August 24, 2009

Congratulations to Brady and Michelle Plummer on the birth of their son, Leyton Tyler, on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at 3:15 PM at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee. Leyton weighed 7 lbs and measured 21 inches. He is the brother of Kennedy Plummer; grandson of Howard and Anna Plummer; nephew of Kelly Plummer; great-grandson of Sue and Darvin Dobbins; great-nephew of Bobby and Rondy Smith; cousin of Daniel and Kyle Smith. He has lots of dark hair and Brady says he looks like Michelle.

I think he looks like Brady. Whoever he looks like, he is slim like Michelle. We thank the Lord for a healthy baby and a safe delivery.

Building One Senior High Students enjoyed a Lock-In last Saturday night which included ice skating at the Centennial Sportsplex. Chaperones included Tammy Jones, Ed Mahoney, Holly Steinmetz, Barry Whitehead, Jill Satterlee, Traci Haydel, Gina Winfree, Daniel Smith, Jake Resor, Hayley Hill, Jim Waters, and Pastor Shane Tarter. B1 Students included Grant McCoy, Reed McCoy, Robby Amity, Justin Jones, Philip Calkins, Caitlyn Richardson, Nathan Curtis, Nathan Elder, Ben Griffith, Cassie Hunt, Sophie Green, Kristi Fite, Alex Hamer, Anna-Laura Green, Jeffrey Morris, Jonathan Mowry, Eric Owens, Allie Lynn, Hayley Fee, Toby Haydel, Whitney Gonyea, Ben Mabry, Ashley Crues, Sarah Vaden, Claire Burgett, Max Andrade, Bret Washing, Scott Primm, Parker Flatt, Matt Bastin, Morgan Harold, Josh Cater, Dalton Winfree, Justin Angle, Austin Kippes, Hunter Batty, Robert Luther, Brandon Shepard, Kyle Smith, Daniel Jones, Hunter Steinmetz. Jonathan Mowry cut his leg with his own skate and did not know he was bleeding until someone pointed it out to him. He went to the emergency room; got it stitched up; returned to the church for the rest of the evening; and did not miss an activity on Sunday.

HCN Men enjoyed a golf outing at the Windtree Golf Course in Mt. Juliet on Saturday. The thirty-eight men allowed one woman, Traci Haydel, to play. Kendell Poole organized the event for fellowship and worked to keep teams as fair as possible.

The first place team was Bill Sharpe, Kevin Brennan, and Joel Thimell. The second place team was John Jordan, Kenny McNeese, Bobby Smith, and Wayne McNeese. The third place team was Roger King, Mike Miranne, John Mannen, and David Shepard. Hugo Rios was closest to the pin and Eric Bodoin had the long drive. The rest of the golfers included Troy Haydel, Taylor Haydel, Jeff Bryant, Scott Perkins, Rusty Waffird, Jerrod Waffird, Cole Ebel, Richard Hysell, Scott Moore, Phil Jordan, Dan Preston, Sam Green, Mark Washing, Tom Stephens, Rick Brown, Marvin Heath, Gregg Trotter, Landon Trotter, Bobby Davis, Ole Blomberg, Trey Miles, Rob Miles, Randy Layne, and Art Kurtz.

In June of 2008, twenty-two people from HCN traveled to Africa to live for two weeks in a village located four hours by bus from Nairobi, Kenya. Like most of you, we only knew stories of Africa and tried to imagine what life would be like. We met some of the poorest, most wonderful people we have ever known. We met people who have nothing who would give to us the best they possessed. They were kind. They were happy. They were smart. They stole our hearts. Our work included building the first unit of an orphanage while we socialized with the entire community. When the day came to apply for a place in the orphanage, 299 children were registered for the 50 beds. Even as I write this letter, there is only enough funding for 25 children.

Ten of our twenty-two people were teens. Three were going into their freshman year in high school. Three were going into their freshman year in college. All were profoundly affected by the encounter. One young man took his shoes off and gave them to a man with whom he had worked side-by-side to carry sand, break rock, build a wall. Although the journey to Africa was difficult, these young people never complained and generally made the trip full of joy.

Five of the young people were able to go on the trip because people in HCN gave anonymously to sponsor someone. Rondy Smith, Chuck Seay, and I worked to identify the kids who expressed a desire to go from the beginning of planning and attempted to discern who could process the trip and profit from the trip.

I tell you all of that because a return trip to the same village to build another unit of the orphanage and maybe a water system for the area is scheduled for June 11-26, 2010. Again, we would like to include as many teens as possible. Our goal is not only to change lives in Africa but to change lives in the youth of HCN. Would you like to help? I am the beggar. The total cost of the trip in 2010 could approach $5,000. It may be that you would like to contribute $5,000. It may be that you could pay $2,500. It may be that you could pay $500. It was a combination of all of those that enabled us to pay the way for five young people the last trip. If you would communicate with me regarding your interest, we could begin to recruit young people who would like to be a part of this trip but could never do so because of the expense. I realize it is brazen to ask for those sums of money in the midst of the economic crises of our time. However, I believe there are resources which are available for this mission which would not be made available for another. Talk to me; email me if you would like to help.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard