Greetings
LONNNNNG
letter this time. Here's the short version:
THE
SUMMARY
Letter
from Connie (who is tired and needed an excuse to sit down so she chose to sit
at the computer and write to us!!! Bless you for that Connie because we love to
hear from you!) Mostly just fun facts about Estonia/Kavastu/etc.
One thing you will all be thrilled to hear - CDC gave permission for one little
girl to bring her hamster home.
Monday
- Jim's version. :-) Wrapping things up... details of work that is
being done and a very sweet moment with Jesus.
Tuesday
- A COLD, dreary day that began too early. The well man was back today
and will be back tomorrow.... nothing gets done quickly in Estonia. The
store in town that was being built when our crews arrived in June is still
being built and still doesn't even have walls or roof yet. WHOA!!!
(Not like that in California - a corner lot that was empty last week now has a
store on it with people shopping in it and that is NOT an exaggeration... well
- not much any way.)
After
the Tuesday report is a WONDERFUL report about the Estonian version of "60
Minutes". If you recall, they came and interviewed Tom and the crew
there about a week ago. It aired Tuesday night and was
INCREDIBLE!!! At one point in describing Pereraadio, the commentator said
"Pereraadio was the most listened to radio stations in the country and
they have the most towers, and show the most growth, how people like the
Christian stations here."
What
an awesome opportunity to share the love of Jesus to the ENTIRE
nation!!!! It is MORE than exciting to me when I think about EACH of us
having a part in the millions of lives being touched already!! Makes
a person want to just jump up and shout Hallelujah!! (or at least it
makes THIS person want to!!)
Wednesday
- LOTS of work done, a visit from a stranger, and a "ghost dog"...
which brings me to a story I must tell you. If you know me well, (or not)
you probably know that I love to laugh and that I seem to have to laugh at
myself quite a bit. (If you don't know this - you need to ask Mitch about
his Mom coming to the airport in SF!!) ANYWAY - All this time I've been
sending these updates I have first read each one very carefully to make sure
there were no personal items in them that shouldn't really be published.
I have always been careful to NOT change the content - but to only delete
certain things that maybe would embarrass someone. (I was told there
might be personal content in them and to just use what I wanted) and in FACT,
there have often been notes to me personally that wouldn't be interesting to
anyone else. Well - I kept seeing a reference to someone named HITLER in
some of the updates and I didn't know who Hitler was. I somehow got it in
my mind that "Hitler" must be a nickname for someone that wasn't very
well liked or respected.... just from the way he was referred to and spoken
of. I felt it was probably not a good thing to publish the remarks and
was afraid if the person being spoken of ever figured out that is was THEM being
referred to they would be deeply hurt so I just deleted any reference to
Hitler.
Now
knowing all this about Hitler, you must read the second to the last paragraph
in Wednesdays update. NOBODY is allowed to tease me about this. I
was being thoughtful!! (I apologize Jim and Connie - I should
know you better!)
Thursday
- A glimpse at Jim Hulse.... walking down memory lane. I think it's
the cold getting to him. :-)
Well
- that was the short version - here's the long version. Enjoy your reading....
and write to me sometime. I'd love to know who is REALLY reading these
and what you think of them.
THE
DETAILS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From
Connie - 10/9
Hi
all
For
those of you that have been here or if not, might like to know..........
Did
you know that Tiit turned 52 October 6? And his 3rd grandchild-grandson was
born September 29, 2000? And it still has no name? That here they wait
till it is about 1 month old to pick a name? and they are not given a
middle name? 1st and last only?
Did
you know that less than a block from the corner-near the bus stop here in
Kavastu there is a huge rock called the Judgement rock? That on the 20th
day of February 1842, 52 local Kavastu peasants were beaten to death on or near
this rock, because they were making plans to flee the village to relocate in
Russia where they would be given land for free?.
That
you can go to Mc Donald's in Tartu and get anyone of six meals for
$1.85? (36 Kroons) Med drink, med. fry and a quarter pounder, fish, or
chicken? That you can have it X (Super-sized) for 17 1/2 cents
more? # Kroons more)
That
here if you want to go to a better school in Jr. high or high school you must
take a test and then only the best students are given the opportunity.
That
in the morning the local kids are picked up at the corner and in the afternoon
they are dropped off across the river and must come home by way of ferry?
That
the dairy we call home is built on the same spot where a Castle/Mansion once
stood? And was turned into a dairy long before it was destroyed in
1944 by Russian Artillery? And it took 2 weeks to destroy it? And
that stones Tiit used to rebuild it are from the remains?
That
you can not get a drivers license here till the age of 18? And then when
you drive a vehicle you must have in the front window a huge green maple leaf
to alert others.
That
the stop lights turn yellow before they turn green?
That
most people sign a contract with the employer before they start work? Even the
young teen workers?
