a job here. So we tell him that the last time we prayed for a person to get a job at McD’s we were in Pensacola, Florida, and she wrote and told us that she got the job. We tell Steven that we would pray to JESUS and ask HIM to open up a door here at McD’s for him, and he is very thankful. We get back with Angie who is finishing off our workers comp renewal, all very tedious paperwork that must be done correctly, and Angie is good for that. After eating we go ( happily) to the showers and get clean on the outside and continue to pray to JESUS to clean us on the inside, remembering how JESUS spoke to the Pharisee’s and told them that they were as white washed tombs, clean on the outside and stinking on the inside. It is getting late as we drive back into the woods to our cabin and spend another night listening to our Christian music, and watching the sun slide beneath the lake. It is getting dark and Terry lights the propane lights in our little cabin we are cozy, happy, blessed and protected by the Righteous ONE of Israel, The GREAT I AM. We ask for the same Blessing on all of our family, here in America and in London and Italy, thanks be to the MASTER the ONE who gave HIS ALL for us ALL.
Thursday 07/29/10 Although there was some showers during the night the sun is shining this morning and the sky is blue with puffy white clouds – Terry tells me not to bother going to the outhouse this morning as he found 3 very big ugly visitors in there – one might guess I mean spiders. We pack up to leave Baxter and head to ‘Lily Bay State Park’ still in Maine and about 150 miles away- far enough away from those spiders. Our drive takes us through many small Maine towns where we notice there is always a river that runs through the town. Wonderful old brick buildings along rivers with covered bridges and we stop to take a photo. An oriental man is standing by the river smoking a cigarette and we smile and ask him his name. He motions that he does not speak English (no understand) so Terry points to himself and say’s “Me, Terry”, and I say, pointing to myself “Me, Carole “ and he says “Me, Dungou” we give him JESUS and some information, maybe he will pass it on if he cannot understand it – only the HOLY SPIRIT can convict them and bring them to JESUS. Please pray that Dungou does meet JESUS and receives HIM into his heart. We stop soon after to take a walk in Guildford ‘Guildford River Walk’. A few people pass us by hurrying on their way with not a chance to stop and chat. I notice the ‘Day Lilies that are a gorgeous light pink with yellow centers, and alongside them are the same flower but maroon with yellow centers I haven’t seen this color Day Lily before. Along the grassy path the river runs to our left and on the right I notice bushes of red berries. The berries look as if they have been glazed ( like glazed cherries), they look waxy and all of them have a little white dot on them which is actually just the sun reflecting its light on them, feeding them with the photo synthesis that helps them to survive and grow. As we drive on we pass many towns with quite large cemeteries which tell us that these towns have housed many people over time and along the centuries it has seen lives come and go. It makes one wonder who of them had and now have JESUS ? The view is amazing as we drive down into probably the largest town here – Greenville. As we descend upon Greenville there are shops, gas stations, a hard-ware store but more importantly there is a beautiful view of ‘Moosehead Lake’. A beautiful sight to behold with green islands dotted on the lake, and the houses in the area are built up high so they can take full advantage of this exquisite view on a daily basis. We stop at one of the local stores to get our groceries and then go to find our campground. Lily Bay State Park is not far so before long we pitch our fortress once more in the hot sunshine and in beautiful surroundings. We take a walk to see the lake and it is glorious. I have noticed since we have returned to Maine that the water level seems to be so much higher than in Canada which doesn’t make sense as Canada gets all the rain, all the lakes here seem to be almost at land level. This lake is navy blue and pristine (see photo) it is rushing aggressively to the water’s edge, at times the wind is so strong that the water is being rushed along so fast making waves throughout the whole body of water. Our hike today is only just over 3 miles and it takes us through a green forest along the banks of Moosehead Lake which rushes alongside us as deep and clean as ever . We stop at a view point and admire the mountains surrounding the lake they are beginning to look purple as the day draws to a close. We walk on and meet Sue and Michael from Hampshire in England, we chat for a while and give our information hoping to hear from them again. After dinner we shower and go to the lake one more time to see the sunset and the mountains in the distance, they are purple framed by a pink sky and as Terry walks out to get a photo, I sit in the car listening to JESUS songs and worship my LORD with joyful tears thanking HIM for all HE is and does – we are HIS and HE is ours. I thank the LORD for healing my foot completely and this morning I said to Terry that my foot has been healed by the LORD and as I said that I turned to read the twelfth chapter of Hebrews (our NT reading) and in there is a note from me to JESUS written a while back and I had written by this following promise “ Journeying with JESUS” You see I had claimed this promise a while back and HE showed it to me at the perfect time when I needed it and the verse reads : “And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but rather be healed” Hebrews 12 :13. Absolutely amazing the LORD was showing me that I claimed this promise a while back in faith, and HE will give it to me, my foot was very bad yesterday and I worked it hard again but today it is healed because our HOLY GOD healed it. Another day for Terry and I in bliss and so very much to be thankful for, and we are.
