And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. . . . You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:8, 11-12)
Greetings to our families, friends, and followers:
Praises – July RV site found and deposit made; great spiritual teaching and fellowship.
Prayers – Completion of projects for family; health and rest for care-givers; God’s direction for SOWER October and winter project locations; financial provision as we pay for our parking spots the next few months; music ministry opportunities.
The month of May was quite a whirlwind! We started in Carlinville, IL about an hour south of Springfield where we renewed friendships with the staff at Lake Williamson Christian Camp and friends at Memorial Christian Church. We had some cool nights, more rain, wind, thunderstorms, hot and humid days and a few of those “just right” days for bike rides around the lake. As usual, the spring flowers continue blooming with iris, tulip trees, and phlox, along with the resident geese with chicks at various stages of growth. Before leaving we had a tour of the “Brotherhood Center” which John worked on during a very hot July in 2017.
John worked independently half the time and with other maintenance employees the rest. He installed ladders on 76 bunk beds, mattresses on 103 bunks, deep cleaned 16 bathrooms, helped build a huge new dock, and completed a smaller floating dock with high life guard chair at the beach area.
Connie was quite happy to be helping in the kitchen doing preparation for the next days meals. Food needs to be “panned” up, meat needs to be sliced and put up in pans, and put in the walk-in cooler for the next day. This time there was also a need for door “clickers” who serve a dual purpose of greeting the guests as well as keeping a count so the kitchen can keep the buffet lines running smoothly; John also helped one evening with this. There were also many cones and dishes of ice cream served as well as a morning of waffle making to keep things moving so the line wouldn’t get too long, and Connie also volunteered for four half-days in the laundry, folding towels and sheets. On returning from a quick 3-day trip to Beloit (5 hour drive each way) for legal affairs she found John well taken care of and another ministry musician friend visiting us for the weekend. Connie ended up being a very busy girl this month!
Saturday, May 18, we were packed up, on the road again, and headed a couple of hours north to our “home church camp” west of Clinton, IL. We missed one of the first turns needed on the back roads to the highway and had a moment of panic as we crossed a one-lane board plank bridge! With the wind at our back we had our best gas mileage pulling the trailer so far, and finally saw some fields being planted. The blowing long grass as we neared overpasses on the interstate was beautiful to see. Due to our schedule we were not able to help out as much at Little Galilee Christian Camp but John did have some time to fix some stone/wood benches, grill pork chops for Family Camp, and repair/install a few storm doors.
We were blessed by the love gifts we received from our time of sharing with a few songs and some photos of where we’ve served over the last year. Our mini-presentation worked well at both Carlinville and Lane churches. At Little Galilee camp in Clinton we were invited to join some other RV volunteers (VMM’s – Volunteer Mobile Missionaries) who were already there for morning devotion time. We provided some special music for their devotion time as well as having a fun evening of fellowship (ice cream!) and a concert for the volunteers who were ending their service time here. It is always wonderful to meet other generous and like-minded RVer’s in service for Christ, some we worked with before, and some are now new friends.
Part of our activity during the last two weeks of May was holding two Memorial Services for Connie’s dad Curt, one at Lane Church and one in Beloit, Wisconsin. We are thankful for those who attended and the memories shared by friends and family during these services. We were also blessed in spending four days in Wisconsin that included two times of gathering with all of our 4 children, spouses, some of the grandchildren and our daughter’s boyfriend who just returned from service in the middle east.
Again this month, you never know what you will see as you travel. Headed “home” from Wisconsin, right around the WI/IL border there were two Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobiles followed about 15 minutes later by a Planter’s Peanut-mobile headed north. We were not quick enough to get some pictures, you’ll just have to take our word.
We had many more days of high winds and rocking trailer life, including our first evacuation to a safe location (12:15-1:00 am) with a tornado warning and rotating winds headed for us! We were able to attend Family Camp 1 over the Memorial Day weekend, the opening of the camp season, and hear some wonderful speakers; Mark and Jill Savage “No More Perfect Marriages” which pertains to all relationships, and “Code Blue” on our corporate and personal spiritual condition.
With all the travel and busy-ness of the month we are left a bit tired and worn down. Having great churches to attend has helped keep us spiritually uplifted along with seeing many of our friends from this area. Thank you all for your prayers and donations as we travel along . . .
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:13-15)
Thanks for traveling with us!
John and Connie Nicholas, Salty Strings Music Ministry
Contact Information: Phone – John 909-336-8910 or Connie 909-336-8912
Email – SaltyStrings@hotmail.com
Facebook – Salty Strings Music Ministry
Web site: SaltyStrings.com
ONLINE DONATIONS via PayPal through our web site
MAIL ADDRESS:
John & Connie Nicholas ~ Salty Strings Music Ministry,
255 N Sperry St, Bushnell, IL 61422
TRAVEL PLANS AND UPCOMING LOCATIONS
- June 1-30 – Bushnell Illinois with family (Kiljordan Meadows, Macomb, IL)
- July 1-31 – Beloit Wisconsin area with family (Sugar Shores, Shirland, IL)
- August 1-September 15 – Tentative – Little Galilee, Clinton, IL
- September 16-18 – Lake Beauty Covenant Bible Camp – SOWER Reunion concert and devotion music (Long Prairie, MN)
- Stop over in South Dakota for address change
- September 27-October 24 – SOWER project – Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas?
Salty Strings Music Ministry 