God hears the prayers of ALL, no matter how we pray 🙏
Good morning on this gray and rainy morning in NYC!! I see it is about noon😀 I don't have long to type now, as we soon need to get ready and head to Lincoln to sing.... hopefully bless some weary and sick hearts today! It was our morning " off" and maybe only the good Lord knows how much we needed the extra sleep and down time! It's amazing what more sleep and relaxation can do for mind, soul and body!! We had a big breakfast, so we will skip lunch!! Ron is down in the tract room, getting some work done on some routes. I did a bit of organizing and cleaning food, fridges and freezers up! Jordan says he will cook this evening!!! 🤗
Last Thursday evening, Ron and I sat home while guys went to Macy's and stopped off in Rogers apartment for popcorn!
Our One Vanderbilt experience happened on Friday evening!! We left the house around 6:15 and got down to the Bryant Park area and wandered around a bit aimlessly, trying to find a place for supper! We were on a time crunch sort of deal....so settled on Pershing Square, rather apprehensively....looked Oriental, but was American food! Ron and I both settled on a waffle for supper and I have never seen a waffle decorated so pretty with fruit and a sprig of mint in the center!! We needed to be at Vanderbilt by 8, and with not having far to walk, we made it! 3 of the guys had burgers and one had 🦆! ( Duck ) We had tickets to go to the summit....we missed the sunset by just minutes, but was so awesome anyway! Glass floors, glass walls, we all water shoe booties, so no scratches on the floor! Plus I was wearing leggings, let's just say with everything being glass, it felt more modest! 😀 Beautiful awesome views of the city, we now call home!! One room, I didn't care for was, the room loaded with silver balloons and people and noise and balloons popping, which I hate!! So we made a exit....a truly grand tower experience!
Back from Lincoln, had a very rewarding afternoon, so many wanted songs today. One lady came and requested that we sing for her Mother, told us her Mother needs the Lord. The mom seemed appreciative! In another room, all of a sudden the lady in bed A, yanks back the curtain and loudly proclaimed something to the nurse who was with patient B. So we quit singing, just in case she wasn't liking it at all....oh no....it was SO beautiful!!! So we again started to sing Amazing Grace! Another lady started digging in her purse while we were singing....she said, you said you were a church, put this in the offering on Sunday when you go! Handed over a x amount of cash! Today we did something new, went to sing for a patient back in the ED .... first time Ron and I had been back to the ED. Nice to know where the guys are working! Seemed like hours well lived!
Saturday....Papa Isaac's Akinyumbo's retirement gathering! The day was here!! Roger took public over to La Guardia airport and over to Avis....he had rented a Suburban, but seemingly they were all out on recall. So they brought up this little car....I can just hear Roger chuckle!! Not near enough room for Roger, the rest of us and what we had to take! Finally rented a Ford 12 passenger van! Room enough.....😜 When he got back, we loaded up, Eric Pobee came and went along with us. Headed to Fishkill....taking the scenic route by Bear mountain. Ate breakfast/ lunch at Cracker Barrel in Fishkill. Had to wait a long time on our food! We all got pancakes. Went to Adams Fair acre store and picked up the 3 fruit trays that were ordered. Got to the rec center by shortly after 12:30 and unloaded and set tables etc. Loved ones, friends and family all started to gather.... family and friends of the Akinyumbo's! Some dressed in bright Africa finery! Very colorful! Former missionaries etc ...I met lots of new people!! Seen some people we hadn't been with in ages...Rol and Teresa, Ed and Yvette. Met Galen and Julie Becker... Charles and Laura's friends.....and many more. Sugar Hill unit was there, Kendon's and Clay's.....I think we were around 70 or so....give or take. Ron left the opening song, Open the wells of salvation, a favorite of Papa....Elmer had the welcome. Rol Loewen the history etc of Nigeria and where Papa fit into that. Then Papa spoke a long time....then a special prayer by Paul Raber. Memories by whoever.... another 2 favorite songs, by unit boys and us. The lily of the valley and Draw me nearer. Closing prayer by Uncle Franklin Wenger. Service was over 2 hours long, just saying!! 