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November 20, 2003 I feel horrible,
but I had almost completely forgotten about this site.
The sad part is it doesn't run as well now as it used to. I hope that this little holiday reminder will reach everyone and that it will find you all in good sorts. We haven't kept up with our correspondence as well as we would have liked. I suppose that has something to do with all the moving and trying to get into the groove of a new place. Particularly, a small town new place. For anyone that hasn't heard, or isn't aware. Amy and I live in Lone Wolf, OK now. It is a booming place that makes Rochester look like a Metropolis. I am the minister at the First Christian Church here and it has been quite an experience learning the ins and outs of a new place. I do have to say though, that Amy and I are very happy here, and so far it seems as if the congregation is excited to have us here. We have been told that they are ready to do what ever it takes to bring in new folks and so far they have proven to be very true to threir word on that. The city council has also allowed us to put together a night time gathering spot for the kids. I have named it Cafe Ichthus. There are about ten to fifteen kids that Amy and I see every week and about 15 more that wander in and out through the course of a weekend. We are open to play on Fri. and Sat. nights and on Wed. nights we have a discussion group called the Crow's Nest that meets. It has worked out wonderfully so far and Amy and I are starting to reach an untouched segment of the High School and Jr High here. The church here started with about 30 folks when I came and we have grown to averaging about 45 to 55 a week (depending on which family is having vactions). They are a good congregation with lots to give and lots to share. We have enjoyed one another emmensly. An interesting habit that has arisen since I started here is the morning coffee ritual at the "GRILL". Let me take this moment to say THE Grill. We have one resturant in town, so in the mornings several of the men in town meet there and chat about what's going on, who's selling land and who's died. It cracks me up!!! I know when most of them show up and when they are finished and even where they are going when they get finished. We are a very interconnected community. Amy is working at the school. She is an aide right now because she still needs to be certified in OK. It's kind of goofy here too. The tests that she has to take for ****get this**** elementary education has trigonometery on it. In case you didn't know, Amy is a very bad mathematcian (good speller, bad math) so it was a hard time of me tutoring her to get her in shape for the first test. This coming Sat. she takes the second and third tests and hopefully she will have a teaching job next year. Yeahhhhhhh!!!! She works as the Librarian for the first few hours of the day and then as a reading assesment teacher in the K-1st grade class for a bit. After lunch, she becomes the 7th grade Literature teacher and then the 5th grade english teacher. To say the least, her plate is full on most days. Now to add to the amount that we do in a week, basketball season has started. We have been to almost every game so far this year and the kids (almost every kid in the school) runs up to us on game day and asks if we're going to be there. It's hard, but we're trying. So, that's a quick catch up on us. We haven't heard from anyone in the great white north regioon of IL in a while, nor have we heard from the Southern Regions of IL so feel free to give us a holler, ring or e-mail. The new address and phone are listed below. Have a great holiday season, Matt
Matt and Amy
Barrie (580)846-5060 |
Our Email is:
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