Friday 07/30/10 We take down our fortress and head to Greenville for a cup of coffee and to get on the internet before we leave. People in this neck of the woods are not the warmest, I guess it’s the cold weather they live with most of the time but today is beautiful blue skies and sunshine I have decided to sing Psalms. We see a female moose while driving the long winding roads, we stop and she crosses the road in a hurry, she’s not sure if we are safe, the LORD tells her we are. As we drive along the tree laden roads we see a river sometimes on the left and sometimes on the right, and many large lakes are ever present, this Maine is full of rippling lakes. Today we are going to Rangeley Lakes State Park - still in Maine. The whole day is spent on the road without much contact with anyone, however, we do stop mid afternoon at a gorgeous overlook and Terry drives the car up the hill while I get out, put on my sun-hat and walk. The view is beautiful, with lots of navy blue mountains framing the landscape. Afar off are green rolling, tree filled, mountains everywhere it sure is a beautiful day today with a cool breeze that keeps everything clean and fresh. I meet Terry at the top at a picnic table and make him a sandwich - a well known delicacy to his palate which is a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Jim asks where we are from in California, he lived in our area for 20yrs and his dad still lives in Tustin. Jim is thinking of visiting him this winter – I don’t blame him as it gets pretty freezing here in the winter months. We talk about the ONE and ONLY JESUS and Jim said that he gave his life to the LORD when he was a young boy but just rededicated himself back to JESUS about a year ago. He lives in a church mission hall, and when I asked if he is getting the teaching of the Word he said he does. He did say that he has been slipping back in attending church as he said he hasn’t been taking showers and feels he doesn’t want to offend anyone. That is the enemy right there and we tell Jim so and mention that the writer of Hebrews tells us “ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:25. The Day is approaching and we must all realize who JESUS Christ is and what HE has done for us. Jim hasn’t left by any means he still is involved with GOD’S people ( the church) so keep him in prayer that the LORD shows him his calling and that he walks in it. Also pray for his dad in Tustin, Jim asked him recently what his situation with JESUS was, and his dad said “ Funny you ask as your sister gave me a Bible yesterday” GOD is totally at work in all of HIS children’s lives. It seems that Wayne ( Jims dad ) is getting on the right path also. ONE way to FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST. We stood on the hill top overlooking GOD’S beautiful Handiwork and held hands and prayed for Jim and his dad, we gave our information and may see Jim in California, we know that the LORD sent us to Jim today as he may be getting too far away the LORD is calling him back. A lot of driving today and as we arrive at Rangeley the little town is busy with vacationers and local people doing their thing, like hiking, canoeing, shopping – you name it. We stop at a scenic view of Rangeley Lake and it is a beautiful sight to behold - a dark blue lake with an island of trees in the middle and the Northern Mountain Range, dark blue and black, framing this picture perfect scene (see photo). On we go to our campsite and put up the fortress for the next three days. We are right on Rangeley Lake and from our fortress we can hear the lapping of the water against the shore, a peaceful, warm evening a bird or two sing softly before entering their nests with their young for the night. Terry and I sit at the lake Terry hoping for a beautiful sunset which isn’t the most impressive but still GOD’S Handiwork, and perfect. We are very thankful for what the LORD has given us, for our beautiful families in the U.S. and in England and Italy - so far away yet - in spirit so close. My doggie is my only sadness as he doesn’t know why we left and he loves us so, but GOD Willing we will see him soon - The LORD will tell him that we are coming home.
