November 2015

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

November 21, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Introducing Medair

http://relief.medair.org/en/

A while ago, I was asked to help introduce a local (Gilroy / San Jose, CA) start-up ministry, MEDAIR. I knew nothing of them. A young MEDAIR couple, newly arrived in America, were setting up a local office. They were given a year to accomplish their task.

I met Daniel and Ellen Xu and invited them to join us for Sunday worship and lunch in our home church. Fran and I were impressed. My inclination was to jump right in, but my reason reminded me of the pitfalls of indorsing a ministry without due diligence. I began contacting active missionary friends for confirmation in the field.

Early responses were like my own – no knowledge. Yet, the MEDAIR website was extensive and appeared valid. Finally, hearty confirmation came in.

YWAM, with which our family have been affiliated in 37 nations around the world, was involved in the founding of MEDAIR in the ‘80’s. MEDAIR partners with governments around the world in crisis response ministries. MEDAIR holds an ISO certificate which gives them the highest accountability and transparency in the NGO (non-governmental organization) field. They work in the riskiest places in the world!

With that – Fran and I enthusiastically endorse the ministry and our new friends’ efforts stateside. We encourage each of you to contact Daniel and Ellen Xu, welcome them to America, offer prayer – and any support and contacts you can. – Please do this!

Daniel Xu, MEDAIR

97 S Second St,

San Jose, CA 95113

(408) 960-3540

Daniel.Xu@medair.org

Daniel and Ellen are newly-weds on a fulltime faith ministry. Imagine yourself assigned to set up a ministry office in a new country, Ellen is British, Daniel is first generation American. They met in Switzerland. They are enthusiastic and (obviously!) dedicated. Then imagine the encouragement of offered prayer and welcome from around their new nation.

In Christ’s love and service

Ben & Fran Gilmore

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

November 2, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

This and that

Any alum of the online course, “Principles of American Government” (PAG) is welcome to attend the monthly post-graduate classes (no charge). You need only tell me to add you to the call list. The next class is scheduled 1330 H, Sunday, November 22nd.

The next online PAG course is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan 6th. Please contact me to enroll.

Thanksgiving family dinner – Fran likes to place a seashell with 5 grains of corn at each place to represent the Pilgrims’ daily ration during that bleak 2nd winter. Have someone read aloud the following poem. (Copy and paste it) – –

Pilgrim Fathers

By Larry Wagner November 1984

The second harvest gathered since they crossed Atlantic waters,

A feast of thankfulness was set by grateful Pilgrim Fathers:

So great the providence of God, so blest with fruit their labors,

So sweet the bond among their band, such peace with Indian neighbors.

But most among the feasting crowd could count harsh years of toil.

Of wand’ring for their faith in God, of want on alien soil,

Of flagging hopes and faith, bad health, of chills that hell could send.

Of half their number that had died before first winter’s end.

Of hunger pangs that second year in their New Plymouth home,

Of weeks when all they ate a day was five small grains of corn.

A few remembered treasures lost, titles cast aside,

But all could measure conscience cost in tears and trampled pride.

Oh, at this feast could they foresee their blessed future years?

That nevermore would they now want, nor run from any fears!

Then after prayers of gratitude, before the feast was set,

Each plate was served five grains of corn, lest anyone forget!

A noble band in hardship born, rejected by their own,

A rock flung o’re the ocean, they were laid a corner stone.

By them God stamped His pattern for a nation on the land,

And seeds for freedom under God were planted by their hand.

Oh, pray their heirs would ever know how dear was freedom’s cost,

And know to hold their faith and freedom dear, or see them lost,

And praise the Providence that brought those Pilgrims to this shore,

And eat the grains of memory, or pay the price once more.

For many generations now, Americans have been slowly separated from their heritage. At the same time American history has been revised and rewritten to distort the truth that we might believe lies. I plan to write a column about that soon.

In the mean time – Why not block out time for you and your family to attend the online course, “Principles of American Government” (PAG) that next begins January 6th.