7 A Happy Anniversary… 51 years together
We we married I had lived in the same house in SF all my life. We went to Yosemite for vacations and my grandparents home. Once my family went to Disneyland in 1954 (before it was finished) and drove across the Mexican border just to say we had gone out of the state and out of the country. Tijuana was pretty exciting but we were there for just an hour. I was 12 yrs. old.
In the 51 years I’ve been married to Ron we have moved about 21 times, traveled the world and as he promised “every day a holiday, every meal a feast’.. who would know we’d be here in Thailand. We have enjoyed our time together more than I can express and have similar passions of helping others in any way we can. Serving the Lord of our life gives us great joy.
We will miss our family during this holiday season and through so many events but know they are backing us in this phase of life. We could sit and watch out the window as Ron’s grandparents did but choose to strike out in new areas of service. Being older and experienced has some benefits. You sure see things in a different light than when we were young.
God bless you in your marriage and keep close in your time together. Appreciate each other with love and affirmation. It’s certainly worth it at this end…. with love and blessings to each of you.. Ron and Peggy
www.peggyroloff.com
7 Anniversary
6 Scorpians, Gekkos and a Christmas Tree
6 Scorpians, Gekkos and a Christmas Tree
Our tree for the season
These are some of my thoughts as I decide what to write today. It’s another beautiful day and know that many of your are in the cold and freezing weather… enjoy winter it’s only a season. Meanwhile we’ll enjoy the moderate heat here! At least it cools down in the evening to about 65 or so. The day time temps are in the high 80′s.
About the scorpians.. we’ve had three appear in our house.. in the middle of the floor. They are about 3 + inches long. We have moved the fridge to see if they are coming from under there…no nest or whatever but at least we haven’t found them in the bedroom!! Praise the Lord we haven’t stepped on any as we do go barefoot in the house.
Gekkos are a different story. They live in the house too and make a little cracking noise or chirping wo we know where they are but since they are small we just let them stay.. i think they probably eat bugs and maybe even scorpians!!
I was at the market with my friend a few days ago and saw a tiny 2 ft. Christmas tree. Since neither the weather, music or decorations give a Christmas feeling I decided to get a tree… however, small one. It’s fake so we can leave it for the next folks. We’ve been invited to some various christmas celebrations. One is at another orphanage in the area and of course whatever is with our girls too. Also some kind of celebration on the 19 with the Lisu tribe and a Lahu tribe as well.. separate tribes and separate languages but our friends are one of each so we’ll go with them. Who knows what to expect… it will be fun and interesting I’m sure.
We were invited to a very large (7000) ‘Holy City Chiang Mai celebration that was held at the Chiang Mai University in the city. Last Monday night we went with or Thai friends and had a great time wiht all the music and praises. The whole thing was in Thai but we caught the spirit of it all. The speaker was a well known Korean pastor that was translated into Thai… It was pretty exciting to hear that many Christians from around the world singing and praising God. We were the only white faces to be seen.. oh, there was a group of girls from an American college that sang but we didn’t see them after. We were the only ones who raised our hands when they were asking who is from which tribe and it came to America!! We stand out in a crowd.
Holy city 7000
Please continue to pray for us as we are in desperate need of transportation. We thought there would be a truck or car available but alas it is not to be. I would so like to go out to the Land or to the market without having to call someone to pick me up. Everyone is willing but it’s not usually convievent so I’m home more than I would like.
I’m home watching the men cut down our huge tree in front of the house. They were so dear to remove a little nest of birds, set it in the truck under a big hat and just now climbed back up the bamboo ladder to place it in the crotch of the tree that’s left. Hope mama bird can find her chicks.
God bless you with sweetness and life today.. Love Peggy and Ron
5 Parting and Gardening
5 The Guys are Leaving
It’s been three weeks. The guys are leaving us. On to Cambodia for three weeks then into Africa for three months in three different countries. We’ll miss them … BUT we’re promised another group in a day or so. We still don’t know how many (one report is 15) or whether guys or gals. Rather like Christmas!
We had a special night at one of the girls homes. The last day is so hard on the team members and the girls as well. They have built a friendship, much like your days at summer camp, and now will be parting.
My teaching at the Bible College is going well.
Our third Thanksgiving (besides the one in the village called “New Rice” which would make four) was at the girls home on Saturday. We baked two more turkeys, stuffing, and other trimings to take over to the new home. Such excitement! All gathered around when the turkeys were unveiled which was quite the sight. The carcus of one was picked clean by the adult helpers and a couple of girls sitting on the floor which was the biggest bird they’d ever seen.
