THANKSGIVING was with family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Grandson CJ, Son Tim, Great grandpa David and Shepherd Emet Kealy

Several months ago while planning the trip to serve with partner ministry Mercy Indonesia I asked Pastor Paulus if he could use a DRONE camera. He said yes so we bought one for him. We got it registered and approved for use in Indonesia and I learner how to use it. My friends here thought they would see it again after our return. I assured them it was going as a gift for them and it would stay in Indonesia.

Look closely in the center of the picture and see the DRONE camera at work recording the kids at the first ever school at Poguwatu Village we support. Notice the blue water tank in the background. We were there to dedicate the tank that stores water collected from rain runoff from the roof of the school building.

Five years ago we pledged to help the Poguwatu Leprosy Village and it was time to visit, hug the kids, provide them with a snack, visit their school, and dedicate the water collection tank that collects rain water from roof run off. They do not need to walk the 5 kilometers to carry water back to the village now. Here in the first ever school we enjoyed the 31 kids who in turn enjoyed the soccer bal and pump we gave them. They had fun getting a "Jesus Loves You" stickers on their faces.

In these post COVID-19 days we are able to respond to invitations to minister with our partner ministries. We are scheduled to see and meet children, students, widows, pastors, radio station and Mercy Indonesia Foundation leaders. David and Sharon Kealy are able to not only transfer money to the ministries we support but on this occasion we will take money for fresh water projects that has been provided by children this summer at Daily Vacation Bible Schools at churches in Southern California. We look forward to dedicate projects we have helped and to get photos of the children to share with the children at local churches.

Prayer points include travel safety, good health, safe activities in country, wisdom and successful presentations that are scheduled.

In December 2022 and June this year fundraising was successful at two supporting churches to our ministry to provide fresh water to needy villages in Indonesia. This summer we were invited to go and dedicate projects you have supported. Fresh water wells and systems, remake of simple church structures, a children's school, and support for orphanages all operated by Mercy Indonesia Foundation.

​A Radio NewService I designed some 20 years ago will be implemented at the stations to share information in the diverse network of stations on many islands across Indonesia.

As we celebrated our 60th Wedding Anniversary we thought of the pastor who married us,  Rev Wayne Frase that we had not seen in many, many years. And we wondered how old he was when he started the church in Rialto, CA and later we met and married in June 1963,

A dear friend Ron Wood and wife Judy share the same June 21st wedding date with us and he sends a wonderful card each year.

Sons Timothy and Dwight treated us to a golf outing on June 21st at Torrey Pines in San Diego CA, so we enjoyed the week in the Gas Lamp District reflecting memories of great times there.

We enjoyed a bit of chocolate and a round of golf.

Pastor Wayne Frase and wife Jackie live in Portland and a perfect time to visit them was on the way to celebrate brother Paul Edward Kealy's 82nd Birthday in nearby Battle Ground, WA held on July 8th.

It was a great time to share stories of our High School years when we were close to him and his young family.

We traveled to Battle Mound WA to celebrate brother, Paul’s birthday.
We enjoyed the extended family living with daughter Becky and husband Kevin McVicker.​ We really enjoyed time at their 5 acres on a river and hearing all about their jebale coffee connection with Uganda.

Notice the tribute tee shirt to LA Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully.

Lorene, Paul and Becky, Sharon, David and Kevin

September 2023

One of our supporting churches, La Canada Presbyterian Church, invited us to share for a week at the DVBS in June. We shared with children ages K - 6 the need for fresh water at Poguwatu Village and orphanages in Indonesia. In their Offering Project they stepped up and gave an amazing $2,400.00. An anonymous donor offered to match it and we will be delivering the money in September this year.

Yes, we have been invited to dedicate numerous projects we support with Mercy Indonesia. Founder Paulus and wife Marliesye Wiratno will take us to Sumba Island to have a meal with their orphanage and make a visit to Poguwatu Village, the Leprosy Village we support. Yes we will walk the final three miles past the end of the road to the village.

​Personally rewarding to David is the implementation of the NewService he designed some 20 years ago that will connect the 51 radio stations in their network in Indonesia. Pastor Paulus has a full schedule for us and we are open to any opportunities he has for us to encourage their staff, pastors and students at their Bible School.

Rev. Paulus, Marliesye, David and Sharon on the way to church in February this year when we hosted him at LifePoint Church.

Over the past couple of decades artificial intelligence, known as AI has developed as an important communications and research tool. I am using an AI chat for research. Here is one from this week. I asked my chatGPT “What is the Grace of Christ”. The immediate reply follows:
​“The grace of Christ, or the grace of Jesus Christ, is a term used in Christianity to refer to the unmerited favor and love that Jesus expressed towards humanity. It is closely related to the grace of God, as it is the manifestation of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Christians believe that through His death and resurrection, Jesus provides salvation for all humanity, and that this gift of grace is given freely and without any merit or deserving on our part. In that sense, the grace of Christ is an essential part of Christian theology representing the unlimited expression of God’s love and mercy towards us.”

