Buzzard Bylines 1985

• Marlene & Paul Wenzel
  Hi everybody! We continue here in the pastorate and praise HIM for the growth we've seen. I suppose the biggest news is that Bill & Marlita Walker moved near us last spring and it has been just great. They are a half-hour north of us-we've had lots of fun together, although with 2 church schedules and 5 children between us we don't get together as often as we had originally hoped. It was a special treat for Marlita, Deb Haken and me to be together for a day in Oct. Paul's dad continues to teach a full load even though he's past retirement age but is doing well. We plan to go home to Columbia in the spring.

• Lorraine Evans
  There's not a whole lot new here. My small business for reading and learning services continues to grow and be rewarding both in challenges and opportunities. I continue to supplement the business by substitute teaching for local public, private and parochial schools. Every now and a school calls me to take over assignments for a teacher who is on extended absence. As of Feb. 1, my old high school has hired me to handle a remedial reading program through June 7. Needless to say, I keep busy working with children. Hopefully a visit with Doris & Neil Wolfe will be part of my summer plans.

• Allan & Cynthia Bosson
  In June we'll begin our third year at Lee St. Bapt. Church. Also in June Allan will begin work on a D. of Min. degree through Southwestern Bapt. Sem. The ministry is demanding but always exciting as we watch God working in the lives of people. Our two boys are now 6 and 8. For some reason, soccer is their favorite sport.

• Martha & Jorge Cuevas
  It has been a great year of God doing the impossible as usual!!! After 2 months in Mexico, we arrived home to find I was pregnant. Also my sister-she was 6 weeks ahead of me. Many of you have prayed for Debbie. God used 2 miscarriages and my new niece to finally bring her and her husband to Himself. After my bout with cancerous cells of the cervix, Andrew is no small miracle. Jorge Andrew was born Oct. 22, 1984 and of course is a delight! Our older son JB accepted Christ two days before his 4th birthday and one day after my own spiritual birthdate. In Aug. God gave us Dr. Allen Fleece as our interim pastor--What a blessing! God used him and others to enable us to meet a $100,000 goal to build a church. Dad and Jorge are the contractors and it will be paid for when complete. Jorge became a deacon in this little PCA church in Dec.

• Chris & Ann Matthies
  We are still on deputation and have 50% of our support needs to head to Spain with Worldteam. We plan to be off to language school in August.

• John & Patty Chestnut
  We're all doing fine. The church is growing spiritually and numerically. The love of Jesus Christ is being experienced daily, and it's something this church hasn't had in a long time. We're very thankful for the Lord's blessing. John continues to work hard and always seems overwhelmed at the pace of life here in Brooklyn (but loves it!). Patty still plays the organ and is teaching a ladies' Bible study on Tues. & Weds. The boys keep her busy too. Robert is 4 and learning so much so fast (it's scary) and Josh is 1 1/2 and thinks he can do anything big brother can do. We have a big house and would love to have anyone come and stay, especially if you are on your way to the field. John is a great tour guide and can get around pretty good now! Our love to everyone.

• Larry & Lenore Hill
  Right before Christmas we moved to Richmond where Larry is assistant minister at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church-a large church in a beautiful area of Richmond. We LOVE being south again! John is 6 1/2 and in first grade. Sarah Katherine is 3 and a little mother to Anna Elizabeth who is 1. It is so good to keep in touch with everyone through the newsletter.

• Connie & Al Areheart
  In our ministry at Dunn's Chapel both music and youth ministry were weak areas, but in the last year the Lord has provided Paul & Hope Cheshier (CBC grad who was one of our youth from our AR ministry) to work part-time with our you and also as music director. The church has grown by 8-10 families in the last 2 months. In March Al will begin a businessmen's weekly Bible study in downtown Columbia. Connie leads a group of 10-15 ladies in a Thurs. home Bible class and also has a monthly ladies' study. Brad is now 6 and Ben is almost 3, so needless to say, life is very full.

• Glynis & David Miller
  We had to move out of our last house because a new highway was coming through and found a really neat 4-bedroom Spanish style home about 20 min. out in the country on 19 acres of land. The kids love the outdoors and it keeps us all busy--me cleaning and all and David chopping wood for the heater. As usual we are quite busy at church. This year I am teaching a young adult couples SS class and really enjoying it. The children are really growing up and are our constant joy. Last month in Montgomery at one of the malls we ran into an old friend-Aaron Fleming. He's pastoring a growing Pres. church. On Easter Sunday they will move into their new building after having met in a school for 5 years. On April 13 he will be married to a girl named Chris who seems to be a real complement to Aaron.

