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Hi Everyone:
The trip up from the "Valley" was almost uneventful, we did it in one day. Which made us go through Houston starting at 4:10 p.m.,,, which was a HUGE mistake. Then when we finally got on the north side of I-10, we hit MAJOR construction,so we were another hour arriving into Livingston. Missed getting here in time for the Monday night edition of Pinochle. darn.
We have been busy all week, here at the RL Ranch. We installed a new 50 gallon Hot Water heater, to replace their 30 gal one. We also relocated it out of their bedroom closet, into a room addition off of their kitchen. John had to reroute water lines and the 220 electrical connection.Then he painted the new wooden cabinet, surrounding the new hot water heater. Also installed a new light above it.
This week Judy and John are going to be sprucing up the RL ranch lot.trimming bushes, weeding flower beds, planting new plants, removing dirt from along the ditch, and probably mow.
We also have an outing planned for Nacogdoches, which is advertised as the "oldest town in Texas". We are to do the tourist sights, take in some community flower gardens (Everything here is beautifully in bloom,and yes we are taking the camera.) We also are going to try to take a tour through the FORETALE RV Coach Manufacturing plant,
On Saturday night we are headed over to the Triple Creek RV resort , at Woodville, for their Gospel Jam night. We will also see our Adventureland co-worker friends Bob and Nancy Wood, who are workamping there.
We plan on leaving here on April 2nd, headed to Iowa, with possible stops in Bolivar,MO,: New London, Mo,; and West Burlington, Iowa.
We have an appointment in Belle Plaine on the 6th,
We plan on being in the Quad City area on the 10 th through the 17th the returning to Belle Plaine for the week end,then onto Altoona on the 20th.
Our health has its good days and bad days but we both are having more good days then bad.
We really are anxious to get into Adventureland and into our summer routine. WE ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU that if you would like to visit Adventureland John can get Admission for up to 10 at time for 19.50 we would LOVE to see some of you there this summer.
Please remember the NOMADS as they are having to cancel some projects for the lack of volunteers, period 4 is in progress right now and the Coordinator reports that period 7 has NO ONE signed up for the 4 planned projects at this time.
Remember CRM RV Chaplains as their RV parks are getting less populated for the season so they will be going to their summer assignments or R&R.
Please remember Judys Uncle Paul who is recuperating at home from some surgery
Continue to pray for Aunt Lorretta as she is back in her assisted living home, from a bout pneumonia and a trip to the hospital.
Judys son Rich has had contact with some chemicals and his hands have some redness and swelling .
remember us as we are traveling here this week and then Head for IOWA next.
Pray for the Work of Children's Haven International with the Orphanage in Mexico. Will include pictures from there in next post--- I promise.
Our Country leaders and our country always need our prayers for God to lead.
May GOD continue to BLESS each of you
and each of you get a big HUG from us as we see you this summer.
Love JUDY, JOHN and the Traveling Cats.
Hi Everyone!
1st let me thank everyone for their prayers while I was under the weather the last 10days.
The Drs. could not label exactly what was causing the high temperature and other symptoms !! Just said that it was bronchial related...geee maybe I should become a Dr..... I already knew that. So a shot in the ole backside and antibiotic for 10 days and I finally almost human again....
The Nomad project finished up here at Camp Thicket on Thursday Noon. We just did minor work in the flower beds and shrubbery along the roads. The ladies did paint a couple of doors they decided should be a different color.
Bob and Barb Ruesch ,RV Park Directors for Christian Resort Ministries met with John and Judy on Saturday and the conversation was very productive. Watch for more CRM/Longs On the Road News soon.
Today we had the privilege of participating in the Ordination service of our dear friend Jack Gregory, Dennis Mahoney CRM Gerenal Director, brought the message. Was very challenging to all.
This evening another CRM rv park Chaplain, Bill Watts was Ordined, with most of the RV Park Chaplains in Rio Grande Valley joining us.
Judy is having a good end of the week, Dr.Glaizer was very encouraging at her visit on Friday...we also had a chance to visit with Jean and Tex Smith,,, fellow Adventureland workers and good friends, they live over in McAllen during the winter.,also went by and said good bye to fellow NOMADS Harold and JoAnn Annis, as they are finishing the winter in one of local RV parks.
We are planning on trying to reach Livingston by late afternoon tomorrow, so we are going to be on the road early(weather permitting)
please pray for the NOMAD project that are beginning. NOMADS travels at this time.
pray for our travel and that God shows us some answers we need to see how to get some of worry out of our mines .\
Pray for the CRM personnel as they are traveling.
We will post some pictures next post and the cats say Meow!!
Love and Hugs Judy and John
MEOW---PURRRRR:
It is around mid-night Saturday night/ Sunday morning, Mr. Bill and Mom took Dad to something called ER, they left here around 4:30 p.m. and we haven't heard anything from them yet ???
Bamm-Bamm said for me not to get on here or Dad would probably skin me for letting the news out. So I am makin' my 1st effort at this reporting business.
