Been MIA for years

chaplain robert · #1 02/14/12, 11:44 PM

Was around back in the beginning. Got handed some really unexpected life stuff and kind of drifted away. Have completely restructured my whole life at this point but thought I would drop back in say hello to any of the longtimers still hanging around. So if you remember me, it is great to see you again. If we have never met, I am pleased to meet you. You all take care.

**Ross** · #2 02/15/12, 06:30 AM

Welcome back!

Texasdirtdigger · #3 02/15/12, 09:25 AM

Welcome back.

sandsuncritters · #4 02/15/12, 10:01 AM

I remember you, welcome back :waving:
I was around at the beginning myself, then life threw me some curves as well.
Somehow we always end up where we belong though, so it's all good

Good to have you back on board, whatcha been up to?

In His Love
Mich

Ardie/WI · #5 02/15/12, 10:07 AM

Yes, I remember you!

Hello, and welcome back.

Cornhusker · #6 02/15/12, 12:17 PM

Welcome back

chaplain robert · #7 02/15/12, 12:31 PM

I went back to work in the laboratory and about a year ago, took a job traveling full time. I still have the farm in Missouri but rarely visit it. It is leased out now. Living out of a 24 foot camper and seeing the country. I have put in for work in Saudi Arabia as well and hoping to go there by end of summer. Hope everyones homesteading dreams are becoming realities. I learned so much in the years I did it and really believe that knowledge is being enhanced and honed now by experiencing new and different cultures. I have been just north of the Mexican border for several months now and have realized I was throwing away a lot of really tasty animal parts when I would butcher something!

sandsuncritters · #8 02/16/12, 04:33 PM

Want to expand on those "tasty bits" things a little more?

Must admit, your post raises many questions, but I've always been nosey (according to my mother)

Looking forward to hearing of your travels. We did that travel in a 28footer for awhile, but we wanted to stay married

so we landed on the farm. Hardly go out the gate more than once a week to church.

Living the homestead dream in Florida, next to a river. Be blessed chaplain

In His Love
Mich

chaplain robert · #9 02/17/12, 09:06 AM

Feel free to be nosey, doesn't bother me a bit. Your family story is kind of the inverse of mine. When I was no longer able to hang onto my marriage, I started traveling. My first choice was and always will be to have stayed married and on the homestead but well, that takes 2. Alone on the homestead felt more like a prison than building a safe haven and future but I can't bring myself to sell it. Need some place to call home and who knows, with time I may want to go back when the memories aren't quite so raw.

As far as tasty bits, I have fallen in love with menudo. It is a spicy soup made of shredded beef, chiles and tripe. Never would have thought of saving that. I knew other people ate it but I didn't know what to do with it. I have also tried tongue, kidneys and calf heels since I have been down here. Nothing earth shaking but things I wouldn't have had recipes or an inclination to find recipes for. Since I am out of state, I haven't done any trapping, fishing or hunting and I am missing having a lot of game meats in my diet. A lady I work with was making room in her freezer and gave me quite a bit of elk. That isn't available in Missouri and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have been here long enough though. Ready to see what is next.

Hopefully, it isn't out of line to share this but at the heart of what I am doing is exploring God. All my life, I have heard and I have said (and believed) that "God is all I need". You know, like the Apostle Paul--to live is Christ and to die is gain. Almost 2 years ago when everything in my life blew up beyond what I could contain, I learned that was a load a hooey. But it shouldn't be and I was deeply shamed by it. For crying out loud, I am a minister. Shouldn't Jesus and I be able to face anything and come out on top. The answer to that is yes, we should but the reality is no, we didn't. I WANT God to be my best friend but I quickly learned that as long as I was surrounded by an extensive support network (and my neighbors and family and brothers and sisters in church went above and beyond for me), I was going to take the easy way out and let them carry me through. I was at a cross roads of either continuing to pretend that God was my best friend or growing close enough to Him that He really was. So I chose to uproot myself from anyone and everyone that I depend on and say, where ever you want God, send me and I will go. I will learn to be closer to You than ever and will find what You would have me do where ever You send me and we will do it together. It has been AMAZING. My faith has never been stronger than it is right now and the things I have watched God do both with and in spite of me leave me breathless. I would not trade this past year for my preceding 40+ and I thank God for bringing me here. This is a long winded way of saying thank you for your blessing but the fact is, I already am beyond what I could have possibly imagined.

texican · #10 02/18/12, 10:34 AM

Welcome back.... I can't remember what I had for breakfast, if that tells you anything...

Imho, I wouldn't get my heart too set on working in Saudi Arabia, by the end of summer... unless you're in the disaster recovery field. The entire region may at best be at war, at worse, a vast radioactive wasteland. War is on the horizon.... as inevitable as the sun coming up.... an irresistible force and an immovable object are coming together. [and regardless, sure you know already, the 'Chaplain' part should stay at home...... our friends over there are a little skittish about such things...]

chaplain robert · #11 02/19/12, 08:59 AM

The title stays, the calling goes. Come what may. Thanks for the heads up though. If the doors open, I will be there. Otherwise, I will be somewhere else. Regardless of where, the ride is going to be well worth it.

sandsuncritters · #12 02/21/12, 04:10 PM

About why you want to go to Saudi.

Sorry, I just popped in and now I have to pop back out. Back in a little while.

In His Love
Mich

Farmer Dave · #13 02/21/12, 06:01 PM

Welcome back. I remember the name but that's about all.

chaplain robert · #14 02/21/12, 08:52 PM

Why Saudi? Because I don't care about middle east politics. I care about the hearts and souls of the lost. I have always been a part of missions but never overseas. Years ago, I befriended a male nurse at a hospital I was chaplaining at and about 5 years ago, he went to Saudi and has been an active part of the underground church there ever since. He heard through the grapevine that I was now single and asked me if I would consider joining him. He is working on arranging a laboratory job for me in the hospital he works in so if that goes through, I am seeing it as God's blessing to join him in the work there. The hospital has expressed an strong interest in hiring me but I am running into an issue with what is known as Saudization. It is similar to our affirmative action and the hospital is trying to get approval from the government to hire another foreign national to work there. Please pray about that for me, if you will.