That
the milk you buy here most is packaged in plastic bags? So is the cottage
cheese, cream cheese and sour cream.
That
it is Sunday afternoon here and I can't find the channel the Green Bay Packer
game is on?
That
health care for the most part is free for children under 18?
That
even though Jim thinks the Sauna is not fun, the rest of us here really like it
and are working on ways to get one at home?
That
we received permission from the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention to take home our new little hamster? Cayla's shout for
joy could be heard in Tartu.
Well
that is all I can think of now................ just thought that you might want
to know. Actually I was bored and looking for something to do on the
computer so I wouldn't feel guilty for sitting down.
God
Bless
Connie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday
- Jim Hulse
Hello
from Kavastu
I
worked on making and installing burglar bars on the rear of the transmitter
building. This involves cutting and welding, drilling holes, another trip to
the hardware store in Tartu for more cement anchors, Welding the nuts so a
burglar just cant unscrew the nuts and painting. All done now.
Made
another door holder, more cutting, welding, drilling and painting for the Atu
outside door.
Painted
the stoop at the ATU. Looks real good.
Boo
installing several tons of stones on the outer anchors.
Tom
working on things in the transmitter building.
The
well man came today and turned off the pump. It had run all night and the water
was nice and clear this morning. Yesterday I saw some brown water coming out.
Crew
was led by Paavo to a church where the jin pole has been stored. We loaded it
on the pick up and went to the dairy as it was about dark. This is the jin pole
we used to erect the Tartu Tower and the one on the island. I plan to take it
back in the container so we can use it some where else in the world for the
Lords work.
Today
I had one of those special experiences that don't come along every day. I was
walking to the container and could hear the radio playing What a Friend we have
in Jesus. All at once all seamed so very real, the cold wind blowing, the suns
warm rays, the fact that very soon I will leave this place and the fact that
Yes we have a friend in Jesus.
Thru
him we have come, thru him we will go. I Looked at all the work
that was done by his people. Yes they came from many places. They did well,
they went home. Yes, What a friend we have in Jesus.
In
His Service
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday
- Jim Hulse
Hello
from cold, wet, damp, windy Kavastu
It
was 38 at the site this morning. There was a cold light rain most of the day.
Felt cold all day.
The
well man was on site again today, He ran more water again and said he would be
back tomorrow and install something else. You gotta realize that in
Estonia they must make many trips to do any thing. It would be to simple
to just do it! They must make a big production about everything, call a bunch
of meetings, have 15-20 guys look at everything and no body can make a decision
on their own. I'm sorry but I am getting use to their operation here. It's a
shame but a fact. That's why it takes so long to build anything here. Take the
construction project going on here in Kavastu by the store. It was going in
June when I arrived and It is still going and there is not much building
progress at all. No walls up or roof. A crew has been working all summer on it.
I
worked on the alarm system all day.
Boo
spread several tons of stones.
Tom
working in the building.
We
have not had any heat in the dairy for days again. Just today we have some
heat.
Last
night we were suppose to have people here from Finland. Much prep work getting
all ready. They never showed up or called. Left doors unlocked all night for
them.
5AM
this morning a dairy worker decided to play their car radio wide open below our
room. At 5:30 I went down there and said we would like to sleep some time. They
turned the radio off. I some times wonder why we go through these things?
I
noticed the tower lights came on a 2:30 today which tells you it was that
gloomy out.
That's
it from Kavastu today, Tuesday
Blessings
to all
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TV
Show - Jim Hulse
Praise
the Lord,
Tonight
we were the first ones on the #1 program in the nation on prime time TV.
There
reason for doing the interview was they had heard about our Radio station
building not only here in Estonia but in other parts of the world and they
thought that what we were doing was a real ministry. They felt it was a
real human interest story. (We think Tiit has talked with some one)
They
opened the program by saying we all want the world to be a better place and our
heroes tonight want to make it a better place. We never thought of ourselves as
"hero's" We feel we are a few of God's children who will help to go
out and preach the gospel to all nations.
They
showed parts of the interview exactly as we presented it. They let us tell
about the radio stations we have helped build here and other parts of the
world. They let us tell about our beliefs, and about Jesus. They wanted
to know why we would give up a multi million dollar a year business to do
this. We told them the only reason we have is because we feel more
people need the opportunity to hear about Jesus. They said that Towers
For Jesus was a good way to reach people. The commentator said that Pareraadio
was the most listened to radio stations in the country and they have the most
towers, and show the most growth, how people like the Christian stations
here.
They
said 500 million people will have the chance to listen to the new AM radio
station.
One
of the questions they were most impressed with was where does all the money
come from that funds these projects. They were impressed that most came from
donations, from like believers.
Tom
was in the pictures several times. Also Cayla, Tom, and Rinna were filmed
at the dairy in the kitchen with some of Tom's drawings. (His Castle he
drew for Cayla)
They
had some shots of the studio and the dairy too.
