Archive for the 'Friends' Category

An old home movie (and a nice surprise!)

Published on November 23, 2009 in Family, Friends and Long Ago & Far Away. 1 Comment

I’ve seen lots of pictures of me when I was a kid, but never a home movie — until today! Long-time family friends Gerald and Margaret Lemmons recently gave my parents this short clip from their collection of old movies.

It was 1965, and our family was visiting theirs in New York City. Yup. Here’s a little bit of evidence that I was there! (At the zoo anyway!!)

In this movie: Gene and Betty Comfort, my parents; my older brothers, Rick and Ken; my younger brother, Dennis, Gerald and Margaret’s son, Mike; and a split-second glimpse of Margaret by the picnic table!

Very, very cool! Thanks Gerald and Margaret!

My GAGA 2009 Summary

Published on March 31, 2009 in Friends and Travel. 4 Comments

Stats:

  • 2 days of travel down to Mexico
  • 4 days of work
  • 2 days of travel back home
  • 7 vehicles (3 fifteen-passenger vans, a Suburban, a pickup, an Airporter, and a one-ton truck)
  • 4 trailers
  • 82 people (not including the people from San Luis that helped us!)

Results:

  • 3 houses
  • 1 large church kitchen
  • A VBS program
  • Lots of memories

History:

  • This is the 25th year of GAGA (Get Away Give Away). In these past 25 years, over 170 homes, and 30 churches have been built!

A few things to ponder…

  • Seeing this huge group of adults and youth travel, worship and work together with one purpose… was amazing
  • Crossing the US/Mexican border and seeing the extreme contrast of plenty and lack… was heart breaking
  • Realizing that we were the answer to other people’s prayers… was satisfying

People to be grateful for…

  • This trip was possible because many people gave money and other items, and many local businesses donated construction materials
  • Several individuals came on the trip specifically to serve the team (our food preparers and nurse) allowing the rest of us to accomplish so much more
  • We were led by an awesome set of youth pastors (Josh, Leslie, Brian, and Hunter) and builders (Van, Eric, Paul, and Clyde T.)
  • All of the Fisher family. They do so many things to make this happen
  • Clyde Parker — the man who started GAGA 25 years ago, and continues to serve in it

Side benefits:

  • Sun!
  • Palm trees
  • Mexican food
  • New friends
  • Speaking Spanish again!

It was all very good, and somehow I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.

Deanne and Austin and I were on the kitchen-building crew, so most of the pictures in this slide show are of that project. (There are a few showing the other 3 homes also.)

Days of Reconnection! (With more to come…)

Published on January 3, 2009 in Friends and Long Ago & Far Away. 2 Comments

I have had a very adventurous life, having lived for extended periods in many different places around the world. In each place, I have been blessed with the friendship of many special and wonderful people. Sadly though, as I moved from place to place, I lost contact with all or most of the special people from the previous places that I had left. Letter writing and phone calling just weren’t (and still aren’t) my thing…

Recently, through various internet tools (Facebook being the main one, but also Linked-In and Google), I have been reconnecting with friends from most of the different phases of my life! This is awesome!

Examples:

  • Rondo: A 4th and 5th grade classmate from the American Cooperative School in La Paz, Bolivia, who now lives in California
  • Ricky and many other friends and classmates from Newberg High School (several who were my friends from 6th grade at Central Elementary School all the way through graduation)
  • Ed: A Canadian classmate from the Torchbearer Bible Schools I attended in Germany and Austria
  • Joel, Chris, Tina and Michele: friends from the Graphic Design program at Portland Community College
  • Monika (from Austria): One of my six “sisters” from when I was on staff at the summer camp in Spain
  • Many friends and co-workers from the last twenty-something years here in Oregon

Wow! I am really loving this! I am recovering some of the valued friendships and connections I thought were lost! I am looking forward to more contact with these friends, as well as finding additional “long-lost friends”!

Here are the many important places and treasured phases of my life:

  1. Bolivia 1961-72 ( (birth through 5th grade) We moved many times, including to Oregon three times. I went to 5 different elementary schools!
  2. Oregon 1972-79 (6th-12th grades)
  3. West Germany and Austria 1979-80 (Bible college)
  4. Oregon 1981-83 (Portland Community College)
  5. Spain 1985 (working at Mar Cristalino, a camp on the Mediterranian sea)
  6. Oregon 1986-2009 (marriage and family, and work at Printistry, Barclay Press, and Vineyard Graphics)