"Ahoy"
Good morning reader,
I wanted to take a few moments and expound on some things that have been happening and will be happening.
1) As you all know we finished our preaching ministry at Pleasant Valley in April. I am pleased to announce they now have a new Pastor there and I am thrilled to how the Lord will be working moving forward among that church body.
2) Our airplane has been serving Maine well recently. We got the avionics certifications done about a month ago, and that little airplane has been flying ever since. We have flown to N.H., Presque Ilse to conduct a maintenance seminar with a new flying club there and various intro flights with new friends. This week at hangar Bible night we started the Annual inspection in preparations for camps season.
3) Our family has been on the go for the last few months since COVID-19 restrictions have lifted. Recently my grandfather went to be with the Lord and I had the privilege of presenting his life story to 150 plus people. This brought great joy to our family.
4) THe Lord is surely creating a Preaching ministry for us, and I have mixed emotions to tell you that we will not be in our home church until August. Various churches in Maine are experiencing Pastors who need time off with their families, support, and encouragement. I am thrilled to be able to support these Pastors by stepping into their pulpits.
5) Baptist Park flight camp is still on and has had 7 campers register. There are five more open slots. On July 4th, Bennett and I will head north and be there all week. Our camp in August will be on the 13th and 14th. 7 have also registered for that. We have decided to open registration to Middle School aged kids this year.
6) My classes are going well, although have increased in intensity and complexity, as they should. 4 months remain in my bachelor’s program and I am humbled for the opportunity over the last three years to have the ability to study God’s Word in a deeper way.
Thank you for your continued prayer support. As a family, we are excited for what the Lord has in store at every front. Blessings to you all.
Below is my grandfather’s eulogy I wrote:
Oh, the memories and stories I could share with all if time allowed. This man was one of my heroes from an early start. William Woodbury Johnson was an extraordinary grandfather. A defender of the flag, and true man. He was a man, as described by George Jones, that believed that what his woman couldn’t do couldn’t simply be done. He was a man that believed in the people he had relationships with.
From an early age, I can credit him for being a man who desired to "show" his grandchildren what life is. From the special weekend trips to places like the submarine museum, storyland, various Maine islands, the North Conway scenic railroad, to all the moments we hung out at his house while enjoying bubbles, ham radio, internet research, the African Queen, to enjoying windmill cookies with our coffee. Not a memory has slipped.
Bri and I ended up naming our firstborn after my grandfather and his father using the name "Bennett Woodbury".
My Grandfather was raised on the coast of Maine and spent a lot of his time on a lobster boat. He served in the U.S. Navy as a radioman on three different destroyers: USS Mitcher (DL-2), USS Parle (DE-708), and the USS Joseph K. Taussig. He had done a lot of research regarding his family tree, bringing his ties back to the folks who started Bates college and dwelt in the Harpswell, Maine region. He loved the Lord and had a personal interactive relationship with Him. He served at First Baptist Church in Portland, Maine, where he invested eternally into lives who were a part of the church, or even his neighborhood. Eventually, He helped plant the Windham Baptist Church, where he primarily installed all the electrical during the building project.
He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing. On May 26th, while on Sebago Lake with my family I couldn't help but recount the memories with my grandfather on the water on that very same lake, all through my childhood and through college. Fish, swim, cruise, and fish some more. He was totally content to watch the kids fish and enjoy "Papa's boat". He was one of my biggest fans of his grandchildren from day one, from the time he sold me his old Ford truck, to the late Friday nights where he was helping me prepare for my A&P practical and oral exams with the FAA.
During snowstorms, we would jump on the amateur radio and talk a while about whatever came to our minds. You could hear his call sign loud and clear on my end "W1BLT, calling KB1RHM". I had a grandfather who loved calling his family. “Ahoy” he would say, right before he rang his bell just outside his garage door. Just a few weekends ago, we got to fish the Lake Trout Shootout side by side at times. He loved to be on Sebago Lake, even when the fish weren’t simply picking up what he was laying down. At times he could be found anchored off the shores of St. Josephs College, where a live webcam was, just so he could wave to his wife mid-day. The memories are endless.
That Wednesday afternoon was a little shocking, but oh the day in heaven he must be having each day! After hearing the news, I happened to be watching my oldest child Bennett Woodbury, fish off the front of the boat while in the Songo River, a favorite fishing spot of my grandfather. I had the urge to rush off the lake, but why? What would I do?
All that came to mind was the common phrase Papa would use as our fishing trip was nearing its close, "Fish a little longer kids”.
Papa, your love, support, and care are three things I'll never forget. If I can be half the man you taught me to be through your everyday living, I will consider it a success. So today and forward, as you see a boat cruise by, or a train rush along, or even happen to catch one of those hideous ham radio antennas on a house, we are able to always remember the legacy he shared with us.
The last image I have of you was last Saturday while fishing. We were trolling side by side, and then you gave me your typical salute and smile and drifted off to the right as we departed for the day. This is not goodbye, but "see you later".
W1BLT, Last call
73,
KB1RHM