Hello my friends!!

 “And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of  Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6

Whenever I read this verse I think of the song:
He's still working on me,
To make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be;
He's still working on me.
            One of the highlights of our western tour was seeing God’s marvelous and magnificent creation.  The creation of the universe is a great work of God.  The Psalmist describes it as a display of His handiwork.  The creation and existence of this universe does not confirm the absence of God, but rather the ability of God.
            There are only about 4000 stars that are visible to the human eye without the help of a telescope.  Astronomers have statistically estimated that there are about 10 million billion billion stars in the known universe.  Many scientists believe that it is the exact same number of the grains of sand in the world.
            If you bore a hole in the sun and somehow put in 1.2 million earths, you would still have room for 4.3 million moons.  Science tells us that light travels at the incredible speed of a little over 186,000 miles per second.  Traveling at this stupendous speed, it takes light 4,112 years to go from earth to the nearest star.  To cross our galaxy would take 1,000 years traveling at the speed of light.  Our nearest galactic neighbor is the Andromeda Galaxy, and, traveling at the speed of light, it would take us 2 million years to reach it.  These scientific facts are a testimony to the glory of God and the display of His handiwork.
            Yet, the work that God takes the greatest pride in is not His work in creation, but His work in the Christian.  The work that He does in His sons surpasses that which is done in the stars.  The work that He does in His people exceeds that which is done in the planets.  He continues to do a work in my life and we share God’s handiwork in our personal day to day life with others by being transparent.  I see our churches full of people that are reveling in God’s creation but are not allowing God’s handiwork to be seen.  The world looking in thinks they can never reach the standard that they desire because God’s children (the Church) aren't letting others see God’s handiwork take place in us.
            Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy as You continue sanctifying me from my pride and self-centeredness, and help me/us (the Church) to be transparent, so the world can see the simplicity of the Gospel and the magnificence of your handiwork.

            Thanks to all who so faithfully keep us at the throne room of heaven, for your phone calls, letters and finances. Thank you for partnering up with us in the work of our Redeemer!!

Ron

Greetings again to all of you! 
            Well summer is almost over which is not a bad thing.  I’m ready for cooler weather.  We were out west most of the summer and we got into some really hot places. 
            We just got back August 20 from our six week western tour.  It was a very great tour but I must say it’s mighty awesome to be home again.  My prayer for us for this past tour was that doors would open where we would be able to minister to people more one on one and that’s exactly what happened.  It was so neat to see how God answered that prayer.
            We did some sight-seeing along the way.  While we were in CA we went through the Redwoods and found a place alongside the road and walked through a trail.  We also played hide and seek.  The kids absolutely loved it there.  Then we also went on up to the coast, which was absolutely gorgeous.  The kids loved climbing the rocks and Roxie decided to get dressed up and take her 13 year old pictures out by the rocks.  Well we got a few shots while she was dry but she wanted to go down a little farther, closer to the water.  All of a sudden a wave came crashing over the rocks and she got soaked.  ☺ I actually captured the moment on video camera as well.  That makes good memories. ☺
            We got to spend time with great friends along the way too.  We were at LaVon & Kara’s out in Colorado.  Thanx guys.  We had a wonderful time with you all.  Kara, it was so good catching up with you again.  It’s so awesome to have friends that you can pick up where you left off, whether it’s a month or a year ago.  We  also were with Brian & Rose in MO.  We had a great time there too. 
            Lynn & Sandra from Kansas came to surprise us in Oklahoma City.  Wow!  What a nice surprise for me.  The weather didn’t permit us to do anything outdoors so they got us a motel with an indoor pool.  That was really nice since it gave the kids something to do while Lynn’s and us chatted.  Thanx a million Lynn & Sandra.  It was great seeing ya’ll again.
            Well now we’re home and it’s been a very busy week for me.  I wanted to do some canning before things are out of season.  I canned some tomato juice and made some ketchup.  I also made some cucumber relish and 4 batches of peach jam.  So now I think I’m set till it’s time to do applesauce.
            Ron left today on his cycle to got to Gatlinburg with some of the men.  They all get on their cycles and go for the weekend.  Next weekend plans are to go camping with 2 of our best friends from our home church.  We always look forward to that and we have lots of fun!  Our campsites are right by a lake so we take our boat and the guys go skiing and the kids go tubing.
            School started this past Wednesday.  The kids were so excited about going back to school.  Ranessa was kinda scared but the others were ready to go back.  I think it was just her nerves cause she seems to be fine now.
            The boys are playing football this year.  They come home all wore our and sore with black and blue marks.  It’s really good for them.  They get a work-out like never before.
            Tonight they’re having friends over to hang out with and also spend the night.  Roxie is at a friends house for a birthday party.  They sure do miss their friends when we’re gone so long.  So we try to make so they can get together.
            Well as you all can see our life doesn’t slow down very much when we’re home.  But I won’t complain cause it’s just so good to be able to be in my own house, cook our own food, wash our clothes without going to a Laundromat and all that good stuff.
            Well folks I best bring this to a close!  Hope you all had a wonderful summer.

God bless you all.

Rhonda for the Yoders