Earth is moving as the groundwork is being laid for the church building project. Following the April 6 worship service, much of the congregation gathered outside on an overcast day for a ground breaking service. While just a few spades-full of soil were moved on Sunday, the following week heavy equipment began to work at the project in earnest.

Site work began at the pavilion, where topsoil has been stripped and fill brought in to construct a basin to control runoff water. The last week of April groundwork began in the area next to Sunnyside Road.

The building itself still needs to wait for final approval of the sewer plans by the State Department of Environmental Protection. According to Building Committee secretary Sandy Brubaker, authorities reviewed the building plans as of April 11 with the recommendation that a building permit be issued, with comments. DEP approval of the sewer permit was expected by May 2. Once that approval is in hand, final township approval can be received, lending documents can be signed with Fulton Bank, and the project can move full speed ahead.

The groundbreaking service included introductory words and prayer by moderator Ron Strickler and a verse of song led by the Praise Team. Building Committee chairman Mike Shelly introduced Arthur Funk and Son representatives Nathan Fry and Harry Cain, and then reflected on the 10-year journey that had brought the church to the point of building.

Mike recounted all the things that had to be done to prepare to build, including purchasing a farm, obtaining cooperation from Rapho Township and nine landowners to move Sunnyside Road, drilling a new well that brought increased volume and greatly reduced nitrate levels, and more. Looking back, Mike said he can see God’s hand at many points.

Building Fund treasurer Floy Fitzkee reports that the amount of money members have pledged to loan to the church has more than doubled in the last two months to $1.3 million. This reduces the amount that will need to be borrowed from the bank at a higher interest rate to $2 million. With a balance in the Building Fund of $1,732,000, pledged member loans, and upcoming offerings, says Floy, "We may not have to borrow from the bank until next year."

The Finance Commission continues to welcome additional member loans, which will be needed beginning this summer. The church will pay five percent interest on loans of $5,000 or more. Contact a commission member for more information.

Subcontractors for the project are being finalized. Named so far are: J. Steven Burkhart, excavating; Garden Spot Electric, electrical; and Brubaker Plumbing & Heating, HVAC and plumbing.

The Building Committee also is compiling a list of tasks with which volunteers from the church can assist. Building Committee member Duane Gingrich is seeking volunteers to assist with installing the septic system in mid-May. See Duane if you can help with tasks such as laying pipes and raking sand. Shingling roofs is another area where volunteers will be utilized. To get ahead of rising materials costs, shingles already have been purchased.

At a June 26, 2007, Special Council Meeting, the church voted 192-12 in favor of building a family life center, gathering area, kitchen, eight new Sunday school rooms including a youth room, a board room and offices, an elevator, and more. Plans are on display in the church basement.

Building Committee members are Mike Shelly, chairman; Sandy Brubaker, secretary; Duane Gingrich; Randy Hosler; Daryl Myer; Hudson Sadd; Roger Shenk; and David White. Moderator Ron Strickler is an ex officio member. Ten subcommittees are working along with the Building Committee to prepare for this massive undertaking.

Finance Commission members are Bob Messick, chair; Floy Fitzkee, Building Fund treasurer; Steve Faus; Joan Shelly; and church treasurer John Brubaker. —Don Fitzkee

Women’s Fellowship Reorganizes as ‘Service Ministries’

At a March 9 breakfast meeting women of the church currently involved with the projects of the Women’s Fellowship met to discuss the future of the organization. In short order the group of 13 determined that they definitely want the group to continue the vital ministries it contributes to the church body. The group also decided that those ministries will be best carried out under the present structure rather than distributing the projects to various commissions.

Without a president for some months, Janice Shenk now leads the group with the new title of Service Ministries Coordinator. Changing the position title to Coordinator better reflects the role of that person, who works jointly with outgoing officers to identify new officers. The coordinator also schedules an annual work day at the Brethren Service Center, in New Windsor, MD, and calls the annual meeting of officers.

Changing the title of the group from Women’s Fellowship to Service Ministries seemed in order since fellowship no longer is a central purpose of the group. (Neighbors Sharing and Caring provides weekly fellowship opportunities.) Also, some men have become involved in some projects, and the group is excited to open up the pool of available volunteers to include both genders.

