Mín Englisc Blog

For a short time this morning, there was an "RP Church" located in Gettysburg, PA.
Phil Pockras led the worship service at the campground where Nathaniel's boy scout troop was set up. No musical instruments were used in the service, but Isaac Pockras did use his bugle to call the guys together at the appointed time (of course, playing the official "Church" call).

Nathaniel's mom here, filling in for him while he's away at Scout summer camp. The troop got to Gettysburg, PA, yesterday. Ask Nathaniel sometime about their re-enactment of Pickett's Charge up Cemetery Ridge. If I remember the details correctly, Nathaniel's dad got captured while retreating, was held prisoner, but later paroled when they returned to camp.

THIS is my final post before leaving. In case you wonder, here's a small intinerary:

• Today we go to Gettysburg, where we stay for two days.
• Next, we go to Camp T. Brady Saunders between Richmond and Charlottesville, where we stay for the rest of the week.
• While at Saunders, we visit the National Jamboree, near Fredricksburg, on Monday.
• Finally, on Saturday of next week, we return home.

Mom's first post.

Well, I didn't think I'd be up this late, since we have to leave early tomorrow, but.... Anyway, as I said, Mom will be posting next week. I may be able to post in the morning; if not, she'll post later. Maybe she'll post tomorrow even if I don't. At any rate, I'm about done with posting for the month. Will someone please do a blog ratings for this week?

By the way, I had forgotten about the Southside youth group camping trip this weekend. Has Rebekah found a way to post?

David Pulliam got in THE paper. Check it out!



We leave early tomorrow morning for summer camp in Virginia. Between that and a malfunctioning computer, this may be my last post until next week. Mom plans to fill in for me in the blogging contest.

My Pockras grandmother at age 18. Would that she were as hale today as then.

Look here for some very unusual stories — especially the one at the bottom!

Today involved several very different activities. Let's run them from the top:

• This morning involved rather little activity, mostly the design of album pages for stamps.
• While working, I took a break to watch the television. For the first time in 2½ years, a space shuttle was launched; although some small pieces came off from Discovery or its engines during launch, they're not believed to be dangerous. Discovery hasn't been in space since before September 11.
• Late this morning, Mom had me mow for Mr. Hughes, the nearest of my customers. Because she helped me much, we were done in about 75 minutes. This, of course, is despite the heat: easily over 90º much of the day.
• While mowing Mr. Hughes' front lawn, the mower hit something, producing an unusual sound. After a little looking, I realized that I'd hit a baby rabbit; I won't detail what it looked like after meeting the lawnmower. Why was there a baby rabbit in the middle of the lawn? I haven't discovered that yet; there was no rabbit's nest out there, the spot is relatively far away from anything but grass and one small tree, and the rabbit (from looking at the remains) appeared rather small to be out by itself. Oh well; God ánlig cnáweþ.
• After mowing, I settled to the task of producing the invitations for my Eagle Scout Court of Honor, the ceremony where I will officially be presented with the award. We're using cards slightly smaller than half the size of a normal sheet of paper — just small enough to cause plenty of confusion with our printer. At least it will cost less than having them printed professionally.
• This afternoon, we had another strong storm: only the edge, not the center, like yesterday, but still decently strong. While we were gone tonight, the electricity failed completely for several seconds and nearly failed several other times.
• Tonight was our occasional troop Court of Honor, where normal awards are presented. Eleven members were present: barely half of our membership, but far better than in recent weeks. Isaac ran most of the event, while I led the beginning and ending. He did well, although people in the audience had trouble hearing us because we spoke too softly.

While eating breakfast, I was leafing through Dad's copy of the Christian Reformed Psalter/Hymnal (you who have gone on ECHO should remember the "blue hymnal" at Trinity Reformed Church) and passed one that I like quite well.
"Nun danket alle Gott" is an old German hymn with a long history. Written after the Thirty Years' War by the only minister to survive the siege of a town, it has been a German favorite for centuries. In 1757, after the victorious battle of Leuthen against the Austrians, a Prussian soldier began singing this hymn. Soon, all 27,000 soldiers were singing — even the mortally wounded — and even King Freidrich II (the Great), an atheist, was deeply moved. Here's one well-known translation.

