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And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Luke 24:17 NKJV Greetings in Jesus’ name, Several weeks ago, I drove down our mountain road en route to Florida. The road was muddy and rutted. The trees were bare and lifeless. The only birds about were the two old crows that seem to make it through the His Mansion winters. The grass was brown and gardens flat, apparently sterile. Tattered leaves, veterans of a hard winter, blew listlessly around protruding boulders of granite. All in all, not an inspiring picture. Three weeks later I roll back up the same dirt road but can hardly believe I’m in the same place. Buds and small leaves adorn the trees. Bushes are yellowed with forsythia, and crocuses are pushing their way through the earth. The road has dried and frost heaves settled down. Sparrows, junkets, chickadees, fly catchers, and robins are frantically searching for the best places to build their nests. Chipmunks frolic among the rock walls and fresh, rich soil replaces the boring garden plots. Once upon a time -- approximately 2000 years ago -- two young men walked along a road, heading home. It was a sad, depressing sojourn for them. All hope seemed lost. Life’s purpose and promise had been dashed. These two men, Cleopas and his friend, were kicking stones along a rough road. Life didn’t seem hopeful anymore and their hearts were saddened. A day later they returned over this same road, but the horizon before them displayed an entirely different scene. They had had an encounter with Jesus! On this road, a day before, they really thought they were alone in their hopelessness and depression, but they were not. If someone could have observed them from a panoramic vantage point, they would’ve seen that they were never alone. A gentle Stranger followed them, not far behind. Gradually the gap between them shrunk, until there were three. “And where two or three are gathered…” This stranger inquired as to their apparent sadness. He spoke words of hope and refreshed their minds with words of Scriptural truth. This alone encouraged them and brought back an element of excitement. God’s Word has a way of accomplishing this. The two invited Him into their home. (It seems that an invitation is a vital part of the process.) At this point the Stranger did the unthinkable. He took it upon Himself to pull a loaf of their bread off a shelf, and He tore it apart and served them! This shocking gesture, together with His exposition of Isaiah 53, blew the scales from their eyes and revealed the Savior of the world, the risen Christ! The formula is as powerful today as then, to which many in His Mansion’s recovery program can attest. We have several praise items this month: Levi has been in the program for seven months and is now in the Inner Healing phase. Levi is a married man who, in an effort to re-establish a healthy relationship with his wife, came to His Mansion to achieve victory over his sinful, addictive behavior. He and his wife gave birth to a beautiful little daughter several months before his arrival here. A month or so ago, his wife suffered a miscarriage of their second child. This could’ve been the test that sent another man back to the pit, but God was faithful and Levi obeyed. They both testify as to the insight they’ve gained and the witness their response has been to their brothers and sisters in the program. It is a source of encouragement to us all to see Levi grow and to see the marriage salvaged. Keep them both in your prayers. James comes from Colorado. He was caught up in drugs, depression, and suicide attempts. At one point he went out in the country to end it all and was found by a farmer. After spending time in hospitals, James ended up at His Mansion. Several months ago, James gave his heart to the Lord and is growing. He is in the Inner Healing phase. Brian is another answer to prayer. He was quite hostile and uncooperative when he arrived. God has touched his life and Brian has truly grown. Although scheduled for the next graduation, Brian has agreed to stay on for another phase in order to gain further maturity. Mark Harris, our mechanic, advised us some time ago that we should be thinking about purchasing a car to replace an ailing rattletrap still on line. He recommended an all-wheel drive Subaru as our other Subarus have held up well. I deferred until the need grew more urgent, although we did begin to put money aside. Last week an alumnus of His Mansion called and donated his five-year-old, all-wheel drive Subaru! For thirty-five years God has continued to bless us with wonderful answers to prayer. I’m sure He does it, not just to provide the items, but also to give encouragement to the young men and women coming through the program that He is alive. The greenhouses are loaded with little green leaves. They all look the same to most of us, but to our Agriculture Foreman they are selections of herbs, vegetables, and flowers, each with specific names. Next month they’ll be transplanted to the gardens where everyone can take an active role in nurturing and caring for them. This is such an exciting time of year. New life is popping up everywhere. One of our board members is getting married in the chapel at His Mansion in May. Ron Donovan, who came to Christ at a His Mansion outreach at Woodstock Fair many years ago, will wed Alice Gilroy, who served as an Intern at His Mansion in Connecticut in 1973-4! I will have the honor of uniting them. There’ll be angels singing on that day! Our Office Manager, Linda Hogue, and her husband, Jim, have just become first-time grandparents. Elsie Josephine Ryan was born to George and Katie Ryan, who met while serving at His Mansion, as did George’s parents, George and Julie Ryan, twenty-two years before! On July 15th, Chris Spiess and Marie McKeown will be united in marriage here on the hill. They presently serve as Assistant Directors for the Men’s and Women’s programs. Marie hales from Northern Ireland and His Mansion will resemble “Erin” for a few days, as many of Marie’s clan will be here. Chris came to us from Oclenton, Maryland. Again, I’ll have the privilege of uniting them. I wish I had only positive items to share, but life is not always that way. The women’s side of the program needs much prayer. Generally speaking, they admit to needing healing, but continue to resist and not listen to truth. We believe we are doing what is needed but admittedly, we are