Mission Accomplished

We are back in NW Arkansas after spending over a week in Branson at Chaplain's University. It was a week of additional training, sometimes described as intense - and it was. We all were mentally exhausted after the end of each day, but it was a wonderful exhaustion. Imagine spending all of the time learning how to lead like Jesus, learning how to defend our faith (apologetics), listening to a Christian women's testimony, spending an additional two sessions on pastoral counseling, as well as enjoying the fellowship of other chaplains, wonderful morning snacks, a bountiful lunch, and then an afternoon pick-up nutrition!!!




Mission House - our home for over a week



the great room - where all things happened

n an earlier blog, I  mentioned that we spent two days learning how to lead like Jesus - to be a servant leader . One of my most memorable verses was II Corinthians 5:9 "persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed".

We took time to just sit and do nothing by leaving the room, finding a quiet place of solitude, and do nothing. It was extremely eye-opening, giving a person a feeling of being free - the feeling of having nothing to do - no thinking, no praying, no anything.

The evenings were spent at the Mission House, fellowshipping with others, discussing the day's teaching, just enjoying each other's quiet company, and of course, indulging in an ice cream feeding frenzy, thanks to Jack Gregory.


Chaplains busy at work building a sundae



finished product




The week went by very quickly, as we studied Apologetics - defending the Bible in an unreal world. We absorbed fully the reason we believe the Bible is the true word of God, and God is Lord. Ron Lint did an amazing job defending the truth of the Resurrection through the eyes of a lawyer, judge, and jury.

God is Lord! 

Ron Lint - Apologetics leader

While we were in session, we prayed for two of our chaplains who were recently ordained.  May God continue to lead and bless Chaplains Bob Ostermaier and Jim Troutman. We  surprised  two couples who celebrated the wedding anniversaries on Wednesday. We presented them with flowers and wished them well. One of the couples celebrated by attending the show "Noah". If you are in Branson, you would be truly blessed by seeing this presentation at The Sight and Sound Theater.

Congratulations to Chaplain Bob and Lois Glossenger







And also Dr. Dan and Laura Griffin

Our Friday session was a segregated one - the men had a short session on media presentation given by Bob Glossenger. We ladies listened to speaker Christine Lint - who spoke on our Lord and God - our anchor and compass.  She accented her own personal testimony with scripture to enable us to always have our anchor in the right place - with God.

The Anchor and the Compass

We completed our sessions on Friday night and Saturday with teaching of pastoral counseling - The Heart of the Problem. Is the problem really with a marriage, relationship, or other situation, or is the problem really sin, that enters in and creates the problem? A wonderful insight to solving problems in our own relationships.

Some of the participants left on Friday and also Saturday, but we stayed on until Sunday, when we worshiped at the KOA Campgrounds with Senior Chaplain Dennis Maloney officiating. At this time, Chaplain Fred Campbell was commissioned after being examined by his peers in preparation for his ordination. It was a perfect service to end our time at Chaplain's University.

Senior Chaplain Dennis Maloney congratulating Chaplain Fred Campbell

 

We are now back in NW Arkansas, preparing to head south to Texas to continue our ministry there. We are anxious to join with others as we support Children's Haven International, minister to all the volunteers, and allow God to lead us on the path He has chosen for us.



Day One

Today is day one of  Chaplain's University in Branson, Missouri at the College of the Ozarks, sponsored by Christian Resort Ministries. College of the Ozarks is Hard Work U, where students do not pay tuition, work for their education, and graduate without debt! An absolutely gorgeous campus with every type of work concept that you can think of.

We checked in yesterday at the Mission House, directly across the parking lot from the training center, a homey, convenient place to stay for the week. We were greeted by our CRM chaplain friends,, many of whom we had not seen since last fall or even earlier. After a time of reuniting, visiting, and relaxing, we prepared ourselves for the first day of training.

Beginning day one, after a quick breakfast with other Mission House residents, was check-in. Barbara Reusch, watch-dog queen of check in, made sure everyone was checked in properly, had all information available, and was ready to start today's session.

Barbara,  making sure we are all properly checked in

Bob and Barbara Ostermaier, from Enid, OK checking in

As registration was going on, we were invited to sample the Java Offerings - morning nutritional food with thanks and praises to Sally Maloney. Again, we greeted those new ones we had not seen since last year, with inquiries as to  the what, where, and when in their lives since we last saw them.  As everyone related their experiences, I saw God at work in each and every one of them - how their relationship to God had matured and expanded in those few short months.

