Part I:2012 in review ....Part II to follow

Greetings from Texas, where we are taking a well deserve R & R period before we start out on our 2013 adventures.

We will be breaking this blog into 2 separate postings as we want to share what transpired with us and our travels in 2012 ...then in part 2 we will share where you may be able to see the Longs in 2013, as it stands now (subject to change, since our plans are  always set in jell-0).

We last reported here that we had just finished our NOMAD period 3 project at Lives Under Construction (LUC) boys ranch, Lampe, Mo. (near Branson); a facility that is non-denominational.  We then traveled into Belle Plaine, Ia and share NOMAD work with the ladies of United Methodist Church in Chelsea,Ia. we were in the BP area for 10 days before heading down to Coralville Lake, for a 6 day stay near the dam. Spent some time visiting with Judy's sons; Andy and Rich.

We then moved the Endeavor over to Clarks Landing, the Corps of Engineers campground at Mountpelliar, Ia, (along the Mississipi River, near the Iowa Quad-cities). While there we celebrated John's brother Doug's birthday along with several  of the LONG cousins and spouses. 
 Then headed East, with stops in Geneseo, Il and  a visit with Judy's friends, Mary and Dick Kintigh, then onto Metamora, Il. for a brief visit with John's Aunt Mae and family.

We then headed for Camp Woodmont, in Georgia, (with plans to be their kitchen managers for 12 weeks during the summer) {we stayed 4 weeks, as it was NOT as it was presented to us in the interview} we did however get to take in some of Civil War battlefields that were nearby.

We returned to Iowa in mid June, taking a position again with ADVENTURELAND  theme park. John was an assistant manager at River City  foods area, 7 different types of food was prepared and served in this area, this kept John really busy, as Adventureland was terribly short staffed all summer long,,.

Leaving Adventureland on Oct 3 and returning to LUC to assist with their annual homecoming/booster activities  over the weekend,,,before heading onto Coffeyville, Ks to get Christmas product ready for delivery from AMAZON . com ...John worked as an Inventory Specialist in the I.C.Q.A. area while also serving as the CHRISTIAN RESORT  MINISTRIES,Intl Chaplain for all the other RVing community working for Amazon.com, making over 27 home visits, 4 hospital visits, coordinating 2 Bible studies, and he was called upon to do some grief counseling for all Amazonians, when one of their fulltime employees passed away suddenly.



  We might add here that on the trip over to Coffeyville from LUC, John had the misfortune of adding some unwanted 'beauty marks' along the ENDEAVORS passenger side, along with taking out the electric steps into the coach. 

Our Nationwide/Allied took good care and immediate care of the problems.




While in Coffeyville, Judy was again able to get her much needed pain relief medication that she was unable go obtain for the previous 90+ days... we praise God that she was able to return to being active again with out pain.  Judy spent many of her days picking up pecans (from under the 6 or 7 pecan trees not far from our campsite). She probably gathered around 100+ pounds (which she is still in process of cracking and picking out)  ANYONE WANTING SOME, I am sure she can arrange some.) Judy also opened a shop site on ETSY.Com  (JudysJems3) in order to market her handcrafted jewelry bracelets,necklaces, and earrings.

When we were in Iowa we made a few trips down to Indianola to listen to some great bluegrass music, we also were able to make the trip down to Mount Pleasant, Ia for the annual OLD THRESHERS reunion (always starting the Thursday before and continuing thru Labor day) .

We also have a little more sad news to add, we lost our beloved calico cat Pebbles in January due to illness. So we added a young rescue from the shelter in Livingston to replace her,,introducing  Mr. Patches,
 


Be watching for part II in the next few days to see what and where The Longs-On the road will be headed and doing in 2013.

We also want to take the time now to thank all of you who support our efforts thru prayer and encouragement by either phone calls, notes on facebook, or emails. Also we want to thank the mission committee of Christ United Methodist Church, Belle Plaine, Ia. for their past monetary support.

On the road for Christ: Judy and John Long along with Bamm-Bamm and Patches,the traveling cats.

NOMADS Project at LUC completed

Gary and Avis Norton, Art and Sue, Bruce and Mary Jane Bohall, then John and Judy Long

Judy enjoying her work in the LUC greenhouse

Judy and I recently completed our 3 week NOMAD project at LIVES UNDER CONSTRUCTION BOYS RANCH at Lampe, Mo. (near Branson) our NOMAD Team of 4 couples accomplished quite a few minor projects that needed attention,,,The main thing accomplished was the inside finish work on one of the staff residents homes,,, we repaired a major floor leak under the shower in the master bedroom, the ladies painted trim boards for the windows and doors in the daughter's room,they also cut and placed rough sawn  trim around the living room, hall way, master bedroom, utility room...an additional breaker box was added in utility room and wiring diverted to it, There was a light and exhaust fan installed in the boy's shower area and built a small wall to close the shower in for privacy ( by John), then the ladies also put up cedar trim in 2 boys bedrooms upstairs. 2 ceiling lights were installed in their rooms ( by John) Judy spent the 2nd day working in the Green House planting things for future grounds beautification, then on the 3rd day Judy helped plant garden vegetables ,, she was almost in heaven getting to play in the dirt... then the last  day of that week and the last 2 weeks,she went over to the Trading Post (resale shop; operated by the LUC Boys ranch volunteers; as a major source of their funding) Judy was sorting and cleaning donations,, John went over to the Trading Post the final 2 weeks where he worked on doors that had bad draft areas and moisture entering,,,, he cleaned up a badly rusted door (with a new to him product) and replaced the threshold, he also planned out and installed an awning over the entry way ( the awning had been donated to the Trading post about a month earlier, and it was the exact measurements that was needed to cover the entry) John also worked on 2 additional door jams and weather proofed them along with 7 window seals...He was also able to get the Air handling unit operational for them ( it never worked after it was installed, the man who did the work had become seriously ill)
Health wise Judy held up pretty good (BUT is hurting some today along with a bad cold) John is doing well just pacing myself to avoid getting overtired,,, we also had the opportunity to be the luncheon speakers at a neighboring UMC here in Iowa on Saturday about NOMADS and what we have done in our 17 NOMAD projects the last 5 years...