• Terry & Bev Thames
  Still active at our church where Terry is a deacon and church treasurer. Same jobs, same house, same kids.

• Armand & Jean LeBlanc
  We are just finishing up a year's furlough and will be returning to Mombasa April 10 for our second term of service with the Muslim people. In March, 1984, Jean had a benign growth removed from her thyroid. We praise God for his timing as we were due for furlough at the time the growth was discovered. This year has been busy, having traveled about 30,000 miles with many speaking engagements. Our children are growing fast as all children do. They will be re-adjusting to the British school system in Kenya soon.

• Gene & Bonnie Ward
  Gene continues to teach 5th grade in the public school, and Bonnie is full-time with our 4 children. We had a great time last summer in Alaska. No kids and nothing to do but loaf and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. What a refreshing time! WE are very happy here and find our lives filled with opportunities to serve Christ. Our home is always open to anyone who can stand the racket.

• Gary & Ellie Minion
  Our twin girls are enjoying kindergarten. Gary is still with Southern Bell. He is enjoying heading up the follow-up program of Evangelism Explosion in our church. He's also leading a layman's discipleship study. Ellie is a full-time homemaker.

• Deb & Doug Stromberg
  Doug loves his work as Development Coordinator with SAM. It is hard to believe that we have been with the mission for 10 years. I'm teaching 2nd grade in The King's Academy. Amy, Bethany and Cari go there and love it too. Amy had emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix 4 weeks ago. We praise God for leading us to another doctor in time, as it was first diagnosed as a kidney infection. She was a very sick girl for a while there and is so much better now. It made me realize that our children might be given to use only for a brief time and we should cherish each moment with them.

• Grady & Vicki Merritt
  It's been a basically routine year. We're headed to Harrisburg, PA of the April 13 wedding of V's middle brother. Although not involved with our local church library this year, Vicki is director of the Cola. Metro/Lex. Bapt. Assoc. Church Media Library Organization. Fifth grader Ben is excelling in trumpet, David is a straight S second grader and Joel is Mom's constant companion.

  Highlights from missionary classmate newsletters:

• Al & Daisy Ortiz returned to the DR in June. As field director, he has the responsibility of relating to their church in the capital and to the Haitian work on the far end of the island. Edwin is working and studying in Miami and needs to rekindle his relationship with the Lord. Cindy returned with them to get executive secretarial training.

• Deb Haken recently joined Paul in Switzerland for additional French study to prepare for their arrival in Cameroon in July, where Paul will be a JAARS pilot/mechanic. Their first month will be spent living with an African family to learn how they live and what is important to them.

• Rhonda Hartell returned to her African home in Nov. She was able to get her word processor through customs without problems or taxes.

• Pam & Fred Tuggy put over 6,000 miles on the road this summer before returning to find their Mexican home had been broken into and many of the children's toys taken. Because of continuing documentation problems, they are without teachers for their children, so Pam is now homeschooling their 3 and one child from another family.

• Tricia and Dan Miller are back on the job in the Philippines. At the Center, Dan is spiritual life chairman, school committee chairman and on the executive committee for the Philippine Branch as well as his work as pilot/mechanic. The loss of Matthew still hurts but the Lord continues to give His special healing.

• Debbie & Peter Jones are now furloughing in the US. Peter was to stand trial this past Aug. because the government charged him with criminal responsibility in the accident which severely injured baby Luke. It was discovered that a car malfunction caused the crash. Luke has make a fantastic recovery although he is still on anti-convulsive medication.

• Doris & Neil Wolfe will be coming home May 15 for furlough and reassignment as the work in Bolivia nears completion. Neil has been the only pilot since May, 1984. Doris is teaching Spanish in grades 3-6 of the missionaries kids school two afternoons a week.

• Dottie & Stan Smith welcomed Ryan Adrian on April 29. On June 11 they returned to Philippines. Peace and order continue to be a problem in their part of the country and they have seen armed rebels as they travel through the countryside to minister to the churches.

• Mark & Linda Thomas continue their ministry at Capernwray. Linda has had a bad year with Cron's Disease and kidney stones. Heather continues to wear an eyepatch for lazy eye. Capernwray has had a full house most of the year and the conferences have been well attended. Mark had opportunity to travel to other centers in Europe and various churches in the United Kingdom and was involved locally with the Mission England outreach last summer.