Tuesday, April 02, 2013

MORE VISITORS, AND MY GROCERY STORE

My own grocery story in Hagarstown, MD.
Shot on our way back from the Bluegrass concert.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
We built it, and are they ever coming.

The day I was dropping off Terry at the Detroit Greyhound station, Clyde was picking up Eric Wahl at the Johnstown Greyhound station. Eric has been here for eight days, and is leaving tomorrow.

I first met Eric at the August, 2010 Sacramento conference. He had taken the bus then from his home in Eugene, Oregon. He took the bus this time as well, though the trip was five days instead of one, and five times the suffering. Eric’s pilgrimage included an 18-hour layover in Denver, complete with a Motel 6 void of hot water. We are taking much better care of him here. Our hot water is just that, and we never fail leaving the light on for Eric, and for everyone.   

This past weekend (which some of you may know as Easter weekend), Dean and Amy Wilkinson drove the ten hours from Evansville, Indiana, to our humble place here in Windber. Dean had struggled most of his life trying to understand God in the context of a Southern Baptist upbringing. When he found Clyde’s material, and mine, his life changed. One of the first things he wanted to do was travel here to Windber and visit us.

Dean and Amy stayed for two days and two nights, and the times of fellowship were numerous and rich. Again, members of the Christ’s body bond instantly. Eric had never met them, they had never met him, and neither Clyde nor I had ever met Dean and Amy, but we all soon became one big happy family.

This is how it happens around here.

An office shot. Young Terrence is sitting where Alicia usually sits,
who we hired to catalog thousands of books so we can sell them on Amazon.

Another office view. (That's Clyde's parents in the portrait, both deceased.)
Nathan is at right, in what we call "The Shipping Department."


Amy and Dean Wilkinson, from Evansville, IN.
Cindy, Amy and Dean, at dinner.
Nathan, Aaron, and a pineapple.
Eric Wahl, of Eugene, OR
Amy and Dean, before leaving on Sunday.
Yes, that's the sun outside the window.
Nathan and Eric
Clyde, Clyde, Janet. That's me in reflection,
taking the photo.
Under the table.
Porcelain and glass.
Pork rinds.
Empty wine glass.
I’m returning to Detroit this weekend to meet up with Dan Sheridan, Harsh Bhavsar, and the gang from Ann Arbor. Dan and I hope to record a couple weeks worth of shows for you—and for us. You know what a good time we have.

It is April Fools Day as I write, and it’s snowing. But above the clouds, the sun is always shining. We are all fools for Christ.

© 2013 by Martin Zender