Thursday, July 23, 2009

Bar Harbor












We made two trips to the coast this week. One with My Aunt Gloria who was visiting from Washington, and one with our friend Doug who came over to visit from Michigan. These are some pics that he took during our day in Bar Harbor. Aunt Gloria and Mikayla took some from our day in Belfast. Maybe I can get those up later.



Family








Here's some pictures of our time with Jon and Lisa. It was so rainy that we didn't do a lot together but hang out. We did a little party for Mikayla, and that was nice.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Chosen To Be A Soldier, by Pastor Terry Upcott

This is what Terry wrote for Dad's Committal Service.

Our family would like to thank the honor guard for their services today. Dad was a Korean war veteran, and was proud to have been able to serve his country. He would often get emotional when he would talk about the veteran's here in Lincoln.
Pastor Campbell served the people of Lincoln for 291/2 years as the pastor of Bible Baptist Church. The story of how a boy from White City, Fl. wound up in Lincoln, Maine is interesting, and having just come off the 4th of July holiday, as well as Memorial Day, I'd like to take the time to tell you how Pastor Campbell's service for the Lord relates back to his military service.
II Tim. 2:4
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
Pastor Campbell enlisted in the United States Navy after going to electronics school in Chicago. He had no idea that while volunteering for his country's Naval service, he would soon be serving in a different army. He had been chosen to be a soldier.
While awaiting orders in San Francisco, Pastor Campbell stayed at a service men's center. A local church group ministered there with scripture reading, sharing the gospel, and just befriending the young men who were away from home. Through their ministry Pastor Campbell not only realized that he was a sinner, but that Christ had died for him to forgive him of his sin, and to offer him a personal relationship, as well as home in Heaven. He had joined the Navy, but he was now a soldier of Jesus Christ.
The chaplain at the center and other Christian men prayed for Pastor Campbell to be stationed in a place where he could be taught the Word of God and grow. The Navy sent him to Guam. His Lord had prepared that as well. Pastor Campbell came under the ministry of Missionary Cecil Green. Cecil encouraged him to seek further training when he got back to the States. The Navy man was in basic training for the "One who had chosen him to be a soldier".
Pastor Campbell was later assigned to Winter Harbor, Maine. His Lord once again used the Navy to transport His soldier. Pastor Campbell found Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ellsworth, where he met the Clarks. They became lifelong friends, and would be used by God to bring Pastor Campbell in contact with Bob Jones University. If Guam was God's basic training, BJU was officer's candidate school. Pastor Campbell learned to preach and how to minister under one of his heroes of the faith, Dr. Bob Jones Sr.
Following college, Pastor Campbell returned to Maine, where he would work and minister in the Bangor, Skowhegan, and Athens areas; as well as in the woods of Maine as he served with Christ for the Lumberjack Mission.
Pastor Campbell received his final posting in Lincoln. He became the Pastor of Bible Baptist Church, and served faithfully for almost 30 years. Even in retirement he stayed on active reserve for his Commander. He would continue to preach as long as health would allow, and even ministered to his health care providers as his sickness became worse. Pastor Campbell had been chosen while in the Navy to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled the commission he received. He is now resting in the presence of the one he served so long and well.
And so we come to the cemetery today. There has been a little time to adjust to life without Dad. We still miss him, and occasionally even forget for a second that he is gone and expect in that instant to see him. Those moments hurt, but scripture gives us hope. Not a wishful thinking kind of hope, but a sure confidence that we will see Dad again.
I Thess. 4:13-18 speaks of this hope. We commit only Dad's body to the ground today. His soul is with his Savior, and we look forward to the day of reunion.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Note To Self

The word is out...Alana LOVED camp, and she did pretty well, all things considered. She had a blast and even showered everyday. ;) When we got to The Wilds to pick her and Nathanael up, they were having breakfast. I had to sneak a peak. I spotted her cramming french toast into her mouth, giggling, and generally causing an uproar at her table. She was wearing a hot pink stripped shirt with one of her dressy skirts. Oh, dear! She said that this outfit was all she had that was dry. Oh, my! Later, upon entering the little cabin full of Mommies, sisters, and little girls, I could not believe the huge mess! It had rained all week, so every one's wet, muddy clothes were in big plastic bags. Suitcases were lying open, clothes strewn willy nilly. I thought to myself that it would be a miracle if we got all Alana's clothes back to Lincoln, and was pretty sure that we would end up with some other little girl's undies or towel or something. Mikayla helped Lanie pack up, since there wasn't room in that tiny cabin for one more Mom. Back at home, as I unpacked, most everything went straight into the washer, and I noticed that a bunch of stuff in the suitcase was damp. When I asked her why things inside the suitcase were damp she said, "Oh, yeah, note to self...Never put your wet swimsuit into your suitcase with your dry clothes. It causes problems later."

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The Wilds Again

Well, we took our other two kiddos to Bible camp this week. They lucked out a both got to stay in a cabin, not a tent, although how is beyond me. We just got the paperwork faxed last week. This is Alana's first time, and Nathanael's last time as a Jr. camper. Next year he gets to go to teen week. How is this possible?!! I was a bit worried about leaving Alana, since she is still quite young acting, but by the time we were leaving, she had a whole following of little girls. As we were walking down to the car, she was high fiving Bob Roberts. haha. I guess those are good signs that she was ready. We are excited that the kids get to hear Bob Roberts speak this week. He is the creator of Kids4Truth, our Bible club material. It is doctrine based and loads of fun. We are praying that they have a blast and learn a lot! Mikayla is enjoying being an only child this week, too. Ter and I will go to pick them up on Friday.
Alana is in the same cabin as one of my old roomie's kids.

As soon as Nathanael met his counselor, he was off, and we couldn't find him. When we did, he was already enjoying a game with a new friend.






Meeting Bob Roberts and her counselor.