This close to what I believe. This Grace of Jesus Christ I claim. I claim it because He offers it and I accept it. He really does not, "provide it to all humanity". It is our choice to accept or reject His offer. Because of this grace I live a life at peace and full of JOY! Peace because I know my eternal position in Jesus Christ. 
​
We need something to be joyful about these days. Something I am happy about is that I am part of what is termed the Silent Generation. I am happy because I identify with the shared characteristics of the Silent Generation. Here is a snapshot of the generations 1880 to 2030.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY The Great Depression encouraged self-reliance.

1. RESILIENCE This was the result of challenges they faced during the Depression and WW II.
2. HUMILITY The scarcity experienced by many during the difficult times fostered a sense of modesty and humility. Little was taken for granted.
3. WORK ETHIC Folks had to figure out how to survive through hard work, doing jobs that often were physically demanding with long hours.
4. FRUGALITY For many, this was a time of shortages and financial struggles. A motto at that time was, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
5. COMMITMENT Silents had a lifetime approach to marriage and one’s job. A position with IBM was a job for life.
6. INTEGRITY They had to rely on one another, so values of honesty and trustworthiness were important.
7. SELF-SACRIFICE Millions made personal sacrifices to defend their country or were engaged in other at-home efforts to support the war.
8. LOYALTY They were loyal to their careers and beliefs, relationships and families; they value stability and being dependable.
9. DETERMINATION Their survival required grit, strength and determination as they sought economic security and comfort.
10. RESPECT Silents have a deep respect for authority in the workplace as well as for professionals such as doctors.

By Columnist Helen Dennis May 21, 2023
Assembled by David Marshall Kealy May 2023

Do you feel the characteristics of your generation will be better or worse than the Silent Generation? If so, in what ways?

Do you think AI will be beneficial for a better world or not?

Let me know what you think.
David Marshall Kealy

Our friend Thomas Fulghum requested my architectural design skills on a number of occasions starting in 1988 while we were serving in Quito, Ecuador, South America. Designing a guest house and connecting it to an existing house was a fun experience working with new coworkers at HCJB World Radio. Another assignment was designing a complete remodel of their conference center on the main campus.

Friends from the late 1980's connected in Sierra Vista Arizona many years later and enjoyed yet another project to share the name of Jesus via local radio . . . . . . . to God be the glory.

When Christy was just five years old, Pastor Stefan Huviar, a beloved Nestorian evangelical pastor who labored alongside Christy’s father in Tabriz, asked Christy what he wanted to do when he grew up. Christy had frequently heard his parents praying for Afghanistan, an unreached country to the east. He knew that this country, approximately the size of Texas, didn’t have even one Christian.

Years later while pastoring the Only Church in Afghanistan while Christy taught English to Afghans, they in turn taught him some of their treasured proverbs. One of them was Du tarbuz da yak dest gerefta na mesha. An English translation might read, “Two watermelons can’t be held in one hand,” meaning that if you have too many preoccupations, you will succeed at none of them. Christy experienced this pearl of wisdom firsthand as he sought to balance his teaching assignment and additional pastoral roles.

Why do I share this from the C.S. Lewis Institute by Ken Wilson you ask?
I met J. Christy Wilson in Afghanistan near the end of his life and thoroughly enjoy the "One Hundred Afghan Persian Proverbs" he collected, edited over the years and published.
It points to the difficulty in what every international missionary faces, understanding each other when in a foreign country.

Another example for this month might help you understand. Here is the Persian term, "One swallow doesn't make a spring". The usage is: "Said of a person who tries to do too much himself." An easier one to understand is; "If you sit with us, you will get like us; if you sit beside a cooking pot you will get black." Meaning: "You reflect the company you keep."

Philippians 4:4 is perhaps the first Bible verse I ever memorized as a child because I wanted to, not because I was encouraged to learn a particular verse or Bible passage.

I learned it from the King James translation of the Bible because that was the Bible I used during the days of my youth: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (KJV)

The verse did serve as a guide for me; how I was to live. It was a verse consistent with the instruction, the encouragement of my maternal grandmother, Hettie Archer. She did not like it if I pouted. She wanted me to be happy, and told me so. She would be happy today because of her influence to me. “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it”  Proverbs 22:6 (NASB).

In closing let me direct you to Pauls letter to the church at Philippi chapter 4:4-9. It is rich; full of encouragement that guides us in how to live a Joyful life.