Volume 9, Issue 35 Friday, August 31, 2007
Hello All,
My Uncle Willard Taylor passed away Sunday, August 26, 2007. Uncle Bob, the kid of the family, is now the sole surviving child of Fort and Mary Taylor, my maternal Grandparents.
Coincidentally, it was just last Saturday that Shelly Burgess helped me look up the Taylors in the Columbia County Census of 1880. There was Henry Taylor and his family. According to the Census record, they had been born in Mississippi. Humm . . . we always thought they were from Georgia. I guess we’ll have to look into that. Listed last among his children was Fort Taylor, who would become my grandfather. He was just one year old in 1880.
Fort would go on to marry Mary Talley and they would have seven kids; Cecil, Fort, Geraldine, Durwood (Hoot), Willard, Iris, and Robert. These seven kids would be the aunts and uncles of my extended maternal family. What a difference they made in my life.
I’ve always appreciated my family, but more so lately. There are so many people I know that don’t have strong family ties. And the foundation that family provides just isn’t there for them.
As a child, I didn’t appreciate what a value my family was. I just enjoyed the fruits of the family. My uncles all looked out after me when my dad died. They weren’t my best friends, they were my uncles. They taught me, helped discipline me and put up with me when I was really a spoiled brat.
Of course, my aunts had more interaction with me and my cousins, due to the fact that my uncles were at work and not at home as much. Our aunts fed all us kids, took us to the lake, taught us to swim, and generally shared the joys and heartbreak of raising young folks.
But Uncle Cecil, Uncle Hoot, Uncle Willard, Uncle Fort, Uncle Paul and Uncle Bob populated our childhood as the heads of the family. They taught us to “pick” at one another and not be offended. They taught us to laugh and to tell stories. They taught us the value of work and its rewards. They also taught us the consequences of disobedience.
Uncle Willard was somewhat of a mystery to me then. He was the deep bass tone in our lives. I spent the night at Uncle Hoot, Uncle Paul and Uncle Cecil’s homes. I hung out at Uncle Cecil’s store. I played at the packing house under the watchful eyes of Uncle Fort and Uncle Paul. I lived with Uncle Bob and Grandmother. But Uncle Willard was sort of off to the side at that time, spending much of his time working or other activities that didn’t directly intersect with me.
In addition to actual experience, I learned about my Uncles thru the stories of my mother and aunts. One of my favorite Uncle Willard stories involves his helping transport my mother to Willis Knighton Hospital in Shreveport for daily treatments. He and Uncle Bob were taking turns driving her and one day, when it was Uncle Willard’s turn, she spotted a watermelon stand beside the road between Plain Dealing and Benton, Louisiana. My mother said “Willard, let’s stop and get a watermelon.” My uncle, who was known as a man of few words, replied; “I’m not a taxi.” and kept driving.
A more serious incident that was related by my family was how Uncle Willard returned from World War II with a fear of the deep rumble of trains coming thorough Taylor. It seems that sound was similar to the sound of German bombers overhead. They told how he would insist that the family leave the house and shelter in the ditch in front of our Grandmother’s home; each time a train came barreling through town. At first, of course, they resisted. But his agitation was so severe that they eventually relented and would leave the house with him to take shelter in the ditch. After a time, he acclimated to being safe at home and no longer insisted that they take shelter.
In our “Cedar Chest” I found photos of General Eisenhower visiting with the paratroops as they boarded C-47s in preparation for D-Day. I assume that Uncle Willard took these since mom said he was in the Army Air Corp, stationed in England.
Once, I got up the nerve to ask Uncle Willard about the war. True to form, he made light of it. He told me that he had the “Best job in World War II.” I asked what job that was. He explained that he’d been a sheet metal repair man on P-51 “Mustang” fighters. “I had buddies that worked on P-47s and they often had to work 16 or 20 hours a day patching them up. But a P-51 would usually crash if you shot it with a BB gun. So my planes rarely came back with any damage requiring my skills.”
To me, this speaks volumes about Uncle Willard. He didn’t complain but was always positive when questioned on almost any subject.
My Cousin Tawana related: “...Uncle Willard didn't have a lot to say, but when he did say something it had a lot of meaning. He was always right there to help out, or just be a shoulder to lean on in time of need. He will be greatly missed ...”