It was a special time of praise and thanksgiving for our lives and all that God has blessed.
Just yesterday our boys left for Cambodia. We felt a bond to them as they are so close in age to our own grandsons and daughters. Living in community for 3 weeks has a way of making you family. We get another group on sunday. Morning or evening we don’t know. there will be 13 this time. Some will be here at our home and the rest sleeping out at the Land. Then they will switch for the second week and who knows about the third. We’ll have them all here each afternoon for their debriefing and rest after a hard days work. Ron is so happy witht he last crew and the way they physically worked that he is praying the next group will be as willing to get dirty and work hard. The road will soon be prepared for the heavy rains of summer. The road has washed out each year so with a ditch alongside it will help carry the water away.
Painters on scaffolding
Our house has just finished being painted on the outside. Ron and I went to the office of our Moo Bahn a few days ago and tried to communicate that we had the labor to paint the cement wall around the property and the iron trim but you never know how much gets lost in the translation.We were asking for paint and permission. So two days ago the painters showed up with their bamboo scafolding and bare feet.. climbed all over this two story house and it looks great. The wall and iron railings were finished today. The owner of this rented house came by and seemed very happy that it is being well cared for so approved the paint job. We have the boys sweep, rake and generally clean around for the first 1/2 hour they’re home, before showers in the afternoon.
Ron and Titus picked up some cement blocks so now i have a small raised bed for lettuce, tomatoes and beans in the yard. Feels good to have our own veggies growing. With the weather here things should grow quickly.
Well it’s off to bed.. you all are just waking up and we’re settling down for the night.
God bless you, peggy and Ron
A Christmas List..
A Christmas List
As Christmas approaches I thought I would remind you of my little book.. A Christmas List and other Expectations.. It is chock full of photos of our family during the early years. What I’ve written are small chapters referring to ways to overcome adversity and keep a joyful heart. You can get it on Amazon.com. Our staff will be sending out the signed copies. (search for ‘A Christmas List Roloff ‘ and get a new one for $9.99 plus shipping! Unless you want a used one for $65.00!!)
God bless you in this Joyous Season.. Peggy
4 Church in a Truck
Thanksgiving
If you think one Thanksgiving meal is enough then three would be a feast… a continual feast. Elsie and Michael, our next door neighbors who work with Remember Nhu and have lived in Thailand for three years, wanted to gift the house parents with a special treat of an American Thanksgiving. They love any experience that’s different as do we. Elsie was able to find some frozen turkeys that had come in from the States (turkeys aren’t grown here). I baked some corn bread from a little Jiffy box of corn bread muffin mix to add to a loaf of bread that I made stale and with liquid from the giblets cooking and a bit of sage from Elsie the stuffing turned out great.. oh, I saute’d an onion and some celery (bok choy stems) in butter then added some precious almonds I had hiding for Ron and me a special treat!! Elsie made creamed corn, had rolls and made the best gravy i’ve had in years. I peeled yams (much smaller and different) but with brown sugar and butter for sweet potatoes and a small bag of marshmallows to top it off we had a family favorite. Long beans are 3 ft. long.. cut in sections mixed with my white sauce and topped with Peggy’s french fried onions sure added color and were yummy.
Blessings, Peggy and Ron
3 A day in the life of….
We are enjoying spending time with the girls and encouraging the house parents. They cling to us as old time friends.
I have gotten the opportunity to teach at the Bible college near here as they needed an English teacher desperately.. guess I can help when they’re desperate!! I have one class I teach by my self on Tue. and Thurs. Then Wed. and Friday’s I help with small groups for the Bible class in English. These are all college aged Tribal people. 5 different Hill tribes in my class yesterday. Their English is not high yet but very eager to learn. It’s a whole new experience for me. Yesterday they explained in English and pictures on the white board all about the Thai celebration last week end. Then I had handouts for them to read and me to explain and answer questions about our Thanksgiving. They had questions about tradition and culture and what Holiday was. Hard to realize a Holiday was at one time a HolyDay.
Ron is working with the team of 20 something (years old)guys from the states who are here with Amazing Race.org while the girls are at school all day. So we are busy after fixing breakfast for our new enlarged family of 9 guys and us. Like having that many grandsons!
Ron and his crew are working very hard in the heat. They have built a little concrete block room for garbage to be protected from the dogs and other strays. They’re digging ditches where the water in the rainy season will run off the road.. since the first days they broke concrete blocks into gravel.. with one sledge hammer and a couple of handmade smashers… an old chuck of log with two bamboo poles nailed to each end as handles in the air to hold while smashing. Amazing how it actually works.
