Giving Thanks!
The Patriot Quartet has truly been blessed, especially over the past month or so since my last post. We began that period about as low in spirit as you can imagine. We had been looking forward to our trip to Louisiana for some time. However, the week prior to our leaving, while frantically working to get the bus ready to use after it being down nearly all summer, we got some even worse news. Jerry was sick, possibly very sick, and could not make the trip! It seemed the old devil was working overtime to stop us. After much prayer, we decided that if Satan wanted us to stay home so badly, something good was about to happen and we needed to do everything we could to get there. We contacted every backup tenor we could and no one was available. Then the Lord stepped in! He reminded me that my nephew (by marriage) Cal Adams, pastor of the Cherry Ridge Baptist Church in Bastrop, La, could sing tenor. I called and he agreed to try. Folks, with one and a half days to prepare that man sang all weekend with us like a pro! Thank you Lord and thank you Cal for giving your talent and labor to the Lord once again, and for helping us fulfill our obligations so well. We had a great time all weekend. Saturday night we visited with Bro. Jack McKeithen and the nice folks at Clarks Baptist church. After the concert we met Mr. George Grubbs of KGGM radio in Monroe, La, for whose support and assistance we are truly grateful. He informed us, and all those attending, that the concert scheduled for the Riverside Baptist Church on Sunday evening was cancelled due to a death in the Pastors family. However, the Green Acres Baptist church had agreed to host us instead. On Sunday, we sang both morning and afternoon at the Cherry Ridge Baptist church. Cal sang so well those folks were afraid we would try to steal him. We enjoyed delicious lunch and the fellowship and I of course especially enjoyed visiting with my beautiful neice (Cal’s wife) and daughter. That evening we traveled just down the road to the Green Acres Baptist church and had a wonderful time, even with such short notice.
Since that weekend we have been very busy. We’re so grateful Jerry has been able to be back with us. Though he’s not out of the woods by any means, we are encouraged by early tests. Please join us in praying for his return to health. The first weekend in November we spent in North eastern Ky. We had a wonderful time singing for and making friends with Bro. Homer Norman and the folks the Germantown Methodist Church on Saturday night and then visiting once again with our friends at the Tolesboro Methodist Church on Sunday morning. On Veterans day we traveled to Roxana Il, to sing at the Nazarene Community center. The next day we were scheduled to sing at the Abundant Life Assembly of God in Marion, Il. Unfortunely, we had to cancel due to prep for tests Jerry was to take on monday. We very much appreciate those folks for understanding.
This last weekend we were back in Northern Kentucky. We had a wonderful time for our first visit at the Melbourne Methodist Church Sunday morning. It was good to have our good friend and Joe’s cousin Rusty Freis to sit in at piano on a couple of tunes and to make new friends. Sunday night we sang for, and later ate yummy homemade ice cream with our friend Dan Fehler and the folks at the St. Paul Church of Christ. We had a great time with the enthusiastic crowd and made many new friends. We are truly blessed.
We just want to give thanks to God for his faithfulness as we depend on Him. We have truly felt “..the touch of His hand” this month. Our cup runneth ofer!
Thank you Lord!
Until next time…….
Darrell “Goose” Gabhart