Grammer

February 2010
Dear Friends in Christ,

On November 30, our son-in-law, Nathan Carmichael was injured on the job when a tree they were bringing down hit him. We left 2 days later with the Drs.’ opinion that though the injuries were quite serious, it was nothing he wouldn’t recover from. However, it wasn’t long after that, he developed pneumonia and spent 3 weeks on a ventilator fighting for his life. Janet returned to North Carolina for 4 weeks to help Chris be free to be at his side as much as needed.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last month’s letter was late due to our traveling. This month’s letter will be early-due to travel. Janet, our family secretary, is heading for North Carolina to be with the Carmichael family. Our daughters have been taking turns staying and helping them, but need to get back home to family and responsibilities. Now it’s Janet’s turn to help out. The goal is to help maintain a normal daily routine for the kids (12, 14 & 16) and to hold and pray with them during the evening hours when they may feel a bit overwhelmed with all that’s going on.

Dear Friends in Christ,

I had hoped to get this letter out to you last week. However, we were traveling and our laptop wasn’t up to the task. I guess it’s time to start saving up for a laptop that is more capable and reliable.

Each year, during the holiday season, we like to spend a few days with some of our kids and grandkids. This year, we were once again in North Carolina and able to see 3 of our daughters and their husbands and 8 grandkids! We had 3 days together and everyone seemed to be having a great time together and filled with thankful hearts.

Dear Friends in Christ,

It was the fall of 1972 when we packed up our family and headed for the southwestern US. It has become our home now and it’s hard to believe that it has been over 37 years. We’ve seen trials and triumphs over the years and have found our God to be faithful through them all. Our calendar isn’t as full as when we were younger, but we feel that our labor is more productive as the years increase. It seems that more often the Indian people come to us than we travel to them. Our plan is to continue to serve as long as He gives us service to do.

Dear Friends in Christ,

This past month we were able to be with the folks at the Yavapai-Apache Baptist Church in Camp Verde for a couple of week-ends, filling in for one of our missionaries who was away. We enjoyed the time with these folks in God’s Word. The Church is growing; not only in size, but in spiritual understanding. They are meeting in the Tribe’s Community Center at present, but looking into possibilities for their own building. Please pray for wisdom for them and that the Lord will open doors.

Dear Friends in Christ,

We just returned from a trip to Iowa where our missionaries under IBIMI had their annual Mission Retreat. It’s encouraging to hear the field reports and know how to better pray for each other. Not only is the fellowship good, it was a great time together in the Word of God. We had a flat tire to deal with about 1 mile from the turnoff to Flagstaff from the Interstate, but the spare went on easily and quickly and we were thankful to be home again. We enjoyed the trip and had great hosts in Iowa-but there’s no place like home and no bed like your own.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Although this is our letter for August, I’m actually writing in during the last few days of July. The Western Navajo Bible Fellowship (WNBF) has just started their annual, week-long Family Bible Conference here in Flagstaff. Sam has been helping them throughout the year in planning the Bible messages that will be covered. He will be teaching each morning as we study the book of Ephesians. The evening sessions will cover Eschatology/the Doctrine of Last Things. We always enjoy these meetings as we see many old friends from around the Navajo Reservation that we seldom see during the year. Classes are taught for all ages and include an English and a Navajo class for the adults.

Dear Friends in Christ,

What a full month this has been. Even though the weather has been a bit cool for the summer months, the calendar has a typical summer schedule for us.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The first two week-ends of this past month, we traveled west rather than the normal trip east to Tuba City.  This time, we were headed for the Hualapai Reservation to the Peach Springs Baptist Church.  It was a real treat to spend some time with these friends again. The pastor is our present Mission Director who needed to be gone for his daughter’s graduation from Bible College back in North Carolina.

Dear Friends in Christ,

On February 26, we received a call that Janet’s Mom had died.  She had lived in a nursing home for several years with Parkinsons Disease and we’re thankful her suffering is over.  One brother asked, “Do you think Mom has found Dad yet?”  The response was, “No, I think she’s still standing in awe, looking on the face of Almighty God!  Maybe Dad is still standing there in awe and neither one even sees the other because of seeing our Creator!”  Just the thought of being in Heaven in His presence thrills the soul and comforts the heart.  Janet was able to fly back to New York to be with her family during this time. Thank you to those who sent cards, called, and even helped with the travel expenses.