OUR VERY OWN GRAMMY WINNER

From the Daily Comet:

CHOUPIC — Randy Ellis, holding a sweating can of Dr. Pepper, was watching the happenings of his quiet north-Lafourche neighborhood from the confines of his porch swing Tuesday.

His screen door was open, flooding his house with mid-afternoon light and the first mild spring breeze of the year.

“I’ve never been a good story teller,” he insisted. “I’m just a road guy.”

But only three days ago, Ellis was on the red carpet at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, making his way to the award ceremony where he and his bandmates learned they had won a Grammy.

Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band won a Grammy for the best zydeco or Cajun music album. The group received the award for their most recent album, Zydeco Junkie. Ellis, 41, is the band’s guitar player.

The small community of Choupic, where Randy lives when he's not on tour, is a few miles down the road from Thibodaux, and I can tell you, it's in the swamp.

The video shows our boy Randy singing with the group.




Chubby and the Bayou Swamp Band with their Grammys.



The CD of Zydeco Junkie may be purchased at their website, and the Mp3 is available at Amazon or at the iTunes Store.



My favorite song on the album is "Jalapeno Lena". I gave Madpriest the Mp3 version of the album. If we're lucky, he may post a podcast of some of the songs, maybe even "Jalapeno Lena".

PLEASE PRAY FOR ST. JOHN AND THE OTHER PARISHES

Note at the top of the right sidebar the prayer for the search for new rectors to serve congregations in four parishes in south Louisiana, including my own, St. John. The diocese is working with a new (to us) program to choose prospective rectors from amongst recent graduates or soon-to-be graduates of seminary to be ordained for service in a particular church. For parishes with strained financial resources, the wage for a newly ordained priest, just out of seminary, compared to the wage for a priest with years of experience, can make the difference in whether a parish can afford a full-time priest. In addition, the search process is less expensive for the parishes.

The newly-ordained priests will serve with experienced priests as mentors for a period of time. Our congregations and the diocese appreciate prayers offered that all involved will be guided by the Spirit in matching parishes and rectors. Canon Mark Stevenson met with a group from St. John's last night, and he told us that quite a number of candidates stepped forward for consideration by the diocese and the churches involved.

Thanks to all who pray for us.

MY EYES!

From Lapin who says:

If this doesn't draw you back to Rome, I don't know what will.

LINDA SAYS GOOD-BYE TO LOUISIANA

From the Daily Comet:

She had been afraid and anxious, but 64-year-old Linda Lahme sat calmly in her wheelchair Monday morning at Maison De’Ville nursing home, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a wool hat against the early-morning chill.
....

She was still sick, unable to stand for any length of time and aching. But sick or not, she was going home, back to the foundation she helped start in Luapula Province, Zambia, the southern-African nation where she spent the past 10 years working to educate and feed children orphaned by famine, AIDS and other diseases.

“I’m going back because I can’t get any medical care here,” she said Friday. She has had no source of income since being diagnosed with colon cancer last year and was forced to resign her position as the director of the Luapula Foundation to seek treatment, first in South Africa and then in Louisiana.

However, Lahme, a retired nurse who spent most of her adult life in Thibodaux, couldn’t endure another round of chemotherapy. Instead she settled into the nursing home and the care of hospice workers.

In December, she said she hoped to live long enough for her 20-year-old adopted Zambian daughter, Winnie Kunda, now studying medicine in Russia, to arrange for a visa that would allow a visit to her bedside.

But last week, she said she had run out of options. Medicaid had found out about a bank account she set up in Africa to pay for Kunda’s education and said the asset made her ineligible for the program, Lahme said. Lahme refused to tap into the account, opting to return to Zambia and limited medical care rather than compromise Kunda’s future.

“To qualify for Medicaid, I would have to spend all the money I set aside for my daughter’s education,” Lahme said.
....

Though she was so sick she listened while lying in a pew, Lahme attended Sunday services at St. John Episcopal Church in Thibodaux, which has helped raise money and purchase goats for the impoverished people served by the foundation.

“This was really a prayer of thanksgiving for her life in Africa and her life among us,” said Rector Ed Robertson, who visited Lahme frequently at the nursing home. Robertson said Lahme’s experience fits the definition of a “holy death,” a concept that means her terminal illness has brought others closer to God.
....

It is the rainy season now in Luapula, Lahme said Monday morning as she gazed out the glass door waiting for her ride. There will be mud everywhere.

“I was afraid last night and this morning I wasn’t,” she said.

