Garment Of Praise #10

Garment Of Praise - Summer 2009

Garment Of Praise #9

Garment Of Praise - Summer 2009

Garment Of Praise #8

Garment Of Praise - Summer 2009

Garment Of Praise #7

Garment Of Praise - Summer 2009

Strasburg Mennonite Church

Photo’s of our Strasburg Mennonite Church program…this was a good program…and was nice to be near home.

Stasburg Mennonite Church

Jason's van is a bit more nimble than the bus for short trips.

A fun arrangement in the middle of the auditorium.

ROAD TRIP: Lamb Of God

This is a continuation of the Indian trip…

We went north to Lamb of God on Sunday Morning.  The children went to Sunday School while the guys set up and practiced a little.  Family friend, Justin Stoltzfus, dropped in for the program from over in Goshen. The church also fed us a wonderful lunch before we headed home.

Singing at Lamb Of God

Lamb Of God Church

The road home was uneventful.  Brian got to try out his “shroom burger” and put in his solid 45 minutes of driving.  We arrived home around midnight.  Thank God for safe travels and a good tour!

ROAD TRIP: Terry Myer’s House

This is a continuation of the Indiana trip…

We got to Terry Myers house around 3:00 and he fed us the biggest, baddest burgers (definitely hard to sing on).  It was nice to see their house almost finished and visit with our friends.  Terry had just been to our church last October for meetings and it was good to catch up with them again.

Terry Myers Family

Terry Myers' House

Terry and the GOP

Then it was on to the 3rd program of the tour, Cuba Mennonite Church, for a full auditorium and reconecting with old friends.

reconnecting with Tom Troyer--"icedteaforever" (from Accapella Harmony Quartet)

The Last Ride Home

This was to be her last ride home-almost.

We left Harrisburg via Interstate 81, headed west on 322, north on 11/15 and than snaked our way through some back roads, and finally to the dirt lane that would take us into the “Bigger Plantation.” My oldest sister, Diane Bigger, 4 years my elder, was diagnosed with cancer merely 6 months ago.

I can hardly have it or believe it. This was a lady who knew how to love and to care. As a younger brother, I would watch her carefully remove glass from hands bloodied by a friend’s drunken stupor. Her compassion seemed to know few limits; at times I would question the sanity of some of her efforts. Fear did not seem to handicap her in any way. She would personally canvass East Reading with tracts each month, passing them at any hour of the day or night.

At 19 she fell in love with and married my teacher, Jeff Bigger. After several years of life in the city, they decided to move to the little farmette near Milton, PA, to be closer to Jeff’s family. At first it was a real adjustment for this life-long city slicker, but it didn’t take long for her to find ways to become active for God and bloom where planted. 12 years later, 5 children, and a grand child on the way, Diane has been given about a month to live.

Cancer has robbed her of some of her outer beauty, but has not touched her spirit or inner beauty. She has been incredibly strong through it all. I can only hope to have half of her dying grace when my time comes to go. So many memories flooded my mind as I followed that van home, and often I would find myself sobbing out loud wondering why it has to come to this.

The final turn into that dirt lane drew one more splash of emotion knowing this would be her last ride in that dirt lane. So many Thanksgivings before we had made that same turn and been treated to a royal feast-Oh the memories. I watched Jeff gently lead Diane out of the van and across the thresh hold of the house where he tenderly hugged and kissed her as if it was their honeymoon night.

The hospice nurses arrived 30 minutes later, and I watched Diane sign her life away-literally. She will die soon, and then she will take her final ride home-eternally. Before leaving, she thanked me and my father for escorting her safely home. I told her that I expect her to return the favor someday; she promised me she would.

I love you Diane.

ROAD TRIP: Motel & Breakfast

We stayed in a motel Friday evening, and used this opportunity to take a few snapshots with Danny in the quartet.  OK,… so the guys got a little funny.  When we were out on the motel porch, we got visiting with some other people and sang a song for them.  They wanted to go in and get their elderly mother and have us sing to her too!  Then out for breakfast at Knepp’s Family Restaurant with Jason’s family and his father.  Jason Knepp’s sister runs the restaurant.  Great buffet!

Serenading other motel customers

Brian and his coffee

Hank Knepp, Rachel, Joanna, and Jason Knepp

ROAD TRIP: Pleasant View

This program was a kick-off for the school year for  Pleasant View Christian School in Montgomery, Indiana.  Jason, Joanna, and Rachel Knepp provided supper for us at the school and then the guys warmed up and worked on “Gloryland”, a new song they sang this weekend.  The children enjoyed this evening, since they played outside for some of the program and there was a concession stand run by the volleyball girls.

Pleasant View

Next Page »