The Old Young Peoples' Group!

With the arrival of Bert and Colleen Elliot on Wednesday, comes the revival of the old
young peoples' group! There will be get-togethers, visits, re-newing of friendships in
the weeks ahead, as we gather together to honor and refresh our enjoyment of these
two special people!



It will begin this morning with Western Seminary having a graduation in which Bert will be
honored with an honorary doctorate degree to commemorate his sixty years of
missionary work in Peru.


There will be a handful of brave 'old youth group' people who will attend this
graduation ceremony.



Since they are only to be here for three weeks, there will be lots of activities packed in.
On Sunday we'll have visitors from around town at our Fellowship, who will be there
just to get a chance to visit with Bert and Colleen.



On Monday I am taking them out to lunch so we can have a good visit and I can just
soak up the love of God they radiate! We will talk of many things, remember many
good memories together, and before the lunchtime is over, Cousin Bert will say, "So,
how is your walk with the Lord, Joanie?' ...and I will have to confess to just "coasting"
too much of the time.



On Thursday we will have breakfast with them with my brother and his wife joining
us. Again, it will be a time of warm fellowship and just loving each other.


Then on the second of May, we begin with an extended family breakfast together. (We
are a pretty big crowd when we are all together) Bert's sister, Jane, will be here from
Wheaton. Jane and I are exactly the same age and have been close friends since we
were toddlers, so I'm so excited to see her and spend some time!!

Joan,Jane-11 months old at back of Elliot home

Here we are at age four in front yard of Elliot home at 7272.

My brother, Bernie joins us.

Elizabeth Elliot and husband Lars, will not be able to come. They were in Peru in
February with Bert and Colleen so will not make the trip now. We had thought Jim
Elliot's daughter, Valarie, was coming, but the last word is that she will not be
coming. I was disappointed about that, as I haven't seen her in years.



In the afternoon there is to be an Open House at a local Bible Chapel, built to hold
several hundred people. This will be a time of celebration of Bert and Colleen's
sixtieth wedding anniversary and their sixtieth year on the field in Peru.



That's when the 'old young people' will flock together and have a rip-roaring time
revisiting the past with long-forgotten memories revived, laughed over, and
remembered with pleasure.
































We did have fun!! Hayrides and backyard cookouts! Simple, but such good times. That's me in the white 'pedal pushers' and plaid shirt in the barn!




I love these get togethers when we see friends and relatives we don't get to see too often.


So........for the next few days there will be lots of excitement in my life. I like that!