Just a small sampling of morning refreshments

Karen Gregory, a wounded warrior, eagerly awaiting the morning session

The session opened with co-founders of CRM, Dennis Maloney and Bob Ruesch welcoming us all, doing the general housekeeping duties, songs of praise, and an outline of the day's adventure!

Dennis Maloney

Bob Ruesch

Opening devotions were lead by Dr. Dan Griffin, an eloquent and articulate speaker, always with a simple but inspiring message from our Lord. I always look forward to hearing him present the message, with all of my expectations met.




Dr. Dan Griffin

 The first two day's sessions, which were presented by Luke Kuepfer were based on "Lead Like Jesus" by becoming a servant leader. Before we can do, we have to be. We learned a new definition of leadership: Anytime you seek to influence the thinking behavior or development of others, you are taking on the role of leader. We were taken through various break-out sessions, where we interacted with each other, picking our brains for thoughts, ideas, and Biblical reasoning. Almost too soon, lunch time arrived, and again we were presented with as wonderful meal and time for fellowship.




Luke Kuepfer, instructing us to lead like Jesus

A time to refuel

If the rest of the week follows today's teaching and learning, we are going to be well fed, both spiritually and physically. I just pray that I will be able to retain and put into action a portion of what I have learned. Hopefully, by referring to my notes, I can add to and apply all that is important to be well founded in leadership .

ending the day with song and worship

Small Towns, Clothesline Fair, and Bluegrass Music

As a child I was raised in Chicago, not ever knowing the comfortable feeling of a small town.  Since then, we have always lived in small towns, the latest being Prairie Grove, Arkansas. This weekend was the 60th annual Clothesline Fair, so named because the ladies of the area would display their needlework  for sale on clotheslines strung throughout Battlefield Park in Prairie Grove. If you want some interesting, historical reading, try googling The Battle of Prairie Grove.  This battle was fought in one day on December 7, 1862 - it is fascinating reading. Back to the present, the fair is celebrated every Labor Day week-end - starting with a small town parade on Saturday. We got there early, parking in the alley behind the Main Street businesses, and traipsed through the store of friends (thanks Larry and Karen - who by the way were Grand Marshals of this year's parade) to perch under their storefront awning, along with others with the same idea!!!  The kids were all excited, as plastic bags were passed out to fill with candy being thrown from parade entrants.  Yes, it is still allowed in this small town. We adults visited and helped the kids fill their bags. Another reason for attending was the fact that our granddaughter was marching with the band as co-captain of the flag line.

an important beginning of a parade





Grand Marshals - friends Larry and Karen Crawley - wonderful Christian business people



this takes balance - notice the little lady waiting with her candy bag





Remember these?



or these?



Granddaughter Casey on the left






glad I did not play the tuba in high school



many people showing off their antique tractors - doesn't he look proud?

 



dancing tractors - doing moves in the middle of  a small town Main Street

 

square dancers



  Square dancing is a big part of our community and competition is intense at the park with dancing going on all day.  Kids usually start in about age 5 or earlier, continuing through high school so there are many groups involved. When as adults, these kids begin having children and they, too, become dancers, so the tradition gets carried on for generations. It is with great pride when someone over 50 announces, "I used to dance, too. What fun it was" Oh, there is my grandson, dancing with the Buttons and Bows group.!!!





just a very small section of the craft part of the Clothesline Fair



a local Bluegrass band

The activities go on all week-end, with a huge craft fair, amateur afternoon with singers and musicians who are all very talented. Gospel music abounds, both Southern and Bluegrass, on Sunday afternoon, including a group from our church. An evening presentation of Bluegrass music with local musicians is presented, as a benfit for Big House, a ministry started about 5 years ago by a young Christian couple. Many thanks and God's blessings on Jay and Melissa Grissom for listening to God's calling.  The Big House is a place for area teens to go - to just hang out, to talk, ask questions, and get fed, both spiritually and physically.  Melissa cooks  almost everyday for about 30 teens, while Jay molds these teens into wonderful Christian young adults. What an awesome ministry.

Our small group Bible study, as a community service, volunteer to help park cars at the Clothesline Fair, with all the proceeds going to Big House. We took our command post this morning - early and chilly, at the worker's lot.  We really did not have to work too hard - just practice crowd control and allow only fair workers and vendors to park in our area. As I sat along the highway, watching the vehicles go by, I was amazed at the variety of vehicles, each one heading to a particular destination.  I related it to our relationship  with God. There are so many ways people walk on the road to eternal life, just as there are so many different types of vehicles driving on the earthly road . Each one continues along at his own pace, in his own way, sometimes slowing down, sometimes speeding along with no thought of how they got there. Sometimes there are bumps in the road, sometimes there are detours. There are even wrong turns to take and wrong roads to travel - but if we keep on eyes on the Lord and His word in our hearts, we will reach our destination - eternal life.
 God's blessings on each and every one of you.