Saturday 07/31/10 Terry gets up first and reports back that it looks like rain and I tell Terry that it will be sunny and a little later it is – very sunny and hot. We go off to have a shower and I meet Jordan a young girl who just graduated from school and she tells me she is studying biology and wants to be a Veterinarian. Oh! I always wanted to be a vet when I was a little girl I tell her, my daughter also, we were going to call Angela’s Practice “Angela’s Aminals’ cause she could never say animals she said aminals – cute. When I asked Jordan if she had a relationship with JESUS she said “ Yes, my mum and grandma are Christians” so I said “, but Jordan you will not get in to heaven by what your mum and grandma believe” and she said that she understood that and that she knew her LORD. Pray that Jordan has received JESUS and that her journey to become a vet is a successful one and that she saves many aminals. I gave Jordan my information and we went downtown to get a cup of coffee. I meet Cam ( short for Cameron) at the coffee machines and he is about 11 yrs old and filling up a large cup of decaf coffee. “So you drink coffee” ? I ask him, “Oh yes” he replies : for years now, however, I only drink decaf as the studies show that caffeine stunts the growth in younger people” , “Oh” I said, “ I drank tea in my baby bottle, no wonder I ‘m so short”. He laughed and we went about our business, he is from Connecticut but sounded just like a little Californian – very cute. I couldn’t help but think of our Jude and before long how he will be about this age and I pray every day that we will have much love in our family with Jude being the first of many grand babies and great grand babies – a legacy of children who Love JESUS. Today we hike on part of the Appalachian trail, remember that one? This is where it finishes in Maine, and we have seen many people coming off of it who actually did it, but many are just starting and heading towards Georgia 2600 miles of walking - phew!. We start walking on the upward slope of the mountain going to Piazza Rock, and I feel the soft, springy carpet under my feet. This carpet has taken years to become this soft, years of fallen leaves, bark, pine needles all join together to pad the forest floor. We meet Twiggy and Mabel her dog who have gone 200 miles so far on this Appalachian trail. We tell Twiggy that we will pray to the One and Only JESUS for her safety, and that she will grow on this journey, grow in spirit and grow closer to HIM. She thanks us sincerely and Mabel took the time to take a rest while Twiggy slowed down a bit, Mabel seemed a little tired – pray for her strength also. A little further up on the trail we meet a young ranger who is sitting reading. He tells us that he patrols so many miles of the trail to make sure all are safe, for instance the girls on their own have to sleep somewhere, he knew Twiggy (that is her trail name) her real name is Emily. I ask the ranger about the birds as I am not hearing them anymore in the early hours like I used to and he tells me that mating season is now over. I commented that the one bird that followed us over the Canadian border singing the same song now only has half the tune, he seems to stop half way, and the electronic sound is there but not quite as peircing. In the summer the birds are more quiet because they are not wooing each other any longer. What we are hearing though, is the sound of mating frogs, this sound sounds like a thick rubber band is being pulled back and then let go or maybe more like a gulp in the back of one’s throat - gulppp. We cross over a man made bridge and watch the stream , underneath our feet, flow rapidly by, flowing over the pink pebble –rock. We finally reach the pinnacle and look up at ‘Piazza Rock’ as this large slab of flat rock form juts out and hangs over our heads. Trees growing out of it at different angles and moss filling its crevices we are deep in the forest on the Appalachian trail that many have hiked and many have started but not quite finished. On our way down the mountain we meet our ranger friend and another family from Maine and we chat a while – no bites. Eventually we are back on the earth’s ground and we take a nature trail hike along 6.3 miles of bog land. A man made, recently created, nature trail. The trees have been cut to open up a path for hikers, and the birch bark is still on the forest floor and still resembling rolls of wallpaper but here their color is a pale shade of blue, rather than the pink and beige warmer hues - maybe this forest floor is cooler than the other? Tiny, fragile, white Aster’s grow along the sides of the path like delicate little stars while the roots of the trees are