Mon,Tues,Wed July 2,3,4
Monday
Down the mountain to drop Devon off at the airport for his journey to Shanghai..heard from him having arrived. He will be teaching there.
Nick and friend Natalie picked up at airport as well. They are looking forward to exploring "weird Asheville".....
Met with old friend who is eager to connect us to folks from his church who most likely will be interested in Hope for Families of Inmates. Several already have ministry in the local prisons.
Tuesday
Met with pastor of key church we would most likely begin initially in partnership with the prison visits. He was most interested and wants to move forward with "vision casting" and training, etc. Again, all of this is dependent on getting the OK from Prison heads in Raleigh.
Also caught up with old friend who has a "voice over" business and is willing to help Ethan in his own VO efforts. Great to reconnect to this brother.
And get this........His wife is on the board of a charter school for at-risk kids, many of whom have an incarcerated parent..Who knew!!l Yet another reason why this journey is exciting and seems to have divine fingerprints on it!
Wednesday
4th of July fun....
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, Friday, Saturday - June 28,29,30
Thursday 6/28
Building more partnerships:
Lunch with an old friend I knew from the 60's. Great guy who attends church that has some form of prison outreach. I hope to be able to connect to leadership to discuss mutual ministry.
Met with representative of local non-profit whose mission is "to create effective opportunities for change by working as a community to provide better alternatives for youth, positive peer relationships, accountability, hope and real dialogue."
Feed back received: No one is doing what Hope for Families of Inmates would purpose to accomplish. It was offered that what we seek to do "is fundable" but that there is a rather "competitive environment" among non-profits here in Asheville. (Something I have heard for two years)I shared about our approach of "Shalom" and will try to connect to agency leadership next time.
Friday 6/29
Down the mountain with Devon to pick up Ethan (in Charlotte, from LA) and Yvonne (GSP airport from Miami).
Really missed her and I hope to be able to provide her with at least some rest from what has been an extremely busy time at Hope for Miami.
Great to see Ethan...Among his interests is doing "voice over" work. Hoping to connect him to some buds up here who do this professionally.
Ruby's BBQ Shack- One of our fav places has it all...great food, low prices, fun atmosphere...
Here's an idea of what's going on this weekend in the area.
Thursday 6/28
Building more partnerships:
Lunch with an old friend I knew from the 60's. Great guy who attends church that has some form of prison outreach. I hope to be able to connect to leadership to discuss mutual ministry.
Met with representative of local non-profit whose mission is "to create effective opportunities for change by working as a community to provide better alternatives for youth, positive peer relationships, accountability, hope and real dialogue."
Feed back received: No one is doing what Hope for Families of Inmates would purpose to accomplish. It was offered that what we seek to do "is fundable" but that there is a rather "competitive environment" among non-profits here in Asheville. (Something I have heard for two years)I shared about our approach of "Shalom" and will try to connect to agency leadership next time.
Friday 6/29
Down the mountain with Devon to pick up Ethan (in Charlotte, from LA) and Yvonne (GSP airport from Miami).
Great to see Ethan...Among his interests is doing "voice over" work. Hoping to connect him to some buds up here who do this professionally.
Ruby's BBQ Shack- One of our fav places has it all...great food, low prices, fun atmosphere...
Here's an idea of what's going on this weekend in the area.
Monday,Tues, Wed 6/25,26,27
Mon 6/25
Networking Continues: More calls setting up meetings around "Hope for the Carolinas/Hope for Families of Inmates". Things really falling into place. It appears we have at least two corrections facilities interested and three churches ready to move forward with visitation trips into the prisons.
Tues 6/26
Trey arrived from Orlando, Devon got in from a "road trip" across the US.
Seldom Scene in Asheville
My Father's Pizza, Black Mountain, NC..
Scenes from of my uncle's porch.
Wednesday 6/27 - HAD to make it to Oconoluftee River in Cherokee for at least one day.
Devon will be heading to Shanghai on July 2 to teach.
Trey at out fav place...(Dad lost a HUGE trout here later)
Caught mostly brown trout today, most unusual..
