Lovely days, cold nights come with fall

Greetings from the hills and valleys of the Eolia and Eolia Christian Community Outreach.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

A whirlwind of activities have kept us busy at ECCO, as we've enjoyed a week of lovely fall days. Although I'm seeing frost on my neighbor's roof, the days have turned out to be very pleasant.

Our quiet little valley nestled here in the mountains of eastern Kentucky seems a far cry from all the alarm and confusion going on in Washington. From what I've heard in the news reports, our country is in trouble and no one seems to know how to fix it. There are a lot of people who seem to have a lot of knowledge about a lot of things, but to this mountain women the answer is simple. Read the above scripture again. Every day we need to pray for our country.

We had a beautiful day for our gospel singing at the park. Dappled sunlight graced the grounds as an occasional breeze brought down a gentle shower of leaves. I just sat and contentedly drank in the beauty of the day enjoying the sound of the mountain music, which I love and grew up with. Thanks to the singing groups and individuals that gave up their Saturday to bless us with their talents. Also thanks to the park volunteers for all their hard work, especially the ladies for those wonderful baked goods of fried pies, stack cakes, Amish bread, zucchini bread, assorted fudge and much more.

Thought for the day: "Decisions can take you out of God's will but never out of His reach."

News from the Ovenfork Senior Citizens Center by Jewell Maggard:

"Hi, seniors, the Lord spoke to my heart this week about how in so many instances He keeps us seniors safe. Driving, walking up stairs and the many times we were unaware of His protection. Read Psalm 112:7.

"Three of our seniors need prayer for health problems, Geneva Tolaver, Norma Rhymer, and Jack Snell. Although Jack is recovering from shingles, he dug 10 bushels of potatoes.

"All the Letcher seniors went to the health fair at Hazard where we learned a lot about how to take care of ourselves. We were given pamphlets, pencils, notepads and more. They also checked our blood sugar, cholesterol, and bone density.

"Marvin and I planted gourds this year for the first time, and they've done really well. We have them hanging up to dry.

"Many of our seniors enjoyed going to the Mountain Heritage Festival again this year. We took our seniors for Whitesburg Day.

"Jean Hunsucker had been visiting family in New York and it is good to have her back with us. Her granddaughter, Vanessa, had a baby boy.

"Continue to pray for Verdell Sturgill as he recovers from colon surgery.

"Have a blessed week."

Community bulletin board: Kid's Time each Friday at ECCO 10 to 11:15 a.m. Good News Club each Wednesday at the Eolia Mission 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for children 3 and up. Call 633- 5015 for transportation. Neighborhood Watch Meeting 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at ECCO. Cumberland River Volunteer Fire Department meets 11 a.m. the second. Sunday of each month at the Partridge station. Volunteers welcome. Rockvine Baptist Church youth meets each Wednesday at 6 p.m.; the bus will run. Call Mindy at (606) 589-6226 or Linda at 633-4948. Partridge Lions Club meets 6:30 p.m. the third of each month at the Ovenfork Senior Citizens Center;s come and bring a guest. Eolia Park Committee meets the third Tuesday of each month 7 p.m. at ECCO.

This week our prayer list includes Seth Collins, Barb Shelton, Josh Lewis, Stephanie Estep, Raymond Kiser, Lois Young, Judy Branham, Lucy Maggard, Lillian and Nora Walker, Bear Hissom, Kess "Rusty" Halcomb, Ruth Halcomb, Olivia Blair, Geneva Tolaver, Curt Sturgill, Johnny Sturgill, Jr. Carter, Marie and Jack Snell, Dorothy Nease and Brenda Gross. Also to be lifted up in prayer are those enslaved by drugs and alcohol, may they be delivered, the troops in Iraq, the United States and Iraq, the leaders of our country, all the children hurt by war and the ministry of ECCO.

You may contact us by writing to ECCO, 135 Emily Lane, Eolia, Ky. 40826 or email at eccotruth@peoplepc.com.

Until next time from the folks at ECCO, "God bless."