Toto, we are not in Kansas Anymore

Toto, I’ve got a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.”

Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ

The farmer/windmill man and I are not in Kansas anymore.  We arrived at Ridge Haven Cono camp in Walker, IA yesterday.  We are on another one month mission with the SOWERS (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready) group.  We have met the great couples we will be working with this month and are delighted with the range of experience and talents.  The Lord knows how to put together a good team.  

This country is beautiful farmland.  This is right up our alley.  The farmer/windmill man loves to take pictures of barns.  This area has an ample supply of models for his creative juices.  The camp is located next to a soybean field and across the road they are raking hay.  

Today we learned the interesting history of this camp as it began as a school and took in lots of missionary kids for their education while parents were overseas.  International students were also educated in this place.  They have a sister camp in the Smokey Mountains.  The differences in these camps and terrain is extreme.  

“If we walk far enough,” says Dorothy, “we shall sometime come to someplace.”

Dorothy from Wizard of OZ

Our time during shelter at home was productive and enjoyable.  I spent time putting together quilt blocks and finished a quilt top while the farmer was also assembling pieces of wood to make a butcher block for his bride and a long work table for himself.  We were finally able to see most of the grandchildren (not all together but a few at a time).  We had four of them spend a week with us before we left and we camped with some of the others.  We were so thankful for Facetime and other means to keep in touch.  

Our church family was able to start attending together again two weeks ago with several precautions and I didn’t realize how much I missed worshiping together with fellow believers in the church setting.  Tears flowed the first Sunday we were able to have some of us gather again.  

“Toto did not really care whether he was in Kansas or the Land of Oz so long as Dorothy was with him; but he knew the little girl was unhappy, and that made him unhappy too.” 

Dorothy of the Wizard of OZ

2020 has been an interesting year full of surprises and troubling times.  Maybe this year has taught us much.  Maybe it has shown us that faith, people, family and friends are more important than anything else.  Maybe being with those we love no matter where we are, is more important than where we are on the ladder of success and that the happiness of others makes a huge difference to our happiness.  

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.” 

the Wizard of OZ

We attended church this morning with a delightful flock at a drive in service. The pastor had a powerful message for us all. The farmer and I decided we could come to this church again and hope to while we are in the area. It is so precious to be with like minded people who love the Lord.