ON THE ROAD AGAIN----FINALLY!!!!!

Hello all of our friends and family.. just a little catching up for those that haven't been following us on FACEBOOK: John N Judy Long;

As we last left you Judy had just gotten home from her arthroscope surgery on her left knee, well that didn't work so good. She had Dr. DeLoach do a partial knee replacement... so since Judy was going to have too have rehab time of 6 to 8 weeks and then probably have a partial knee replacement done to her right knee, John returned to working for Securitas ,as an overnight security guard at a gas pipe manufacturer,in Liberty, Tx (45 miles, one way) He worked 4 nights a week. He worked there 3/8/11-3/1/12. Then re-retired. The 1st knee was done on March 23rd, IT WENT REALLY WELL ,, then the right knee was partially replaced on Aug, 26th, it went good, but the rehab was a little slower,,,,

Then in November John was having annual physicals done , a colon exam was done first (just a couple minor polyps removed) they were benign. then the next week he had a prostrate exam and 12 samples were taken, there were 2 that had signs of cancer,,, so John began 44 sessions of radiation treatments,, (went every weekday morning at 7:45 a.m...just finished on March 5th) and now he is cancer free .

We stayed at the R&L Ranch at Rainbows End,just outside of Livingston,Tx. from 12/24/10 until 10/20/12 doing house setting and other odd jobs for our friends the Wiehrs. Of course we enjoyed being able to play Pinocle 3 nights a week and Hand and foot a few times a month,

Oct. 20 th we moved the Endeavor down to Cedar Grove RV park just outside of Liberty (so John wouldn't have a 42 mile trip each way to work.. We stayed there until 1/20/12 . We found LONE STAR LAKES RV PARK at New Caney, Tx which was only 6 miles from Kingwood, where John was going for his radiation treatments (besides being a little less expensive)

SO NOW THE BREAKING NEWS ; John and Judy has received an offer to be the Kitchen Co-managers at CAMP WOODMONT in Cloudland , Ga. we are to start there on May13th. (which is our 6th Anniversary) and work until Aug. 3rd.

So this is our tentative schedule and travel plans for the rest of 2012.
Our Sunday School class is participating in a mission project at Lon Morris College, Jacksonville, Tx we have plans to be a part of this group next week, then we return to Rainbows End until April 1st at which time we begin traveling to Lampe, Mo, LIVES UNDER CONSTRUCTIONS BOYS RANCH where we will be a part of a NOMADS Team. April 2-19th. On the 20th we head out for IOWA,,arriving in Belle Plaine (Franklin Park) on the 21st. We will be in BP until the 26th when the Endeavor moves down to the Corp of Engineers Campgrounds on Coralville Lake.. we will depart there on May 3 and relocate to the Cof E Campground, along the Mississippi River just outside of Montpelier, Ia (near the Quad Cities aka Davenport,Bettendorf, Ia and Rock Island. Moline Il,) we will be staying there while visiting with friends and family until May 8th .
We then plan on visiting friends in Geneseo, Il. and stay over night somewhere near Metamora, Il on the 8th. We will then start our Journey to WOODMONT; Cloudland, Ga. We should arrive there sometime either the 12th or 13th of May. Then we depart for Iowa, after camp closes on Aug,3,,,we are going to be playing tourist on the way back to Iowa taking in Nashville, Tn.Louisville, Ky and maybe even a Nascar Race.

We then have another NOMAD project at WESLEYWOODS, UMC camp and retreat center near Indianola, Iowa beginning Aug27th thru Sept.13th..this will also allow us to take in OLD THRESHERS Reunion at Mt. Pleasant, Ia during Labor Day weekend.(LIFE IS SOO GOOD) ...


Then AMAZON.COM ; Coffeyville, Ks, as requested that we return there to be the CRM Chaplains for the RVers, working in the distribution center for the Christmas season, John will also be working in the plant (probably in the Inventory Control /Quality Assurance dept. nights again) We then will be leaving Kansas on Dec 23rd.. probably for Livingston to check in with Drs. and renew license plates and registrations for the Endeavor and LIL' Red.

This is what has been and the things scheduled for/with the LONGS -ON THE ROAD and we want to thank each of you for all of the prayers, calls, notes, support and encouragement...BUT MOSTLY WE WANT TO THANK JESUS FOR SEEING US THROUGH THIS PAST YEAR AND OPENING UP THESE OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVICE FOR HIM... we hope to see as many of our friends and family that we can as we pass through your areas....

LOVE You all and JESUS DOES TOO.


John and Judy and the Traveling Cats Bamm Bamm and Patches (we lost Pebbles in Jan'12 to sickness and had to have her put down. RIP Pebbles)