The folks got in around 12:45a.m., we heard mom say that they were in the waiting area for 2hrs , then in the room another 4 hrs before they even saw a Dr. Mom said that the hospital took blood from dad 3 different times and vitals 2 different times. An urine specimen was also gathered.
The conclusion was nothing wrong--- except maybe some slight bronchitis. A shot in the rump and 2 prescriptions and sent home to rest.
In Weslaco, Tx. ONE CANNOT get a prescription filled on a Sunday, so had to wait til today, then they had to wait for the antibiotic to be transferred in from a sister store.
Dad says it sure is a good thing that most of the projects here are completed as it just Bill and 3 ladies.
Us Traveling Cats are sure going to hate leaving here, as we BOTH have been enjoying the outdoor freedoms during the DAY TIME,,, even Bamm as been heading out when ever possible.. We are parked just across some woods from a Bird Sanctuary and with all of the thickets here, we have enjoyed hunting . BUT ALL GOOD THINGS must come to an end.
Mom has started to get things ready for travel next Monday around 10 a.m. We get to return to the folks favorite Texas friends- THE Wiehrs plan staying there for a few days then onto Iowa
We think Dad will be to his NORMAL self by Wednesday ---If Dad is ever normal,,
If NOT then one of us will put paws to keys and squeal on him,
Meoooooow
Pebbles and Bamm for MOM (Judy) and DAD (john)
Hi Friends and Family:
Week 2 of project period 3 has come to an end....and only 1 more week left of Winter/Spring Nomads projects for the LONGS-ON THE ROAD,
As noted before Judy's health doesn't allowed her to work with the team here at CAMP THICKET as much as she would like too., although she joins us for devotional time, pot lucks, game nights, outings and furnishes snacks for breaks.
Judy wasn't the only one under the weather this week,,, John has a bug (consisting of high temperature,cough, ache muscles and bones, severe headaches, and sore throat.) It was a good thing there isn't much work remaining to be done here. John didn't work Wednesday or Thursday this week.
This is a look at how we start each day with a Devotional period . John is leading this days Devotion. We meet at 8 a.m. Usually in the North Dining room, we also take our mid- morning and mid-afternoon breaks in here, Also potlucks and games nights are held here,, Tuesday evening found us gathering for a Wiener roast (over the gas grill) and potluck,,,, every one said it was very tasty. This was followed by a game of Pegs and Jokers. Wednesday evening the team members that were healthy traveled over to one of the neighboring RV parks to listen to a comedy/music group. They reported that Judy and John missed a very enjoyable night.
In the above picture we are gathered at Cici's Pizza last Sunday.
Here John is replacing the roof planks over the cabana near the pool. He says that the building was really wobbly while up there. But he managed because he felt GOD was with him. Bill and John replaced about half of the floor and a third of the top along with a support beam underneath and some bench boards replaced.
This is the Chapel Building here at METHODIST CAMP THICKET, which was the ONLY building not painted on the outside by our 2 NOMAD teams the last 5 weeks. John did replace the exit sign just inside the front door.
This cactus stands at the back of our ENDEAVOR. Following are some other plant life here on Camp Grounds.
This cactus with a blossom is along the interior road here at the camp. 
There are numerous bushes similar to the one above, all over the Camp Grounds.
This is the Bar-b -Que cover that the NOMADS built during period 2,, Bill Mitchell, Harold Annis, and John designed and constructed it.
This is our friend, Loretta Weihr, from Livingston, practicing her According Playing. She plays at the jams at the Care Center at Rainbows End. We will be returning to her and Ralph's R.L. Ranch for a few days before heading to Iowa, via Southern and Eastern Missouri.
We have a new camera, if you haven't already guessed. So we should be able to keep you up to date with pictures also, and make these post more interesting !!!
Our Prayer thoughts today are plentiful:
1) please continue praying for Judy and John health to improve.
2) Pray of praise, we learned that Judy's Aunt Loretta has returned to the Belle Plaine Care Center, from her stay in the hospital with pneumonia,
3)Also Praise pray: That Judy's son Rich is really adopting well too his new living environment .
4) Please join us in praying for safety as NOMAD projects are continuing.
5) Pray for our Country (economy and strife) , our Leaders that wisdom will prevail in guiding our country . Our Service personnel safety and quick return home.
6) Pray for the special service upcoming here in the Rio Grande Valley to Ordain 2 new Chaplains on March 15Th., along with traveling mercies for those traveling here to participate.
7) Our CRM Chaplains across the USA as they prepare for their respected services on Sunday and that hearts also will be prepared to receive those messages.
8) John's cousin Gracie was taken to the hospital this week with a heart attack, She also is looking at Surgery to repair her neck injuries received in an auto accident earlier.
MAY GOD touch each of you with special love this week.
HUGS from the ENDEAVOR crew- Judy, John, Bamm-Bamm, and Pebbles.