Busy week

What a busy week for us. It started out with our Sunday church service, then our Sunday School class.  We are JOY (Just Over Youth) so we share knowledge with many Senior Saints. Studying God's word together
brings many surprises as we share thoughts, ideas and questions as we study the book of Esphesians. Later that day we attended our small group Bible study. This study also includes fellowship time with a family providing the feast for the the day. We were blessed with smoked brisket, smoked salmon, (absolutely wonderful) a huge mixed veggie salad,and a fruit compote dessert. We finished our study of the  Jewish Torah in relation to our beliefs of today.  I work at a local resale shop, and found wonderful prizes - a book about the Manners and Customs of Bible Lands as well as a Jewish Study Bible!!! Was God there with me at that time??? It certainly seems so, as these two books fit right into our study. Reading about the customs and manners of Bible lands sheds light on so much of the Bible - why certain phrases are used in relation to the cultural habits  during that period. The study Bible I hope to read this year, comparing it to our Bible, and trying to figure out basic difference.

Tuesday, I had two yearly medical tests (which has finally ended my yearly physical exams) and all are pronounced "Normal". Praise the Lord and thanks to Him for good health.

On Wednesday, I attend a class that a nutritionist friend is giving for ladies with limited income, and asked me to attend for additional moral support.  It is based on food in it's relation with the Bible and is a 5 week program. This was our fourth session, with emphasis on Biblical rules for eating, as well as many hints on how to eat healthfully and well as economically.  I really love this class, and the fact that a friend teaches it, encourages me to attend to as I receive many blessings from all the ladies present, remembering that there are so many cultural differences that we should be concerned with.  It is sometimes difficult for me to relate to a Katrina refugee, or a grandmother who has to raise her grandchildren , thus still having to work, or a single mother trying to support her family alone. Yet all of these ladies still praise God for all they have, willing to share with us.

Friday I attended a Ms. *Senior* ( I deleted the name of the Rehab/nursing home for sense of privacy) pageant where our daughter is personnel director. It was amazing beautiful, as eight ladies were presented to us, all dressed in their elegant clothes and perfectly arranged hair style and make-up. These ladies were accompanied by two male CNA employees, who gave up their Friday time off to escort these ladies in all their finery.  After answering questions about themselves, what their greatest accomplishment was, and their families, the three judges began to judge them, while the granddaughter of an employee sang the theme song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". A question to one of the ladies was "did your children misbehave or fight when they were younger?", was answered by "no". Asked why, she replied "I had the flyswatter" How I wish we could return to the time when children honored their father and mother, just knowing that misbehavior was to be immediately reprimanded. The ladies age were from 52-100- what a wide range. I wanted pictures of the participants and new reigning queen, but my camera decided to run out of battery power  - I put in what I thought was new batteries only to discover that that too were dead! I did get a few pictures, but due to privacy issues, cannot post them.

The two young gentlemen who gave up their morning off to escort the contestants - aren't they wonderful?  (I must add that the one on the left is my oldest grandson, Seth, the other is his long time friend and roommate, Jonathon). Boys to be proud of.

Early this morning I attended an orientation for a prison ministry that I am going to be involved in here in Washington County. I probably will not start this ministry this year, as we soon will be leaving here for South Texas. After attending the retreat last Saturday, I feel that this is where God is leading me while we are here in Arkansas. After being treated to a breakfast at the Correctional facility, we were given information on volunteer does and don'ts - so many that it is difficult to try to think like a person who is incarcerated with no outside freedoms. I must remember that their rules are there for a reason, and not for me to ask why????  The end result is the optimum. Is that not how our life here on earth is??? God is in control of our lives and is the final reward if we follow rules.

As I was busy with all these things this week, Fred was busy with the food ministry he is involved in, feeding about 12000+ people a month. He also started preparing the car for our trip to South Texas at the end of this month for the winter, where we are chaplains for Children's Haven International. We look forward to renewing friendships and ministering to those in Texas and Mexico.

