We got to stay a few days at the Amanda Ranch, and it was a very relaxing time for us. The Hinsons are super nice people, and it was a blessing to slow down for a little while.
Across New Mexico and Into Texas
On Saturday, we headed across New Mexico. We drove along the border of New Mexico and Colorado. The mountains were beautiful, and we really had a very nice drive. Sometimes it is a blessing to be on deputation and enjoy the beautiful country God has blessed us with.
We arrived in Dumas, Texas, in the evening and met Johnny and Stacy Widner at a steakhouse in Dumas. We were missionaries in Ghana at the same time with the Widners, and we got to be good friends with them while we were there. After supper, we went to their house for fellowship, and we laughed way too much with them. It is always good to spend time with good friends and remember how God has been good to us.
On Sunday, I taught Sunday school and preached in Dumas. The church voted to take us, and another missionary family, on for support right in the morning service. That is always a blessing.
We went to lunch at Sam’s Southern Eatery. It is a favorite of mine. If you ever have a chance to eat at Sam’s Southern Eatery, make sure you take the opportunity.
A Great Service in Pampa and a Hard Phone Call
We left after lunch and drove to Pampa, Texas. Paul Hudson is the pastor at Bible Baptist Church, and we went to college at OBC with Paul. He and Amanda are good friends too. We had a great service at Pampa.
Right before the service was about to start, at 4:59 p.m., I got a phone call. It was my cousin Betsy. I wondered what she was calling about, and I knew I had to answer the call.
She told me that her daughter, Johna, had just been killed in a motorcycle accident, and she needed help informing the family. I called my dad and my preacher, and then I went into the service. It was a difficult thing to do, to preach knowing that my family was hurting.
Laura and I sang, and then I preached. After church, we called and talked to everyone at home.
Please pray for my cousin Betsy and her family. Johna was 34 years old and has two children. Pray that God will get the glory in all that transpires in the future in the lives of our family.
A Night in Oklahoma City
We drove to Oklahoma City on Monday to be with Laura’s parents for one night. Pray for Adrian Van Manen, Laura’s dad, as he is starting radiation on the cancer he has. The tumor has been growing very rapidly, and it is quite large now.
Pray that the radiation will start shrinking the tumor, and that it will shrink even more than the doctors expect.
Home for the Funeral and Home for Easter
We left Oklahoma City on Tuesday to drive home for the funeral. We went straight to the funeral home and stayed there with all of the family and friends from 5 p.m. until about 9 p.m. Then we went to supper with my cousin Terry and his mother, my Aunt Jeanie. We had a fun time with them.
On Wednesday, we got ready and went to the funeral. I did the eulogy, and my pastor, Danny Dodson, preached the service. I had to leave just a bit early because we had to go to a church near Dallas for the Wednesday evening service.
Pastor Preston Henderson and Seagoville Road Baptist Church are a blessing. They supported us when we were in Africa the first time, and they voted to take us on again.
On Thursday morning, we drove home. It is a blessing to get to be home for a few days. We even get to be home for Easter.
I hope everyone has a happy Easter and remembers what the day is all about: the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thank you very much for coming to our missions conference here at Faith Baptist Church in Oak Creek Wisconsin.
I really enjoyed your book.“That’s my goat “ and I found it very interesting that you mentioned Bob Engelhardt . I was a roommate of his in seminary at Maranatha back in 1986.
Thank you very much for coming to our missions conference here at Faith Baptist Church in Oak Creek Wisconsin.
I really enjoyed your book.“That’s my goat “ and I found it very interesting that you mentioned Bob Engelhard.
I was his roommate of his in seminary at Maranatha back in 1986.
I loved your book the goat and it was interesting that you mentioned Bob Englehardt I was his roommate in college at Maranatha.
Happy Easter
Hello, Brother and Mrs. Consford. Good to catch up with you after meeting you at our Missions Conference at NWBBC. We devoured your book, and laughed and cried and praised the Lord with each chapter! Thank you for sharing those stories with us! You are in our prayers.
I really appreciate you reading the Goat book. It is our prayer that God uses this book to encourage more young people to go to the mission field. I laughed and cried too while writing it, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had was reliving some of those stories as I put them on paper.
I am sorry to hear that family lost a love one. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
Thank you for your prayers. My cousin, who lost her daughter, and I are very close. She is like a sister to me. Please pray for Betsy as she walks in her grief and pray that God does an amazing work in her life. Thank you!