Thursday, 10/22/20 Went to the morning service at Iron Mountain, Drove on the Talimena Scenic Drive, went to evening servicewent for drive on Talimena scenic drive, went to evening service

Bill by all the bikes!

Scenic view on our Talimena drive 

Another picture with a beautiful view behind me and behind Bill in the next picture 

Bill with the beautiful scenery behind him

We pulled off for a Scenic view picture!  Ha ha the see I’m standing on Trump 2020!  Pretty happy!

Restaurant at the top

Sign for Talimena Scenic drive as we went in to Oklahoma A

We went a little ways past the restaurant and found we were in Oklahoma 

Bill and I relaxing outside our room 

Me in front of our hotel 

Another pond by our hotel! There were three of them

Bill walking to the pond 

Me on the dock

Bill with the beautiful scenery behind him

Went to the morning service and heard a great message.  Sat by the open garage doors with Fran and Kenny.  We went for a drive on the Talimena Scenic Drive.  It was up a mountain and was beautiful! We stopped at scenic lookouts and took pictures!  Stopped a restaurant up there and went into their small gift shop.  We got candy bars and Pringles to hold us over.  Only two people were allowed in the gift shop at a time. Nobody was around but us though.  We went a little further on our drive and pulled off on another scenic view spot.  When we came out on the other end of the drive, Bill noticed a Welcome to Arkansas sign.  We drove back down the road and turned around so we could go by the Oklahoma sign and get a picture!  Didn’t drive far and then turned around and headed back. To our hotel for a while.  We went to Iron Mountain and walked around to see what venders were there and also walked through the campground.  Nice to get some steps.  Bill forgot his phone at the hotel, so we came back  and relaxed at the hotel until 6:30.  Got a nice long talk in with Vikki!  So nice!  Went back and heard an amazing message John Ogden Jr. preached.  We sat back by the garage doors and got a nice breeze. It was 82 degrees out today!  Stopped for Sundaes at McDonald’s.  Came back to the hotel and watched the rest of the debate.  Melissa called and we had a nice talk. Evan won the monopoly game!  So happy to talk to her!

Wed. 10/21/20 Went to Hot Springs , went to changing of the Colors

This was in the Crystal Shop at the Crystal Mine we were at

Angel carved from a tree that got struck by lightning.  Ther is quartz Crystal All around it.  Peyton, Icssac and I just read a book that talked about quartz Crystal so I took this for them

Bath House in Hot Spring.  One side of the street we walked on had  lots of these bath houses on it.  Beautiful buildings!

                                             

Another Bath House

Going up Hot Springs Mountain! So beautiful

Riding up the mountain Add caption

Al Capones picture was behind us...we brought the Light of Jesus in with us!

My big delicious burger
 Bill Bill at Iron Mountain

                                             

John Ogden Sr.  CEO and Director of CMA National gave the message tonight.  His love for Jesus shines through!

Evan learned how to play Monopoly today. He loved it and loved counting the money! I borrowed the picture from Melissa 

Got ready, went to lobby to get our coffee and also picked up two prepackaged cinnamon rolls.  I warmed mine in the microwave!  Very yummy!  Read our Bibles and then left to follow two couples who are our friends to Hot Springs. Talked to Kimmy.  She was at my house watering my plants! Thank you Kimmy!  She also got our mail.  Bill set it up for our mail to be held, but they didn’t do it. Good thing he had Kimmy check. Our box was full!  Beautiful 1 1/2 hr. Drive on back hilly and curvy hills! Stopped at a Crystal mine on our way.  Picked up some carborundum, rainbow calcite and ammonite.  We didn’t have time to tour the mine because it takes 2 1/2 hrs. When we got to Hot Springs we drove up the mountain!  So beautiful!  We walked through the town and went in lots of unique shops.  Ate lunch at The Ohio Club.  Lots of Presidents and professional ball players have eaten there.  The girl in the store next door told us they hired a burger chef, so we all got various kinds of burgers. I got a mushroom Swiss.  It was the best burger I’ve ever had. Walked through more shops after that, then headed back. The temperature was 82 degrees when we started back.  Came back to our hotel for a few minutes, then went back to Iron Mountain for the Changing of the Colors Service. Amazing worship and message.  Talked to Melissa and texted Vikki when we got back to our hotel.  My nephewMatthew messaged me. He is doing a Bible Study called Rooted.  It asked him about people with hearts for Jesus and he thought about us!  Needed me to answer a question.  He is really seeking God and I am so happy and proud of Him!  I told him so and told him how much I love him!

Tues. 10/20/20, Restaurant we got our food at yesterday was closed. We went through the drive through at McDonald’s. Took a drive into Hatfield, then went to last day of leadership training. We got done at 3 and went and checked in at our new Hotel, The Mountain Top.

                             Bill checking in

Entrance into foyer of hotel 

Our room from front door 

View from back

Dining area

Pool area out our sliding glass doors

Bill at our new motel

We went to get breakfast from the cute restaurant we got it from yesterday.  It is closed today and tomorrow.  We went through the drive through at McDonald’s.  We drove to Hatfield to check it out while we ate.  I always thought Hatfield was a big city, but if you blink you could miss it. We headed 8 miles down the road back to Iron Mountain where our leadership sessions are.  Learned lots and they really stressed following God’s Word always and listening to the Holy Spirit!  I am so amazed at these humble leaders who stress being  in God’s Word, praying, worshipping, and seeking to do His Will because this ministry is All About Jesus!  CMA’s motto is, We’re here if you need us! They have and encourage us to have servants hearts. We got out at three today, checked into our new hotel, then went back to eat our boxed chicken with rice pilaf dinner.  Yum! They have fed us lunch and dinner for free for the past three days!  CMA also paid for our first two days at the motel.  We stopped at Walmart down the road for a couple of things.  You wouldn’t even think this little town of Mena would have a Walmart.  We were going to go have a campfire with some of the other reps from Michigan, but got comfy in our room so relaxed instead.

Monday, 10/19/20, Toured The CMA Support Center!Spent day in leadership training! Lots of great speakers and amazing worship

 

Coffee prices at restaurant in Mena

Bill 

Me

Bill in front of CMA Support building 

Bill

Bill in the soundproof studio where they do all of their video productions

CMA chapters

Chapel

Painting of a vision seen on this wall



Bill with building our meetings were in. It was warm beaup the big garage doors up during the meetings



Me in front of CMA building where leadership meeting was

              Our Evangelists for Michigan, Jay and Jane

Vikki and Kenzie celebrating Vikki’s birthday!

U

Isaac and Travis

Beautiful things Kenzie gave Vikki

Picture of a lion Travis drew and gave to Vikki for her Birthday 

Peyton and Isaac having fun with Kenzie 

Drawing Kenzie made for Vikki 

We had leadership teachings and encouraging updates from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.  So good!  We had breaks where we could shop at the Goodies Store and also 1 hr. For a lunch break.  They had the hot meals all packed in containers for us.  From 3-4 Bill and I took a tour of the CMA Support Building. CMA has never borrowed a penny! God has always been faithful and blessed this great ministry!  So thankful to be part of it! Seeing and hearing all the National leaders has made me even more thankful to be part of it.  Awesome worship at night and another great message from our National Evangelist!  Melissa called, Angie called and I called Vikki! Great day!