Prison to Purpose Retreat

Yesterday, Sally Maloney, Ora Cowan, Connie Costa, and myself along with about 300 area ladies attended a Becoming a Woman of the Word retreat, sponsored by the Prison to Purpose ministry. What a blessing to see so many Christian women coming together to explore the reality of God in our lives. No  matter what happens in our earthly lives, we can be assured that God's Word is there forever, with a promise of eternal life with Him.

Chaplain Kenneth DeWitt, from the McPherson Women's Correctional Facility in Arkansas conducted 3 sessions, based on sin, righteousness, and judgement. Chaplain DeWitt is a powerful, persuasive, and passionate teacher as well as a pastor, husband, and father of 8. He has trained hundreds of women inmates in understanding the Word of God, in order to turn their lives around and have a purpose for living. His own personal testimony was truly awesome to hear - and to see how God has worked in his life to bring him to where he is today.

Stacey Smith is the co-founder of the Prison to Purpose ministry, after being incarcerated for 12 years, becoming transformed by a Christian based program (PAL) for inmates. She too, has turned her life around after an early release granted by Govenor Huckabee ( her original sentence was 60 years for a drug charge). God's saving grace helped her to minister to other inmates, allowing them to understand God's wonderful  gift of forgiveness. "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is by law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith". (Phillipians 3:9)

The testimonies of the women who were saved by God's grace were so amazing to hear - women whose lives were destroyed by their crimes and unbelief  - who now have hope for eternal life because their belief and newly found faith. We do not have to be physically inprisioned, we are sometimes bound by the bars of our human reasoning. We all need the Word of God to free us from that bondage, to be totally free in His love, wisdom,  and understanding. There is a great difference in believing in God and  believing God.  I hope that each and every lady who attendied the retreat came home with a new perspective of obeying God's word (being submissive) and applying it to our daily lives.  Are we submissive to God's will only if it fits into our will?? Or is it all about God and not ourselves?

Sally and I just pray that our God's Worthy Women retreat in the Valley in February will prove be be a huge impact on those attending. Will we eventually reach 300 women?? The question should be "Will God eventually reach 300 women through our following of His will?". Pray that we find the perfect speaker, one who will help all of our participents come away with the same sense of God's perfect will and understanding of His Word in our lives as we did yesterday.



 

Rain

After many days of scorching hot days, we have been blessed with a few days of wonderful cool rain. The trees, hay, and lawn just slurped it up, leaving spots of green where brown once was. I often wonder what the earth was before the days of Noah when there was no rain?? How his neighbors thought he was really crazy to build an ark (who knew what rain even was)??? But Noah was an obedient man, God saw how corrupt the earth was, and decided to put an end to it all. Because Noah was a righteous man and walked with God, God chose to save Noah and his family. And because Noah was obedient, he offered  sacrifices to the Lord after the flood. Then God gave a covenant between Noah and every living creature that He would never destroy the earth by flood again - His sign of the covenant was the rainbow.  Everyone knows this story, but did you know that at that time God gave man permission to eat meat? How many times had I read this story and not even picked up on that piece of information. The Lord is looking down at our earth today, and I wonder if He is sad as He views the corruption??

Why did he not forget the chiggers?

Last Friday, we went to Branson to meet with a clock repair gentleman, bringing along with us 2 cuckoo clocks, and two old mantle clocks. We were pleased to hear that the cuckoo clocks could be repaired and possibly the mantle clocks. One of the mantle clocks belonged to Fred's great-grandparents, brought over from Germany. What fun if it will be to again ghear the clock chime the hour in a Preuss household!! While we were there we visited with Chaplain Dennis and Sally Maloney. Dennis is our chaplain in Texas at Alamo Rec Veh Park as well as General Director of CRM. Sally is just absolutely wonderful and a joy to spend time with!!! In just a couple of months, we will all be together again in Texas, along with other CRM chaplains. Cannot wait to see them all again. Saturday Sally and I are attending a women's Prison to Purpose conference in Rogers, Arkansas - " Becoming a Woman of the Word". We are still looking for a speaker for our God's Worthy Woman conference in Texas in February. Please pray that God leads us to the perfect person.

I have put my application in to Washington County Corrections to become part of the Prison Ministry, ministering to women who are incarcerated here. I don't imagine that I will begin this year, as we leave shortly for Texas, but in anticipation for next spring.  I am a bit nervous about this, but feel that this is the direction God is leading me while we are in Arkansas.