very visible and the dark red ones resemble sprawling chicken legs and feet with claws. They reach out across the forest floor part of their body above ground and part under, maybe one day they will be a tree again! I notice a sign by a tree and it says ‘Trembling Aspen’ Oh! have you seen these? These are the trees that turn an amazing red, or yellow or orange in the fall and they tremble in the breeze and as they tremble they quiver and shimmer and their leaves look like pieces of silver and gold falling from the sky - so beautiful. It is a short trail and on the way back we reach the stream , and we sit and listen to the water trickling over the rocks then running down stream, and as we sit it is not hard to see ( in one’s mind’s eye) the native Indians from long time gone spearing the fish for supper and the women at the water’s edge washing their clothes and cleaning the cor n- husks getting them ready for dinner, I can almost hear their voices. It is time for dinner so we head downtown to buy something to eat and meet Trudy and 3 other Canadian people from London, Ontario, we chat and laugh a while. Life is good and we are fed and full as we head back to our home in the woods. On our way we stop at a part of Rangeley Lake that flows under a bridge we are driving on. We stop and watch the water flow over the rocks as the air begins to cool down for the evening and as we take it all in the sky begins to turn pink, streaks of fiery pink shoot across the evening sky. Maybe a different kind of paradise but surely this is paradise! Back at the camp ground we take one last look at the lake and we follow the foot path from our fortress – there is fire in the sky (see photo) and the long sloping Mountains turn purple and dark blue and they surround the lake. In the distance is a dark silhouette of a fishing boat sitting quietly bobbing up and down on the calm waters, maybe the fisher man is hoping to for the last catch of the day? Before long the ball of fiery sun begins to dip down behind the mountain – beyond the horizon and another day comes to an end - it is all well with my soul - and the LORD is with us, HE gives us peace and love and we want to hold on to all of this and never lose it, but time must go on and so must we, so we go on, and we trust our GOD that HE has everything in the Palm of HIS Mighty Hand.
Sunday 08/01/10 Again we have sunshine and we thank our LORD for these wonderful days HE blesses us with. We get dressed for church and go to the little town of Rangely for a coffee. Terry takes a photo at the lake (while I stay in the car) and he meets two men from Massachusetts who talk to him about how far from home (California) we are. Terry tells them that we are going to the Baptist Church in town and they are also. The Pastor is Scott Wilson and he preaches on law and GRACE. He is in Col. 2:16,20 and he talks about how we exchange JESUS for things which are external, like doing the right thing, or going to church and thinking that is what we must do it to be saved, or like the Pharisee’s would complain and curse JESUS if HE healed a person on the Sabbath, all this is legalism and external things that do nothing for the heart. The heart is what JESUS is intently looking at and HE knows what is in them. We must all be reminded of 1 Tim. 2:5 which reads “For there is one GOD and one Mediator between GOD and men, the Man Christ JESUS. During the service I happened to be looking at this verse and as I was my eye slipped to 1Tim. 2:8 which reads “ I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting”… and in my Bible I have written ‘Nicky’ and I am reminded when our Nicky ( my precious nephew) invited JESUS into his heart ( with pastor Don and Pastor Ron ) at Bible study on Wednesday January 9th 2007 and as Nicky did that we were all around him. I remember I was holding on to his back and right shoulder and after Nicky had asked the LORD into his heart we rejoiced and I saw Nicky peep at me from under his eyes and followed me as I lifted my hands to JESUS and Nicky did the same but the way he did it I just knew that he meant it and that JESUS was right there accepting Nick’s worship and I am certain today that Nicky is alive in heaven with his LORD, I thank the LORD for that time with Nicky forever. Back to the little Baptist Church this morning it is communion today and we receive the BODY and BLOOD of JESUS Christ our Savior and GOD, and we sing Psalms lifting holy hands. After service we chat with Terry’s new found friends Crosby and Ben outside of the church and we all lift up holy hands while Ben prays for us, the remainder of our journey with and for JESUS, which seems to be quickly coming to an end. An incredibly hot