Two Months in Florida - 2022 - Lots of Ups...Some downs

After winter months in Central Texas, we headed to the Florida panhandle in early March.   Our Odyssey of building relationships, sharing, rekindling extended family and seeing beautiful creation continues.  This is longer than normal but God had done much these past few months.   

Distributing Gideon New Testaments has become 2nd nature.  We always have one in our pockets to offer to anyone we strike up a conversation with.  Anyone can do this even if you not a member of The Gideons International, you can simply purchase these little New Testaments at www.FriendsofGideons.org

Disappointments and Blessings

• Sadly, arriving at our RV Resort in Miramar Beach FL, we experienced damage to the tailgate of our truck which required a tailgate replacement and a significant deductible cost. 😞
• The resort turned out to be overly expensive but the owner, a Christian brother, kindly gave us a $450 refund, even though he has never given a refund before. This enabled us to get the repair done on the truck.  An answer to prayer.  We gave Gideon New Testaments to him and his staff and prayed together.  Encouraging!  😇
• We had a very nice time with Linda's brother, Gary, his friend Nancy, Linda's sister, Marian and her husband Larry in Mary Esther, FL

Linda at sunset at Navarre Beach, FL

Linda's brother, Gary Sheets.  Mary Esther, FL

We also enjoyed a good time with John's brother Mike and his wife Marna. We had good sibling time, worshipping at their churches and great bike rides at the beach.

John and Mike.  Sandestin, FL

On our bikes in Sandestin, FL -- Mike, Marna and Linda

• We experienced torrential rainstorms on our way to Tallahassee, then on to Wauchula, FL.

30 Great Days in Wauchula:

• Wauchula is in central Florida.  Orange groves and cattle ranches.  But within an hour of numerous beautiful things to do.  The park is a beautiful "55+ camper-owned and maintained" property and much less expensive.  Lots of activities.  The regulars here are very welcoming!

The SKP RV Resort, Wauchula. FL

SKP Way at the Resort

The Main Pool with daily water aerobics

Our Site for a month.  This was the nicest RV resort and spot we've stayed at.  Lots of opportunities for games, swimming, biking and talking with people from all over the country.

• We had a very nice time with Kim Murphy (Linda's niece) and her husband, Mark on the Gulf Coast in Port Charlotte, Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island. 

John and Linda bravely facing the Gulf of Mexico!

Biking among the huge banyan trees of Gasparilla Island, FL

On Larry Tison's boat in Port Charlotte, FL -- Linda and neice Kim

Larry and Marian Tison (Linda's sister) and our niece, Kim Murphy

Marian and Linda: more water more fun!

A nice place for a picture at a garden at the Port Charlotte Harbor

• While there, Linda ran into a famous media person, Tucker Carlson, of FoxNews, who was very cordial and very pleasant to speak with.

Linda and Tucker Carlson (easy there, Tucker!)

Mark and Kim Murphy (our niece) with Tucker Carlson on Gasparella Island

• We enjoyed a very nice visit with John's cousin, Karleen Warren and her husband Frank at their beautiful home in Rotunda West, FL

Cousin Karleen and Frank's home in Rotunda West, FL. 

• A day trip to the Sebring International Raceway, home of the famous 12 Hours of Sebring, an annual sports car endurance race.  Unfortunately, we missed the race by a week. 

Maybe we'll see the 12 Hour Endurance Race of Sebring in March of 2023😀

• We also discovered that Sharon Samson, of our home Church in MI and then spent years with SIM Missions in Africa, is now retired in Sebring (35 minutes from us)!   It was a great pleasure to see her again and learn of her work in Ethiopia!  While there she worked 7 years to get a PhD, from Oxford, on how to train semi-literate people to effectively teach the bible to others.  I have a thumb drive of her doctoral thesis and all the EasyBible Studies she developed!  She has granted permission for anyone to use these to translate into other languages.  Please contact me if interested.

Sharon Samson was also our Director of Education at Redeemer Baptist Church, Warren MI during the 60's/70's.  She views us as her "kids".

• This month at the SKP RV Resort in Wauchula has been active, enjoyable and peaceful. 😎

Other Fun/Unique Events:

• We attended a show, Million Dollar Quartet, featuring tributes to Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in Sebring, FL.  This play/musical was the story of Sam Phillips at Sun Records managing these early rock and roll icons on his small record label.  

• In Fort Myers, FL we enjoyed a visit with John's high school friends, Mark and Anita Solomon, Gary Ciaromitaro as well as with our longtime friends, Larry and Libbey Wolosiewicz.  Turns out Larry, Mark and Gary have quite a bit in common from childhood neighborhoods (but went to different high schools) 

Larry, Gary, Libby, Linda, me, Anita, Mark

Gary owns Bellacino's Pizza and Grinders in Fort Myers, FL

If you are ever in Fort Myers, it is the best Italian food and service anywhere!

This is Fort Myers Beach (we love beaches!)

More bad news: 

• A second gust of wind twisted one arm of my awning.  A replacement part arrived on the 14th.
• We then had fuel pump and control module issues on the pickup, but after some time at the dealer, all is well and we are on the road again.

More Good News:

• The 55+ RV Resort in Wauchula has been a blessing!
• We thank God, the fuel pump did not break down while on the road and a good honest mechanic was very nearby!
• The Lord continues to give us many opportunities to offer the Gideon New Testaments with the Psalm and Proverbs, a great Helps section and God's plan of Salvation.   The Lord has given us many opportunities to plant seeds as we travel.

Leading up to Easter

• While in Wauchula, we were able to visit a Baptist Church, a United Methodist Church and an Assembly of God church.  Each of these has a unique way of worship, while the truth of God's word was preached.

With our new friends, Tom and Pam from the RV Park for Easter services.

• We even enjoyed a Jews for Jesus presentation on Christ in the Passover at the United Methodist Church.   
• Also on Good Friday, in Sebring, we attended a solemn event at the city center featuring the 14 Stations of the Cross.  A unique and spiritual experience for us.`

In Sarasota, we visited with Bob and Gisela Kowaleski (more friends from Redeemer days in Michigan) - in Sarasota, FL.  While there we were also able to take in a symphony at South Coast Florida State College at Bradenton's Neels Performing Arts Center.   Classic and good!

Leaving the SKP RV Resort, in Wauchula, we headed north to Deland on April 23.  But along the way, we went right through Clermont, FL where John's youth group friend, and now retired pastor, Gordy Bauslaugh lives.   We enjoyed dinner with Gordy and his wife Sandy at their home. 

Anybody interested in a Florida Alligator?  Here is a close up of one near their home.

From here we finaly headed north DeLand, FL for that cousins reunion at Sonny's BBQ in Deland on the 24th.

From 3 different sets of parents, our cousins cherish time together and had a hard time saying goodbye.   It was great.

Today, April 25, we will be making our way back in central Texas first week of May in time from Grandson John's 8th birthday. 

We leave you with our favorite sunset picture taken in Port Charlotte, FL

Thank you for praying for us.

John and Linda

Weber's Chosen Odyssey