Tribute to my Grandpa
Grandpa Elmo Parish passed away on March 14th 2012 around 5:30 AM MST. He was a loving and devoted Father, Husband, and Pastor/Missionary. He spent his whole life serving people and in turn serving Christ. His life motto was: “I can rest when I get to Heaven” and that is just what he is doing now. I don’t think it has really sunk in that he is gone. I will post more when I can think more clearly. I loved my grandpa and we were really close. But in the last years of his life, he was in so much pain and discomfort that it is a blessing for him to have been removed from this sin-cursed life and enter the Heaven and see his Creator and Redeemer whom He served faithfully all his life. God used him in so many ways and touched the lives of so many that we won’t even know until we get to heaven too. Praise the Lord that Grandpa is free of pain and sin and can truly “REST” since He is in Heaven with the LORD!
Death by Hot Chocolate…Too much of a seemingly good thing!
Now, this may seem a little corny to you and it might be stretching for an illustration but I think it fits. At my most recent place of employment(Dixon-McKenzie Dining Common of BJU), I cleaned many things, re-filled products, and had a lot of little odd jobs. One of the machines on the beverage wall that I recall with great pleasure and contempt, depending on if it was behaving or not, is the hot chocolate machine. The hopper where the powder was stored had to be refilled at least once a day, and if you have ever inhaled the powder from a small packet, you understand that it can be quite hard to breathe afterwards. Well, multiply your small packet by like 100 for this machine. As I filled this hopper one time, I thought about the concept of inhaling enough hot chocolate that the lungs fill up and you die. Now, before you think me to be overly dismal or demented, keep reading and you will find this is not the case.
As I pondered this thought, I was struck by the blinding effect of sin in one’s life. It surrounds and chokes the life out of you. Sin looks so enticing that we dive right in, and in some ways, it is like being surrounded by hot chocolate powder swirling around, being inhaled into the lungs and causing you to go into a fit of coughing. I know every analogy breaks down sometime and this one is no different. Hot chocolate powder is good, but I think there is a lesson in that too much a good thing can be harmful. Also, when we surround ourselves with semi-okay influences, we may think that because it isn’t bad, that it is okay. But semi-okay influences don’t draw you to the Savior, only the good influences will. You may be okay with your influences but is it really the best? Or should you have higher standards for what you let influence you. Your main goal, if you are a Christian, is Christ-likeness; and if you are not meeting that goal, check your influences to see where they are leading you.
MTT trip to the US West!
So I noticed that I had this draft of my mission trip that I never finished or posted so here goes. Well, in regards to the last post about the extensions(Wow, long time…freshman year at college!), I went on a mission trip with the Landises this last month. During the month of June, I went to the US West. We started in Gallup, New Mexico and stayed for a week and had a Vacation Bible School. From there, we went to Escalante, Utah and Boulder, Utah where we held services and canvassed both towns. On June 13th, we travelled to Elko, Nevada where we would hold the morning service of the 14th. On the way, we were held up for 3 hours by an accident that happened on the road between Elko and Salt Lake City. We went 10 miles in 3 hours! And Gertrude(a little doll/puppet who was found at a gas station in New York on the Preacher boys team.) gave us a running commentary during this time. Jason Crossman brings life to this little girl who is very dramatic and emotional! Finally, we arrived in Elko and went to several different houses to stay the night. We had our service and lunch and headed for SLC, where we would have the evening service. We arrived with 15 minutes to set everything up. We started a little behind schedule but the church folks were fine with it. I enjoyed being in my old church and catching up with several dear friends. Our next to last stop was Wheatland, WY. We held a four-day VBS with very few church kids but quite a few bussed in kids from neighboring towns. We all stayed at Pastor Gary Robbins ranch house 30 miles from the church. Both couples stayed in the house and the girls and guys stayed in buses converted into camper trailers. They were most comfortable and made me feel like I was camping. We hiked around their property and even got some close up shots of a baby deer. My most memorable part of this stop was getting surprised by my parents. They came up for one of the evenings and got to meet the team and I was so happy cause I had not seen them since Christmas. On our way to the last stop, we had bus trouble. Something happened and we couldn’t drive it anymore. I don’t really remember what was wrong with it, but we ended up calling for help but sleeping until 3 in the morning till the help arrived. We were 3 hours from Medicine Lodge, KS and arrived there at 6. All but Pastor L. were shown to our beds and slept for several more hours. Pastor L. grabbed some breakfast and went back to the bus to see what they could find out. We didn’t see much of Pastor L., but went about canvassing the town and doing some site seeing. About an hour before the evening service that we were to do our drama for the last time and in which we needed Pastor L. as the narrator, they were able to get back so he could wash up and be ready. We had to stall a little bit before starting the drama but we were able to do it. They also surprised Charity Rager with a birthday cake at the reception afterwards. It was great fun. The saddest part of my trip was when the team left to come back to Greenville and I stayed in KS and waited for my grandparents to pick me up. After spending a whole month with a group of people, you sort of become a family. Some have more quirks than others but you love them anyway and learn to work as a team to accomplish a goal. The goal of a mission team is to preach Christ in our actions, attitudes, and lives. Hope this gives you a glimpse of my heart for Christ.