Oh, we made the obligatory trip to Walmart for fishing supplies and snacks..Proud to say, we're eatin' healthy
Mon 6/25
Networking Continues: More calls setting up meetings around "Hope for the Carolinas/Hope for Families of Inmates". Things really falling into place. It appears we have at least two corrections facilities interested and three churches ready to move forward with visitation trips into the prisons.
Tues 6/26
Trey arrived from Orlando, Devon got in from a "road trip" across the US.
Seldom Scene in Asheville
Wednesday 6/27 - HAD to make it to Oconoluftee River in Cherokee for at least one day.
Caught mostly brown trout today, most unusual..
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 24...Thoughts and stuff I saw....
Asheville's a pretty interesting place..lots of creative and entrepreneurial folks.
Check out some of what's going on here..
Riding the Bellyak Wave - HIV/AIDS remains a crisis in Asheville area
Lion spotted on downtown Asheville streets - Vid: Lexington Ave. red dress
A couple of views on prison reform in NC
North Carolina leading the way in bipartisan prison reform
Let's reform failed justice system
Then, right off the porch at Uncle and Auntie's.....met a girl friend.
Auntie Carolyn sez her name is Myrtle....
She said, "feed me and I'll follow you anywhere..."
Speaking of girl friend, I miss Yvonne! She'll be here on Friday and all of us can't wait.
And between Tuesday and July 2, our entire family, all the kids will be here!
Asheville's a pretty interesting place..lots of creative and entrepreneurial folks.
Check out some of what's going on here..
Riding the Bellyak Wave - HIV/AIDS remains a crisis in Asheville area
Lion spotted on downtown Asheville streets - Vid: Lexington Ave. red dress
A couple of views on prison reform in NC
North Carolina leading the way in bipartisan prison reform
Let's reform failed justice system
Auntie Carolyn sez her name is Myrtle....
Speaking of girl friend, I miss Yvonne! She'll be here on Friday and all of us can't wait.
And between Tuesday and July 2, our entire family, all the kids will be here!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thurs, Fri, Sat, June 21,22,23
Thursday
Met today with assistant supervisor of programs and program director of the Marion Correctional Center, a maximum security facility with over 400 inmates.
After briefly sharing the "big picture" of Hope for Miami, I explained what a partnership might look like between the Center and "Hope for the Carolinas/Hope for Families of Inmates". They expressed interest in developing with us visits of children with incarcerated dads as well as the possibility of mentoring of these kids. Said I should connect to the Regional Director for Programs based in the nearby-town of Lenoir.
Friday
Same deal as yesterday. Met with the administrator of the Buncombe Correctional Center as well as the Regional Director of Programs mentioned above. Great time. Lots of good inter-change, listening and asking/answering questions.
What it all may mean: It was pretty clear that both Marion and Buncombe Centers are interested in pursuing some sort of partnership. Ball is in the Regional Director's hands. He's going to pass along all the info I've given them over the last month, plus the collateral I gave him to the folks in Raleigh who call the shots. IF there seems to be interest in talking further, next steps might mean my return with Hope for Miami staff to begin putting a plan in place and what I mentioned on the first page of this blog.
FYI: The State of NC is in the process of re-thinking and re-vamping "all-things corrections". If you get a notion, check out the summary of the Justice Reinvestment Act. As each of those I met with opined, "this could really be ideal timing for some sort of collaboration".
My Take on all this: Nothing I have seen so far suggests to me that the Lord is closing doors on some sort of involvement within the prisons, the children and caregivers, volunteers, and community at-large.
This coming week's activities:
I've lined up meetings with the pastor of a key church where my friend who will be point person on much of this attends. It is hoped that we will get to know each other, discuss the vision/mission of each entity and forge a ministry partnership around "families of inmates". My friend feels strongly that other churches and individuals will catch the vision and get on board.Time will tell...
PLEASE PRAY: For follow-up to all this...
Fun day today...
Spent time with Maxine and Lucas....
Two weeks old today !!
