Where in the World Have You Been?
This spring and summer found our congregation scattered thither and yon in a most unusual way. Our travel was for different reasons; pleasure, visiting family and friends, business, anniversary celebrations, retreats, and mission adventures.
A few trips stand out as the most unique.
mother and sister in New York before going on to Maine where they were going to climb a mountain at the end of the Applachacian Trail. In Pennsylvania, a sensor went out on the transmission of their vehicle and they limped home. Several days later they left again on a shorten version of the trip going as far north as New Hampshire and Vermont.
Brian Ranck gets the prize for covering the most miles. He rode 30 hours on a bus to Nasca, Florida for boot camp, then flew to Taiwan Island and Malaysia before landing in Australia.
Bob and Marie Hertzler were the most thorough travelers. Marie said, "I think we covered every road in Alaska!" Two of their grandsons, Christopher Snyder and Isaac Hertzler, flew to Alaska to join them for part of the trip.
Pres and Carolyn Nowlin’s trip to Poughkeepsie, NY and King of Prussia, PA. was the most educational as they visited numerous museums.
Ronnie Bowles was the most generous traveler as he took seven extra young people (Anna Blankenship, Carman Lehman, Mary Alice Vaughn and 4 Sparkmans) along to the beach at Nags Head in addition to his three girls.
The Dave Moyer clan had the shortest vacation- water skiing for one day on Lake Anna.
Ben Powell and Nathan Landis traveled the furthest to a wedding. Ben was a groomsman in a friend’s wedding in Canada. Afterwards Ben and Nathan spent several days with Andy at Stormer Lake, Ontario. Sam and Poe Powell spent several weeks with Andy at Stormer Lake, Ontario in June and stopped on the way home in Ohio to see Sam/Lora and children. Others of the congregation who attended weddings were Vernon and Christina Moyer in Nashville, Tennessee; Brennemans in Lima, Ohio; and Gene & Keith Hertzler families in Harrisonburg.
Louis and Helen Burkholder had the most unique anniversary celebration. They took a 7-day Carribbean cruise to the Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cozumil, Mexico and Keywest, Florida.
Tim and Bev Kennell had the most joyful trip. They reported "laughing all the way to and from Branson, Missouri." They traveled in a van with four other couples to a Gary Smalley seminar for Pastor couples. The theme was "Joy that Lasts". I wonder, are they are still laughing?
The Habel family had the most trying trip. With great anticipation they planned to visit John’s
Don Benson went the furthest to help family. He flew to Wilcox, Arizona to help move the Tommy/Susie Gonzalez family to Jetersville. Later the rest of the Benson clan traveled across country helping to move the Steve/Anita Graber family.
The beach seemed to be the most popular vacation destination. The Duncans, Pruetts, Lillian Hertzler, Ron Bowles, Martha/Dale Bowles, Carolyn Nowlin, Lehmans, Kennells, Ed Rancks, Sally Stratton and Janis Ranck all went to Nags Head. The Arringtons and the Critchers enjoyed Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Wilson family relaxed at Sunset Beach South Carolina while the Gene/Lorrie Schaefer family and the Critchers went to Cape Hatteras. Keith/Viv Hertzler and girls spent a weekend relaxing at Clyde Kirby’s house on the bay in Reedville.
There were also some fisherman in the midst. Paul, Curtis and Rachel Brenneman went fishing in Delaware; Bill/Bertha Schaefer and Donna Wyatt went to Saluda; and Ronnie and Dave Moyer and Bill Shaefer went salt water fishing at Middlesex. They reported catching 42 Spot and Crockers.
Ivan and Joyce Lehman took their family to a youth retreat in Charlotte, N.C. in August and Rosalie Moyer enjoyed the National Sewing Convention in Philadelphia the end of July.
Visiting family rated high on the vacation list. The Ron/Regina Shultz family traveled to Lancaster, PA three times to visit family while Philip, Myron and Luke Shenk traveled to Nampa, Idaho to visit an uncle, his children and grandchildren. Sheila Schaefer and Donna Wyatt visited family and friends in Charlotte, N.C., and Bob/Marie Hertzler stopped in Minnesota and Indiana to visit extended family. Keith/Viv Hertzler and girls camped with the Yoder family in Ohio and Megan and Brendan Meadows traveled to Northern Maine to visit her family. The Wilsons also traveled Smith Mountain Lake, Andersonville, TN. and to Southwest Virginia to visit Lillian’s parents. Early in the year the Landis family visited Glen’s parents in Sarasota, Florida.
Ray/Betty Hertzler and Sam/Dorothy Powell took Mennonite Your Way tours with the Hertzlers traveling the west coast from Northern California to Oregon, and the Powells touring Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Islands and New Brunswick.
Gene/Pat Hertzler flew to Bermuda to visit business friends and acquaintances and also traveled to Charleston, S.C. Goldsboro, N.C. and Atlantic City, N.J. for tradeshows.
Wayne/Connie Lancaster spent three days visiting horse farms in Holmes County and Dover, Ohio while Joe/Davina Lancaster family toured Colonial Williamsburg and Lancaster County, PA.
Peggy Leeth traveled to the mountains in Wythe County twice, Philadelphia, Pa. Las Vegas and Oklahoma City where they went by the memorial at the bombing site. In July Debbie and Mary Alice Vaughn traveled to London, Ontario to attend a reunion of a VS unit Debbie served in 1975. They also toured Niagara Falls and New York City with a stop at Ground Zero and the Statue of Liberty.
Of all the trips we want to give special recognition to those who spent time in service.
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Anita Hertzler served with Partners in Missions team in Belize.
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Ray and Betty Hertzler worked with MCC September 4-5 helping to unpack hundreds of boxes of hand-crafted items for the new 10,000 Villages store opening September 20th at Virginia Beach.
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Renel Kennell was a counselor at Rosedale Choral Camp at Rosedale, Ohio.
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Philip Palmore went to Kilmarnick, VA to help with construction work with South Side Nazarene Church.
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Andy Powell continues to serve at Stormer Lake, Ontario.
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Brian Ranck served with Teen Missions in Australia.
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Myron and Luke Shenk did construction work on a school in Puerto Rico.
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Emily Urso worked at Camp Hebron, PA.
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Brenda White went with a team of youth and adults from Calvary Community Church in Hampton to South Africa.
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Misty Yoder taught English to German Mennonites in Cuauhtemoc, Mexico.
I realized as I listened to the adventures that we all had a good time whether we traveled far or near, for one day or for a whole summer. There is no way to measure how many miles we traveled or how many different people we came in contact with. Each adventure is a story of fond memories, renewing of acquaintances, family togetherness, God’s protection and answered prayer.
So, did the church pews look a little empty this summer? It appears we were traveling the world!!!By Pat Hertzler