Other changes include securing more regular funding to cover the expenses of the various ministries. While in the past the proceeds from the sale of unbaked apple dumplings—usually around $800—was donated to the Disaster Relief Auction with the baked dumplings, by motion it was decided that the group will keep those profits from now on to fund its ministries. Additionally, an annual offering will be taken in Sunday school classes via a special envelope to support Service Ministries activities. With a more secure source of income, the group believes it can better serve the church and, in fact, expand some of its current involvements. Trudy Kniss currently serves as treasurer.

Service Ministries includes an impressive list of largely "behind-the-scenes" projects that support our church body in meaningful ways:

The Quilting Contact person, currently Darlene Brandt, arranges supplies and regular quilting times to make quilts to donate to the Brethren Disaster Relief Auction. Chiques has typically donated two quilts each year.

The Apple Dumpling Committee, comprised of Judy Kauffman, Lori Weaver, Bill and Suzi Cox, and Kiersten Hoffman, makes and bakes some 1,400 apple dumplings to sell at the annual auction. This project, which occurs over three packed days of work leading up to auction day in September, requires some 90 volunteers.

The Director of Home Builders, presently Wafi Brandt, and first and second assistants Lisa Shenk and Melanie Miller, plan Mother-Daughter Banquets, Family Night programs, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. In addition to these more public occasions of coming together for food and fellowship, the committee provides meals, does laundry, and cares for personal needs for shut-ins or others during times of illness.

The Bereavement Committee, currently headed by Sandy Brubaker, with help from assistants Dawn Geib and Darlene Brandt, serves meals after funerals held at Chiques. This committee expressed a need for a list of volunteers they can call on short notice for occasional help. Contact Sandy if you can help.

The Key Person to the Brethren Village, Millie Nissley, with help from Joyce and Clarence Lowe, provide numerous acts of kindness to the residents of the home. From the simple act of serving cold water to planning special programs and birthday parties, our church is positively impacts the lives of seniors living there. The committee often needs volunteers to help transport residents from their rooms to activities.

Childcare Coordinator Mary Swope arranges childcare providers from neighboring churches to care for children during the twice-annual Love Feasts.

The Director of Material Aid, a role that Carol Hess and Lorraine Wenzel have swapped back and forth for years, plans comforter knotting and sewing at Lancaster General Hospital, as well as providing the church a "Christmas" project each year. This past year a collection of school kit items and bags for delivery to the Brethren Service Center was well-supported by the congregation. The group has decided to discontinue the previous tradition of delivering Christmas stocking filled with personal care items to a state hospital, and instead focus on school kits (or other kits) as needed by the Service Center.

The breakfast served as an important—and delicious—time for the women serving in these roles to gain an understanding of the broader activities of the Service Ministries. A sense of enthusiasm, as well as the new name, emerged.

If after learning more about these important ministries of our church, you’d like to be involved please contact Janice Shenk or any of the officers. —Kiersten Hoffman

Attendance and bidding were strong at the April 26 youth servant sale. Held in the church basement instead of the pavilion (due to construction mud), the annual auction raised about

$8,525 to support the church’s summer Day Camp program and youth ministries. Dave White served as auctioneer.

Well over half the proceeds—$5,120—were generated by the sale of 14 meals. A picnic meal for eight offered by Jay & Sue Eberly brought top dollar at $550, with three others selling for an even $500.

Youth servants also sold well this year. Fourteen youth offered five hours of labor to the highest bidder, raising $1,245—an average of nearly $18 per hour. Mike & Denise Hess paid top dollar for the team of April Gainer and Katlyn Spayd. Sold as a team, the cousins sold for $280. (Rumor has it that the losing bidder was a young man.) Eric Kauffman was the highest priced individual servant at $120.

In addition to meals and servants, a variety of donated items and "yard sale" items raised $2,160. Items of interest included three Galen Shelly handcrafted items, $215; a rocking chair refinished and caned by Becker Ginder, $200; a Harlan Shelly birdhouse, $140; a "Little Girls Dreams" gift basket donated by Sandy Brubaker, $140; and four scoops of bark mulch from Shenks, $130. Various other crafts, services, theme baskets, gift certificates, and more raised money for the cause.

Caleb Wise made two of the more interesting purchases. For a dollar each, Caleb bought a bottle of Sprite that had been left behind at the church and 100 feet of chain link fence removed from the pavilion area. (Rumor has it, he turned a profit by later selling the fence to someone else for two dollars.)

Erin Hoffman seemed more interested in form than function. After buying three trinkets that caught her eye, she was asked, "What are they?" Her reply, "I don’t know." But she was glad to have them.