Took in a game at beautiful McCormick Field in Asheville (locals got beat)
Listened to Dashboard Blues play 50's and 60's tunes..fun to remember
Thursday
Met today with assistant supervisor of programs and program director of the Marion Correctional Center, a maximum security facility with over 400 inmates.
After briefly sharing the "big picture" of Hope for Miami, I explained what a partnership might look like between the Center and "Hope for the Carolinas/Hope for Families of Inmates". They expressed interest in developing with us visits of children with incarcerated dads as well as the possibility of mentoring of these kids. Said I should connect to the Regional Director for Programs based in the nearby-town of Lenoir.
Friday
Same deal as yesterday. Met with the administrator of the Buncombe Correctional Center as well as the Regional Director of Programs mentioned above. Great time. Lots of good inter-change, listening and asking/answering questions.
What it all may mean: It was pretty clear that both Marion and Buncombe Centers are interested in pursuing some sort of partnership. Ball is in the Regional Director's hands. He's going to pass along all the info I've given them over the last month, plus the collateral I gave him to the folks in Raleigh who call the shots. IF there seems to be interest in talking further, next steps might mean my return with Hope for Miami staff to begin putting a plan in place and what I mentioned on the first page of this blog.
FYI: The State of NC is in the process of re-thinking and re-vamping "all-things corrections". If you get a notion, check out the summary of the Justice Reinvestment Act. As each of those I met with opined, "this could really be ideal timing for some sort of collaboration".
My Take on all this: Nothing I have seen so far suggests to me that the Lord is closing doors on some sort of involvement within the prisons, the children and caregivers, volunteers, and community at-large.
This coming week's activities:
I've lined up meetings with the pastor of a key church where my friend who will be point person on much of this attends. It is hoped that we will get to know each other, discuss the vision/mission of each entity and forge a ministry partnership around "families of inmates". My friend feels strongly that other churches and individuals will catch the vision and get on board.Time will tell...
- I'm also connecting to a "referral" who is part of a "shalom-sounding" initiative that has just gotten underway. He's involved in Dept of Corrections matters. We shall see.
- Also, I hope to attend the monthly meeting of the Buncombe Correctional Center's Community Resource Council. (Each Center is required to have one of these) In my initial outreach to the Centers, I was helped greatly by a gentleman who is involved in Kairos, a ministry to prisons. He was the president of this CRC for years and I look forward to meeting him. He is well respected by everyone I've talked to.
AIN'T NETWORKING FUN??
PLEASE PRAY: For follow-up to all this...
- For favorable response from "powers-that-be" on the State-level to beginning a journey of caring for "the least of these", children and families impacted by crime.
- For my time with the pastor whose congregation is poised to take an exciting journey (it is hoped) of ministry to "our kids". That he'll catch the vision and help mobilize (as Hope for the Carolinas equips and trains) the resources and members of his congregation.
- For the many other contacts I've yet to make, which I'm not even mentioning!
Fun day today...
Spent time with Maxine and Lucas....
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Mon, Tues, Wed 6/18,19,20 Rick's Doin's and Prayer Requests
Monday
Convalescing Family: Went with Maxine and Walt to visit my sister, Claudia and hubby Bud, in North Georgia today. She's recovering from a broken femur and doing well. What a beautiful drive!! Here she is clipping basil from her garden. Claude, I love you and am grateful you're my big sis and friend.
Tuesday
Up at 5am to make my one solo trip trout fishing on the Oconoluftee River in Cherokee, about my fav place in the world. Why fav? check this out
Oh, not to confuse you...I was NOT kayaking...but angling...
How did I do?
Well, I'm proud to say that it very possibly was record-setting. Herewith.....
Folks, this may be the world's smallest native trout caught on hook and line. I am not making this up...this is NOT photoshop!
Bottom-line, (all pun intended) it was not the best day I've ever had. Seems like I could hook 'em but most of the best ones got off. Missed one that was easily 18"..broke my pore heart.
Just so you know, this was the result of our last trip up here in December.