😄 Then the food.....oh the food! There was a buffet of Nigerian food.....and a buffet of American food!!! Family provided the Africa food and we did the sub sandwiches, chips, fruit trays and bars. You could partake of whatever food you do desired! There was no lack!! Ron and I sat with Jerry and Schindy Tessier from Maine and got acquainted with them....it was our pleasure! Clean-up up and visiting....and we had to be out of the building by 6:30. A guy from the rec center sat there the whole time and I wonder what he thought? He was offered food and claimed he was good! Uncle Franklins climbed in with us and we were off, but not far!!!! Roger already stopped at Fishkill creamery for ice cream!!!!!!!! Several others driving by, honked and grinned!!!! Once home, we unloaded, got Uncle's up to our apartment and we spent the evening at home! Guys fixed Uncle Franklin a root beer float, which he did not turn down. Roger returned the rented van back to the airport yet....and coming up out of the subway, his heart went into A- fib and he was not doing well....he made it back home to our front steps and sent a message to Elsie, but she didn't see it. So he sat out there for 15 minutes before she noticed him, as she was going down with a bag of trash. Got him to their apartment and came up to ours and asked if Ron could come down... I went too, not a well man....I went and got the guys in the basement and we all together decided to call 911. Ron had a prayer with Rogers and guys...I was downstairs doing a few odd things for Elsie. 2 EMT's came up, took vitals and ended up taking him in. Long story short....his heart went back into rhythm yesterday afternoon.... finally...and another thing, he as finally moved to a real hospital room last night at midnight! All previous days and hours were spent in ER. I believe he is being dismissed this afternoon. Had some testing done and all.
Sunday.....we got into high gear....had breakfast to get on, Elsie's food to take care of and my own food! Company in church was Uncle Franklins, Anthony and Emily Holdeman's from Russellville and 2 little boys and Randy and Leanna Wadel from Bonners Ferry. Jordan and Kate Wiebe from Vermont also worshipped with us, before heading to the airport and to Israel!!!! Randy had SS opening and Uncle Franklin the sermon. Lunch was Chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice, green salads, chips and salsa and dessert. In the afternoon, Uncle Franklins and us went and rode the Staten Island ferry and they were beyond thrilled to be doing something in NYC!! Got taco's and gelato on our way home....at Penn station. They both did great with the walking and stair climbing!!! Kendon's, Clay's and the guys dined on gumbo, rice and potato salad back at home.
Uncle Franklins were around until noon on Monday yet....we had a early lunch at the house. Then drove around a bit and off to LaGuardia. I was so embarrassed, I fell asleep as we drove and Karen didn't have anyone to visit with!!!! So nice to be with them! They were our first personal company!! Kendon and Clay went with the 2 boys on their walking/ subway tract tour. Kaitlyn and Dana came along and sewed all day in the social hall. Olivia and Thomas were up here some of the day and I pulled some Grandma duties! In the evening was Tribeca....Clay and Dana met us there! Had a good rewarding service, sang 5 songs, Wade read a tract and also had some Bible scriptures to read. 5 more songs....we visited some....one of the ladies wanted a prayer, but when we all gathered round, she prayed..... after she was done, she said anyone could add if they wanted to! Ron had another short prayer. It was a special rewarding evening! Off to Mulberry Street to find Italian food for supper and we tried a new one, Sofia's....it was good! My chicken Parmesan was bigger then what I imagined! So Wade finished it for me!!!
Roger and Elsie have had company in the midst of the hospital stay....his nephew Tony and Sammy Penner from Newell SD. Came on Sunday and left this afternoon!
Earlier we heard Jordan asking his Dad how to fix lamb chops, so I assume that's for supper! 😊
The sun is now shining brightly and therefore I am glad!!
Close now with love and prayers, Mama Carol