discouraged. Please pray for wisdom, patience, and fortitude for Marie (Assistant Director of Women) and for Fritz (Director of Counseling) as they struggle along with these ladies. Summer and fall are great times to schedule church or family outreach teams to serve on short-term projects at His Mansion. There are harvesting, maintenance, woodlot, grounds, and building projects providing ongoing challenges for everyone. We can accommodate a limited number, so talk to us soon. Contact Linda, at 603-464-5555 or e-mail executivesecretary@hismansion.com. There are still openings for this year. The Spring HCC (Healing in the Context of Community) course was well attended and bore fruit for His Mansion’s staff needs. A number of candidates enrolling in the HCC do not intend to stay and serve here, but are returning to their respective churches, ministries, and occupations. Fortunate for us, a few of those do decide to join the team. We are receiving applications for the June and October classes already. The course consists of two options: a one-week overview of Biblical caring in the context of a long-term residential environment, or a seven-week stint that allows candidates to not only attend additional classes, but also have the opportunity of putting the material into practice through on-the-job application. In addition to understanding the application of Scripture in caring and the principles of healing of the soul and spiritual warfare, candidates benefit from the thirty-five years of practical application and experience of healing in the context of community. Don’t miss the opportunity. The concept of translating Bible knowledge and counseling skills into a therapeutic lifestyle is an asset for truly integrating principles and techniques into a healthy daily lifestyle. When “Christian counseling” is but one component -- eating, sleeping, working, playing, and worshipping being others -- healing becomes more of a process over time and is more likely to result in lasting change. The standard length of His Mansion’s program is one year, which gives time for new ideas to gestate and manifest themselves in positive lifestyle choices. You are invited to apply for the June 10th HCC class. This is a great time to be at His Mansion, as you get to see the community in action, planting, harvesting, and tackling all the challenges that frigid winters inhibit. The cost for the one-week course is $100, which covers standard texts, room, and board. The longer version comes for the same price! The Fall HCC class (October 7) will surely book out early. Where else can you study in New England during fall foliage for $100? You can apply by writing to our Office Manager, Linda Hogue, by phone at 603-464-5555, or email the Executive Secretary. Don’t procrastinate. It’s first come, first served. From time to time I enjoy featuring Long-Term Staffers (LTS) in the newsletter. This month we highlight the Hultgrens. Dave Hultgren came to His Mansion as a student in the program 30 Years ago. After graduating His Mansion, he attended Word of Life Bible School in Schroon Lake, New York. After graduating from WOL, Dave came back to us to serve on staff as an intern in 1978. He was one of the few who were at His Mansion for the transition from Connecticut to New Hampshire after a devastating fire ruined the original facility. Another intern who made the sojourn north with us was Diane Priebe. Diane enrolled for a semester at Gordon Conwell Seminary after graduating from Dartmouth College, class of ‘77. Diane had communicated with us but actually came to serve, sight unseen! Diane was actually still in bed, it being her weekend off, and students were serving her breakfast in bed as a treat when the fire broke out. The fire-drill procedures we had practiced worked, and no one was injured, although Diane escaped with only the clothes she slept in! Once in New Hampshire, as we were trying to establish a program, Dave and Diane were attracted to each other and eventually married. They continued to serve, seeing their roles here evolve over time. Diane settled in as the “bookkeeper” years ago, which doesn’t begin to illustrate her value throughout every aspect of the ministry. Dave today serves in the counseling department, where he is responsible for class coordination, teaching, and is auditing counseling classes at Gordon Conwell. Dave and Diane’s four children were born during their tenure here. The oldest, Lisa, is a graduate of Keene State and teaches math in the New Hampshire public school system. Dan, the second, is presently attending University of Hartford as an acoustic engineering major. The remaining two boys, Bobby and Andy, are still being home-schooled. As a family, the Hultgrens have been in Christian service at His Mansion for twenty-seven years. The Hultgens are but one of the couples God has provided over the years. Each family has made a unique impact on this work. God continues to be faithful to send His best to serve here and we formally welcome Paul and Robin Atkinson to this special healing community. Yes, Paul and Robin Atkinson have arrived at His Mansion. Paul is the Corporate Administrator and is responsible for the everyday workings of the facility in New Hampshire. Serving in New Hampshire is a stark change from his previous calling as Associate Pastor of a church in North Carolina. Paul has much experience serving in prison ministry by way of short-term stints in Uganda and Kenya, so is no newcomer to extreme situations. However, the emotional turmoil here never lets up and can take its toll. God answered prayer regarding the sale of their home in Rocky Mount. It sold at just the right time for a price that they are pleased with. Not having to be absentee landlords will greatly reduce the pressure on them. Thank you for praying. Whenever your church or study group is looking for special speakers or missionary reports, or desires to learn more about this work, Dave Hultgren, Paul Atkinson, Fritz Maurer, or our wives are available to you, as am I. We are asking you to pray with us for two intern cooks and a lady to work in the canning room during the harvest season. This is always one of the highlights of writing this letter, for me. Thank you. Because of your faithful prayer and support, this work is blessed. We are saddled with no debt and all our bills are paid. Praise God -- and thank you again. Joyful in His Service, Stan Farmer
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