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| Editor's Note Earlier I wrote: "Sneak preview to the newsletter: Mark Skiles has 13 kids and 5 grandchildren. Angela (Powers) Trenthem will star in a Billy Graham movie - to come out next year! Glenn Winslow gave up his medical practice to play keyboards for Randy Travis (well known country singer). He may soon be appearing in a town near you! Does this sound like a tabloid? You will soon find out how much of this is true!" Well, just in case you believed any of this, I must follow up by telling you that I made it all up. But, you can read below to learn what some of us really have been up to! ENJOY, Beth P.S. I had amnesia for about 3 months, that's why it's taken me so long to get this newsletter out. HA! Sorry! October 2001 |
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| Betsy Beard Brittain Hey Pals, Where to begin. Perhaps a "thank you" is in order. Thanks for taking this on Beth. You never cease to amaze me. I've waited 'til the last minute of course so you guys are in luck. I'll have to be brief. Our lives have continud along the same course for the most part. Tim did change job about 2 years ago so that he can work from our home a good bit. He is an engineer with the IRS. Strange but true. He is enjoying the challenge of his cases though, and likes the people he works with. The kids just keep growing. Ian is 11 now, Collin 8, and Jenna Beth is 5. This will be the first year that I am officially schooling all three of them. It should be an exciting year!! All of the above is the "up" side. In general, this summer has been a bummer for us. Tim's dad died unexpectedly on May 28th, and we are still strugglling to adjust and fathom life without him. My dad continues to battle colon/liver cancer and though he is doing remarkably well under the circumstances, we are rather uncertain how much longer the Lord is gong to leave him here with us. My mom isn't in the best of health either though her symptoms are not life threatening. Tim's mom is doing pretty well physically, but whe is obviously going through some major adjustments. Basically, Tim and I are entering a new season of our lives. We are geographically the closest to his mom and my folks so we will play a big part in coming alongside them in the years ahead. We are thankful to be in the position to minister to them, having been on the receiving end of their ministry to us all our lives. It is just rather sobering to us that alas, we are going to have to grow up after all. One More big change to mention. My sister Bobbie and her family are moving to Murphreesboro, TN today. (They will be closer to Beth's folks than ours!) The Lord has graciously kept Bobbie and I within 30 miles of each other all these years, and I will sorely miss her...but it will be a good move for their family and I guess I'll have to learn to regularly check my email (which will probably be a good thing). So that's the Brittains' story in a "Betsy size" nutshell. Hope it wasn't a downer. Our hope is in the Lord for sure and He will never leave us nor forsake us (or you guys either). We're still not far off the path if you're ever heading to Florida. We would love to see you and catch up face to face. Thanks gain Beth. Love, Bets' |
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| Jim Cummings We just moved from Taiwan to Macao to begin ministry here among Chinese contract laborers. Just in the first week we have been here we have seen some of them come to Christ. We are thrilled about the openness we see. God has really prepared the hearts of the Chinese people for Him. We have found a comfortable apartment here with plenty of room for others to come visit. Macao is a beautiful and fascinating place with the vestiges of Portuguese architecture and a mix of European and chinese culture. It is only an hour away from Hong Kong by jetfoil and right across the border from China. We love to have guests so come visit. We already miss the wonderful friends we left behind in Taiwan. We are also already craving the great food and best fruit in the world, but we are also excited about our new life here and being ambassadors for Christ. Caroline is now 4 and a half. She is our little artistic one. She loves to draw ans dress up. Jacqueline is 2 and a half. She is part tomeboy. She loves cars, cockulars (helicopters) and her dollies. She is alwayson the move and all her acrobatics could be the next Mary Lou Retton. Little James is all boy. He is now 5 months old and is learning how to dribble (not basketball). He was in intensive care for 5 days at birth for fetal arrhythmia. His heartbeat was double what it should have been. Just recently, he stopped taking his medicine and his heart seems normal. We will be going to the States for about three weeks this September to attend Christy's brother's wedding. We are hoping to attend Perry Shen's ('83) wedding on Sept. 1st as well. Take care and come visit us if you are in the area. Love, Jim Cummings |
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