Yesterday Titus and Ron found the water leak which had caused water to the garden to cease. A piece of pipe was actually missing. So they are digging it deeper in dry concrete clay like soil so it won’t be laying on the ground but under the road . It’s quite an undertaking. Please pray for safety. I try to have
God bless. Thanks for praying, my legs are much much better and we are well. Peggy and Ron
2 Vane vs Vein
Where does the time fly?
Here we are nearly a week here with our beloved tribal and Thai friends and nary a word from us to you. Here goes…
We so appreciate all the notes of encouragment and love we’ve recieved. Thank you so much.
Vane or Vein?? That is the question..
In the email I sent I mentioned the swelling of my feet and the pain in my calf. I stayed down (relatively) with my feet raised, as much as possible. We arrived just after midnight on Wednesday here after 35 hours in transit. I brought my awful, white, stretch stockings to wear on the plane… however, they are ugly!! and I was too vane.
Elsie in the waiting room at Chiang Mai Ram hospital.
Now I’m wearing them around in front of God and everyone which is like a white flag since my pants are all knee length… isn’t that the way? We spent all day Monday at the hospital (English speaking, which again is relative). We arrived at 9 to see an internist. He ordered a blood test and ultra sound of my legs. We went into the “Vital sign Room” to begin the process. Then to a blood room where we were told it would be ready in an hour 1/2 or so. Since I had to return for the ultra sound at 2 we decided to leave.
Dear Elsie and Michael live next door and speak Thai. They are serving here with Remember Nhu as well and have been in Thailand for three years with their two darling boys of 11 and 14. Jerod and Justin. They brough us home where we ate some chicken soup I had made earlier. Time to return came quickly so we went back and after the test we were told it would be four before the doctor could see me again. We decided to wait. Of course it was close to 5:30 before we got in so it made for a long day.
The sweet Thai doctor who is quiet and speaks English very softly had the good news and the bad news. First the ultra sound shows strong flow of blood in my calves and thighs. Whew! BUT the blood work shows elevated d-dimer. It should be 0.00 – 0.50 whereas mine is 0.93. He didn’t really explain what that means but ‘watch’. WHAT!??
I don’t have swelling any longer and there is not a hot spot but boy does my calf ache when I walk or wiggle my foot. I am going to get a foot massage later as I was afraid to when i feared a blood clot but perhaps it’s just a pulled muscle. Don’t know how as I haven’t climbed any coconut trees yet.
So for those of you were have been praying and concerned for me.. don’t know what to say but thank you. I am eager to get moving and spend more time with the girls.
We are expecting a Thai couple in a few minutes. We met Mai and Bundit (Bundy) last year. She has been in contact with me via skype all year. Her husband teaches at the Bible school in Chiang Mai. She works in the nursery school next door. They are each from different tribal villages. She is LeSoo and he is LaHoo which is the same as Titus, one of the house parents. We both have lost a son so we connected at our hearts.
We’ll be writing about our ‘boys’.. and the girls who are here in the next blog.
Love Peggy and Ron
1 Our heart’s passion..helping girls at risk
We are now in Thailand *photos will be added later
It’s horrible and tragic. I know you are concerned and wondering how to help. Young girls and women around the world are at risk even in our United States. So are we. The sex trade in Southeast Asia is overwhelming. Last winter we spent six weeks in Thailand working with a wonderful organization .. Remember Nhu.
Just weeks ago we met the lovely and mature Nhu in Portland. Our hearts stirred as we heard her personal story and the reports as to how successful the work of protecting young girls has been this past year. There are now 60 girls in two homes with more waiting. One house is finished (see before and after below) and beautiful. Funds were raised for a second home at a marvelous banquet on Oct. 16th. You can read her story and see a video explaining the work there at www.remembernhu.org under the media tab.
Just 4 weeks ago we were called of God to return. We will fill in as hosts for teams who come to help and Ron will be supervising the groups as they help out on The Land with building and repairing roads etc.. I will be preparing meals for them. We will have opportunity to love the girls and spend time with them. I will be teaching the girls additional skills i.e. knitting, crotcheting and perhaps some painting.
It’s been quite a ride!! On a Monday we recieved an email from our Thai friend Mai asking not if but when we would be returning. Then a phone call from Elsie for Newah asking not if but when. Both times we said we would not be able to go this year. We just don’t have the money. (“But it won’t cost us when we’re there.. just buy the tickets!”)
