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For over 60 years, Helen and I have done everything together. I suppose "only children" are like that. But in our retirement, we are so blessed in so many ways that we just want to share our blessings with you in a separate blog, "Our Town, Mission."
When cancer retired me from the pastoral staff of the Kansas City Baptist Temple, it was appararent that we would not be able to keep up our lovely home in Raytown, Missouri. But it did not ever occur to me that our ministry was over, for as our oldest son told us, "The gifts and calling of the Lord are without repentance." And as we found out, neither are his blessings and benefits.
Where would we live in retirement? Helen's home town is Richmond, Virginia? - too far from family and our church. My home town, Arkansas City, Kansas? - No, it's difficult to go home again.
Some dear friends in Leawood, Kansas, scoured the area for an apartment to our liking. Avoiding all the "newbies" that sprung up in a real estate boom, the familiar comfort of an older, but well-kept complex appealed to us.They located a lovely two-bedroom ground-floor corner apartment with an adequate patio and cat entrance, in a pleasant setting of red brick buildings and good neighbors.
Mission, Kansas, is a unique land-locked bedroom community of about 11,000 which swells to over 50,000 during the week because of white collar industry and state offices. Everythng is within one to four city blocks from our home; City Hall and the police department, a highly professional fire station, a state-of-the-art community center, a super-duper super market, specialty stores, pet stores and groomers, a gazillion fast food and sit-down restaurants - and our favorite Chinese buffet owned and run by a family of dear friends.
But why is it called "Mission", Kansas? I will go into that in future posts, all about the Indian mission school, civil war history, Jayhawks and Bushwackers, border wars, and every wagon train to the west traveled through here - Oh, my! We have fun and ministry, who could ask for more?