What to do?!
Wow, and I thought it was long between the last two posts but this is almost 2 years! For my friends and family who wish to know, plans for this summer and the future are all up in the air. I don’t have clear direction right now. My plan was to work at the dining common here at school all summer again. But I may not be a student next year so they could not hire me. If some things happen and I am a student, working here is still an option. Another option is to find a job in town, live with Regi and Josh, and work until I come back to finish the bachelor’s. I can go home and try to find a job or I can finish the associate’s and go find ministry and start my life out of college. All are options at this point, but I have no earthly idea what God wants me to do. Right now, my focus is on finishing this semester strong and staying in His Word. After that, I am trusting that God will give me direction at some point. Well, so long for now. Guess we’ll see how long it take me to post next! Romans 8 at the end of the chapter says “who shall separate us from the love of God” and Paul asks if any of these things can. His conclusion is “I am persuaded…” that “nothing shall separate me from the love of God!” Go read Romans 8:35-39 and get an encouragement!
Wow, Long time…Freshman year at college!
It has been a long time since I have been on my blog. I can’t get on at college since it is a personal page. I want to thank those who commented on my posts. I miss all the people that I have moved away from. I had quite a first year at college. It was difficult, but very good. The year was taxing on me both physically and mentally, but the LORD taught me a lot in that time. I was involved with two extensions during that time. One was a Bible club at a local church with inner-city bus kids. The other one was a group led by Bob and Joyce Landis who go out to different churches and nursing homes and holds services including testimonies, handchimes, puppets, teaching, preaching, and a video of the Make a Timothy Today Ministry. MTT Ministries takes people from 15 years old and older all around the world during the summer and over Christmas. They have taken over 40 teams to over 15 different countries with over 500 members. I would encourage anyone to think about taking a trip with these great people who love young people but most of all the LORD!
More about my Family!
In answer to Bethany’s comment, Yes, my sister and brother-in-law were married on June 29, 2007. Their first child(daughter, they think) is due near the end of August. They live in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is 30 minutes from Greenville! I can visit them when I’m at college! Which I will be there at the end of August and my mom hopes to have a new granchild by then! I am looking forward to going to college! But I am sort of nervous! Well, that’s it for now! SisInChrist, HeatherJoy
Here’s My Blog!
My blog is here so family and friends can keep up with me and my family better.
We live in Hayden, CO. I have three brothers and one sister. My sister, Regina Brodsky, is married and expecting her first child, the first grandchild. We will be seeing them in September when they take me to college!
I am going to Big Pine Camp August 4-8 and going to have a blast! Friends from here and Grand Junction and probably other places! I can’t wait!
A little something you might like to know about me is that my favorite subjects in school are History, science, Math, English, music, and literature. Pretty much anything but penmanship. I don’t write the prettiest but I can correct a paper without much trouble. Add a column of numbers pretty fast. Sometimes in my head! I can tell you exact events of history in order. I can’t read very fast but I love to read. I can sing, and I haven’t had voice lessons. So you can pretty much guess that I love school!
Well, gotta go! SisInChrist, HeatherJoy
