Our LAST SUPPER

The day finally came . . . our last dinner party in this house . . . the one we have lived in since February, 2000.
There have been sleep over dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween (watermelon carving), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and just special dinners for friends . . . the girls and their buddies . . . visitors from all over Africa and the US and Canada . . . and this was the LAST one.
Jim has been such a sweetie . . . helping pack everything he possibly can. He is great at it . . . always careful, writing things down, making sure things are not going to get broken . . . not stuffing too much in one box (one of my bad habits). . . but he got a bit carried away with the dishes, and glasses, and we had to go back and rescue some of those so this dinner party would be possible. . . God Bless him!
Anyway, the Area Coordinators for Africa are here (Bros. Adams, Grosbach, and Crumpacker, along with my hubby too), and Bro. Richardson (our girls call him "Papa") and Sis. Adams who came with her hubby (just a 3 hour drive - from Togo). The Sisco family was here, as they are part of our team . . . and oh those babies. . . sure do enjoy the hugs!
We had our dinner, not on the fanciest china (our melamime palm tree dishes and hard plastic glasses with palm trees etched in them) but the food was great. Sis. Margaret worked overtime to get this last dinner done, and it was yummy . . . at least I thought so . . . and enjoyed it immensely!
What did we eat?
oven-baked chicken
southern style mashed potatoes
whole-kernel corn
green beans
deviled eggs (our African friends call them "angel eggs")
raw carrots sticks and cucumber slices
cheese biscuits
devil's food cake with white whipped icing
iced tea/crystal light/diet coke/water
And the fellowship . . . we laughed together, and talked freely, and after dinner . . . we watched video clips of Melinda at school and away from school on various trips. We also enjoyed the IBC staff on their "break-away day" video - what a hoot!

God is good . . . He has blessed us with many special cherished memories in this home, and we give Him all the glory for this LAST SUPPER here . . . with special friends who will make the memory even more special. Can you believe I did not get one picture? So, my words will have to do . . . as you picture in your mind . . . the LAST SUPPER (big one anyway) at the Poitras house at No. 18 Forrest Avenue, Dzorwulu - ACCRA, Ghana

This is the last time . . .

Well, here we are . . . down to the last holiday celebrated and shared with loved ones in this house. We moved here in February 2000. Melinda was almost 12 and Candra was just 9 years old.

This place witnessed lots of great memories. . . birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings, and our own brand of Halloween . . . we call it FALL.

Since the girls were 5 and 7 and we lived in a different house in this part of Accra, we have made our own tradition . . . carving watermelons with great big smiles, leaves or grass for hair, and traingle eyes and noses. . . even ears!

Why watermelons? Because they are shaped like pumpkins (even though they are green). . . that's all! And we love eating watermelon too!

So, this year, we will celebrate FALL (in a country where it is getting hotter every day . . .summer is coming . . . imagine that?!) and eat special dinner with our friends and co-workers in Ghana . . . the Siscos. Then we will carve our watermelons, and share some laughs and eat lots of candy.

When it is all over, I will take down the decorations, put the leaves and corn cobs and scarecrows in a box, label it, and store it away.

We will never celebrate in this house again . . . we are packing things up. The landlord wanted DOUBLE the rent, and there is just no way!

So. . . we are closing another chapter . . . life as we know it on Forrest Avenue in Dzorwulu, Accra. For those of you who visited us here, next visit will be somewhere else . . . possibly in another part of the city . . . definitely in a different house.

We thank God for every visitor, friend, and co-worker who broke bread with us at this table. . . in this room. We praise the Lord for every lesson of school the girls did in these rooms and halls . . . tests, science project presentations, book reports, current events . . . the walls hold a lot of those.

And the giggles from sleepovers . . . dress up parties . . . photo shoots . . . and just plain "girls night out" time . . . we will not leave them here, but take them with us wherever we go.

Most especially, the prayers, devotions, table talk, special requests for loved ones and friends, Scripture memory time, Bible games and dramatic presentations, singing and worship, and the hours and hours of study and writing from God's Word. . . these go with us too. . . as we march forward . . . leaving behind walls, but carrying the memories in our hearts . . . forever . . . HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!!!