The evening concluded with homemade ice cream and fellowship. —Don Fitzkee

For the second year, the Christian Education Commission is mixing up adult Sunday school classes for a month during the summer. During June, instead of meeting in normal age group classes all adult Sunday School classes will meet in intergenerational groups so that we can get to know and learn from people of various ages in the church.

Members and regular attenders will receive their classroom assignment in church mailboxes by early May. In addition, a master lists will be posted in the narthex and the basement. Class assignments are random, although consideration was given to locations for members with mobility issues.

Intergenerational classes will meet for the last four Sundays in June (Everyone meets together June 1 for the Children’s Day program.) Like last year, all classes will study the international Sunday school lessons that are in the quarterly. (The author for the summer quarter is Don Fitzkee.) Teachers will teach in the classroom where they are scheduled to teach for the month of June. A convener will be appointed for each class to welcome visitors and care for organizational details each week.

If you do not receive a class assignment, or have any questions or concerns, please contact commission chairwoman Renee Heisey.

Thanks to some new people serving as directors, and others willing to shift weeks, primary leadership for Chiques Day Camp is in place, says Day Camp Coordinator Jess Brandt. Day Camp gets underway June 23-27 with first grade, and continues for six consecutive weeks, with one grade each week.

"This is a thriving ministry and an incredible opportunity to share Jesus with the children of our community," says Jess. Last summer the free Chiques Day Camp served 247 children, more than 80 percent of whom were not from Chiques.

Directors are: Veronica Myer, first grade; Chris Shelly, second grade; Carolyn Fitzkee, third grade; Tina Brandt, fourth grade; Bill Cox & Jason Hoffer, fifth grade; and Missie Nolt, sixth grade.

Directors this summer will have the challenge of operating Day Camp in the midst of a construction zone, with much of the grassy area around the church pavilion now being shaped into a retention basin for the church sewer system.

There is still a need for more help on swimming days. "We would like to have extra eyes at the pond," says Jess. "If you have a C.P.R. certification, please contact me if you would be willing to spend some afternoons at the pond."

One exciting change for this summer is the availability of the church bus for field trips and for transporting children to and from swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Members of the church are working hard to fix some mechanical troubles so it is ready to go by the time Day Camp begins.

Other new things this summer include:

• A printable registration form available on the church website (www.chiques-cob.org), which will cut down on extra mailings;
• A parent/guardian evaluation to gather input to improve the program; and
• Memory Books. LoriJo Peters will take pictures and compile a Memory Book for each child to take home with them.

If you think of children that you would like to invite to camp this summer, pick up a registration form in the church narthex or print one from the website. The registration deadline is May 17.

Plans are well underway for Chiques Vacation Bible School, which will be held June 15-19, meeting from

7:00 to 8:45 each evening. For the first time, VBS will run Sunday through Thursday evening, instead of Monday through Friday.

Using Standard Publishing’s "God's Big Backyard" curriculum, children will learn to serve Jesus by serving others. With the help of neighborhood friends Stan and Alex, along with Cooper the Dog and Nick the Squirrel, children will explore the joys of serving family, friends, neighbors, community, and Jesus through Bible stories such as Miriam caring for Moses, the good Samaritan, and Zacchaeus. Children will enjoy skits built around a backyard theme, biblical lessons, crafts, music, and snacks each night.
        Classes will be offered for ages 4 through adults. Ministers of the congregation will lead the adult class in a study of a John Ortberg video series. In addition to staying for the adult classes any night, parents are encouraged to stay to meet their children’s teachers and enjoy some refreshments after picking up their children on Wednesday evening, June 18.
        Offerings collected during the week will be shared with neighbors near and far, with some funds going toward the purchase of Spanish-language Jubilee Sunday School curriculum for churches in the Dominican Republic, as well as to nearby Harrisburg-based Brethren Housing Association.
        Bible school directors are Matt and Kris Strausbaugh, Randy and Kiersten Hoffman and Tim and Tina Brandt. —Kiersten Hoffman

Nate Myer baptized five young people during the April 27 worship service, including one of his daughters. Baptized were Janelle Geib, Paige Myer, Mandi & Quinn Peters, and Katy Shenk.

Janelle, 12, is the daughter of Barry & Dawn Geib. A sixth grader at Manheim Central Middle School, Janelle enjoys playing flute and soccer, showing goats and pigs in the Lancaster County 4-H Clubs, and attending church junior high activities.

