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Greetings,
This year has been a very eventful year for us. Aren't they all? It never ceases to
amaze us as to what the next step is that the Lord has for us. In 1998, the Lord laid it
on Jim's heart to be debt free. Somewhere along the line in 1999, Jim started praying
daily "Lord, if it is your will we want to be debt free by the end of the year".
We put our house up for sale and in less than 30 days we had a contract. We got the
contract the day before we left for two weeks down south. The contract called for a 30 day
settlement. Which meant that we had two weeks after we returned to pack. And pack we did,
that is all we did for the next two weeks. We were both amazed as we filled up the first
large storage bin, the second, the third and the fourth! Where did we get all this stuff?
Well in analysis, a great deal of the stuff belongs to the Kingdom Karactors. It Filled
one of those bins right up and more to boot.
During the course of moving we had a two day conference and a Halloween alternative puppet
show to do. Whew, it still is tiring just to think of it. On October 27, we went to
settlement. Jim says to tell everyone to be careful what you pray for. Where did we go?
Well, that is another story. We weren't sure were we were to go so we prayed and waited
for direction. We finally accepted our friend Georgia's invitation to come and stay at her
home. Jim was building a house which was to go to settlement on October 29, and on October
26, we found out that the buyer no longer qualified for a mortgage and that the deal was
off. So we moved into that house, of course its not quite done. We slept on the mattress
on the floor and had a table and chairs. It was like staying in some really low rent
motel. And it was a great thing that this happened, at least for us, because A few days
before settlement Georgia had to have some surgery done on her back and she was in no
shape to take care of us and our Tigger cat. So as according to the scriptures, we had a
need and God provided for our need.
We have since installed the carpet, got furniture from the storage bin, we actually
emptied one bin! This is a real feat in itself, as the house we are staying in is maybe
900 square feet and well, you know how big the South Shore Road house was over 3000 square
feet. So we still have lots in storage. And most of it will stay where it is until we move
again. So here is our temporary current address: 63 Kings Way Drive, North East, MD 21901.
Our phone number is 410-287-7457. Kinda cool that the Kingdom Karactors are on Kings Way
Drive, huh?
So the past couple of years have been really interesting. We have done fewer puppet shows
but more teaching and conferences and traveling. A few highlights were: 11 shows in the
elementary schools in Bayonne NJ. We did two shows a day and each show at different
schools, it was hectic. We performed before 5000 + children. Our trip to Iceland as
chaperones for high school seniors. What a wonderful country! The kids were great and we
had a wonderful, wonderful time. We saw glaciers, volcanoes, hot spring, black sand
beaches and the list goes on and on. Their main industry is fishing so needless to say
dinners were an event to look forward to.
We traveled many miles, The Children’s Pastors Conference in Nashville TN, Clownfest
in Seaside Heights, NJ, Clown-around-orama in Charlotte, NC, Clown-O-Rama in Ocean City
New Jersey, Sunday School conventions in Washington DC and upstate New Jersey and Cheer
Leaders for Christ, note: Bonnie is now the national puppetry director for this
organization.
We had the honor of presenting the Sunday morning worship service at the South East Clown
Association Convention in Orlando Fla., over 300 were in attendance to join Happy and
Merry Heart in a service to Worship the King. The service was alive with songs, puppets,
clowns, sermon and the Clown Prayer. We were so blessed!!!!!
Our oldest grandson Jamie has announced his engagement to Linsley his college sweetheart.
A December 2000 wedding is planned. It makes you feel sorta old to know one of your
grandkids is getting married and that you could become a great-grandparent. Why, I
remember like it was only yesterday................speaking of getting old, Ol Jim had a
wonderful 60th birthday party with 87 people stopping by, it was good fellowship, good
food and good grief is he really that old?
When we have sorted out all the stuff and moved into our next house, we will be in touch.
As always, if the Lord brings us to your mind, please stop and pray for us and we will do
the same for you. Let us hear from you, we always love to hear what the Lord is doing in
the lives of others.
Much Love,
Jim and Bonnie
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