Wednesday 6/20
As I've mentioned to many of you, one of the main reasons for making efforts to establish some level of ministry here, via Hope for the Carolinas, is the need to be closer to aging family. The trip to the ER with Walt on Friday underscored that.
Today is the 92nd birthday of Margaret Dillard, a very special lady in the Sawyer family whom I've know since forever. Her hearing is gone and eyesight weakening and I was able to drop by with a flower, balloon, kisses and a few minutes of catching up. Took her to the hairdresser and we have a date on Monday for lunch and a visit to see baby Lucas.
Check this out....the first home I ever lived in (1950 - 56)
The Times, They are a 'changin' - As I drove by, I saw trucks outside and the door open. Seems there's major renovations taking place, even adding a second floor. Next time you see me, ask me to tell you Maxine's favorite story about what I did as an 18 month-old in that house.
Oh, see the yellowish building in the background on the right? It used to be Deitz Hardware for 70 years...(before Lowes, Home Depot, ACE took care of mom and pop stores like that)
Anyway, guess what it is now in this little mountain community that's now being overrun by "furriners"?
A MASSAGE ROOM !!!!
PRAYER REQUEST
Tomorrow (Thursday) I meet with the Program Director of a maximum security male correctional center near here. I'm eager to hear his take on the needs of the inmates there, as well as to share with him the possibilities of helping connect children to fathers via "Hope for Families of Inmates". See my first blog entry re: ministry possibilities here.
Then, Friday, I'll sit down with the main men's facility here in Asheville to go over the same scenario. Plus, I'll meet with my buddy from here who's offered help in organizing a church and volunteers for possible "bonding visits" into the prisons.
I really believe by Friday afternoon, we'll have a pretty good idea of where this is all headed.
PRAY that I'll listen carefully and be able to clearly communicate a vision of Hope for Families of Inmates. And, that Hope for Miami/The Carolinas' "shalom approach" will be received here among those who may become new kingdom partners.
Lord, make us all sensitive to Your leading, in Jesus' name.
Monday
Convalescing Family: Went with Maxine and Walt to visit my sister, Claudia and hubby Bud, in North Georgia today. She's recovering from a broken femur and doing well. What a beautiful drive!! Here she is clipping basil from her garden. Claude, I love you and am grateful you're my big sis and friend.
Tuesday
Up at 5am to make my one solo trip trout fishing on the Oconoluftee River in Cherokee, about my fav place in the world. Why fav? check this out
Oh, not to confuse you...I was NOT kayaking...but angling...
How did I do?
Well, I'm proud to say that it very possibly was record-setting. Herewith.....
Folks, this may be the world's smallest native trout caught on hook and line. I am not making this up...this is NOT photoshop!
Bottom-line, (all pun intended) it was not the best day I've ever had. Seems like I could hook 'em but most of the best ones got off. Missed one that was easily 18"..broke my pore heart.
Just so you know, this was the result of our last trip up here in December.
Wednesday 6/20
As I've mentioned to many of you, one of the main reasons for making efforts to establish some level of ministry here, via Hope for the Carolinas, is the need to be closer to aging family. The trip to the ER with Walt on Friday underscored that.
Today is the 92nd birthday of Margaret Dillard, a very special lady in the Sawyer family whom I've know since forever. Her hearing is gone and eyesight weakening and I was able to drop by with a flower, balloon, kisses and a few minutes of catching up. Took her to the hairdresser and we have a date on Monday for lunch and a visit to see baby Lucas.
Check this out....the first home I ever lived in (1950 - 56)
The Times, They are a 'changin' - As I drove by, I saw trucks outside and the door open. Seems there's major renovations taking place, even adding a second floor. Next time you see me, ask me to tell you Maxine's favorite story about what I did as an 18 month-old in that house.
Oh, see the yellowish building in the background on the right? It used to be Deitz Hardware for 70 years...(before Lowes, Home Depot, ACE took care of mom and pop stores like that)
Anyway, guess what it is now in this little mountain community that's now being overrun by "furriners"?
A MASSAGE ROOM !!!!