Ron and I discussed that we would love to return to do what we could to help out. “But” . So we prayed. The next day as I was doing my Bible study lesson in Isaiah God was speaking to Isaiah chapter 6 vs. 8 : “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I ; send me.”
Yet He seemed to speak to us. The next day we had a message on our phone from Elsie. I called her back via my skype phone but her husband answered. He was very encouraging as to our returning. They are a younger couple with two young sons. With their work load and teaching in Thai as well as English with the responsibility of managing the volunteer teams can be overwhelming. We would certainly be welcomed.
Serving in hospitality is an area we enjoy. We found on the following Saturday that another young couple will be going the end of January so we will be standing in the gap. In four days we went from saying ‘No’ to acquiring our tickets and getting ready to leave four weeks later.
Our granddaughter Sarah was staying with us to work at Matt and Amy’s pumpkin patch the month of October. She checked for cheap tickets and found fantastic prices through Kayak. When the prices dropped on Thursday morning by $500 each we made our decision! We have stepped out expecting God to use us.
We would like to have you follow us for the next almost four months as I blog what’s happening. I will email when I post here again if you would like. Please let us know. We ask for your prayers as we are to be gone until February 21, 2011.
With love and blessings to you, Ron and Peggy
If you want to assist with the work with the girls or sponsoring the total care of one or more is offered at www.remembernhu.org on the ‘impact’ page. If you would like to help us in any way you may make a donation to Remember Nhu with a note in the memo “Roloff Trip” they will send you a tax receipt and they will reimburse us toward our tickets and other expenses. Remember Nhu P.O. Box 797 Brunswick, OH 44212
Very good friends Dave and Julie White have offered to deposit any personal gifts for us into our checking. Their address is 18965 NW Illahe St. , Portland, OR, 97229.
Autumn thoughts
Since we’re half way through October I am beginning to wrap things up on my book. I began the project a couple of years ago and have gone through so many titles (even though I know a publisher will have the last say). It is full of stories and hope. I plan on having it completed by the end of the year. Whether I send it to publishers or self publish will be the next big question.
Harvest time is here
2009 Hand painted china
As autumn arrives it’s time for pumpkins at Roloff Farm nearby in Helvetia. Our son Matt with his family have operated a pumpkin patch for over 10 years. The past few years, since the television show, Little People, Big World began the numbers of folks visiting for the month has increased.
 Ron and I greet visitors each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What fun duty. Molly and her friend Sarah work with us on most Saturdays and Sundays. As sheriff Ron strikes an imposing figure. I am his deputy as a pioneer woman.
We’d love to see you at the farm so be sure to take the tours, especially the tour to the old west town.
I have posted photos of the new harvest china I’ve designed and painted for Roloff Farm this year. If you come please check out the glass display case in the merchandise barn but if not then view on line here on this site. (I don’t have the photos up yet)
Speaking schedule
We think it will be good to let you all know where we will be speaking in the near future. If you are in the area and it’s an open forum then please join us. Some venues will not be open to the public so if you have a place that you would like to invite us to speak please contact us. We have had several inquiries from the east so perhaps something can be worked out. If you would like to have Peggy or Peggy and Ron come to address your group just respond in email: peggy@peggyroloff.com
The year has passed. January and February I’ll be speaking at women’s conferences in California. I’ll post the flyer here when it is published.
Papa’s Page
Be sure to check out Ron’s page called Papa’s page. I’m encouraging him to blog there so you can comment and he’ll respond!
Winter Wonderland
It is beautiful today since our big snow storm and Artic Blast here in Portland and surrounding areas. It’s colder than normal but the sun is out today so there are warnings of ‘black ice’. Tonight is the Winter Wonderland on TLC with the family so we are anxiously awaiting.
My big brother had his hip (same as mine) replaced on Friday and today is doing well. He is back east but we are checking on one another. His dear wife is sure a God send. I couldn’t have done it without Ron so am thankful everyday for a loving and kind husband.
check out the daily blog
I’m blogging about my surgery at www.ronandpeggyroloff.com so stop by and check out what is going on.
Blog
The first day of pumpkin season was warm in weather and spirit. Ron and I worked the Old West Town and greeted folks from Canada, Nebraska, Ohio, California, Texas, Virginia and across the street from us and other exotic places…. Ron had a good conversation with a woman from Serbia. Always dear and interesting people come to the farm.
We had a wonderful day, looking forward to tomorrow and the other week ends of the Month. Hope we see you there…