Growing up in Chicago as an Italian Catholic kid, I still have vivid memories of the interesting things we often saw and did. The candy store was half way home on our after school walk. There was so much to choose from for just a penny. What luck if I were to find a penny someone had dropped. To this day I am always checking the sidewalk for lost change! The boys always wandered around, laughing and shoving, buying all they could for a penny. I was one of the few girls there- the rest had gone quietly home to play with their paper dolls and study their numbers for the good Sisters at St. Angela. I would think and decide what to buy, then change my mind often. I usually bought the candy buttons on a strip - three strips for a penny. The next problem was what colors to choose - blue, pink and yellow, no green please. Sometimes I would spend my penny on a chance to get a gum ball from the machine. If you were lucky you would win one that looked like a baseball. Then you could trade it for a nickel's worth of candy. When you or another kid won it, you immediately became best friends for awhile. A chance to share a few  pennies worth of candy made you day very special. Sometimes I see those candy strips yet today, and it brings back memories of the carefree days of youth.

Hot days and birthdays

The weather is still very hot here in NW Arkansas. The drought is ever so evident as we travel around the area - the fields are brown, leaves are turning brown and falling off the trees, deer are starting to come into towns to search for food, lots of grasshoppers and bugs abound, and gardens are drying up for lack of rain. Many people just stopped watering their lawns and gardens because it is too expensive to water, as well as the fact that the water just evaporates as soon as it hits the air. This drought is prevalent all across the plains, and even into Texas. We did get a short shower last week - you could hear the trees and ground just swallowing as fast as it could to absorb the life saving liquid. I did find these tomatoes in the garden, thriving and ripening despite the effects of the outside conditions.  Just as we do, growing, thriving and ripening with the Living Water,  despite the wordly influences - struggling to survive and flourish regardless of what  others say or do! As Christians, we need to struggle forward, keeping the end victory in mind - eternal life with Jesus.

These tomatoes grew and ripened despite the odds

As I said before, it is sooooooooooooo hot in Texas------

Last week was Fred's 70th birthday, as well as our son-in-law's birthday, just a day apart. On Saturday, our daughters here in Arkansas planned a cook-out, which our excellent grilling/smoking son-in-law presided over. Actually he carefully guarded the cooking process, trying hard not to reveal his secrets of wonderful tasting food.  We were presented with venison burgers, regular hamburgers (seasoned in a special way by our daughter) and brats, cooked  Wisconsin style!!! All topped off with a delicious ice cream cake from DQ.

secret cooking going on

  

it looks absolutely mouth watering.


Notice the pan simmering in back - onions and mushrooms!!!!!

                                            

the final touch - ice cream cake

It was a very relaxing, peaceful day, despite the scorching heat. I had some old pictures that I have been scanning into my computer, so we spent time laughing over them, trying to figure out who some were, and when they were taken. There was one particular picture that I always thought was my sister-in-law with our oldest daughter who was only 2 at the time (she is 49 now!), and after all these years realized that it was me!!! Revelation!!!!! Things that we have always perceived as true sometimes surprisingly turn out to be entirely different. So a lesson was learned - keep an open mind. We left feeling very full indeed - full physically and emotionally - oh - yes - also with 3 pairs of jeans I have to shorten for my grand-daughter. 

Another page in the saga of the Catholic kid in Chicago: We walked 10 city blocks to and from school  every day, regardless of the weather.  Mother did not drive, so we just made the best of it.  After a warm breakfast (sometimes chocolate pudding - Mother thought that was the way to get us to drink milk), we were off. I loved it - to be able to tag along with the boys and listen to them talk and plan the week-end. Those 10 long blocks were an adventure to me. We would hear and see emergency equipment, sirens blaring, screaming past us, sometimes even see the actual accident, drunks and hobos out in the early morning, neighbors fretting and arguing.There were so many colors, languages, and names. Life was pretty simple and intriguing to us at that time. The biggest challenge of the day was to be dismissed from school and get home without committing some sort of sin - one we would have to confess on Friday to Father Dorney (my favorite priest) before we took communion. So many rules - walk in straight lines on the edge of the sidewalk for two blocks so as not to step on the neighbors grass, no talking, no skipping, no noises at all. I usually committed at least 3 sins in one short block. Another rule was no non-Catholic friends - oh how I envied the public school kids on our walk home. Luckily we were beyond the 2 block mark, so we could walk in groups and listen  to the kids from Ella Flagg Young Public School. They seemed so - worldly. They talked loud, laughed often, sometimes swore, ate bologna and mustard sandwiches on Friday and didn't have to confess their sins afterwards! How little did I know that God knew all of our sins, and our confession to Him is part of our obedience and faith.