Monday, August 31, 2009

Stan







It’s been a year......
Stan was my Cousin, my Brother in Christ, and my friend. Stan and I go way back.... to the beginning. Stan and I were both born in 1952 and we both were drawn together because of the close family that we were blessed with. Stan told me that his earliest memories of me were at Aunt Alma’s on the porch. He said that I liked getting out in front of everyone to dance and act crazy. Stan said that I grabbed his arm and pulled him out to dance and act crazy in front of the family. My first memories of Stan is of us playing in Aunt Alma’s back yard. I can’t explain it, but I always felt that Stan and I were connected somehow. In our preteens we did things together, but always with the family. I remember a trip to Kentucky were we would walk around the farm and talk and talk. Then there was the gap of many years where I really don’t remember having much contact with Stan. Then one day Stan and Debbie walked into our White Hen Pantry on Sangamon. They just stopped by to say hi and tell us that they were heading to Language school so that they could be missionaries. That was beginning of a 20+ year relationship with Stan and Debbie. Over the years we saw their ministries touch thousands of people. Vicky and I always told Stan and Debbie that we were so grateful that they let us be part of something so wonderful and special. I am not one to talk on the phone, so Stan and my conversations were usually in the minutes not hours, but we both knew what the other was thinking. Our goal was to make sure that Stan and Debbie knew that they could count on us. We wanted to be consistent. I could go on and on, but I wanted to write about things I leaned about Stan.
God comes first.
The mission in the early years was based on establishing churches and training national Pastors in the work.
The mission in the later years was based on establishing a church and training nationals in the work.
Stan and Debbie were a team. He told me several times that he could not have done it without her.
The most important thing about supporting the mission was being consistent.
We (all that supported them) were directly involved in the work of bringing the lost to Christ.
Sometimes it makes more sense to send money than bring a large group down to do work.
He still liked Mel-O-Creme Donuts.
His heart was in Preaching the Word. Stan was very good at teaching God’s Word.
His heart was with the Mexican people. He truly loved them.
He was amazed at the number and generosity of the people that support their mission.
If you don’t have to, don’t go out after dark if you don’t speak Spanish.
Mexican’s are warm and friendly people.
American health care is to expensive.
Mexican health care is good. Stan trusted the Mexican health care.
Don’t take good cars across into Mexico unless you have someone that speaks Spanish with you.
Mexico was the most import United States allies. Good relationships with Mexico was important to our security. More US companies needed to build factories in Mexico.
Stan was a conservative. He believed in traditional values.
He always wanted to live in Mexico.
He was very proud that Mexico was sending out missionaries to other countries.
Sometimes he put his life on the line, but he felt that God was always in control.
Stan was a deep thinker, you could tell from watching Stan that he took it all in and then spoke.
The last couple of times that I spoke with Stan
Stan told me that he was very proud of his kids.
Stan told me that the time he got to spend with the kids was very special, a blessing from God.
Stan told me that the time he got to spend with his sisters was very special.
Stan told me that he was not afraid to die, he was afraid that he would let people down, not being able to finish the work..
Stan told me that God was in control.
Stan told me that Mexico was his home and that is where he always wanted to be.
Stan was concerned about his loved ones salvation. If you read this and have not accepted Jesus as you savor, please take time to ask him into your heart. That was Stan's number one mission.
Stan told me that he loved me... that was special to me.
.
Stan’s mission continues and is growing. Stan said that he would continue his mission in Mexico until the day he died, and he did. Generations of Mexicans will talk about Stan Hopwood and how his and Debbie’s mission lead their loved ones to Christ.








Friday, August 28, 2009

Monday, August 24, 2009

Question - Mom and Daddy

Question

What Company did both Mom and Daddy work For?????

Answer: AT&T

.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Don’t Ever Count on an Inheritance


Uncle Ralf owned a farm on the land where the Kincaid power plant was built and where some of lake Sangchris is. I don’t know how big Uncle Ralf’s farm was, but I now that it was very large operation. Well, Uncle Ralf became a millionaire over night when he sold all that land so that the power plant and lake could be built. The deal included that he could keep the acre that his farm house set on and they would maintain the road that went to his house. Well, Uncle Ralf and Aunt Dot bought a big old Cadillac and started traveling throughout the United States and Canada.

Several years later Uncle Ralf and Aunt Dot stopped by to see mom and Dad. I remember Uncle Ralf talking to Daddy about them wanted him and mom to travel with them. Uncle Ralf told daddy that if he retired and if mom and he would start traveling with them that he would sign all the money over to him. They were lonely.

Daddy said that it was a hard decision, but he told Uncle Ralf no. Daddy said that he couldn’t leave his family and grand kids for long periods of time.