Paige, 13, is a daughter of Nate & Veronica Myer. A seventh grader at Warwick Middle School, she enjoys volleyball, piano, church junior high activities, and hanging out with family and friends.

Mandi, 16, and Quinn, 8, are children of Kenton & LoriJo Peters. Mandi attends Life Skills Class at Landisville Middle School. Her interests include coloring, puzzles, her Leapster Electronic Game System, riding bike, jumping on trampoline, swimming, and the children’s bell choir.

Quinn attends second grade Learning Support Classroom at Burgard Elementary School in Manheim. He enjoys collecting police trading cards and watching police shows on TV, playing computer games on his Wii Game System, playing outside with friends, and participating in the children’s bell choir. Quinn loves to pray and often volunteers to pray at home.

Katy, 8, is the daughter of Chad & Chris Shenk. She attends third grade at Mount Calvary Christian School in Elizabethtown. Her interests include piano, reading and drawing, gymastics, and her three pet cats.

A larger number of people than usual around church are sporting cool summer haircuts, thanks to an event organized by Kent & LoriJo Peters to show support and encouragement for 8-year-old Karlie Nolt, who has lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatments for her Hodgkins’ Lymphoma

A group of friends gathered in the church basement on Saturday morning, April 19, for free donuts and juice, and an opportunity to have heads shorn. Going under the clippers were Brian Geib, Ed Hershey, Kent & Quinn Peters, Jake Nolt, and Steve Snyder. (Stacey Shenk and Blake Strausbaugh got buzzed later.)

LoriJo and Crystal Sherer (aptly named) did the clipping at the event, which was called "Krew Kuts for Karlie!" Karlie then posed for a picture with each participant so she can put the photos into her scrapbook to remember those who have supported her and encouraged her in this "extreme" way.

Plans are moving ahead for the congregation’s June 21-28 mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Fifteen Chiques volunteers will assist Dominican Brethren in leading Vacation Bible School for hundreds of children in multiple congregations. Primary responsibilities will be assisting with crafts and games, doing a puppet show, and participating in evening worship services. A goal of the trip is to build relationships with Dominican brothers and sisters.

The group has met monthly since January to prepare for the trip. Guest speakers familiar with the Dominican Republic have provided helpful background information. In addition to ironing out travel details, the group has chosen "Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus" as a theme for the week. Based on Hebrews 12:1-4, this theme was also used at the 2005 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.

The group is planning activities, songs, games, and a puppet show (with puppets and help from Sandy Brandt). Daniel DeOleo, pastor of Maranatha Multicultural Fellowship, in Lancaster, is assisting in the translation and studio recording of the dialog for the puppet show. The group also will take a collection of stuffed sheep to give to children as a memorial project to honor Collin Peters.

Participants in the trip are Carolyn Fitzkee and Sally White(coordinators), Tina & Jennifer Brandt, Kristen & Stephanie Bruckhart, Michelle Ebersole, Carrie Fitzkee, Annie Hickernell, Kent Peters, Travis Pierce, Janice & Diana Shenk, and Norm & Rachel Yeater.

The church is paying $420 per participant. Individuals will pay for their own travel and related expenses. The Good Shepherd Sunday school class is donating $50 per person toward these expenses. The Brethren World Mission Fund has agreed to pay for all supplies needed for the trip. In addition, approximately $1,500 of gifts given in memory of Collin will be used for a yet-to-be-determined project or purpose related to the trip.

Two women received special gifts at the closing session of Neighbors Sharing & Caring on Tuesday, March 13. The group presented Missy Shenk with a cookbook full of personal recipes. Missy and her husband, Joel, recently lost everything in a house fire. Rose Hickernell received a special book of memories, celebrating the completion of NSAC’s 20^th year. Rose has been involved from the beginning and is the current coordinator. "Missy and I both were very surprised and blessed," says Rose.

NSAC closed with its traditional brunch and beautiful signing by Denise (Haldeman) Bruckhart to several songs. Since Easter was early this year, NSAC ended earlier than usual.

This was one of our best years, with an average attendance of 37 women, and a good amount of babies and pre-school children. We had a wonderful group of women of all ages from Chiques and the community, and new friendships were formed.

NSAC is a strong outreach for our church. There was a very strong bond among the women who participated; they offered support to each other through the week with prayer and encouragement. It was very encouraging to the planning committee and confirmed that we should "press on."