Another year older . . . and One More Together!

So much to be thankful for - especially the 24 years with my special man, Jim. What a joy to work along side him in Africa all these years. We came back to Nigeria just 3 weeks after our wedding . . . maybe not the wisest move we ever made, but we have been together . . . on this continent we both love . . . for all this time. So, THANK YOU, Jesus!
Is that a birthday present? Oh yeah . . . still enjoying those too. Special friends (The Siscos) hosted my birthday dinner . . . called it the "teeny bopper" menu (pizza, nachos, and chicken strips), and then blessed me with some very thoughtful gifts. My hubby bought me enough material for the tailor to set me up with a complete wardrobe before we begin our travels in US on deputation . . . again? Well, deputation number six is on the way and will be different this time . . . Candra (our youngest) with us for a few months (until she completes grade 12), and then it will be back to where we started . . . Jim and I . . . on the road again!
Really thankful I still have so much to celebrate . . . another year in Jesus and one more year together!

It's official . . . I'm another year older!

Is there ever any doubt in your mind . . . birthdays are special? As I get older, I appreciate each one more, but can hardly believe the numbers adding up . . . 50. . . 51. . . 52 . . . 53 . . . need I say more?
It's official . . . today is the day to add another number. I am thankful, and truly blessed. . . and have been enjoying all the birthday greetings coming via internet. . . facebook. . . Melinda's blogspot - first place I looked today. . . etc.
But nothing beats the hands-on greetings from my hubby (good morning hug and kiss, and a "Happy Birthday" as he ran out the door for National Board Meetings) and the special hug and "Happy Birthday" I got from Candra this morning too.
So, it is official . . . I am one year older today . . . with so much to be thankful for, and so many special folks (like you) to wish me a "Happy Birthday!"
God Bless You ALL, and I hope to return the favor on YOUR official day!

She's 17 already?!?!!!!

Well, there she is . . . our 17-year old baby girl . . . hard to imagine.

It is not difficult at all to remember the blond curls all over her head as a toddler.

I don't even have to try hard to see her walking around in every pair of grown-up shoes anyone happened to leave around.

She LOVED hats too . . . still does . . . and a swirly dress . . . that flows out when she makes a fast circle.

And those adorable eyes as she pulled on the coattail of men in the church asking, "Are YOU Bro. Pastor?" and then, "Can I give you a hug?" Got lots of PIMs that way as a traveling deputation family.

Seems like just yesterday for every one of those memories, but today. . . this vibrant, sensitive young lady lives in our house. She is caring and kind, and knows how to take care of sick folks, and little children too. When did this happen? Must have been while we were working in Ghana, staying busy, and helping her do school work (anything below 98 is a disaster in her opinion!).

17 years of the blessing of Candra in our home, and especially in our hearts.

We joined in the celebration on Friday, September 19 (the day after her September 18 birthday). And lots of her friends joined too . . . thank God for friends, and the joy of sharing. Wish you could have been with us, but thankful for your prayers and love for Candra . . . always.

17 already? THANK YOU JESUS!!!

A Day to Remember . . .

This is it . . . a day I will never forget.

