November 2007 Newsletter

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.  ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of Hosts, ‘on the day that I make them My jewels.  And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’  Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve Him.”   Malachi 3:17-18

Greeting in our Savior’s Name,

Tropical Storm Noel just passed by, reminding New England not to take nature for granted.  Having grown up on an island in Maine, I am thrilled at the power and terror of a nor’easter.  Part of the excitement comes after the storm passes and leaves the shoreline completely new and filled with treasure.  Last month I talked some about jars of clay, and I was still mulling these thoughts over in my mind as I walked the beach.  It was this reflection that sent me into my file of “short thoughts” I’ve penned over the years.  Here’s the one that came to mind:

Sea Glass

Ornate building brick, fine china, and delicate containers for perfumes and medicines.  Things designed by man, for man’s service.  Broken.  Rendered useless for the purposes for which they were fashioned.

Now lay hidden like small pieces of jewelry. Among stones, broken shells, driftwood, and seaweed.  Thousands of days and nights of being drawn out with the receding tide
 to be spewed back onto the beach where they tumble among the pebbles and sand.
 Inexorably worn and polished by the grit and pounding of everything they come in contact with.

But out of the brokenness and distorted shards of human ideals emerge
 small rarities that stand out among the rocks and rubbish surrounding them.  When moistened,
 they glisten and gleam – often resembling diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.

Small children and child-like adults spend hours scouring the sands and pebbles
 in search of these treasures.  Blue jewels can be redeemed for an ice-cream sundae,
 while a ruby red might fetch a lobster dinner.

A jar filled with polished gems may be hidden on an island –
 a map drawn, placed in a bottle, and set adrift on a tide at summer’s end.  Buried treasure, indeed!

Life is sometimes like this.  Our hopes and dreams – the expectations of others for our lives –
 shattered by some unexplained and unplanned “accident.”
 The years following are a series of agitation and abrasion.  Our fragile persons are worn, chafed,
and reshaped, all the while feeling as if we have been cast aside, no longer useful.

Years pass by, and should we surrender ourselves to the One who uses life’s natural processes
 to shape us, we will emerge as finely polished gems ardently
 sought after by those who have cultivated an eye for the handiwork of the Divine Artist.

In time, these “precious stones” will also be gathered up – treasures in jars of clay –
 destined to adorn the crown of a King. 
So it is, with renewed zeal and keen focus that I search among the rocks and detritus.
 I’m searching for a “ruby!”

I’ve come to view those men and women who find their way here for help as potential gems.  They come in different sizes, colors, and shapes, but all can eventually be beautiful jewels, if they’ll weather the polishing!

What a great month we’ve just passed through.  I’ve never experienced so much beautiful weather as this fall.  The harvest was extended and, although it was not a great year for gardens, we are blessed with enough to tide us over.  The leaves are mostly fallen and the family rakes them onto large tarps.  They are carried to the barn where they are blown into bins and used throughout the winter as bedding for cattle and poultry.  In the spring the untidy mess is mulched and spread in the fields to start the cycle all over again.

The canning room crew was short-staffed, but God did what He has always done so well -- sent us gift-workers.  Twin sisters here for HCC week and an extended stay, Darlene and Marlene, were the life of the party in the canning room (and everywhere else, for that matter!), and made it a joy to serve there. 

The twins were just two of the 37 men and women who joined us for the fall Healing in the Context of Community (HCC) class.  Candidates from Canada, Romania, Texas, Illinois, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, and all over New England made up a rich mix of the children of God.  The class comprised the oldest group of folks we’ve had.  It made for a special level of maturity and depth. 

The next HCC is scheduled for January 19-26, 2008.  It will be especially tailored to equip men and women to establish and conduct effective church-based support groups, but is open to anyone wishing to become a better-equipped servant of Christ.  Enroll soon, as time flies.

The annual Harvest Party took place last week and this letter has awaited that event, as it is so unique.  On Harvest Night, nearly everyone shows up at the chapel dressed in a costume.  The categories are: animals, characters (Mansion family or biblical), Mansion objects, or harvest themes.  The range of costumes was limited only by the number of individual imaginations present!