Plans are now underway for the 2008-09 season. Anne Pierson, LuAnn Wise, Bonni Greiner, and Ruthie Dunkle already are booked. The opening program is scheduled for October 14, so mark your calendars!

We currently are seeking someone to help as a hostess every other week and also a co-coordinator for the program. See Rose or Sandy Hosler for more information. Also, see childcare coordinator Wafi Brandt if you are able to help teach children or care for babies.

We appreciate the support that the church gives this important program for women and children. We hope you can join us in the fall! —Rose Hickernell

Librarian Linda Brubaker reports that the church library has added the following resources:

June 1—Brotherhood Missions. Funds peacemaking work in Sudan through the Global Food Crisis Fund; church planting in Brazil through the Emerging Global Mission Fund; and the work of mission coordinators Irvin & Nancy Heishman in the Dominican Republic. The portion that was to be designated for Jim and Pam Hardenbrook’s work in Sudan is being held temporarily in light of the Hardenbrooks’ resignation.

June 8—Building Fund. One of six annual offerings to support the $5.3 million building project that is now underway.

June 15—Church Treasury.

June 22—Benevolence Fund. A fund administered confidentially by the deacons to assit members and friends of the church with financial needs.

June 29—Brethren Village. Located in Neffsville, Brethren Village provides a full continuum of care for senior adults. Chiques offerings provide for needs of residents who are receiving uncompensated care.

"Remember who you are" was a common phrase that we frequently used to challenge our children as they were leaving home for activities during their teenage years. Hopefully, they heeded those words, or at the very least, thought about who they really are occasionally.

During the spring quarter for children’s Sunday school classes, we have been using the "Piecing Together the Brethren Way" curriculum, a collection of lessons celebrating the Church of the Brethren’s 300^th anniversary. As one of the fourth grade teachers, I have found this series to be very well done, educational, and interesting for my students. This important series of lessons provides for us reflection on who we are, a chance to examine our heritage of discerning Jesus’ way, and how to actively live this out in our daily lives.

By the end of May, the fourth graders should be able to tell you who we are, and in what ways we are similar to and uniquely different from other Christian churches. We invite the congregation to respond to this same imperative and join us in celebrating our 300^th anniversary. —Paul Brubaker

Leaving the last grey strains of winter in Elizabethtown, we (Nate & Jenn Hosler) happened upon the beginning of spring in the flowering trees of Bridgewater, Virginia. We traveled there to participate in the Mission Alive 2008 conference of the Church of the Brethren. The conference was held April 4-6 at the Bridgewater COB with the theme of "Celebrate a fruitful past…Cultivate a faith-full future." Speakers gathered from many districts, states, and even continents to discuss the mission of the church. They considered the past, observed the present, and imagined the future of the Church of the Brethren in mission both locally and globally.

Mission Alive convened for the opening worship and plenary session at 1:30 on Friday. All sessions opened with roughly fifteen minutes of singing, prayer, and liturgical readings. These times afforded the opportunity to focus our thoughts on the Triune God and the mission of the Church. In the first main session, Gene Roop, former president and Old Testament professor at Bethany Theological Seminary, and New Testament professor Dorothy Jean Weaver presented on the biblical bases of mission.

They explored the missional themes from the call of Abraham to be a blessing to the nations, through praying the Psalms, and onto mission as seen through the Trinity. These early sessions firmly grounded the work of the church in the biblical text. We were challenged to think deeply about the call and life of the body of Christ. This first session concluded with Galen Hackman, pastor of Ephrata COB, speaking on "Our Mission Report Card." His message aptly embodied the theme of looking back to our past, but also looking forward toward what is to come. He challenged us to become a truly missional church—one that is fully committed to going out into the world.

In the time between the main sessions there were work shops. In between these planned sessions there were even smaller spaces of time to talk. We spent much of this informal time discussing the Sudan Initiative, the most recent endeavor of the Church of the Brethren to engage in international missions. The COB was asked by the New Sudan Council of Churches to come to South Sudan to plant a church and engage in humanitarian and peace-building efforts.

Due to several resignations over the last few months this project has been temporarily postponed. We spoke with many of the people involved with Sudan about the project and also attended a workshop on the Initiative. During this workshop, Brad Bohrer, the director of the Initiative, presented the current status of the project, as well as what he learned from his trip to Africa. He emphasized that the project is not dead. There are many issues to deal with, but the COB is still going to Sudan.