day for these parts and Terry and I take a long drive to ‘Grafton Notch State Park’ where we enter New Hampshire for a while but return to Maine. We pass through small towns like Rumford and Mexico where we see shops, red brick buildings, people driving vintage cars, and motorcycles, cars with canoes packed atop the roof, everyone is out on this beautiful hot Sunday afternoon. The mountains are approx 4000 feet high and look just like the ‘Smoky Mountains’ with the vast, green, high, majestic slopes. We are going to take a hike up a steep mountain today which eventually takes us to the Appalachian trail again. The hike is ‘Camels Eyebrow’ and it is about 4000 feet straight up. Why do we do this? I keep asking Terry why as I love to walk along a straight path and enjoy the scenery but the terrain in these areas is all mountainous. We start our hike and immediately we go UP. Just at the base we meet Wayne and Donna who are just starting the Appalachian trail – remember this is 2600 miles long. These guys were very uninformed about the trail and how to handle it. Think about it, no water, no sanitary facilities just out in the mountains for a year, sometimes more. Wayne had a very strange way of looking at things and poor Donna seemed very scared, a tiny little lady that couldn’t really defend herself against a bear etc. Well, needless to say, we PRAYED and Donna cried and we Prayed that the LORD JESUS would be their protector and for them to Trust in HIM. Wayne said he was saved years ago. We leave and go on our hike but never getting them out of our heart and we are still praying for them. The hike is STEEP, I know the LORD gets us up these mountains as I feel like ‘cat woman’ going up really strong and fast, not to show off, I just go up well, Terry also, but coming down is tougher on the knees and ankles. As we walk up the very rocky mountain I notice pieces of silver embedded in the gray craggy rocks. Terry ( my geologist) tells me that it is ‘Quartz Stone’ which is a volcanic type of rock. As I pick a piece up I see I can peel it back and there are many layers of what looks like cellophane. It reminds me of little mirrors all over the rocks , so when you look at it , it looks back at you. We finally get to the top and Terry assures me that going down will be easier as it will be on the Appalachian trail. We look at the unbelievable view from where we stand atop this high green mountain and we spot the road and our car parked way down (see photo), it looks like a dinky toy, we are so high up and the lakes and green mountains are breathtaking. We meet a lovely young couple Ana and Matt who have come the opposite way to us and are now going down the very steep way. It is so steep that we had to hold on to a wire rope to climb up some of the rock. Back down is much easier and we hike down with me always behind Terry as I hang back and talk to my JESUS. We meet three young men and a dog these guys all have trail names even the dogs do, but we have forgotten one of them but we meet Wonderland, Follow (Troy) and Greg (forgotten his trail name) and the female doggie is ‘White Blaze ( real name Sahshi and cute).. We talked to the guy;s a while they know Twiggy she is trailing behind them with Mabel, and we find that Troy ( from GA) and Greg (Augusta) are both believers and have a relationship with their LORD, you know living in the South your gonna get that Good Gospel, whether we believe it or not is the next step. I asked Wonderland if he knew the LORD and he just looked at me and I cupped his face in my hands ( in a motherly way) and said “ are you still wandering in wonderland)` Yes was his answer, so we will pray for them all and that we had to talk about JESUS with all three so that the two Christians can keep in mind and heart that Wonderland is not yet a believer. We said farewell and went on our way, please keep them all in prayer for much protection on this long trail. A little further on we meet Jason “Oh, a Biblical name’ I said and he said “Yes M’am” and knows his LORD Jason is from Louisiana, and knows the other guys they all tend to look after each others’ back. We told them all that we would be praying for them and we ask you to join us if you would. We arrive at the bottom about the same time as Ana and Matt who thank the LORD got down safely. We drive back to Rangeley and after eating we sit at my favorite scenic view (the lake and mountains at Rangeley) and watch the sky turn from a peachy pink color to fire in the sky. The mountains turn purple and navy blue and while the sun slowly descends beneath the evergreen trees the lake is still and calm and we again are sorry to see another day in paradise so quickly come to an end.