Like Tawana said, ne wasn’t a big talker but I listened when he did speak. And, like most of the Taylor family, his actions spoke louder than his words. He was true to his faith and his family. You could depend on Uncle Willard and Aunt May Joyce to be there for you.
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We suffered another loss this week. Hoover and Lois Doss moved to Florida. It’s a great opportunity for them but a real loss to MCC. Hoover and Lois were always there when needed. Ministering in Children’s Church, Dream Center, as Ushers, etc. They are great Christians and Super friends who will be missed by all of us.
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Annette’s working on my bathroom again. If you remember, she had Elaine Rice do a “Mirror Mosaic Wall” across from the toilet. It really turned out beautiful and enabled me to sit in the bathroom and “Reflect.”
Now she’s “texturing” the unmirrored walls. I have to admit it looks nice. Problem is, today she asked me how I liked the color she’s painting it.
It all looked the same to me. I was stymied. If I said it looked great and she was testing me, I was sunk. If I said I couldn’t tell and she had started painting it, I was sunk.
Fortunately, she gave me a hint as to the color and I was able to detect a slight hue to part of the wall. I told her it was beautiful.
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Vanessa, Josiah and Ethan came up for Uncle Willard’s funeral. I never get tired of my kids and grandkids. Josiah is a joy and Ethan is growing faster than ever.
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Everyone has their blonde moments, but babbly Miss Teen South Carolina had hers this week during a nationally televised beauty pageant. Lauren Caitlin Upton was one if the five semifinalists when she was asked: "Why can't 1/5th of Americans locate America on a map?" -- Her answer couldn't have made less sense if she were speaking in ancient Selonian ... in fact, maybe she was!
But she’s not the first young lady to trip over one of those semifinalist questions. My classmate, Ann Landes, made it to the top five of the 1968 Junior Miss pageant. Everyone in Magnolia was watching, along with the rest of the US when she was asked; “Who sang the song “Hey Jude?”“
For you younger folks, “Hey Jude” over seven minutes in length, was the longest single ever to top the British charts. It also spent nine weeks as number one in the United States—the longest run at the top of the American charts for a Beatles single. The single has sold approximately eight million copies and is frequently included on professional lists of the all-time best songs.
Everyone in the world was listening to “Hey Jude.”
Well apparently not everyone was listening. Sweet, young Baptist Ann obviously wasn’t listening to the single. She hesitated as we all held our breath and then replied; “The Rolling Stones?” The sigh from all the teenagers in Arkansas could have been heard around the world. Debi Faubion, Miss Oklahoma went on to claim the ‘68 crown as America's Junior Miss.
At least Ann got the groups country right.
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Can you follow this logic?
A new study conclude that a nationwide push to put portable defibrillators in every school may not be worth the cost.
The survey of emergency response to schools in the Seattle area over 16 years found that students suffered cardiac arrests only 12 times and a third of these children had known heart problems.
Most of the cardiac arrests at schools between 1990 to 2005 involved adults — teachers, volunteers or people just walking on school property. And they occurred much more often in high schools and middle schools than elementary schools.
Well, since it’s just adults dying, let’s forget the defibrillators.
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Columbia County is one of Arkansas’s new “Wet” “Dry” counties. More on that next time.
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Sister Miller’s son, Bubba Williams retired from Albemarle this week. The West Plant guys gave him a “GREAT” retirement party. Bubba will still be around the plant since he’s taken a job with Dow “pumping” their disposal well at the West Plant.
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My cousin Rhonda is marrying Scott Ray at 6:30 pm in the SAU Greek Theater on Saturday, September 8. Best wishes to the couple.
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News from Tanzania!
Hello Everyone!
Hello from Arusha!
I wanted to send you a note to let you know what's happening in Tanzania right now and ask you to pray about a few things.
Everything is going great. I have zero complaints. Some days seem like a normal ministry job in an American church, with daily responsibilities. I wake up each morning at an amazing time for me.......at 6 at the latest. The other day, I was wide awake at 4:30. Those who know me know this is amazing. At about 8, I leave to drive to the ministry compound of New Life Outreach. The drive is always exciting. First of all, I have to get down my crazy rocky road. Then I get to fight the chaos that is normal in our streets. There are seemingly no laws in driving here. People pass you constantly on both sides with no fear of oncoming traffic. My mom would have to keep her eyes closed when riding down these streets! I was driving recently with another missionary. As I was passing people and swerving here and there, the missionary said, "You have become an African driver!" I took that as a compliment!