PRAYER REQUEST
Tomorrow (Thursday) I meet with the Program Director of a maximum security male correctional center near here. I'm eager to hear his take on the needs of the inmates there, as well as to share with him the possibilities of helping connect children to fathers via "Hope for Families of Inmates". See my first blog entry re: ministry possibilities here.
Then, Friday, I'll sit down with the main men's facility here in Asheville to go over the same scenario. Plus, I'll meet with my buddy from here who's offered help in organizing a church and volunteers for possible "bonding visits" into the prisons.
I really believe by Friday afternoon, we'll have a pretty good idea of where this is all headed.
PRAY that I'll listen carefully and be able to clearly communicate a vision of Hope for Families of Inmates. And, that Hope for Miami/The Carolinas' "shalom approach" will be received here among those who may become new kingdom partners.
Lord, make us all sensitive to Your leading, in Jesus' name.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Fri, Sat & Sun, June 15,16,17
Friday 6/15 - Spent the earlier part of the day with David, Claire and the baby..
Then, in the afternoon, I got a call from my mom to say that her hubby, Walt, was feeling ill and needed to get to the ER at Park Ridge Hospital near their place.
We got him checked in and were concerned as he was experiencing nausea, dizziness, high blood pressure, chills and, eventually, a temperature of 101!
It was determined that he was suffering from a urinary tract infection. After IVs and some meds, he was his feisty self, joking with nurses and ready to go home.
Mom mentioned several times how thankful she was that I was close by to be there for them...
THIS reminded me of why the efforts being made to come up here with our presence and, hopefully, ministry are worthwhile.
Thank you, Jesus, for raising this man up again.
Saturday 6/16
Great Grandma Maxine (Rick's mom) with Lukie...
Biggest news today was the arrival of David's parents from LA. Emil and Gordana Tamburovic drove across the country to see their first grand baby and are they ever great folks! Feels like we've known them all our lives.
Thanks, Lord, for this beautiful new covenant child and for a loving family to, we pray, bring him up in the nurture and admonition of God.
Pray for David and Claire as they continue to adjust to Lukie..So far, it's been a team effort....and hey, two new players (David's folks) are in town!
Sunday 6/17
It was a wonderful Father's Day, being with Walt (dad of 6) Emil (2) and David
(brand-new paw)
Great Grand Paw Walt with The Man
Great Dad's Day lunch at Crescent View Retirement Center where Rick's mom, Maxine and hubby Walt stay. These folks know how to live!!
I'm thankful for the Dad who I had (with Jesus since 05) for Walt, Emil, David both my uncles and the men I know who love God, their wives and families.
Friday 6/15 - Spent the earlier part of the day with David, Claire and the baby..
We got him checked in and were concerned as he was experiencing nausea, dizziness, high blood pressure, chills and, eventually, a temperature of 101!
It was determined that he was suffering from a urinary tract infection. After IVs and some meds, he was his feisty self, joking with nurses and ready to go home.
Mom mentioned several times how thankful she was that I was close by to be there for them...
THIS reminded me of why the efforts being made to come up here with our presence and, hopefully, ministry are worthwhile.
Thank you, Jesus, for raising this man up again.
Saturday 6/16
Great Grandma Maxine (Rick's mom) with Lukie...
Biggest news today was the arrival of David's parents from LA. Emil and Gordana Tamburovic drove across the country to see their first grand baby and are they ever great folks! Feels like we've known them all our lives.
Thanks, Lord, for this beautiful new covenant child and for a loving family to, we pray, bring him up in the nurture and admonition of God.
Pray for David and Claire as they continue to adjust to Lukie..So far, it's been a team effort....and hey, two new players (David's folks) are in town!
Sunday 6/17
It was a wonderful Father's Day, being with Walt (dad of 6) Emil (2) and David
(brand-new paw)
Great Dad's Day lunch at Crescent View Retirement Center where Rick's mom, Maxine and hubby Walt stay. These folks know how to live!!
I'm thankful for the Dad who I had (with Jesus since 05) for Walt, Emil, David both my uncles and the men I know who love God, their wives and families.
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