Uncle Ralf then told daddy if he died first that all the money would go to Aunt Dot’s side of the family. If Aunt Dot died first then all the money would go to daddy.

After Uncle Ralf and Aunt Dot left, daddy told me don’t ever count on an Inheritance. Anything could happen to the money.

Uncle Ralf was like a father to daddy. They were very close.

Years later Aunt Dot died. Later Uncle Ralf married a woman and all the money went to her.

So, daddy was right, “Don’t Ever Count on an Inheritance.”

Was it the right decision, I think so. Mom and daddy would have been gone months at a time. I think it would have been harder on mom than daddy.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

No Job for you

After high school Daddy work on farms and for the railroad. But for some reason he found himself out of work. He went to his dad and asked him to help him get a job. Grandpa Cox was the one that placed people on state jobs like working road crews. I think that daddy said that Grandpa was Precinct Committeeman for Sangamon County. Well the answer was NO! Daddy told me that he never knew why Grandpa would not help him, he just said no, get your own job. I know that this hurt my dad very deeply. Well daddy started walking to Springfield from Auburn every day looking for a job. He said that sometimes he would get a ride, but many times he walked all the way... Well he finally got a job at St. Johns hospital. Daddy would sterilize the equipment and make up the surgical packages each day. He said that he really enjoyed this job. Daddy worked at Saint John's Hospital for three years.. He left there when he enlisted into the ARMY the day after Pearl Harbor.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

They Fed The Hungry

Daddy said that during the depression times were hard, but they always had food, but many in Auburn did not. The one story I remember is that Grandpa Cox (Bill) would take daddy out and they would kill lots and lots of rabbits. Daddy said that they would have many gunny sacks full of rabbits. Grandpa and daddy would then go house to house and grandpa would give each house the number of rabbits that it would take to feed the family for a few days. Daddy said that grandpa would also give them enough lard to fry the rabbits. Daddy said that the lard was very important as most people did not have access to lard. Grandpa and daddy would butcher cows and render the fat to make the lard. Daddy said that they did this often. Daddy told me this story several times and it always made him smile. I think that daddy was proud that they could help feed people in need.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Sisters

I am lucky to have three sisters that love me. I can see parts of Mom in each of them. As we mature, they say that we get more and more like our parents, in this case that is good. I really appreciate that my sisters love and are concerned about me. That relationship is rare within families. Well maybe not as rare in the Durham line.. Just wanted to take time and tell them that I love them and their families. I always look forward to any activity that will allow me to spend time with my sisters.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

THE VIEW IS FINE FROM UP HERE

When Darrell was very young, he came up missing over at mom and daddy’s house. Everyone was looking for him. Nobody could find him... Then someone looked up, and there Darrell was, at the top of the television antenna, watching us. I think he thought that it was funny. I can’t remember who, but someone started to climb up the antenna to get him. That is when Daddy yelled to stop... Daddy said that it would be safer for Darrell to come down on his own. Well he came down and everyone was relieved. Kids!!!

Years later mom took Darrell to the new White Oaks mall. They were on the second floor. Mom said that She took her eyes off Darrell for just a minute and when she looked back Darrell had climbed up on the rail and was just setting there looking over the rail at the people below.... It would not have taken a whole lot for him to fall to the first floor. I wasn’t there, but I bet mom let out a scream that could have been heard all over the mall. Mom said that she grabbed his arm and pulled him back to safety. I bet Darrell doesn’t even know that his grandma Cox saved his life.

I guess he just liked the view from up there......

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

I’m Shot

Sometimes kids do the stupidest thing. When I was 11 or 12, Curt Edwards (friend from across the street) and I were at Labor day watching a honor guard fire their rifles. They used to do that on Labor day. Well, we watched the guys when the got done and they went into the basement of the Community Building. After they were gone, Curt and I went down to see what we could see..... What we found were these huge bullets (blanks). We took a couple... We were kids.. They shouldn’t have left them out... We went home and tried to find a way to shoot one. We finally came up with the bright idea of clipping one to moms clothes line. I got out my trusty Benjamin air rifle, which could shoot through a 55 gallon trash can (both sides). Curt took two or three shots at the end of the bullets with no luck. So, I took my turn. There was this ear deafening explosion and I think wow I hit it. Then I heard those words from Curt “I’m Shot”. I look over and said where, he pointed at his arm and there was a hole in it were a piece of the casing hit him. It was starting to bleed. We both just stood there, then we looked over at Curt’s house and his mom Joyce was standing on their font porch just looking at us. Curt put his hand over the wound and walked over to his mom. After awhile Curt came out with a bandage on his arm. We had to give Joyce the other blanks and she told us we were lucky we didn’t lose an eye. Never heard another thing about it, so I guess she didn’t tell mom or daddy about it. I’d like to say that was last stupid thing I did, but it wasn’t. More on that later.