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Today, seemingly, will be the hottest day in the past three years. With high humidity and a predicted high of 96º, the heat index should rise way past 100º. You know it's bad when it's 79º at 7:00 AM!

Dad preached from chapters 6-9 of II Samuel today, in which David's kingship is strengthened. A very interesting part came from chapter 6, where God strikes Uzzah dead for touching the ark. In that place, were the people worshipping God? Yes, but not as God commanded — and look at the result! The point is that we must worship as God has commanded: otherwise, it is sinful. Of course, this is not to say that it's wrong to sit in a service with accompanied hymnsinging, but that "whoever knows the good that he could do and doesn't do it, sins."
I think that I won't do ministers' biographies every day, just Monday-Saturday. After all, today I have the weekly blog listings.

BLOGS Since I will be gone at this time next week, these will be the last blog ratings until August.
1. : 6 posts, on 6 days.
2. Charity: 4 posts, on 3 days.
3. : 3 posts, on 3 days.
4. Rebekah: 7 posts, on 7 days.
5. : 6 posts, on 3 days.
6. : 4 posts, on 3 days.
7. : 4 posts, on 4 days.
8. : 1 posts, on 1 days.
9. : 3 posts, on 3 days.
10. : 0 posts, on 0 days. Last post 14 July.
11. : 0 posts, on 0 days. Last post 2 June.
If Joseph doesn't post by 7 August, when I plan to do the next ratings, I'll drop him from both links and ratings.

After a bit of work, I have finished putting a set of notes into the computer. These notes are from Dr. Blackwood's Discipleship Lectures at Covfamikoi 2005. Although there are surely some errors in the lectures — and surely others in my notes! — these should still be quite valuable. I highly recommend these to you.
If you'd like them, email me erudil AT bright DOT net and I'll send them.

Due to the weather, I did not want to mow more than one lawn per day this week. As a result, today is the only day this week without mowing — finally, a break. Isaac, meanwhile, is at the Fair with his Cub Scout pack for much of the afternoon, while Dad is taking him there and Mom is mowing. Boring? Not really, since I have a bit of work to do, putting Dr. Blackwood's Covfamikoi lecture notes into the computer among other things.

MATTHEW LINN Moderator of Presbytery in 1774 and 1781:
Son of Matthew Linn, was born at Corkermaine, near Cairn Castle, County Antrim, Ireland, August 10, 1731. He was of Scotch parentage and a tiller of the soil. Brought up in the strictest manner by a Covenanter parentage, he received a careful religious training, and the elements of an education in the schools of that vicinity and under private instructors. In the spring of 1757, he was ordained a ruling elder, and the same fall entered the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where he graduated in 1760. He studied theology with the ministers of the Presbytery, and was licensed by the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland, July 16, 1761. He was ordained at the organization of the Reformed Presbytery of Ireland, at Vow, and installed pastor of the societies of Bannside, Limavady and Aghadowey, County Londonderry, Ireland, August 21, 1763. After ten years of labor in his native country, he was appointed to accompany Rev. Alexander Dobbin as a Missionary to America, and arrived in New Castle, Delaware, December 13, 1773. He, with Revs. John Cuthbertson and Alexander Dobbin, organized the Reformed Presbytery of America, at Paxtang, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1774, at which time he was assigned to preach to the Churches of Paxtang, Dauphin County, and Stoney Ridge, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He abandoned the Covenanted cause and went into the Associate Reformed Church at its formation, November 1, 1782. In 1783, he removed to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he became pastor of the united congregations of Green Castle, Chambersburg, West Conococheague and the Great Cove. In 1797, he was thrown from his horse, and was so seriously injured that he became unfit for ministerial duty, and resigned his charges, March 13, 1798. He died from a disease brought on by his injuries, at his home near Green Castle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1800, and was buried in the old graveyard at Brown’s Mills. He married a cousin of Robert Fulton, of steamboat fame, Miss Jennett Fulton, of County Antrim, Ireland, in 1769. He was large and corpulent in person, comely in his appearance, and winning in his manners. He was a laborious student all his life. He was an eloquent speaker, and large audiences had their attention astonishingly riveted for hours, while with marked ability he unfolded the truths of the gospel. In private life he was an ornament to the Christian religion, and recommended the doctrines he so powerfully preached by the silent energy of an eminently holy and exemplary life.