Among the winners were a John Deere tractor; autumn limbs and leaves (the children); a gal dressed as a cleaning product can; and two men, one as a sunflower, and the other a jalapeño pepper.  One young lady came as one of our dining hall scraper cups.  Our illustrious Director of Counseling, who holds a black belt in Tai-Kwon-Do, strapped on a pig nose and came as “Tai-Kwon-Do Pig!”  One wonders if this qualifies as the blind leading the blind?

It is claimed that laughter can add fifteen years to one’s life.  If this is true we shall enjoy long lives.  What robust laughter! What moves me most is the sight of a number of severely broken, emotionally aching men and women enjoying the pure silliness of masquerade.

The contest was followed by a square dance called by Kim Sauder, head of Food Services.  Here again, several of the ladies hadn’t even dreamed that they may one day dance again.  Tough, street-smart guys, masculine pride and all, finally entered into the fun of it.  They were cumbersome and stiff at first, but before the evening was over, were catching the rhythm and staying in step.

The evening culminated with the annual Pie Judging.  Two nights before the party, the family is divided into groups of six—men with men, and ladies with ladies.  The contest is on!  Each group is invited to one of the Long Term Staff’s homes where they must bake a pie.  This year it had to be either pumpkin or apple.

Joan and I had six men.  What a blast!  They chose to make an apple pie and together (I admit to not being able to keep my hands out of it!) we commenced to peel and slice twice as many huge apples as needed.  It was decided to use them all and they named their pie “Mile High Apple Pie.”  Our guys won the apple pie contest. 

Linda Hogue’s team of five women, “Team 3.14,” won the pumpkin pie contest with a pie sweetened with genuine His Mansion maple syrup.  All pies were evaluated on taste, appearance, presentation, and creativity.

The wonderful part of this story is that everyone seemed to be having lots more fun than the teens I witnessed at a friend’s home playing X-Box all afternoon!

Our reason for celebration:  God’s bountiful provision!  The canning room statistics are now complete:  370 quarts of apples, 540 quarts of broccoli, 74 quarts of cabbage, 120 quarts of carrots, 220 quarts of corn, 454 quarts of beans, 64 quarts of bell peppers, 82 quarts of pumpkin, 60 quarts of spinach, 114 quarts of squash, 314 quarts of strawberries, 778 quarts of tomatoes, 65 gallons of apple cider, and 6 animals for meat.  Praise and thanksgiving be to the Lord of the harvest!

Our efforts to create room for additional residents have been successful, and we now have openings for more women in the program.  If you are aware of ladies age 18-35 in need of healing and restoration, this would be their window of opportunity.  We anticipate receiving our next group in February.

Last month I assured you I’d have a list of “second tier” Long-Term Staff folks that you may wish to encourage at year’s end: 

Diane Weber retired from missionary service in Malaysia years ago and came to serve at HM in 1993.  Diane teaches and disciples women. 

Dwayn and Brianna Merrill have three children, Amana, Talia, and Caedan, and met at His Mansion a dozen years ago and subsequently married.  Dwayn serves as the head of agriculture. 

Karen and Seth Hilliker also met when they served as single interns years ago.  Karen has her Masters in Counseling and is the Supervisor of Counseling for Women.  The Hillikers have two children, ages 23 months and 5 months. 

Kim Sauder is the head of food services and is a single lady.  She came to us a year and a half ago and hails from Urbana, Illinois.

Cindy Margason is the mother of six grown children and serves as Program Administrator for Women.  She arrived in August of this year.

Cliff Buxton is the Program Administrator for Men and his wife, Linda, is a contract nurse supporting them as a team.  They came here from Florida a year and a half ago.

Please remember us in your year-end financial planning.  These next few months have always allowed us to finish the year well and send us charging into the New Year. The missionaries you happen to know serving at His Mansion, also appreciate your remembering them as we serve without pay trusting God to provide.  And you have always been very faithful.

Once again, we are able to boast in God’s goodness that every bill is paid and we are free of debt.  Your partnership with us is precious and appreciated.  Thank you!

Joyful in His Service,

Stan Farmer