It's been a while since I got on here. Been real busy of late. Mary and I have decided to stay in Colorado, at least for the foreseeable future. We are working on building a Mission here in Southern Colorado to give a hand up to the homeless and others of lesser means. We planted a church here out of our travel trailer in January. We started with 8 people, 3 other couples besides Mary and myself. Since then we've grown to 23 on our rolls, almost half of them homeless people. The goal is not to build a church building, but a Mission as an extension of the Church. We have finally procured financial oversight from a group of men in Texas. The plan is to purchase a plot of land and begin a self sustaining community. We have plans to build a large shop building / barn that will allow us to teach several skills, woodworking, welding, plumbing, electrical, etc. We have also seen the need to provide educational instruction as many of these people do not have a high school education. I have been in contact with several retired school teachers who have expressed desire to come help us with that end of the Mission. The barn will also serve as a place of worship on Sundays. We will build the barn first, then as it comes to completion, we will start the process of building small houses to put our people in and get them out of the tents they've been living in.
While we wait on the funds to begin that process, we have already started teaching them how to make various small wood working projects to sell instead of having them panhandle for money on the street corners. Our first project is making walking sticks. Mary went back to Texas last week for the grandson's birthday and while there she brought back my lath and turning tools, etc. I'll start turning pens again pretty soon and also start teaching the others how to do the same.
There's a lot going on. We came here to treat and cure my cancer. We've done that. But we've decided to stay for the opportunities that God has put before us. We're done with pretty churches with pretty pews, pretty stain glassed windows, etc. We're gonna build a barn. I figure if the Good Lord found one worthy to be born in, then we might as well carry on the tradition by worshiping in one. LOL.
Just wanted to check in. Tell you all I'm alive and kicking and doing very well. I feel better than I have in years. I've also dropped 75 pounds from the 325 I started with when we got here in September of last year. I aim to lose another 25 or so and get back to my optimum weight. I got tired of being a fat body with no energy. And I got tired of being sick. I forgot what it feels like to feel good. Praise the Lord.
Shalom!
Clay
While we wait on the funds to begin that process, we have already started teaching them how to make various small wood working projects to sell instead of having them panhandle for money on the street corners. Our first project is making walking sticks. Mary went back to Texas last week for the grandson's birthday and while there she brought back my lath and turning tools, etc. I'll start turning pens again pretty soon and also start teaching the others how to do the same.
There's a lot going on. We came here to treat and cure my cancer. We've done that. But we've decided to stay for the opportunities that God has put before us. We're done with pretty churches with pretty pews, pretty stain glassed windows, etc. We're gonna build a barn. I figure if the Good Lord found one worthy to be born in, then we might as well carry on the tradition by worshiping in one. LOL.
Just wanted to check in. Tell you all I'm alive and kicking and doing very well. I feel better than I have in years. I've also dropped 75 pounds from the 325 I started with when we got here in September of last year. I aim to lose another 25 or so and get back to my optimum weight. I got tired of being a fat body with no energy. And I got tired of being sick. I forgot what it feels like to feel good. Praise the Lord.
Shalom!
Clay