Monday 08/02/10 We take down our fortress and head back to New Hampshire to stay at ‘Dolly Copp’ Campground (don’t know why they call it that). We stop to take a short walk by a lake (now in New Hampshire) and we meet Jerry and his dog Hunter. We chat for a while and Jerry is a Christian, he has rescued many dogs and Hunter actually arrived at the local shelter here from Louisiana, Hunter was in Hurricane Katrina and was one of the very many lost animals that got picked up and sent all over the states to be adopted. He is being very taken of by Jerry and Hunter likes the lake but goes in just up to his belly he won’t go any further due to the Hurricane he suffered through. We said our farewells and onward we go driving through the small towns which actually resemble the small New Jersey towns. Very old, some dilapidated, buildings resembling the Old Eastern Seaboard. Many red brick buildings some built over the river, I suppose it was the old mill back in the day. Houses built up high with steps leading up to them (very New Jersey, New York), and a huge Catholic Church towering over the town and the name of this town is Berlin and it seems like a ‘blue collar’ town, maybe one that Bruce Springsteen (the Boss) would sing about. We find the campground put up the fortress and we hear that all week we are supposed to be getting showers, we go off for a hike and pray for sunshine. Our hike takes us along the “Old Jackson Road’ which leads to ‘ Bald Spot’ overlook (see photo). I always tell Terry to go ahead as I love to take in all of GOD’S beauty in HIS forest, and I see tree roots growing over rocks, massive rocks that are sitting in the forest , it looks as though the rock just burst out of the ground under the tree and the tree stood its ground ( is that a pun or what? ) and continued to dig in its heels (roots). The birch bark that lies on the floor is like golden shining satin this evening, it is the light, it is different this time of day, and as the last burst of light hits the forest floor it catches the bark and the bark comes alive- shining as gold - and I am reminded of Aarons Rod in the Bible - the Rod that budded the one that was put into the ark of the Covenant – the Holy of Holies. When we return to our car it is getting late and we take a shower in the facilities that they offer here (outside of the campground). The end of another day and we praise the LORD for HIS Mighty protection and LOVE. It is late and as we settle in our fortress and play ‘uno’ ( a simple card game). What is that we hear ? Rain is starting to fall and it falls all night quite heavy at times, Terry reads from the book of Hosea and we gain wisdom from the HOLY TRINITY.
Tuesday 08/03/10 Well the sun is out but it looks a little tenuous as we chat with our little neighbor next to us, Mark Mitrano (from just outside of Boston). He is about 15 or 16yrs old and was advising us what trails to take in the area, he is a fisherman and we gave him our James’ facebook info ( James has a photo of a big catch) No not Jamie Fisher but a 5lb+ trout. We take Marks advise and go off to the “Imp’ trail a 4.4 round trip hike. But let me tell you don’t be mislead by the name ‘Imp” as this is a very steep hike. It seems we are in the neck of woods where there are these mountainous hikes they are not pretty walks in the forest ( wish they were) but we are climbing upwards the whole time 2.2 miles straight UP. I love to walk on level ground and look at all the beauty that the LORD has put on these mountain floors. I see very old trees and there is a fungus growing on them, the fungus being some sort of mushroom and they come in all shapes and sizes. I see wonderful works of art as trees are laden with this fungus and as I look closely at this particular tree the fungus is jutting out of it in layers, maybe 10 layers deep, dark brown with white edges and to me it resembles frills on a Petticoat that maybe the ‘Can Can’ dancers might wear, but as I touch them they are quite hard and rubbery. There are other kinds of fungus/mushrooms that are in a cluster they resemble mushrooms only they are a yellow ochre hue. We climb and climb and eventually reach the top, it is a gorgeous view as we look upon the vastness of these green mountains. The trek down is tough and just about half way down the heavens open up and we get wet, this time our rain suits are sitting nice and dry in the car, it was quite sunny when we left. Troopers that we are we continue on and finally get to the prettiest part of all which I didn’t mention – a full bodied water fall roaring over large rocks creating a running river throughout the fore, and it reminds me of a brides veil ( maybe Angela’s). We decide to take a drive on the Kancamangus Scenic Highway, and we go through a town (North Conway) that looks so much like Gatlinburg in Tennessee, and Terry reminds me that we have taken the boys here to New Hampshire before with his Mum and Dad, the boys were very young but we remember them walking up the mountains with walking sticks, we have photo’s – so cute. This North Conway is bustling with people and we stop for a cuppa and all