Only
God could have arranged this interview on national TV. To put us on first and
all the coverage is just awesome. We could have never thought this was possible
to witness to a entire nation. Thank you God.
Yes
we did video the program but it suffers from the European TV blues. Lines float
through the picture but the audio is good if you can understand it.
As
some of you may know this is the Estonian "60 minutes" version.
In
His Service
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday
- Jim Hulse
Hello
from Kavastu
A
great day at the site. However it was cold and windy but a lot got done.
Tom
and Corey picked out a new refrigerator and stove. Tom brought them to the
site in the pick up and we unpacked them and installed them in the apartment.
I
finished the alarm installation today. We now have a working alarm system.
Boo
and I made and installed a barrier around the septic tanks. This involved
cutting and welding 1 inch rebar and painting same. Then stones were placed on
the tanks and in the protected area.
Boo
spread another 2 truck loads of stones.
Boo
was painting on the ice bridge.
The
well man had me back fill around the well pipe so they could install these 4
foot cement rings over the well pipe. They used their crane to install 2 rings.
I figure they will take about 47 more trips to the site and we will have water
hooked up.
Tom
sprayed a couple walls in the building today. Tom had been sanding the walls
and a great amount of white power was on the floor. Hitler came in and laid
down in all that mess and looked like a ghost when he got up. Poor dog.
Today
a well dressed man drove his car to the site and got out and came up to me and
we shook hands. He was smiling ear to ear and was so happy. He was looking at
the tower and all and was talking 90 miles per hour and I finally said only
English. He said something and left. He was obviously blessed and looked in Awe
at everything.
TV
report to come.
And
so it was at the site today, Wednesday 10-11-2k
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday
Greetings
The
STL tower anti climb device was completed today. That involved a lot of welding
on the tower. It was a normal tower job this time of year. A stiff cold wind
blew all day and you can't always be up wind welding and the hot slag does
wonders to your clothes and skin. The aroma of burning skin and the pain that
comes with it is not pleasant as you are belted in and can't move much. I have
learned to ignore it or try to as you can't reach the burning area most of the
time. I remember one time working on a site in Ohio and I was welding around
the 300 foot level when a very large red hot piece of slag went down the front
of my pants and did sever damage to them private parts.That story ends here and
no more details, please. Fact is that you are belted in and cannot move to
extinguish cretin fires in time to prevent damage. Some of the joys of being a
tower man.
Another
time while cutting angle iron on a tower on top of Porcupine Mountain in South
Dakota I advised the ground crew to be watching for fires as I was about to
start cutting.
A
few minutes later I saw a small fire burning and radioed down to have them
hurry to put it out. The wind was blowing hard and the fire started to skip
across the mountain. It took 3 fire departments and a tribe of Indians to
extinguish the fire. Kinda funny looking across the mountain and after the fire
was out the only thing left smoldering was all them cow pies.
A
lot of fences had to be put back up and the cows located some where in South
Dakota and returned to their happy pasture. When a fire truck encounters a
fence they don't use the gates but grab another gear and see how fast they can
hit it and see how much they can tare down. What fun. It was about night fall
on the mountain when we saw a stream of flashing lights coming up the mountain.
You know when you are on a Indian reservation you do not have the privilege of
US laws and you are under Indian jurisdiction. I'm going to jail for sure. The
parade of police and fire cars stopped and a army of Indians got out and the
big Indian said "WHO IN CHARGE?" All pointed to me. I'm done, gonna
burn at the stake for sure. How fire start? You making camp fire the big Indian
said. No sir I replied, I am fixing tower so your village can have telephones.
I showed him what had to be done and how it all happened. He said accident uh.
Yes I said. I reached and got my billfold and removed 2 one hundred dollar
bills and gave to the big Indian. Ever see happiness on a bunch of Indians. We
figured there better not be any fires for a day or two as these Indians wont be
able to walk let alone fight a fire. They loaded up and with red lights and all
went down the mountain counting their blessings all the way to the bar I
suppose. At least they were off my case. How did we get on this any way?
Perhaps
we need to start a flash back series?
The
well man wanted dirt to be placed up around the 4 foot round cement pieces he
had installed. Boo scraped up all the loose dirt from here to Tartu and was
short a couple truck loads. Tiit sending some tomorrow. Apparently this will
keep the pipes from freezing.
Tom
working in the warm building.
No
heat in our bed room from the dairy super heat system. The electric heater is
working to keep the ice from our bed.
Burnt
holes in my brand new and only pair of long jons today. How sad.
Monte
the ferry driver is coming for supper in a few minutes.
And
so it goes, at Kavastu, Thursday October 12 2K
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
That's
the end..... I bet I get Friday's update within 5 minutes after I mail
this. Oh well. I'll send it on when I do.
Blessings
lynda