Update From London, Kentucky

Christmas Service

Ribs and Christmas Music

We neglected to snap a picture of Pastor Jarvis Saturday night but I got this one Sunday morning before we left for church.

The weather was a little dicey in London Sunday morning but by 8:00 AM it had moved above freezing and the wintry mix had turned to rain. The Green Machine was still coated with ice but the roads were fine.

It was great to be back with Pastor Lester Carpenter and his folks Sunday morning. The crowd was lower than normal because of icy conditions in the outlying areas but it was still a good crowd. They sure helped me preach and God ministered to us. I enjoyed it so very much.

Afterward we went to the original Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin, Kentucky. It is just a few miles south of the church. We went there for the first time last year. We had a great meal and a great visit with Bro. Lester, Sis. Linda, Bro. Timmy, Sis. Wavelene and their daughter.

We are looking forward to bringing the Gospel tent to the London area next year. Bro. Carpenter invited us about a year ago to hold a tent revival with his church on their property. We are scheduled to be here in late August. 

When I took the tent down for the last time this year I was so tired that I did not even want to think about tent revival. It only took me about 10 days to get over that! When I was walking around their property Saturday I was about to shout just thinking about what God was going to do.

We appreciate Bro. Carpenter inviting us to his church. I met Bro. Lester Carpenter 30 years ago. He has had a tremendous influence on our lives. It was so good to be with them.

Pastor Lester and Sis. Linda Carpenter

With Kelly Jo added in for good measure!

Although it warmed up here today the weather forecast for our route home was too bad for us to chance trying to make it. We have not been home since August and we are anxious to see everybody but I do not want to drive the bus on ice and snow while pulling the tent trailer if I can help it. We decided to err on the side of abundant caution and sit here this evening. We will try to leave early Monday morning by God's grace.

We got back from KFC as First Pentecostal was starting church (Because of the weather they only had one service today at 2:00) so I went in for service. Bro. Jarvis preached good from the book of Luke and I am glad I went. These folks have been so kind to us. I sure appreciate them allowing us to stay over another night in their parking lot.

Davy

Christmas Service in London, Kentucky

Saturday Evening's Post

Wow! What a great night in London, Kentucky at First Pentecostal Church! I am so glad that Pastor Vernon Jarvis invited us for this special Christmas service. It was so much fun and the Lord moved in the service too. It was good to be back with all the First Pentecostal folks plus it was great to have Bro. and Sis. Gabbard and several of their folks from Bond and also folks from Bro. Lester Carpenter's church.

The church was absolutely beautiful. We were kind of busy during the night and we neglected to get many pictures at all. We took a few before church and a couple from our late night Starbucks run. This  is all we captured.

We are hoping the weather will allow us to have church in the morning and start toward home tomorrow afternoon. If not then we will go north when we can. Have a great Sunday.

Davy

Ribs and Christmas Music

Friday was a busy day and so far today is working out the same way. We were about 3:00 AM getting to bed Thursday night after our last late night trip back from Hazard. Friday morning came too early but we wanted to get everything ready to ride before lunch time.

We were able to get everything ready by 11:00 and then we headed over to Bro. and Sis. Gabbard's for a great visit and wonderful lunch. There is nothing "diet" at Sis. Ann's house so Friday was definitely a splurge day.

The ribs were some of the best I have ever eaten!

After visiting a while longer we headed back to the bus. We have been parked at the Bond church fellowship hall and we appreciate Pastor John Gabbard and the Bond church for allowing us to park there. It is one of our favorite places to park and the Bond folks are some of our favorite people.

I cranked up the BoggsMobile and headed toward London, Kentucky. I was going to the place where the trailer was being worked on and Kelly Jo and Odie needed to make a Walmart run. The trailer was at Visone RV north of London and they were giving me an idea on what it would take to make a little repair to the bus. It was going to take more time than they had and more money than I had so we put it off to another time.

The trailer was not quite ready so I left it and parked a few miles away in a small RV park near the interstate in London. I thought I might go get the trailer this morning so I wanted to be close. The trailer was finished this morning but they told me I could swing by and get it when I start toward Ohio Sunday or Monday depending on the weather.

I ran up this morning to pay for the repairs to the trailer. The wheel I had trouble with a week ago Saturday needed quite a bit of work. Thankfully the hub and spindle are OK. The large inside bearing was in bad shape and should have been replaced last Saturday. The inside bearing that was replaced last Saturday had to be replaced again. 

The roadside mechanic in Knoxville installed the wrong size bearing. The ID was almost 1/4 inch too big! That night I suggested that he take off another wheel and get the right bearing size from it but he was sure he knew what it was. Obviously he did not. He also left off a crucial washer when he put things back together. The guys at Visone RV said that if I had driven much farther I would have ruined the hub and the spindle too.

I told the mechanic in Knoxville but he responded kind of hateful and did not even acknowledge the fact that he put the WRONG size bearing on my trailer. I really appreciate he and his wife coming out on a very cold Saturday night but I think the $277 he charged me plus whatever Good Sam paid him at least deserves the correct part, especially on something so critical.

It should be in good shape now though. The guys at Visone RV replaced the bearings in that wheel, cleaned and packed the bearings in all of the other wheels and installed new brake shoes all the way around the trailer. It was very, very painful paying the bill this morning but I am confident it is done right. The other bearing all looked great but I figured it was best to clean and pack them too.

We pulled over to First Pentecostal in London about 12:30 today, unloaded all of our sound equipment and then parked the BoggsMobile. After we set up the sound we practiced an hour or two. We are doing a Christmas service her tonight for Pastor Vernon Jarvis and his folks so we are singing a lot of material we do not usually sing. We are looking forward to the service at 7:00.

We are supposed to preach for Bro. Lester Carpenter tomorrow morning and then we will be pointed toward Ohio. There may be one slight problem in that plan. The weather guessers are calling for sleet and freezing rain over night so there may not be any church tomorrow morning and we may not be able to travel north at all. The weather is worse the farther north you go. We will see.

God bless you all.

Davy