that we say hello to are too busy doing their own thing – no chance to tell them about JESUS. We drive the scenic route and stop at ‘Rocky Gorge’ and this time did a wonderful level ground walk around ‘Falls Pond’. Rocky Gorge is an incredible water fall and we walk over the bridge and look beneath our feet at the clear, clear stream water that shows every rock in all different hues of brown. Around the pond we go on the trail and looking over at the pond I see two tree logs lying in the water – it is HIS Cross (see photo). Do you see the sword that pierced HIS side? It’s towards the end of the day and Terry and I drive through Gorham where a band is playing in the park and lots of people are sitting in chairs and on the grass listening to, what sounds like, good ole 70’s music. We drive on to get one last cup of decaf at McD’s. Terry goes up to order the coffee and I run to the bathroom , in the bathroom , and in my peripheral vision I notice a younger person to my right, and as I went into the bathroom stall I said “LORD if that young person is there when I come out I know that YOU have an assignment for me”, and she was. “ I mention something to her while washing my hands, and she (Krystal) begins to talk to me, she tells me that she is OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) these are people who are obsessed with doing certain things, like washing their hands 100 times a day, touching a door knob 15 times before you can do something else and much more it is often someone who is out of control of the situation and tries to control it. Krystal explains that she has had a hard life and that she and her 6 brothers and sisters have grown up in foster homes, her mum on drugs, dad just died in prison- “ He was extremely smart” she says, “He just had a short temper” and the story is that he shot his neighbor on the shoulder for shooting his (her dad’s) dog. Well, the neighbor’s brother happened to be a police officer and they put him in prison. I can just hear my sister Barbara and my nephew Dean and me saying “I would have shot him in more places than his shoulder”, we are all animal lovers NO not more than people, but some people are just too cruel, and I know that the LORD will deal with them, HE created these beautiful animals for our pleasure not to hurt them. Krystal then went on to tell me what her brother had done to her ex boyfriend ( I won’t repeat it, it is too harsh) and the hardest part is this young little thing has a kidney disease and needs a transplant and now she has some disease which makes her subject to aneurisms, we think that she said her dad died of this ( by now we have come outside the restroom and Terry has joined us). The LORD has given me the hard road when it comes to giving HIM to others - I said to Krystal “ there is ONE that Loves you so much” and told her what JESUS had done just for her, she cannot hear me, I know it is enemy attack, she spoke faster each time I mentioned the name of JESUS, and told me that she wasn’t religious, “me either” I said “ rather I seek a relationship with JESUS to Know HIM and what HE has done for the human race”. She answered with things like “I am not perfect” which I would respond “Nor am I, just forgiven”. I told her that we would pray for her so I ask ALL of you out there to Please pray for Krystal, I asked her if I could pray for her now and she said “o.k.” then she quickly started talking about other things and asked if we would like to meet her boyfriend “Jeff”. We went over to meet Jeff and gave all of our information asking that they keep in touch. A tough assignment 2 Corinthians 10:3,53) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in GOD for pulling down of strongholds, 5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. It is quite late so we head back to our campground and instead of having dinner we went to join out neighbors from Boston (Mark’s family) - Al and Jean and their daughter Sheryl and grand-kids Mark, Katy Danielle, Nick and Ashley and the cutest big black doggie called ‘Ellie’. We sat and talked about many things and JESUS and we had a wonderful evening enjoying the company with this wonderful family, hope we all stay in touch on facebook. The rain fell intermittently but around 11pm it started to come down hard so we all went our separate ways to try and stay dry – some hopes of that as the whole night it rained harder than ever before, so hard that the rain came under our fortress, in between the ground cover and our fortress, and it was as if we were sleeping on a water bed. But we are extremely thankful to our LORD for All HE has done for us and continues to do, we are dry and warm in the fortress and praise HIS Holy name always.
• Please pray for my brother-in- law in London, Dougie, he has been sober for 8+ months and my sister is so happy, please pray that he surrenders it to JESUS and that JESUS will take the habit forever – gone. Please pray for Monica’s daughter, Susan, she has just found out that she has breast cancer, please pray that the LORD has HIS way and Heals her on this earth. Thank you always for your prayers that the LORD hears.