2013 Sanctuary Report #3: Tuesday, May 21, from Walla Walla, WA
Dear Family and Friends:
We are packing to leave in three hours (after breakfast and worship) for Yakima, WA to the next Exhibit of the Sanctuary. The 2300 that came through the Exhibit in Walla Walla included many Pathfinders who were here on their Camporee. The Conference invited Messiah’s Mansion to come especially so these children could go through. It is one way to help preserve our heritage in the next generation.
As usual, we have met and renewed some friendships from long ago. Mary Alice saw some of her former students from including Larry Lofthouse [from Battle Creek Academy] and his family, and Linnae
Warwick from Lansing SDA Elementary. Lofthouses live here but made a special trip just to greet us.
Eric Kreye, author of Under The Blood Banner, came again yesterday while we were taking down the Sanctuary and packing it into the truck, and we visited once more. This time we learned that he has lived with severe pain since taking a medication several years ago. He has tried everything to get relief, but to no avail. We prayed together there and I told him we would seek prayer from our friends also in his behalf. So, please include Eric in your prayer group.
It reminds me of how grateful I am for the good health we continue to enjoy at our age. In my Sanctuary tours I often speak of Moses (In the Most Holy Place) and describe his bringing the tablets of the Ten Commandments down the mountain and shattering them when he saw Israel dancing around the golden calf. Then the Lord told Moses to cut out another set and bring them up the mountain for Him to write again the same words so they could be kept inside the Ark. Moses was 80+ when he did that. I climbed that mountain at age 26 and know how much energy it takes to do it. Here is Moses doing it at 80 and carrying the stones with him. I know about 80 because I’ll be 80 on July 4 this year (In Ecuador). Moses must have been paying attention to the health laws of the Torah (first five books of the Bible) that were kept on a scroll outside the Ark. We have it in the Sanctuary Exhibit.
On our mission trips (including Sanctuary Exhibits) it is often more difficult to keep everything in balance because of schedule—rest, sufficient water during the day, only vegan food, and just the right amount of exercise.
Helping erect and then take down the Sanctuary Exhibit gives plenty of exercise. We were a bit short of help from the local people here in Walla Walla that put extra strain on the MM staff. We were glad for the great help from local members who did help. That included one family named Duffield. The father, mother and three daughters came out and really worked hard both days. It turns out that the mother, Sherrie, was in school with our Melinda, and the family were also in Weimar as workers at the same time Glenn and Debbie were there. So Mary Alice arranged for Sherry to talk with both Melinda and Debbie on our cell phone from the work site.
We also met people like Mrs. Dressler who had been in Indonesia at the same time as George and Ella Fisher from Gentry and wants to send greetings to them. She is 92 years old now but is very spry and drives her car. It was a joy sharing experiences with her in the Waiting Tent before her tour began.
I conducted the last tour Sunday night at 7 p.m. It consisted of two sixth grade children named Caleb and Joshua from the Public School in Walla Walla. They had just come from a swim after a long day and were very sleepy but wanted to go through the Sanctuary anyhow. It was a challenge to keep Caleb awake toward the end, but he was still glad he went through. It was a privilege to take Caleb and Joshua through the Sanctuary and recall the exploits of their Biblical counterparts.
While you are praying, please continue to pray for Dr. Jay Sloop who has been missing in Kieve, Ukraine, for more than a week with no sign of where he might be or what happened to him. Some have gone there from USA with mountain climbing gear to help with a more thorough search of the park area where he disappeared during his early morning walk. Jay is from Yakima where we are going today and we will maybe learn more about it when there.
Yesterday a huge tornado swept through Oklahoma with much loss of life and property, as you have seen in the news. We did get to see some of the damage on TV here at the Larson home where we are staying. Oklahoma Academy that sponsors Messiah’s Mansion is only fifteen miles by air from Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, but apparently did not have any damage. In the midst of such devastation we are once again grateful for protection of the school. We will learn only when Jesus comes again, why He lets some suffer and others not. The big issues of the Great Controversy between good and evil give some background to our understanding even now.
I need to get packing now so will close and send this on its way while we still have Internet privileges.
With love,
Glenn and Mary Alice (Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma)