I haven't heard much these past days but did get a note from Doug Smith's
wife, Tricia which I will pass along. Also, I need some feedback from each
of you and will be calling tomorrow.....
PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS ON TO ANYONE IN ESTONIA!!!
I know some of you are corresponding with others that are over in Estonia
and Jim and Connie, I know you are THERE but PLEASE keep this quiet!!
There are a few people who have contacted me expressing interest in going
over to San Francisco to meet the group there.
What we are currently checking on is :
1) If Storer has arranged to pick-up the group. I THINK - but do not know -
the bus they took over to SF when they LEFT was chartered by Storer. Anyone
who knows more about this please call me at 765-4159. I will be calling
Storer tomorrow (today) but this has been an incredibly busy week for our
business and I have a client I must see up in Twain Harte so I have NO idea
how my time is going to be. (NOT complaining, just pray I manage my time
well.)
2. IF Storer IS planning to pick them up, we need to find out what it will
cost to possibly hire a SECOND coach - hopefully at the same rate or better.
3. Once we (perhaps this should say I...) have established the price of a
second coach, I will find out an accurate head count of those returning
(since some of them have already returned) and will begin contacting each of
you to see how many will commit to contribute and to going over as a part of
the celebration group and picking up the team.
What I specifically need from each of you at this point is some quick emails
letting me know if I should even invest the time in pursuing this. If there
is enough interest, I'm happy to do the leg work. Even if you don't have
family returning, if you would like to go just to surprise the group with a
warm welcome and accompany them on the last leg of their journey home,
please let me know. I think riding from SF to here with the group will not
only be a real encouragement to them, it will sure make the ride much
shorter and more tolerable for them after traveling almost 24 hours by then.
Call me a softy.... I just LOVE surprises and I'm going!!! The question
is - do I go in our car with my little family or do we ALL go and knock
their socks off???? If you're game - let me know and we'll make plans for a
celebration!!!
Again - please don't let them know about this!!!
IT'S A SURPRISE!!!
(PS - Thanks Doug W for your help with all this - I couldn't do this without
your direction and encouragement!!)
OK - now for the updates....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~Note from Doug Smith
(this part is from Tricia but it has info so i'm passing it on with doug's
note)
> Linda,
> you might have already gooten more updated info since this came 7-7. I
> went and picked up Doug at the airport 7-8 (Saturday night) at 10:12.
> This is the list of guys that came home safely the same time as Doug.
> Gordon Rumble, John Gish, Gary Meyers, Michael Zoslocki, Robert Pyle, and
> John Pyle. Thomas Garrels was supposed to have come home but made
> arrangements to stay to help out for a while longer. When they got home
> they said 2 of the containers came in and the only one left to come is
> the one with the tower and it is being held up because of some paper
> work.
> Tricia Smith
> --------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Tartu Pereraadio <[email protected]>
> Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2000 21:07:52 +0300
> Subject: See you soon...
>
> This will most likely be my last e-mail message as I will be leaving
> Friday evening or Sat morning to head back to Tallinn for my flight
> back to America on Sat morning. Looking so forward to seeing your smile
> at SF.
>
> The work went really well the last few days. Today (thursday) we
> nearly finished the roof, put in most of the insulation, put in the air
> conditioning ducts, poured concrete for the footings of the braces that
> hold the guy wires for the tower. Also started on the brick exterior
> of the building. Great weather today, slightly overcast, which keeps
> the
> heat down, and makes the work go easier. I am looking forward to
> coming home to see you all, but will miss the ministry going on here as
> well. Going to read a little and then go to bed. Thanks for all the
> e-mails over the past 2 weeks. It is nice to keep up with what is
> going on at home. If you send an e-mail your Thursday night I will
> probably
> still get it before I leave.
>
> I made a new Estonian friend during this trip. His name is Indrik, and
> he works and goes to school here at the Seminary. I met him last year,
> but never really talked with him all that much. This year, he came out
> to work with us for several days. He has a really nice girlfriend that
> he plans to marry. I told them that they could come to see us in
> California for their honeymoon....
> Before I forget to tell you, I have to tell you of the killer wasp or
> bee I saw last night. It was 3:30 in the morning (and light outside).
> This loud buzzing woke me up. When I looked at our window, this bee the
> size of a mack truck was trying to find a way in through my screen. It
> had to be about 2.5 inches long, and it buzzed about as loud as my
> electric razor (no kidding). It stressed me out as it buzzed there for
> about a half hour before giving up. Thank the Lord I had my screen.
> The bugs over here in the daytime on the jobsite are very annoying.
> They have these flys that bite and attack you. It drives everyone
> crazy. There is prayer everyday that God will keep them at bay. Some
> days they are not so bad.
>
> God has surely been with us on
> the jobsite as no one has been hurt.
>
> See you soon. Love, Doug.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Phone call with Chris Jost, Dan Browning and Jerry Mishler
(Anyone want to guess how much MY phone bill is going to be this month?????)
I spoke with Chris first. I think in a previous post I told you that when
we first discussed the possibility of Chris going to Estonia he was less
than excited. After we prayed about it, he was willing to go out of what he
felt was obedience to God's calling. Then I told you about his first week
there he said he was ready to come home - he had clobbered himself with a
sledge hammer and I guess almost clobbered John Gish (PRAISE GOD John can
move quick) Well today Chris called for the 3rd time in 2 days BEGGING to
stay! He loves Estonia, says he is learning so much (this is his first
experience WORKING) and that there is still so much to do that he really
would like to stay and help get things done. He has not been able to go
into town and buy any souvenirs but he has eaten some of the BEST food he
has EVER had - this from a 16 year old boy who LOVES food! Please pray with
us as we seek God's will for CJ.
Next I spoke with Dan Browning. He said the roof is on, the sheet rock
should be done by now, and all of the sheet rock has been taped (hope that
means something to some one - I have visions of someone walking around with
a tape recorder talking to the walls taping everything they have to say.....
hmmm..... whatever - Praise God it's taped.) For those of you who don't
know Dan, he is not only the best electrician I know, he is an incredible
man of God who is not easily impressed. He works HARD, gives his time to
the church freely, and has spent more time volunteering to teach young kids
than I have spent in church in my whole life. I tell you this because for
this man to be in AWE of what God is doing is a BIG deal. He said there is
spiritual warfare beyond belief but to see how God is moving and working out
all the details just leaves him in awe. He said the anchors for the tower
should also be finished today.... Apparently the water table is higher than
the how deep the holes have to be for the anchors. They send a few men down
in these huge holes to pour cement and these holes are something like 10
feet deep. One of the holes collapsed yesterday do they have had to use
more cement than planned and it is pretty dangerous work. It could have
been disastrous if anyone had been in the hole when it collapsed. (Side
note - Georgia - he also sends his love to you and the girls. He also has
LOTS of little gifts he's bringing home.)
Before hanging up I got to talk with Jerry Mishler. Jerry was just so
excited to see all that God has done and is continuing to do there. He said
the last crate arrived so the tower is THERE, it's being painted and things
are moving along. All Jerry wanted to do was call his wife (or maybe email
her... i don't remember which) so we didn't talk long. (imagine that!!)
Well, that's all I have. No pictures yet but as soon as I get any I'll post
them to the website.
Don't forget to email me ASAP if you are interested in being part of the
celebration in SF. I know there are a few of us going so come along if you
are able.
Blessings
Lynda Jost