A host of seminars and speakers on Saturday included appearances by "Alexander Mack"—the now more than 300-year-old founder of the COB—as well as the Bishop of the Diocese of Peshawar of the Church of Pakistan (Anglican) Mano Rumalshah. Mack, along with David Sollenberger, provided a look at the history of the COB in mission, while the bishop focused on the larger body of Christ. Bishop Mano urged the COB in North America to remember and act on behalf of Christians who are experiencing persecution in other parts of the world.

Throughout the conference we were encouraged to become a more mission-oriented church by both looking to the past and imagining what can happen in the future. We must seek to be faithful in mission both at home and away from home. We must proclaim Jesus boldly and serve those in need diligently. We must do this with great commitment and perseverance. —Nate Hosler

Caitlin Keener Stoeffler, daughter of Steve & Crissy, February 23.

Aleigh Grace Shenk, daughter of Greg and Emily, April 21

Chester Shenk, April 23.

Henry Smith, April 23.

Gene Bruckhart’s love language is service, according to his wife, Linda. That’s not a bad language to speak if you are a husband, a nursery manager, or a new deacon.

Gene and Linda were called to the lifetime deacon office at Chiques last September and got their first year of deacon visits under their belts this winter. While deacon duties are new for the Bruckharts, they have been serving in the church for many years, so many that they wondered if their time to be called as deacons had passed.

Gene, 52, and Linda, 48, always knew they would be willing to serve as deacons if called, and they have accepted their new responsibilities with eagerness. They enjoyed their first year of visits. "It was really fun getting to know the people," says Gene. "It made January go very fast," adds Linda, "but once we got into it, it was enjoyable."

Gene has been around long enough in the church that he has done some jobs twice. He served twice on the Christian Education Commission, both times as chairman, has been Sunday school class president more than once, and he currently is in his second stint as a Sunday school superintendent. He also chairs the Witness Commission. Linda has served as children’s director, directed weeks of Day Camp, taught Sunday school and Bible school, and currently is a helper in the three-year-olds Sunday school class and a member of the Nominating Committee. They have sung together in the choir for nearly 30 years.

In fact, they first noticed each other in a combined choir program in October 1978, when Chiques and East Fairview COB choirs (Gene’s home church) sang together in a program. They got married two years later in January 1980. They have been making beautiful music together ever since. They are parents of three daughters—Nicole Hess, 25; Kristen, 22; and Stephanie, 17.

Like most parts of Gene and Linda’s lives, their wedding date had something to do with plants. "January is the best time of year for a nursery man to get married," Gene explains.

Gene began working part time for Stauffers of Kissel Hill in March 1972. He worked at the Leola store for almost 30 years and now is Nursery Manager at the Lititz store. He recently was recognized for 35 years of service with SKH. Linda works in the office at Manheim Central Middle School. A major responsibility of hers is tracking attendance and checking up on absent students.

Raised on a farm along Doe Run Road, Gene would have liked to farm, but didn’t think it was economically feasible for him. Instead he studied horticulture for two years in high school and began working for Stauffers. Linda, too, is a plant person, having studied floriculture in high school. A brilliant bouquet of red and yellow tulips graces their kitchen table as we talk.

At home, they have a division of labor with their beautifully landscaped lot between Lititz and Manheim. Gene is in charge of trees, shrubs, and vegetables. Linda specializes in flowers.

On their small "plantation" they have managed to fit in eight kinds of fruit— strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples (including six varieties grafted on one tree), pears, plums, nectarines, grapes, and rhubarb—and many other beautiful and edible plants. "We fit a lot in a half acre," Linda observes.

Gene’s one-time passion was day lilies; he has some 20 varieties. He also has thousands of daffodils that he saved from the SKH scrap heap over the years and planted on the lower edge of the lot. Among his favorite plants are unusual things such as his pecan trees and a katsura shade tree. He also loves growing and eating rhubarb.

"Plants are his work and his hobby," says Linda. At work he enjoys waiting on customers and helping meet their needs. (There’s that love language again.) "I do enjoy talking with people and about trees and shrubs," Gene agrees. "I’ve always enjoyed helping customers and working with plants. After you do it long enough, you get to be somewhat knowledgeable."

He also shares his knowledge routinely with people at church, who seek his advice on trees, shrubs, and landscaping. This spring he found a new way to share his expertise when he gave a presentation on plants of the Bible at a Senior Luncheon at church. For more than 20 years he has combined his interest in plants and his knack for service by caring for trees and shrubs around the church. "I kind of keep my eye out for things that need done," he says.