Finally! I can post! Today has been quite busy. This morning, I had just finished my Bible reading when Dad knocked on the door with news from a phone call. As a result of the call, we spent the rest of the morning — and early afternoon — helping some members of the congregation who had a problem with their house. Next, it was mowing time; that went normally. Finally, Dad was busy on one computer, writing sermons — he usually wants to finish sermons by Thursday morning, but he's had tons of interruptions this week — and he was having enough trouble deciding on outlines that he asked that we not use the other computer. As a result, I've only now gotten online.
I don't know how long this will go, but...
I've decided, once again, to do a daily "... of the post" for a while. Last time, you may remember, I focussed on every RPCNA congregation; this time, I'll look at Moderators of the American RP Synod — or Presbytery, before there was a Synod — from each year. Let's start with the first Moderator of the first Presbytery, held in 1774. Three notes: (1) These sketches will come from the various RP ministers' histories, starting with Glasgow's, which was my Eagle project (2) Most of the sketches are much shorter than this one (3) If you don't want to read the entire sketch, at least look at the italicized text near the bottom.

JOHN CUTHBERTSON:
Was born near Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, April 3, 1718. He was reared in the strictest manner by a pious parentage, who were exemplary members of the persecuted Church of Scotland. He received his early training, preparatory to entering upon the work of the ministry, from private instructors. He studied theology under the Rev. John McMillan, who, with Rev. Thomas Nairn and ruling elders, constituted the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland, August 1, 1743, by which court he was licensed, May 16, 1745. He was ordained sine titulo by the same court, at Braehead, May 18, 1747, and labored among the scattered societies of Scotland. He was Moderator of the Reformed Presbytery in 1750, at which time, with Rev. Thomas Cameron, he was sent as a missionary to the scattered societies of Covenanters in Ireland. In the spring of 1751, he was sent as a missionary to the Covenanters in America, and landed at New Castle, Delaware, August 5, 1751, having been forty-six days at sea from Derry Loch. He was the first Covenanter minister who came to America, and settled in Middle Octorara, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the scene of most of his labors, although he made extended missionary tours upon horseback through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and all parts of Pennsylvania as far west as the Ohio river. In the winter of 1773, he was joined by Revs. Matthew Linn and Alexander Dobbin, and they organized the Reformed Presbytery of America, at Paxtang, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1774. He was then assigned to the Middle Octorara charge, although he exercised a superintending control over all the societies. With some others, July 2, 1777, he swore allegiance to the cause of the Colonies, and cast in his lot with those who were struggling to cast off the British yoke in America. In the following September, without consulting or informing the Reformed Presbytery in Scotland, he began the conferences with the Associate Church, which, after five years of agitation, culminated in the union of these two branches, forming the Associate Reformed Church. The articles were signed at Pequea, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1782, and the Synod was constituted in Philadelphia, November 1, 1782. Many of the private members of the Covenanter Church went with the ministers, the faithful remnant resorting to the society meetings, and for eight years or more were left without a minister. Mr. Cuthbertson continued in charge of the Octorara congregation until his release, March 20, 1783, when he took charge of the Associate Reformed congregation of Lower Chanceford, York County, Pennsylvania, where he labored until his death, March 10, 1791. The cause and circumstances of his death are unknown. He was buried in the Lower Octorara graveyard connected with the church where Alexander Craighead preached. His gravestone bears the following inscription: “Here lies the body of the Rev. John Cuthbertson, who, after a labor of about forty years in the ministry of the Gospel among the Dissenting Covenanters of America, departed this life, 10th of March, 1791, in the 75th year of his age. Psalm 112:6, The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” There are two mistakes in this inscription. He was a Covenanter minister but thirty years; and he says more than once in his diary that he was born April 3, 1718, making him nearly seventy-three years of age. He married Miss Sally Moore, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1756. He endured many hardships as a pioneer missionary. According to his diary, during the thirty-nine years he was engaged in active service, he preached on two thousand four hundred and fifty-two days; baptized one thousand eight hundred and six children; married two hundred and forty couples; rode on horseback seventy thousand miles, or nearly equal to three times around the world. And this travelling was done in those days when there were no roads or bridges. Blazed trees marked the pathway, and horse and rider swam the swollen streams. He rode through the unbroken forests, past the lair of the wild beast and the wigwam of the savage; under the hot sun, through the pelting rain or drifting snow, and often without the necessities of life. For all this work, however, he was peculiarly adapted and providentially sustained. From the texts recorded in his diary, it is evident that he was a forcible evangelical preacher, and a man of deep convictions and fervent piety. As was too frequently the custom in those days, however, he indulged occasionally too freely in the glass, and at one time he was suspended for four weeks for intemperance, and received a rebuke from the Presbytery.