No, I didn't make a mistake . . . I am not talking about September 11 (although that is a day the world will long remember).
September 9 . . . the day my world . . . my security and one of my lifelong anchors was loosed from this world.
September 9, 1990 . . . has it really been 18 years? I can remember so many things about that day . . . and some I don't have a clue. This is what I know. . .
My daddy . . . my special, wonderful . . . pastor, teacher, provider and friend was SO SICK!! Cancer was ravaging his strong, sturdy body, and causing agony of the worst kind.
He had been sick for 3 months . . . and it was getting worse every minute. Much prayer had been made. God heard, and He chose to take my Daddy home to be with Him.
I felt as though my heart was breaking. . . I didn't want to let go, but it was time.
I was there . . . holding his hand . . . on this day to remember.
It was Sunday night. My husband (Daddy's last son-in-law) had gone to the church Daddy turned over to him . . .as soon as he walked in the door from Africa.
Jim told all the saints, "If you want to see your pastor, you better go to the hospital right now". . . and they did.
We lived in a small town . . . had been there for 35 years, so we pretty much took over the hallways and waiting rooms of that hospital. . . but not for long. It was time, and God took Daddy home . . . as I held his hand. . . the last breath was gone.
I can still see and hear and feel everything going on in that room. . . but pretty much everything else was a blur.
The last thing he told me, "Take care of that baby girl (Melinda) and don't let her run out in the road." (This had always been one of his greatest fears about his grandchildren.)
He had lucid moments . . . even through the haze of morphine . . . and he would quote Scripture, or preach a short sermon (as long as his strength would hold out) and he kept telling us to "Hold on, and make it all the way."
Eighteen years . . . and every lesson I ever teach, every class I ever attend, every sermon I hear preached, I can hear my Daddy . . . in my mind, either telling me something I am hearing now. . .
or wiping the tears from his eyes as the Word goes forth. . .
or listening to the HALLELUJAHS that came forth as he rejoiced in the beauty of God's Word. . .
or jumping for joy that God's Word is so ALIVE!
He died . . . still in awe of the one who wrote that Word.
He left a love for that Word in my heart, and this is a day to remember . . . My Daddy . . . the one who passed His love for God's Word and its TRUTH to the next generation . . . that would be ME.
Thank You, Daddy! Thank You, SO MUCH! The day you left us is one I will never forget, and it is a day I will always remember how much you taught me . . . a Day to Remember!
Some of the things you used to say . . .

"Bear down on that when you pray . . ."
"Linda, keep your head screwed on straight, you hear?" (Your advice when Jim called to ask if he could marry me.)
"I hate to get 'em up, I hate to get 'em up, I hate to get 'em up in the mornin' " (sung to the tune of the Army revelry song . . .your favorite way to get me out of bed on a Saturday morning . . . complete with a tickle to the ribs)
"Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). (That verse was the one you quoted at the beginning of every radio program you ever preached or recorded to be aired.)

You lived well, loved hard, gave all, and finished your course. There are many days and times I remember something you said, or the way you would do things. But the legacy I appreciate most is that strong love for God's Word. . . I promise to share that with the next generation, and one day they will have something to remember!

. . . and THEN . . . there were THREE

The Poitras FOUR

(taken just five days before Melinda left Ghana)

August 4, 2008

Every family with children gets here . . . sooner or later. The first child leaves the nest, and the whole family shifts gears. One less plate; one less voice . . . heard in the halls and walls of the house; one less passenger in the vehicle. . .one less.
This is a natural process, and Thank God, it is not forever . . . just for a season and a time in life when the world (as you know it) is forever changed . . . different . . . in a good way.
It doesn't seem very good right now . . . today. She has finished two weeks of Bible school, and we give God the glory for that. But the adjustment is still going on . . . in her heart and ours too.
The siblings left behind . . . how do they adjust? Closeness is great . . . until it is time to let go. Then, it hurts deeper and lasts longer, but the closeness is still there. Understanding the pain, feeling the loss . . . so thankful it is not permanent . . . just temporary for now.
Mom's concerned about the wash . . . will the clothes survive? Will everything get lost, or put away and safe? Shoes in their boxes, clothes on their hangers. . . skirts and tops together? Hair fixed and things in their place? Probably not, but we tried. Someone else will plan the meals, set the table, and call the roll in classes.
The parent(s) left behind during the transition process . . . how do they feel? Left behind means left out, right? But no . . . not this time . . . except in the heart. Decisions to make . . . what do you think? Money to spend . . . is that really necessary? Where and what and when and who and why and how . . . did they think of that?
"Dad, I love you . . . and need you. . . and want to share my heart with you. . . and want you to know what happened today. . . and hope you are well. . . and wish I could give you a hug. . . and miss you so much!"
What about the classes? Will she be on time, homework done, studied and prepared? The foundation has been laid. . . the course set. . . the understanding clear . . . now it's up to her.
Calls on the phone (only certain times of the day & week) . . . IMing in the night. . . e-mails as much as possible. . . and many, many prayers.
This is how we go from FOUR to THREE . . . and God help us . . . soon it will be TWO!
This is how it works . . . how it should be . . . how we thank and praise God for our family . . . and then there were THREE.