Saturday report and Sunday's Story.

Saturday I sat on the porch of Fred’s cabin with a college president. After we talked for awhile as I sat there I was thinking how far my friend Fred had come, from the time we first met. Of course at the time he already had a little college under his belt and was serving in the USCG.

I thought how good to have a friend who had come so far. As I was talking to Gordon on the porch, Fred was inside ‘cooking our dinner’. He cooked venison burgers and tenderloin. The meal was delicious.

Gordon had organized and built a college in Kenya. He has been the college president for ten years and it has now grown to a campus of 17 acres. He had nothing but good to say about Fred’s leadership. I did tell Gordon that I was not used to doing this, and even though I had know a couple college presidents, this was the first time I had sat and talked and been served by the likes of Fred! Then we all sat and visited. I learned a lot.

I continued to think how Fred and I had taken different paths in the last 50 years. From the Coast Guard, after establishing himself as a pastor, he applied for a mission’s assignment. Fred started off in missions as a missionary to Guyana. He departed about a year before the terrible incident concerning Jim Jones. He said he was always amazed at hearing that because even though it was near where he had lived he had never heard of that compound.

Next it was Africa, where he and Frances had found a nitch and continued to advance until at retirement, he was overseeing 4000 churches and over a million people. Of course it was Africa where he became friends with Gordon.

Anyway it was fun and a privilege to spend most of the day with Fred and Gordon.

Today started with hearing Fred teach, he really ‘ain’t too bad’ (LOL) I could even understand some of it.

Then we drove around the Edge of the Cherokee National Forest. I love the scenery.

This was beautiful valley just south of Tellico Plains.

These horses and scenery were beautiful

I love old barns, I always wonder about the stories behind them.

Here is Sherry on a trail in her Sunday Dress, and NO hiking shoes.

This road got narrow and was gravel but straight down on the sides.

Since Fred had taught in Tellico Plains, we choose that time to drive down #68 to see if Jack was on his front porch. I went up, he walked down the path and He said, “Hello jack”, I said, "Hello jack!"

The two Jack Darnell's meeting on the path. Of course He is the REAL Jack Darnell, I have used his name for many years. I sorta feel like it is mine. He said he didn't mind.

WE were stopping just to say hello and he insisted we sit for a spell on the porch. The second time in as many days I sat on a porch with famous men. It was great!

This is Charles Darnell, Jack's younger brother. It was a great visit. You gotta like Charles he has such a winning smile. (But he hung me out to dry with a tale. I bought it line and sinker, then he set the hook.)

Here is 'Smilin' Jack'. IT was great to see him again.

Some of Jack's flowers.

Thanks for visiting,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.