London police have confirmed three explosions aboard subways and one aboard a bus this afternoon at 12:30 local time (7:30 AM EDT, 6:30 for you in Indiana). These explosions are not as major as the ones two weeks ago — only one injury and no deaths are reported — but the psychological impact is great.
Tonight, we all went into Bellefontaine for supper (Fazoli's) and shopping. Although we had several places to visit, we bought rather little. Among these, however, was a new watch for me; you may remember that my watch broke at Covfamikoi. Let's hope that this one is more enduring!

Well, today was mostly rather typical. After a slow morning (due to lack of sleep on previous nights, I slept until 9:00), mostly occupied by stamps, I ate lunch and went out to mow. Following one lawn's work, I returned home to work on stamps and the computer. However, unlike previous nights, Dad took Isaac and me to the County Fair (Mom felt like staying home) for the evening. Thanks to special passes, we got into the Fair for free, and Isaac and I paid a combined 50¢ for our meals. Really, very little exciting happened there: the exhibits were typical; and although the 4-H booths were interesting, they were more interesting in previous years, when we were in 4-H. Since I missed last year's fair because of the bike trip to Calvin, this was my first Fair since dropping out of 4-H.
It's amazing how many friends I keep "seeing" since we left Covfamikoi. Granted, it's usual for me to imagine that I'm seeing people at unfamiliar places, but the combination of being with many friends recently and being in large groups of unfamiliar people has really made the last week especially bad. I've probably "seen" the majority of people I know from out in Indiana. Just tonight, I imagined that I saw Isaac Ray and one of the Cerbuses, and Isaac pointed out someone that, from behind, looked very much like Katie. At least I should get to know people at Geneva soon; the orientation last weekend was especially bad for this phenomenon.
I should mention that Isaac and I are mentioned in a big story in tonight's paper. Two days ago, our Scoutmaster was asked if he could provide Scouts for the opening ceremony for the fair, and we volunteered. Tonight's paper features a picture of Isaac bugling as the flag is raised, and it quotes him extensively. A pity there was a mistake; it says that he, as well as I, is an Eagle Scout. Oh well; he should be an Eagle by this time next year.

By the suggestion of Allen, I have decided to put up a picture link to anyone who wants one. For you whose photographs I posted two days ago, I'll use that photograph unless either (1) you want it to be removed, or (2) you provide a different one. I welcome photos for posting, but there are a few rules I'd like to follow:
• First of all, I will not post picture links without the person's permission in writing. Both comments and email will work.
• I want to use vertical pictures in mostly the same proportions. If you want me to use your picture, I'd like to check its shape and proportions first.
• I want pictures that are more-or-less portraits. This doesn't mean professionally-done pictures (although those would be fine), just something along the lines of what I posted two days ago.

Thanks for letting me do this!

Check out the new style of links on the side. If you want to join it, tell me.

I decided to post these portraits from Covfamikoi up here without any names attached. If you'd prefer not to have your picture here, email me:
erudil AT bright DOT net

Dad preached today from chapters 1-5 of II Samuel, in which David becomes first king of Judah and then king of all Israel.


BLOGS Due to Covfamikoi, blogging was rather poor-quality this week. Most conferees posted rather little: only Katie posted three times, and only she and Bekah posted on Thursday, when the conference ended.

1. Katie: 3 posts, on 3 days.
2. Ellie: 3 posts, on 3 days.
3. Charity: 2 posts, on 2 days.
4. Anna: 4 posts, on 3 days.
5. Nathan: 1 posts, on 1 days.
6. Bekah: 1 posts, on 1 days.
7. Becca: 2 posts, on 2 days.
8. David: 2 posts, on 2 days.
9. Rebekah: 2 posts, on 2 days.
10. Allen: 0 posts, on 0 days. Last post 18 June.
11. Joseph: 0 posts, on 0 days. Last post 2 June.

