Getting There

Last Monday was my 39th birthday. I was a little retrospective and had a desire for a little adventure. My goal was to ride the bus to the Westside Market and hopefully have a chance to present the gospel to someone. I prepared my purse with a New Testament and tracts. The bus schedule didn't fit with the kids' school pick-up schedule so I drove instead. The Market is an amazing place! English is a second language for many of the vendors. As you walk past their booths they are hawking their goods in loud voices. It was a cacophony for the senses with smells of produce and fresh meats, crowds pushing on every side, vendors with every accent shouting, all colors of the rainbow in the goods being sold, and samples of foods from every part of the globe available to taste. I was sad to have to leave to pick up the kids without having an opportunity to talk one-on-one with anyone.

Kelly asked to spend some time in Cedarville with friends for her upcoming birthday. We headed down Wednesday after school. We were able to visit many friends in the short time that we were there. Thursday night Ken's dad, sister, and nephew brought Ken home from Michigan. We thought they might enjoy the Market. On their way back to Michigan on Friday morning we took them there. It was a little overwhelming for them too at first. Coy bought bananas from the first guy who hollered to him. They headed home with bags of bacon, apples, grapes, and other neat treasures from Cleveland's Westside Market. I was encouraged on this second visit that people actually initiated conversations with me! I was interviewed in the parking lot by a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He was polite as we told him about our hopes for starting a downtown church. And a little later a vendor who was selling cucumbers to us told us in broken english all about the meaning of the cross he was wearing on his necklace. It is so exciting to see God at work!

Saturday, Jeff Coward and two college students from his Sunday school class in the Columbus area came and helped us get our garage in shape. They scraped, painted, and repaired rotten drywall. It is really nice in there now and ready for winter. Jeff is a good friend who went to high school and college with us. His wife, Susan, was my college roommate. It was great to see him again.

On Saturday night Ken did a benefit auction for Bill Taylor's school. They raised more than $10,000 for the school!