Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Somewhere over the Pacific…

Filed in NHL |

Journal,

It is now 9 p.m. Its been? twelve hours since I heard from Nathan. He called this morning at 9 a.m. to let me know that he and Patrick were boarding the plane that will take them from? Dallas to? Toyko, Japan. Flight time will be? thirteen hours.? Right now they are somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.

From Japan they will then go to? the Philippine Islands. Afterwards they? fly to? Nepal via Hong Kong, and then to India.? Some of the places that Nathan and Patrick are going to are places of my own sojourning during my Navy days. I was stationed in the Philippines for a year and a half at Sangley Point Naval Air Station. (Across the bay from Manila.)

Also spent a year and a half aboard the USS Calvert. (Part of the 7th Fleet.) We made port calls in Hong Kong and in a number of other? far east places. Our overseas home port was in Japan. Our ship even had an orphanage in Tokyo that we sponsored. It was my ‘ordered’ pleasure to do some work at the orphanage.? :)? ? ? ? (Well those days were long ago. My Navy time was from 1959 to 1963. But isn’t it interesting that Christian Challenge is still in the orphanage business.)

Nathan and Patrick will be? setting up twelve film ministry teams to do Christian evangelism? in the Philippines, in Nepal, in India, and in Pakistan.? By the way anyone who is interested can? keep up with Nathan’s and Patrick’s mission trip by way of? Nathan’s blog. Go to:

http://nathanmartin.blogspot.com/? ?

Now let me? give an update on our? new Sunday evening Bible study. I was very pleased at the turn out last evening. There was a time during the ministry that I could not help but notice there were? few dry eyes in the congregation. After the study we had our traditional sharing time. It always blesses me to hear various members share from their hearts.

Actually I was a bit concerned about having the evening study? on the two Sundays that Nathan will be away. (Since I’ll be filling in for him on those Sunday mornings.)? But after the? interest shown last evening I felt it would be good to continue with the evening studies. I’ll simply need to prepare for two studies each of those Sundays. Shouldn’t be a problem for an old salt.

The only change will be? Sunday, July 22. That will be? our? general membership meeting. I’ll preclude that evening Bible study since the membership meeting will be at 3 p.m. Nathan will be sharing his report on the missions trip.? In addition we will be selecting four new members to the board of counselors. (Don’t want to fill the? day up with too many meetings.)

Speaking of my Navy days, here is something you may find quaintly interesting. The US Navy is very traditional. One of the Navy traditions has to do with a ship crossing the equator. Regardless of how long a person has been in the Navy, until they actually? cross the equator aboard ship, they are called a pollywog. After they cross the equator they are then called a shellback.

What happens is that as the ship is crossing the equator, it stops dead still in the water. All the pollywogs have to undergo an intiation with ‘king Neptune.’ It can be a bit of a nasty affair. Almost like College hazing. To make things short, I’m still a pollywog. The one time our ship was about to cross the equator we had a change in orders and had to turn back north. (It was during the Vietnam era.)? – Don’t even think about starting to call me a pollywog –? ?

Well, it is almost 10 p.m. Nathan and Patrick are much closer to Japan. Only a couple hours before they land. Of course I know they are being well covered by a great many prayers.

Guess I’ll close for now. This is going to be a busy week for me. Got a lot of catching up to do. (After all our traveling.)

May all of you have a wonderful Independance Day on the 4th.

The Lord richly bless you,

Buddy

?