WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

April 6, 2019

I had mentioned in the last blog that we are now leasing an RV site in Benson, AZ - it comes with a small building about the size of a two car garage that is ours to use.  It needed some TLC so right before leaving Benson we finished up some painting and flooring.  I went with some wild colors but it all turned out great.

This is the small living room area

Other end of living room with Jerry's popcorn maker all set up.  This also shows the gold room which will become a little office and hobby area for when we are in Benson

And our bright red bathroom

So what this all means is that when we are in Benson you can come visit if you like.
You will have your own little bungalow right outside the motorhome door.

So we left Benson, AZ heading for Lindale, Texas to attend a rally for one of the mission groups we volunteer for.  We like to have lots of travel time and to enjoy the journey so we spent a week getting there.

Spent a night in Roswell, NM (this is the club's logo pin they were kind enough to give us).  Many ELK lodges have meals certain nights of the week and we lucked out and had a wonderful steak dinner there and some of the best onion rings I have ever eaten.  While eating we met a wonderful couple: Tom & Tracy Callaway who in the last few years lost their teenage daughter to cancer.  They have started a foundation and have donated a lot of wonderful items to the hospital their daughter was a patient in - all to help other children.  If you are interested on FB Lindsay's parents keep a very informative page going on their foundation and their daughter.  

We spent one night at a Winery

Beautiful entry gates

Entrance to the Winery

Owners daughter Gabbie sharing some of their delicious wines with us

Impressive bottling and labeling operation and everything was spotless

Where the owner & his wife and daughter live

Owner Scott

Thought these table center pieces were cute

Teddy meeting the wineries neighbor Oreo

I liked the sign they had in the tasting room

On the way to our next stop a rock put a chip in the window of the coach

Jerry fixing the chip before it could spread

We  arrived a few days early for the rally-since I was getting over a cold and Jerry was starting one we just rested and enjoyed the green grass in north central Texas.  On the way to park we had a little adventure.  We missed our turn so listened to the GPS which took us into a subdivision of very nice homes - very upscale.  It looked like it was going to lead us around the block and back out but alas somebody forgot to tell the lady in the GPS that they hadn't finished putting the road through yet.  It takes some room to maneuver a 40' bus pulling a toad so we decided to unhook the Jeep since we were so close to our destination.  That all went well until we couldn't start the Jeep - so in the middle of these very expensive homes we jumped the Jeep, turned everything around and headed back to the turn we had missed - always an adventure. 

So True

When the weather is warm and their is a light rain Jerry likes going out and washing the motorhome

When in Texas and their is a rodeo nearby you just have to go.  One of the things I love about certain states is there not being afraid to talk about Jesus, the Bible and Salvation.  Before the rodeo this preacher gave a message on horse back

This little guy was so cute in his suspenders - couldn't take his eyes off the clown

Where we attended church Sunday morning

The pastor in his cowboy hat and boots - it was a great message.

The SOWERS Rally was held at Alert Academy in Big Sandy, Texas
We had never heard of it but left VERY impressed.
Alert Academy is a unique Christian Training & service organization whose mission is to equip individuals with the tools  to prepare them for the specific callings God has placed in their lives.

Our first night there they had a community hymn sing which was very well attended and had some talented individuals sharing their God given talents.  This is a mother & daughter

These three played beautifully - there were many more but I am sure you get the idea.  

This is Dr. Lew Sterrett who showed us how training a horse directly correlates to our relationship, or lack there of, with God.

This is a wild horse that had never been ridden

In a two hour session we watched in amazement as Dr. Sterett performed his Sermon on the Mount on this horse.
It was amazing.  He just wooed and talked softly to the horse.  Never used a whip - never lost his temper just encouraged the horse to trust him.  And in two hours he was riding him - no bucking.  Take a few minutes and watch a little of this on U-Tube.  It was truly amazing.

One afternoon we got to go into their mystery room and try to solve a puzzle to get out.  We only had 45 minutes and only 25% of the people ever solve the puzzle.  We were just minutes away when they called time.  It was great fun anyway.

We were also blessed to be at Alert when a class was graduating and another coming in.  The graduating class has been trough 9 weeks of intensive training and this is how they look. 

This is the new group of cadets coming in

The graduating class will spend some time helping the new men get acclimated.

Our final night at the rally we had a banquet

Since we were all dressed up they took our pictures

The ladies were escorted in by a cadet

Beautiful table and delicious food

all enjoyed while listening to this professional harpist!!

Our next night was spent in Monroe, LA at the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum

General Chennault

We toured the museum in the morning before heading down the road

Life size statue of the general that actually welcomes you into the museum.
He was a the leader of the "Flying Tigers" in WW II.  He is the most highly decorated US General by China

General Chennault's medals

The American, Chinese & Japanese GI Joe dolls that were made of him

 The museum also contains lots of other displays of American Heroes.

We happened to be there when the wife of one of those heroes was visiting and we so enjoyed hearing her share her and her now diseased husbands story.

This is her husband who just passed in January.  He was trained as a  Bombardier & Navigator for the B-25 Bomber.

The B-25 was used to destroy Jap shipping and ground targets.  He flew 52 missions in China.  On one mission near Hong Kong, their aircraft was damaged by ground fire and they decided to try to land the plane instead of parachuting out.  They survived the crash landing and found later that rats had eaten holes in their parachutes in order to get to their emergency food supplies.  He received a Purple Heart when his plane was attacked by a Japanese fighter.

Needless to say his wife was very proud of him - it was awesome hearing her share the story.

This robe was given to General Chennault by the Chinese.  It has 6 million stitches and took over 8 years to make.  The gold thread is real gold.

We continued east and crossed the Mississippi heading for Andalusia, AL and our next three week mission project.

Oldest grandson, Calvin's, team took first place in Robotics competition for Warren High School

Youngest grandson doing who knows what but he is engrossed

This is our view while in Andalusia.

Until next time the Wrights Will Continue To Wander