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posted by Michael on 04/28/11

This was no normal turkey hunt. In fact, there is no such thing as a normal turkey hunt around here, because none of us had ever turkey hunted before!

However, a friend from church happens to be a real pro, and out of his overflowing generosity he asked if any of us would be interested in a turkey hunt. He enjoys recording hunts on video, and since Jonathan enjoys video work, Jason welcomed him along too.

Our schedules restricted our possible hunting dates, but it worked out well for the first Wednesday of the season. The three of us made plans and dreamed and prepared, but as the date drew closer and closer, the prospects looked darker and darker. Cattle had to be turned loose on the chosen piece of land. The fence had to be checked, so people disturbed the area. Finally, the weather prediction called for a high chance of rain all day, starting well before light. Nothing new for this spring! Late Tuesday night I checked the weather again before going to bed and the chance of rain was reduced to 30% chance for a short time in the early morning. “At least it might not be pouring on us on our way to the blind” I thought to myself. I had the feeling we should have tried to reschedule the hunt.

For some reason, I woke up the next morning at 3:51, nine minutes prior to the time I needed to get up. I got out of bed and began to pray. Soon I began to wonder why my alarm clock wasn’t going off. Turns out I hadn’t pulled the “safety button” out! (It’s an old fashioned clock.) Wow, when was the last time I just woke up at this time? Hmmm… maybe God is in this.

Then I checked the weather one last time. Only a 10% chance of rain almost all day – clear skies now predicted! Wow, when was the last time I saw that kind of reverse in the weather prediction overnight? Hmmm… maybe God is in this.

Can you believe it? Donald got up to help, enabling us to get out the door right on time? Thanks Don! This part of the story is not so out of the ordinary but God was definitely in it!

At Jason’s house, we were treated to a delicious breakfast. Jason was well prepared and soon we were headed to the hunting blind. “I’m glad to see the cattle here in the field away from the blind” he said. Hmmm…. God is in this!

It was a beautiful morning: cool, comfortable, and clear, with the aroma of blooming honeysuckle, a colorful sunrise, beautiful mountains in the distance, and a chorus of birds. Even the sweet call of a Whip-Poor-Will refreshed us.

Jason could call like an expert: the right calls at the right time, and the right amount. I wasn’t as good at picking up the sound of distant gobbling as Jason, let alone estimating the likely age of the bird by the sound of the gobble! It turned out that no gobblers had roosted close to the blind, but some big old boys gobbled on another part of the ridge; it would just take a while to bring them in.

Then a turkey appeared! At first we thought it was a hen – Yes! Great gobbler bait! Then we realized it was a jake, followed by three more. Oh, no; now I have to decide whether to take it, or wait for something “bigger and better”. They strolled in to point blank range. It was a tough call; shoot, or don’t shoot? After what seemed like a long while of turkey watching, Jason suggested I take the shot, and I did. We learned that 12 gauge shotgun + 2 oz. of no. 5 shot packed into a 3-inch shell + point blank range = smoked turkey!

And it is a good thing I took the shot: the cows were walking toward the blind, and getting close. The blind was in a shady area where the cows like to come to loaf around when the day gets warm. If we had waited, our chances of getting another turkey today were very slim. Even better, our wild turkey dinner would be much more pleasant with a nice young juicy tender jake compared to a big, old, tough, stringy gobbler! A good  first impression of wild turkey for the rest of the family is important for the future of Staddon turkey hunting. And we can keep on dreaming of the “big one” next time!

God had sure blessed our morning. Jason’s generosity amazed me over and over again. Jonathan and Jason both took some good video, which we hope to post here in the near future! It was a very special time together in every way.

6 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by James on 04/28/11

As we sat around the table at the Osan Air Base Chili’s restaurant enjoying some American food, Andy and Renae commented to Adam and I that they wished it had worked out that the two of us could have planned to come to their house for the Easter weekend. Instantly, I knew it would be a fun thing to do, but I didn’t want to be a burden to them in any way, and I thought that surely it was not practical. I thanked them for the offer, but tried to dismiss the idea from my mind; it seemed too good of an idea to really be possible.

But when the afternoon activities were over, and we were once again seated around a small table in the mall asking final questions and making our last comments, Andy and Renae again extended their invitation. This time, since they mentioned it again, I figured I should reconsider.

After some discussion, we could only think of two disadvantages: they lived three more hours south of Osan, and neither Adam nor I brought anything for staying the night. But as I thought about it, neither of these were technically a problem. Trains crisscross the entirety of South Korea, and what’s wrong with sleeping in you’re clothes for a night?