We have prayer and devotion at 8:30 with the entire staff at NLO. Right now the Bible school students are on break, so it's about 25 people right now every morning. I lead the devotion time. I love to stretch people (as some of you know), so I have been making those guys who would not normally want to speak, do so. These people have great hearts and love God.
One guy on our Gospel Singers team, David Kimwaga, is an evangelist. When traveling on the crusades, he sings and plays keyboard, sets up, tears down, and works very hard. But, when he is home in Arusha, he preaches at a different little church each Sunday. One week another missionary and I went to hear him preach. He was so excited that we would go. I was amazed. He seems almost shy at other times, but when he stands to preach, he comes alive. He is bold and knows the Word. Of course, he leaves each church without an offering. He is just obeying God. After he preached, we handed him an offering, and told him, "One day you will receive more of these." I gave him some of Bro. Kenneth Hagin books to read. When I preached for the first time at a crusade, he came up to me afterwards. Through an interpreter, he told me he didn't know I could preach. Then he asked if he could have my notes. He said he wanted to preach the sermon. It was so sweet. I told him they were written in English. He said he would get help reading them. I pray one day he will be able to take some classes at our Bible school. I call him Kaka Kim..........which means Brother Kim. Mama is Mama. Daddy is Baba. Sister is Dada. Brother is Kaka. Some of the guys call me Dada P.
Pray for Kimwaga!
After devotion each morning, we start our day with many responsibilities. Right now I am focusing on New Life Academy. Next Friday, I begin Muda Na Mungu.....Time with God. Every Friday, I will have 4-30 minute kids' services at our school, NLA, for ages 3 to about 13-14. This year we have 350 children. Next year we will add about 35 more, and so on. I am excited, as I have not been ministering to children as much as I thought I would. As I told you previously, Bro. Egon has asked me to preach to adults, at crusades and in local churches. It's good for me, although I don't sleep so much the night before. He told me that I know how to communicate to the Africans in a way they understand and appreciate. It's all those years of teaching children!
In Muda Na Mungu, I will have a mini kids' church similar to what I offered in America.......praise, rules, games, puppets, drama, prizes, Bible stories, memory verses, object lessons, and times of prayer. I will be training others to take my place when I am scheduled to teach in our Bible school or am on crusade. I so want these kids to come to know Jesus in a personal way.
Pray for Muda Na Mungu!
Our team leaves today for the town of Manyoni to prepare for crusade which will begin next Wednesday. We are believing for a powerful move of God there. I am not going because my sister Kelli and a friend from the US are coming this week for a visit. I have made it over 4 months without seeing my best friend, my sister. I will probably cry when I see her at the airport. They are bringing me much needed supplies. Pray they get through customs with no problems.
And please...........Pray for Manyoni! Each crusade is special, because each crusade is filled with different souls..........hearts that God is longing to touch and save. Every time I go, I make sure I look into the people's eyes. I will never forget T.L. Osborn saying, "When you look into the eyes of humanity, you will be forever changed."
Thank you for your prayers. This letter is long, but I could write for days concerning what is happening in the ministry here and in my life.
Our team just returned from a nine day trip to a small village called Ikungi. God was amazing. The people there will never be the same.
I and a pastor from Denmark preached the morning seminars and we had the open air crusade every afternoon with Bro. Egon ministering. The majority of the people in this village speak a tribal language different from Swahili, although most also speak Swahili. The sounds were unforgettable.
So much happened in Ikungi and I want to write you with more details later, but I thought I would forward a letter to you written by our leaders, Egon and Hannah Falk.
Thank you so much for giving and praying and remembering me.
Thank you to those who give. I will in be in the USA in December. I hope to see you all.
God Bless You!
Pattie Stephenson
New Life Outreach
Report from Ikungi
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:05:35 +0200
THE PEOPLE CRIED!
For the 37 years I have been in full time ministry I have never experienced something like that and I was deeply touched. Ikungi is only a little village that has deep religious roots in Islam. Many years ago Arabic traders brought Islam to this place.
When I in the first day’s meeting made the alter call people came running forward and they cried out loud and called upon the Savior Jesus son of God, who died for everybody and rouse after 3 days and who is still alive.
I will never forget the loud prayers and weeping from the people – and what a joy in heaven because of the 2945 people who received Christ in their lives and now are followed up from the local churches.
Egon
I SAW THIS WITH MY OWN EYES!
