47 Long Hill Street David, Joseph

East Hartford, CT 06108 203/ 528-7205

Dear Gary, Dad & Mom,

This letter is for a couple purposes. I hope you are all enjoying the days God is giving to us of life.

God gives us a new year of life with each birthday, and the thanksgiving of 365 days of the past year, filled with opportunities to be a blessing to others and accomplish eternal fruit.

Gary I got your mission letter. I am thankful for your "don't quit" faithfulness. I am now reading Jeremiah, and have just finished Isaiah. It (ISA.) is a great book for Jewish unbelievers to read. I want to show Bernie some of the things I have read, for they will surely show him God is not finished with the Jews, and he has a special heritage!

I have concluded that God has a special purpose for you both to be living these days. You both have outlived most all of your near (and far away!) relatives. I believe God is showing you the results of the wise choice you both have made to show your fear of God while raising Gary and myself. You do not know how thankful I am that you (accompanied and) brought me to churches where I could learn the fear of God while my heart was tender and able to be formed in that excellent mold, that you set an example I will always remember, that you prayed for me and God led me in the way He has to this day. I can't believe God has been so good as to bless me with the privilege to raise two little arrows to shoot for His target! Thank you for that example! I will always remember

These are things that I will always remember about my Dad. Thank you for those many good acts done while the second hand of the clock made it's way 'round the numbers of the clock's face!

These and many other things I will never forget about what you have done to make my life so richly blessed this day!

Again God has richly blessed us with peace and sufficiency. He faithfully is meeting our needs. We are greatly enjoying the house God has given:

David and Joseph swing with Daddy on the rope & board swing he hung from one of the pine tree branches next to the house

David has a collection of "sticks" stored with toys, board scraps (we could call it the wood shed, but there have been no spankings in it yet!), snow blowers, lawn mowers, and bicycles for the whole family

Daddy resealed the long blacktop driveway that includes the neighbor, Mr. Peck's, for 3 days around Independence Day

Daddy sprayed the neighbor's 90 foot hemlock tree affected with adelphid's -- an infestation killing all those kind of pines in CT

Chris planted pretty purple flowers along the front sidewalk for the second year in a row following the gift of the flowers from a kind lady, Mrs. Bev Hill

Chris has planted 3 or 4 plots for gardening both here and our neighbor's land, and reaps in spite of a drought depleting most everyone's gardening

Chris has completely boxed and organized the attic upstairs and the spare bedroom used for guests such as visiting missionaries (now we have had about 6 or 8 families who have visited thus far)

Truth Baptist is growing and expanding it's good influence. A recent 15th anniversary proved a great blessing to everyone attending both short and long. Daddy gave a brief testimony concerning his first days both becoming associated with the pastor, and the church, June, 1980.

A third edition of Facts & Faith was recently released, being this time professionally printed at an approximate cost of $5,000 for 30,000 copies, which we intend to distribute to all of East Hartford and other close-by towns. The Lanyons are taking streets nearby to distribute.

The Vacation Bible School attendances averaged in the 130s, probably 20-30 above last year's average. Chris taught the 2s and 3s with two other ladies all five nights. David thoroughly enjoyed playing each night with all the children.

Pat leads the Sunday services in song, and sings in the Choir. They have reached a repertoire of about 40 or 50 songs, and sing once most every Sunday in the morning service. Occasionally he presents a story about the background of a particular song, most recently was the song, He Keeps Me Singing.

Pastor Rowley is building a house, now being framed by a carpenter, not too far from the church, and having started with a partial basement unfinished and left by the previous owner; the church owns two other lots near the same plot which hopefully will be sold, and another house in Hartford which after being given to the church was restored by a church business man and the church plans to give at least 50% profit to other works of the Lord - missionary endeavors the men will choose at the time of sale.

Pastor Rowley is now in Eph. 5, having preached one of the most edifying series by far on this golden book of rich spiritual treasures. This is one of the greatest joys of going to this church.

Pat has recently purchased vinyl signs on three sides of his van. On the driver's door he has put in small capital letters Matthew 5.16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Pat was able to give his testimony to a man, John, who installed the sign. It was a great blessing to give him the recent Facts & Faith and a copy of Pastor Rowley's article, "Is the Bible Reliable?"

New brochures are being developed. A man has come interested in becoming an apprentice, and another dependable man, both from church, are working part time. Pat hopes to be able to expand with the additional help. The economy is better than it has been, but CT is bound to a very slow recovery from the last recession, and a large number of people are moving to greener pastures.

Pat uses a wand not really available in the truck-mounted cleaner's market, and he is seriously considering reselling an upgraded version, if not even eventually marketing His own version of the wand. The test will be it's presentation in a convention in October at a Boston area host hotel for the NEIRC (New England Institute of Restoration & Cleaning).

Pat is also seeking to secure Carpet Restoration Proposal work with local offices to improve the commercial aspect of his business. One or two new accounts of janitorial service are being added at the present time.

Please continue to pray for us all. We are thankful for His gracious had of blessing. Tomorrow we are planning to go to a lake we went to last year with our neighbor, Mr. Peck and a boat he has for fishing. I love you all very much.

All our Love In Christ, and for His glory.

Pat, Chris, David & Joseph