As soon as I have more news of Linda, I will let you all know.

Prayer for Linda:

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

The website for the Luapula Foundation is under construction. Donations may be sent to:

Luapula Foundation
c/o St. John's Espiscopal Church
718 Jackson St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301

My earlier posts on Linda are here and here.

PLEASE PRAY FOR CATHY AND FOR THOSE WHO SEEK EMPLOYMENT

Our friend Cathy has been ill with a feverish gastrointestinal virus for several days. Tonight she said she felt somewhat better, but please pray for her recovery to full health and strength.

Also, Cathy missed several work days because of her illness. Since she works on contract, she gets paid only when she works. Please pray that she will be offered replacement shifts to make up for the days she missed.

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Cathy the help of your power, that her sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the unemployed and underemployed:

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Alison

David@Montreal

JCF

Jim B

Jonathan

Penny

And others you may want to name in the comments.

UPDATE ON AILEEN AND MIKE

From Aileen's husband, Mike:

February 7, 2011

Aileen is still doing well in the same ways, however she had about a 45 minute procedure to put some type of filters to block the blood clots from moving up from her legs to the organs; heart, lungs, brain, ect. She does have quite a few more clots in both legs today so the doc thought it was necessary to get one put in as soon as possible. She did very well during the procedure. I'm proud of her.


February 13, 2011

Just got back from Billings, and touring and meeting the staff at Advanced Care Hospital of Montana. What an incredibly impressive facility and staff.

(From Sally Boyd:

Aileen has been in an uncommunicative state since a series of strokes this past Thanksgiving Day. She is a 37 year old mother of two little boys, and her husband Mike has been a faithful and faith-filled support to her over these many weeks in the hospital in Rapid City, S.D. He is now seeking long-term care for her, but must wait for another round of fever-related-to-infection to be addressed. He appreciates prayers for his beloved wife and for his little family.)

Sally Boyd is the priest who ministers to Aileen and Mike.

For Aileen:

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, give to Mike and all who watch and wait with Aileen strength and courage during this difficult time. Surround them with your presence in the power of your Holy Spirit that they may trust in your everlasting love.

From Ann.

UPDATE: Also from Ann:

On Saturday the 12th JT Thurston passed away unexpectedly. Please keep Annie, Codi, Cassie, Hilary, and Wyatt in your prayers. Information regarding a memorial services is pending.

May JT Thurston rest in peace and rise in glory.

May God give Annie, Codi, Cassie, Hilary, and Wyatt comfort, consolation, and the peace that passes understanding to keep their minds and hearts in Christ Jesus.

PLEASE PRAY FOR LINDA

Linda is dying. Linda is also flying back to Zambia tomorrow. She was in church today, and she did not look well. Please pray that Linda can make the trip in a measure of comfort.

Linda's story is here. I'm sorry, but I can't write any more.

UPDATE: I just talked to one of the two parishioners who took Linda to the airport. The staff at Delta Airlines and the airport went out of their way to care for Linda with compassion and efficiency, and Linda got on the plane for Atlanta. A friend was to meet her in Atlanta to help her board her flight to Johannesburg, where friends will meet her and offer her hospitality for the night, and she will set out for Zambia the next day. Thanks be to God that, although Linda seemed to be in great pain when the group left Thibodaux, she felt better once she arrived at the airport. Thanks be to God for the two fine people from our church who helped Linda on her way.

Please continue to pray that Linda will make it safely to Zambia, as Brian says, in the cradle of God's arms.

Thank you all for your prayers and comforting words. They mean more to me than I can say. I type these words with tears of sadness in my eyes, but also with tears of thanksgiving for your love and support.

For Linda:

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

"CRITICALLY IMPORTANT MINISTRY IN UGANDA"

From Leonardo Ricardo at Eruptions At The Foot Of The Volcano:

The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle, Integrity USA’s Vice President of National Affairs, announces his resignation from the Integrity organization in order to work full time with Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, retired Bishop of West Buganda, Uganda.

Read the rest at Leonardo's blog.

Here's the link to make a donation to St Paul's Foundation for International Reconciliation.

STORY OF THE DAY - NO DIFFERENCE

There was a boy with skin as dark as the
earth & a girl with eyes as blue as the
deep & they loved each other so well
that people could not tell them apart,
for in their hearts, there was no
difference between them.

From StoryPeople.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

somewhere i have never travelled - by e. e. cummings

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

Image from Wikipedia.