Vance E

It's amazing how you meet someone early in life and somehow later in life, there you find them again. That's my friendship with Vance. A strong and faithful man, whose legacy will live forever in the lives of his children and his children's children and their children... Need I go on about the children. He is living proof that faithfulness produces a wonderful and abundant crop. I remember when Dawnette and I first got married, we made a trip from Portland to Wenatchee. We decided at the last minute to change our plans and visit MY friends in Wenatchee. (I lived in Wenatchee for a year and a half before moving back to Portland where I met and married Dawnette) After evening worship time, Vance invited us to have pizza at a local pizza place. I remember him asking where we were staying and I had said, "no where yet... we're just going to get a hotel room" Something that people say a lot to newlyweds. Anyway, Vance insisted we stay in a trailer home he had. Remembering that he had once owned a trailer park, I thought, "great! cheap!, free place to stay!" We followed him to his house and as he stepped out of his car, he pointed out our sleeping accomodations and that the toilet was outside in the garage. I won't share what I thought at that moment... I will only say, now, 15 years later, I can laugh at it. The next day we were off to finish our "honeymoon" as we had originally planned. Long, long, long story short... our car broke down, the hotel lost our reservations, we had no more money because we had to have our car fixed which took TWO DAYS! Yet to our rescue, Vance came to pick us up. I was hoping we wouldn't have to stay in the camper again... We didn't. He had found a home for us to stay in while our car was being repaired. He is a servent. His life reflects the Joy of the Lord. He embraces children, provides for those who cannot, yet, he is humble and serves without reserve. Next year, he will be 90 years old. What a life story. peace. johno~

Steve Estes

Long ago when Dawnette and I were first married, we met a wonderful family with 3 small children... The Estes family. We attended the same church and a small community group, which I had the opportunity to lead on occasion. It was during those small groups I discovered, "When I have children... I want to be a father like Steve." An amazing story of a father, caring for his kids. As Steve told the story on Sunday afternoon, (actually it might of been his wife, Steve doesn't boast much about himself), he was hiking with his three children when one of them fell and was injured. The tears came like a flood, and the screams began to echo from the other two children. Both children uninjured, but overwhelmed with terror at the sight of a sibling no longer laughing and having fun on their hiking expedition. Many fathers, might have found themselves frustrated with the other two kids crying for no reason as they carry their one hurt child back to safety. However, Steve didn't carry just the injured child... He carried ALL THREE out of "danger" and to the safety of their home. I think it was 5 miles... (maybe not but at least that's what makes a good hero story) anyhow, even if it wasn't, I know he could... look at the picture, he's built. Yet, the greatest thing about Steve is not his physical strength, it's his Godly strength and gentle nature. He's the type of man who could welcome the smallest child and hold back the fiercest enemy. He is a wonderful husband, a wonderful father. It's good to have him on my team. peace. johno~