However, the deciding factor in making the decision came after Adam made a comment that completely changed my perspective: “James, instead of focusing on what would be best, fun, or most convenient for us, we should focus on what would be most encouraging for them.” This brought great freedom! I often need to be reminded to think of others more than myself. So, considering that it would truly be an encouragement to Andy and his family, knowing that they have very rarely had any American guests during their time in Korea, and knowing also that it would indeed be an incredibly fun adventure, Adam made a few phone calls to make sure it was ok with the folks back in Gimpo, and then we headed for the car!

The rest of that evening and most of the next day was truly a blessing from the Lord! Fellowshipping more with the Andy and his family, traveling down to southern South Korea, being a part of an American Sunrise Service on Easter morning, touring the little town of Waegwan, and eating together at an authentic Korean-style restaurant, are all memories I will not soon forget! Thank you Andy and Renae (and little Jeffery too!) for your on-the-spot hospitality and excellent example of Christian generosity!

4 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Donald on 04/27/11

Does it ever come time to clean the house when you would rather be doing something else?

That’s why we have character-builders instead of chores. Daily tasks are opportunities—opportunities to develop thoroughness, joyfulness, dependability, endurance, creativity, hospitality and initiative.

Monday morning character-builders pave the way for a more efficient, hassle-free week. But this Monday! The sun was out after days of rain and the avian spring migration was in full swing. If there was ever a day in the year I wanted to  be in the woods for the early morning hour it was today. If there was ever a chance to rack up a count for Buffalo Calf it would be this Monday! But windows must be washed. I got the ladder from the barn and the rags from the garage. I set up to take care of the highest, hardest-to-reach outdoor window first. And then it dawned on me most gloriously that in addition to the afore-mentioned qualities, this was going to be an opportunity to grow in alertness: birding by ear.

Many birders find that identifying birds by ear can be done just as accurately and much more quickly than hoping for a view of a bird close enough to see its field marks. On spring mornings it can be a fun challenge to sift through the  cacophony of what is called the “dawn chorus” and make identifications by ear. And during the window-washing project was the perfect time to brush up on this skill! In birding and in life alertness and patience are key.

Without the arrival of the warblers yet, the calls requiring the most deciphering ability were the vireos and here are a couple hints if your interested. Lord-willing I can list the other species next week . . .

Vireo calls are high and sweet, abruptly-spaced and carried on over a long period of time, giving the observer plenty of time for evaluation.

• The common, typical, most-easily-observable species is the Red-eyed Vireo. After learning its call you have a litmus test for most of the other species.
• The Blue-headed Vireo (formerly Solitary Vireo) has phrases that are more deliberate, higher, sweeter. (Peterson)
• The Yellow-throated Vireo, a special bird on Buffalo Calf, has lower burry undertones with its calls.

Is there a “chore” you do outdoors today? Test your listening skills and count how many birds you can name. You well might surprise yourself!

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by James on 04/25/11

“While I’m here in Korea, I’d like to visit Osan Air Base where Dad was stationed in the 70s” I told Adam one evening soon after my arrival.

Though executing smaller excursions can make long-distance travel less daunting, there was one factor that time couldn’t rectify: getting on post. As a civilian, it is impossible to enter a military base without being accompanied by a service man.

So that’s why I was so amazed when I received this e-mail a few short days later from a friend of Robert’s: “Hi James! Robert told me you’re in Korea! I’m stationed here [in the Army] about 3 hours south of Seoul. Let me know if you need anything OR if you travel south! Take care!”

Only God could have worked out something like this. No previous contact, no detailed planning, nothing whatsoever preceded his initial contact!

So by the 23rd, I was on the metro to visit Andy and his family at Osan Air Base. Another one of my dreams had come true, and I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Really, this is only the beginning of the story. God had an even bigger blessing in store at the end of the day. . . .

2 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Donald on 04/23/11

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O Come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O Come ye, O Come ye, to Jerusalem.

Come and behold him, born the King of angels . . .
(Refrain)

True God of true God, loved from time eternal,

Lo, He shuns not Calvary’s transient cloud;

Son of the Father, begotten not created . . .

(Refrain)

The Lamb, for sinners humbled: spotless, undefiled,

Fulfils through crucifiction all of His Word.

Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

(Refrain)

Jesus eternal, now in deathless splendour,

Life unveiled by death our eyes shall see:

God as man, grave clothes could not keep Him.

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Refrain:

O Come let us adore Him, O Come let us adore Him,

O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

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O Come All Ye Faithful

John Francis Wade, 1740’s

Translated, Frederick Oakeley, 1840’s

(Modified for the occasion, Easter, 2011)

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Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know,

Spirit breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so.

Oh, this full and perfect peace! Oh, this transport all divine!

In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

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Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green;

Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen:

Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flow’rs with deeper beauties 

shine, Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

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His forever, only His: Who the Lord and me shall part?

Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart.

Heaven and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom

decline; But, while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.

- Loved with Everlasting Love

Rev. G.W. Robinson, 1876

Happy Resurrection Day 

from the Staddon Brigade

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