When the first crusade meeting began Wednesday afternoon I noticed two men who came with a bicycle where an elderly woman sat draped in a kitenge (African clothing for a woman). She was not moving at all and the two men supported her all the time while they looked for a good place for her to sit on the ground.
Later on I almost forgot about her until she stood in front of me on the platform – I had even prayed for her during the prayer session, but I prayed with a lot of people! There she was - standing on her own legs and she glowed like sunshine. She told us that she had been unable to walk for many years and she had been transported to Ikungi in a car from her home place. In Ikungi she was taken to the crusade site on a bicycle by her husband and a younger man from the house where they had slept during the night.
Now she was able to walk on the platform without any support from other people and she was even running – no doubt that she had been healed. Her husband was very happy to certify her testimony. All glory to God!
Hannah
With love from all of us.
Please earmark your donation “New Life Outreach” and write a check out to:
Word of Life Center
P.O. Box 18862
Shreveport, LA 71138
Phone: 318 688 4411
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Greetings:
Ghosts of Anbar Part II is ready. http://michaelyon-online.com/wp/the-ghosts-of-anbar-part-ii-of-iv.htm
Please click http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/ghosts-of-anbar-part-iii-of-iv.htm to read Ghosts of Anbar, Part III of IV
V/R
Michael Yon
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.
http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/
Here are links to items posted on The Pump Handle over the past week:
1) "Refuting Tort 'Reformers' Claims that Law Suits Slow Vaccine Development" by David Michaels Vaccine development has not ground to a standstill out of fear of litigation, as tort "reformers" claimed it would. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/refuting-tort-reformers-claims-that-law-suits-slow-vaccine-development/
2) "FDA Scientists and the Right to Publish" by Kristen Perosino FDA scientists should have the right to publish their research, as proposed in a new Senate bill. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/fda-scientists-and-the-right-to-publish/
3) "Women's Health at the FDA – a review of the science" by Susan F. Wood A new report highlights the important research undertaken by the FDA's Office of Women's Health. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/womens-health-at-the-fda-a-review-of-the-science/
4) "Bob Murray's Toilet Paper Problem" by Celeste Monforton Bob Murray claimed that violations at his Illinois mine were for minor problems like missing toilet paper, but an analysis of the 975 violations shows much more serious problems. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/bob-murrays-toilet-paper-problem/
5) "Occupational Health News Roundup" by Liz Borkowski More distressing news related to Ground Zero – and to miners and nuclear weapons workers – keeps coming out. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/occupational-health-news-roundup-29/
6) "An Unnatural Disaster" by Tom Bethell The CEOs of most of the nation's top coal producers bear responsibility for the absence of the mine safety technology that could have saved the miners lost in the Sago disaster last year and perhaps those trapped at Crandall Canyon this month. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/an-unnatural-disaster/
7) "What do Pop Weaver and the EPA Know About Diacetyl?" by David Michaels Pop Weaver has introduced the first diacetyl-free popcorn, which suggests they might have been privy to an EPA study on diacetyl emissions that the agency has refused to share with the public. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/what-do-pop-weaver-and-the-epa-know-about-diacetyl/
8) "Low Grades for Voluntary Chemical Reporting" by Liz Borkowski A new report provides further evidence that EPA's voluntary program for high-volume chemical data is inadequate – what's needed is stronger chemicals legislation. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/low-grades-for-voluntary-chemical-reporting/
9) "No Joke: MSHA Spokesman Parrots Bob Murray" by Celeste Monforton MSHA should allow the trapped miners' family members to designate the miners' representative for the investigation. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/no-joke-msha-spokesman-parrots-bob-murray/
10) "Industry influence: this time it's breastfeeding" by Susan F. Wood After requests from infant-formula manufacturers, the Department of Health and Human Services altered its plans for promoting breastfeeding. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/industry-influence-this-time-its-breastfeeding/
11) "Friday Blog Roundup" by Liz Borkowski Bloggers observe the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and report on viruses, healthcare reform, and pig farms. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/friday-blog-roundup-39/
12) "Happy Blog Day!" by Liz Borkowski On Blog Day, participating bloggers link to five new blogs worth checking out. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/happy-blog-day/
13) "Still Irked at MSHA's Response to Families" by Celeste Monforton More on why it's wrong for MSHA to deny miners' families' representation request. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/still-irked-at-mshas-response-to-families/
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