Hola :
The Endeavor is still resting here at Camp Thicket. The NOMAD team finished all of the outside painting Except the pool shower building and the swimming pool.
Other minor work done by John this week was repairing a very bad leaking sink drain in the South complex building, replaced a venation blind in the North dining area.
Bill and John also started removing the bad boards and support beams in the covered seating area near the pool, some floor boards needed replacing and one of the support beams under it was rotted out, so it was replaced. Then we had to take out 3 roof support rafters and half dozen roof boards. We managed to get the new beam in place and 4 floor boards replaced.
For added events for the week The Longs and Ms,Baker, traveled over to Alamo Rec.-Veh RV park, to listen to a Gospel Concert by Terry Hall, which was an excellent experience.This concert was a CRM sponsored event for the RV park.
Terry is very talented singer/performer, and if any of you have an opportunity to attend one of his performances we highly recommend it.
With Wednesday being Ash Wednesday, the NOMAD team went to 1st United Methodist Church- Weslaco for combined services with 1st UMC- Mercedes and Weslaco.
Then on Thursday evening we had a soup supper and game night. Another New card game was learned WHINE.
Friday was shopping day, and Johns Cell Phone was found! ????
Saturday Judy and John joined the CRM worship group from Alamo Rec-Veh for a bus tour over to Reynosa, Mexico, to visit The REFUGIO INTERNATIONAL DeNinos ran by an American sponsor CHILDREN'S HAVEN INTERNATIONAL.Their web address is: www.childrenshaven.org We were treated to a tour of the campus to view their living quarters, dining area, school rooms. Then we shared a delightful lunch Mexican style. Afterwards the Children presented their Fiesta performances for us, which absolutely thrilled all of us.
As far as the bus trip to and from the Children's home through the streets of Reynosa.. we had our eyes opened to why the Latinos want to leave those living conditions... average house was a shack or a very small 3 ROOMS brick building, with more then a 1000 such brick "houses" built on about 10 acres. The average wage is $1.75 per hour we were told and they HAVE to work 60 hrs a week, then work over time and if they refused the OT twice they are released from their jobs.
Today the Nomads again attended 1st UMC- Mercedes for Worship followed by Lunch out at CICI"S Pizza.
Judy, John and some Nomad leadership had a discussion about how hard it was for her to continue to try putting all the work and time doing projects,, the leadership team suggested that she just take a support role-- like maybe provide snacks for breaks,participate in group events and her health allows, and then maybe occasionally doing minor things as she feels able too.
Because of this we have asked to be released from the Period 4 project at Luling, Tx. which will allow us to stay here in Rio Grande Valley a few more days to have a follow up visit with Dr. Blazer. Also to attend the Ordination Services of Jack Gregory on the 15th , also another CRM Chaplain will be ordained in that same evening, followed by a potluck fellowship.. am told that there will be quite a few of the CHRISTIAN RESORT MINISTRIES, Board of Directors present that week-end.
We then will be returning to Rainbow's End at Livingston for R&R at the R.L. Ranch. Then head for Iowa at a slow pace depending on weather there and between.
We have tentatively planned on staying in the Quad Cities area until the 17th of April, then traveling to Belle Plaine on the 17th to visit our friends and family around their over the week-end. Then after the Morning Worship hours and lunch head onto Altoona and Adventureland.
Please pray for:
Gods Good News be highlighted during this Easter season and that lost souls would be touched and won!
For our Country, Our Leaders, our Service Personnel that they may have wisdom, safety and the economy be shored up.
Pray for Judy's Aunt Loretta (90+) who is still recovering for pneumonia, and hospitalized in Cedar Rapids.
Pray for Judy and her health issues and to make here feel that the choice we have made is for the better and that she STILL will have an active role in support of NOMADS teams that John is involved with.
Pray for safety on the work sites of all of the NOMAD projects and that more will take an opportunity to serve (even in IOWA, where a revolving project is beginning in April. see www.nomadsumc.org for details). Also that more people join as there is a greater need for volunteers as there are more request for teams than they have volunteers to serve on them.
Pray for Children's Haven International and all of their leadership and volunteers that work with the Children at Refugio International De Ninos and the 50+ children there in Reynosa. Also that the money to finish the addictions for the classrooms that CRM /Alamo Rec-Veh as pledged to raise is accomplished. That the work may be accomplished quickly as the need is urgent.
Continue praying for The CRM Chaplains scattered across the country that their energy and health holds up and that God continues to Bless each of them daily. That lost souls be touched by their love and messages.
Be in special prayer for John, as he begins studying MORE deeply and preparing, for our 1st CRM assignment at Coffeyville, Ks. In October. and preparing hearts to be in tuned to what he has to share with them there.
May GOD touch each of you in a special way this Easter Season and may each of you share with another the JOY that Jesus took this time to DIE for their sins along your and ours.
Hugs from the LONGS:Judy, John, Bamm-Bamm and Pebbles.