Best post: Nathan: Saturday

Well, we're finally home after over a week of absence. Due to time constraints (we arrived at nearly 10:00 tonight) I won't be able to discuss the trip tonight. Look for more updates later!

Covfamikoi is over. Right now, I'm sitting in the Skye Lounge of the Student Center at Geneva College, having gone through much of the orientation. You know what I will want to see next year? Some of you need to follow me here!

Today is the first day of Covfamikoi, which runs through Thursday. The blogging contest will resume on Friday.

Covfamikoi is tomorrow. See you there!

London has been struck by a series of bombs planted by an al-Qaida affiliate.


At least one double-decker bus was destroyed by a bomb.

Transportation throughout Greater London has been shut down, except for emergency vehicles.

Bombs were set off at these Tube locations. At least one other location suffered an explosion — perhaps more.


Let us pray that the British will stand up to this attack and not fold like the Spanish.

London has been awarded the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Finally, another good rainstorm. A pity that there's nothing more coming all week!

Today, two of Dad's siblings — my Aunt Sarah (plus husband, Uncle Joe) and Uncle Charles (my Aunt Debbie is away) — came for a visit and holiday meal. Although I had mowing to do, I still was able to see all three of them for several hours. Quite an enjoyable time.
After I put up yesterday's post about Grandmother, Uncle Charles (who was the brother from whom Dad got the new information) read the post and was surprised to find that I said that he had said things that he didn't. Apparently, we misunderstood what my uncle had to say about Grandmother's condition. Overall, although the situation is slightly better than what it seemed, it's not too different. Here's a revised version of the "news" paragraphs of yesterday's post.


Now to the news: Dad spoke with one of his brothers yesterday. While visiting Grandmother, my uncle had met my grandparents' family doctor, who had the bad news. He believes that she's suffering from severe arteriosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"), which makes her brain arteries even more vulnerable to strokes. Last year, the doctor was saying that Grandmother might only live for a couple of years. Now, the doctor says that we should be prepared for a sooner date.
All of this is really hard on me — not to mention Dad and his siblings! Although none of my grandparents are in good health, all of them are yet alive. As Dad says, he may have to drive out to Beaver Falls before Christmas to bring me back for her funeral. One of the few things about which I can be thankful is that Dad can fully sympathize: when he was in highschool, his Pockras grandmother died after months of total mental confusion.

Happy Independence Day!

Yesterday, we received grievous news. Before I give it, let me give a background to it. Please forgive me for not posting any of this before — it was for privacy's sake. If you don't care about the background, skip to the last two paragraphs.

Last year, Grandmother had a routine body-scan done for precautionary purposes. This scan revealed what was determined a fast-growing non-Hodgkins lymphoma, yet in a very early stage. Doctors said that this cancer was not very dangerous: although it was fast-growing, it was caught early, and it was of a type very susceptible to chemotherapy. She soon began a regimen of chemo, and the doctors were very encouraged by its effects.
When I returned from last year's Fall Ministry Project in the third week of October, Dad gave me bad news: over that weekend, Grandmother had had three strokes. Subsequent testing revealed severe blockages in Grandmother's brain, liable to cause another stroke or strokes at any time. Meanwhile, the chemotherapy was continued, and the cancer kept dying.
After a time in the hospital, Grandmother temporarily moved to their retirement village's nursing home for rehabilitation. After a few weeks of progress, she started showing signs of confusion. Although this was intermittent at first, Grandmother began having the weirdest hallucinations; she threatened to turn her roommate into a motorcycle, she spoke of putting scissors into the wall, and she thought another person lived in a toilet. As the months passed, these hallucinations became worse. Although she has had times of lucidity — notably Easter weekend, when she was fine for several days — these have been few. When these few times have occurred, she is (understandably) depressed about her condition the rest of the time.

Now to the news: Dad spoke with one of his brothers yesterday. While visiting Grandmother, my uncle had met my grandparents' family doctor, who had the bad news. He believes that she's suffering from severe arteriosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"), which makes her brain arteries even more vulnerable to strokes. Last year, the doctor was saying that Grandmother might only live for a couple of years. Now, the doctor says that we should be prepared for a sooner date.
All of this is really hard on me — not to mention Dad and his siblings! Although none of my grandparents are in good health, all of them are yet alive. As Dad says, he may have to drive out to Beaver Falls before Christmas to bring me back for her funeral. One of the few things about which I can be thankful is that Dad can fully sympathize: when he was in highschool, his Pockras grandmother died after months of total mental confusion. Please pray for these points:
• Pray for me, that I may hold up.
• Pray for Dad and his siblings, that they might hold up and do the right things.
• Pray for Dad in time to come. His Pockras grandmother lost her mind, and now both of my grandparents have. This is my greatest fear: that I may have to deal with Dad being in a similar condition. PLEASE pray that this may never be!

1. Katie: 7 posts, on 5 days.
2. Rebekah: 7 posts, on 7 days.
3. Nathan: 4 posts, on 3 days.
4. Ellie: 3 posts, on 3 days.
5. David: 3 posts, on 3 days.
6. Bekah: 1 posts, on 1 days.
7. Charity: 3 posts, on 3 days.
8. Anna: 2 posts, on 1 days.
9. Becca: 1 posts, on 1 days.
10. Allen: 0 posts, on 0 days. Last post 18 June.
11. Joseph: 0 posts, on 0 days. Last post 2 June.

Best post: Bekah

Well, Isaac wasn't able to go on the camping trip. Not his fault! When he arrived late (thanks to a doctor's appointment) he was the only one to show up. Of the other three boys who had said they would attend, none ever appeared; one — the patrol leader! — apparently is at 4-H camp but didn't tell anyone!

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time on genealogical work, consolidating and registering my grandmother's research, now that she is unable to do it. Last night, I was looking through one of her summary papers, "Descendants of Henry Edwards," when it struck me how bad this family (Henry was my great-great-great-grandfather) really was. Look at this list, starting with Henry's son, my great-great-grandfather Charles Edwards:

Charles Luel Edwards was born in 1865, and died in 1942 in Proctorville, OH. He married Sarah Jane Doddridge, daughter of Isaac Doddridge and Rhoda. [Her maiden name is unknown.] Children of Charles Edwards and Sarah Doddridge are:
• Sarah — nothing abnormal; she was my father's maternal grandmother
• Charles — of his five children, one died from rabies shots, one died in infancy of unknown causes, one died of Bright's kidney disease, one committed suicide, and only one lived a "normal" life.
• Nina — nothing abnormal
• Daisy — died from burns sustained when she fainted while stirring boiling clothes [apparently, a common way to wash clothes in 1920], which she pulled over on her. Her husband abandoned the three children, who were then adopted by Charles and Sarah Edwards, their grandparents.
• Flossie — first husband died when some stadium seating collapsed. She tried to committ suicide twice; on the second time, she was successful.
• Paul — nothing abnormal
• Chester Earl — nothing abnormal. His twin is the next child; pronounce both names!
• Lester Merl — Uncle "Slim" attempted suicide, was unsuccessful, and lived many normal years thereafter.
• Luel — Stabbed to death in a drunken brawl over a girl at the Lawrence County [Ohio] Fair.

Dad returned yesterday evening from Synod. I get the impression that, overall, things went well, although all of yesterday morning was taken up by a judicial case. Next year's Synod is to be held 26-30 June, again at Beaver Falls.
Yesterday, we saw the first real rain since I returned from ECHO. Yes, we got some on Wednesday, but that was just 1/10 of an inch. Yesterday, we had heavy storms coming at us in the late morning — so heavy that Isaac's friend brought his (otherwise home-alone) sister up here for her safety. As it ended up, we got only .35" from the line, as the storm split to avoid our unusual topography. Late in the evening, however, we finally got a decent storm, as a very powerful line moved through from Detroit to Dayton. While we got no damage, there were numerous nearby lightning bolts. We didn't get the worst of this storm: at Dayton International Airport, winds were observed in excess of 80 miles per hour, and one gust was recorded at 97 mph!
This afternoon, Dad and Isaac and I go to the doctor: not for illness, but for our required physicals for summer camp. Which leads into...
Isaac leaves today for a campout at the county Fish & Game. He's going with two or three young guys — one of whom is officially in charge, although he's quite irresponsible. Pray for Isaac's sanity and everyone else's safety!