October 2007

Well, it has been a while since we've updated. It continues to be a joy to have so much natural beauty surrounding us. We have had great fall colors from the aspens, cottonwoods, and locust trees. The average first day for snow is October 19th and we had our dusting on October 21st. It has been quite busy both with things going on at Bear Valley and other opportunities (work and play).











On September 21-22, we went with one of the families from church (the Raburns) to Gunnison, Crested Butte, Marble, Redstone, Glenwood Springs, and several off-road locations we didn't know existed to see the aspens. It was all breathtakingly beautiful but our favorite picture was taken at the observation point for the Collegiate Peaks. It was sundown and the evening cloud cover was thick when we took this picture.










Jason and Candy Moon (good friends from our Faulkner days) attended the Bear Valley lectures. On the Thursday afterward, I took them on a trip to Estes Park (Candy's first trip and I think Jason's 2nd). We had a great time and it was the first time I drove all the way through the park past the divide and through Grand Lake. That return trip made the whole day worthwhile, though we saw constant beauty.











On October 5-7, I preached a gospel meeting in Joplin, MO (the 26th and Connecticut congregation). They were very friendly and did a lot of prep work for it. On Sunday afternoon, I checked out of my hotel and explored the area. It's farm country, rolling hills, and I went out to a beautiful, apparently little-known park known as "Jiffy Mill Park" in Pierce City. The family of the original owners (1848) were there grinding corn and they gave me two huge bags of corn mill for free. Kathy has been very creative in utilizing it in many different recipes.











What I'd love to have here (and may get a pic later) is a picture of Kathy speaking to all the ladies (25 congregations and nearly 200 ladies represented) at the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Ladies Renewal hosted by Bear Valley. So many amazing compliments have been paid to her for the job she did I literally cannot tell you them all. Many have said that she was the best ladies speaker they have ever heard and repeatedly I've been told that I'm the second best Pollard speaker in our family--that stock will drop as our boys start speaking! Incidentally, I heard the same superlative comments about her efforts as ladies' speaker on the West Virginia Christian lectureship in Pennsboro, WV, the second week of September. While she was preaching the Word to the ladies, the boys, dog and I tried out a new hiking spot just south of Boulder. It was beautiful and mildly challenging (about 6 miles round trip).










On October 16th-17th, I participated in the Lubbock Lectures in Texas. Because of a major thunderstorm in Houston, it was an adventure to fly in and out of there. The Lord was with us. It was exciting for Bear Valley to have three representatives on this fine program, though none of the three of us were there at the same time. Mark Hanstein arrived on Saturday and left on Monday, I arrived on Tuesday and left on Wednesday, and Denny Petrillo arrived late Wednesday and left on Friday. I have really enjoyed my first quarter as teacher at BVBID. I'm teaching the seniors Thessalonians and Philippians. It has been a challenge to my schedule, but I've loved it!!










Finally, last weekend (10/20), Bear Valley had a workday. 40 folks showed up and much was done. We are enjoying being a part of this great church and slowly finding our place and getting more opportunities to serve and be involved.

Please come see us and let us hear from you!

Falling In For Fall--How The Pollards Spent Their Summer

It was a summer of doing a lot of new stuff for the gang. We're trying to enjoy especially the GREAT outdoors of Colorado! There's so much to do, but so little time to do it. Enjoy this pictorial storybook...












Trout fishing in Mr. Byrd's pond...











LOTS (!!!) of swimming at Mr. & Mrs. Hanstein's pool (3 days a week, 2 hrs per swim all summer long--they all got pretty brown). Mom taught them all to swim this year!! Now they're savvy divers and bottom touchers.










Learning to shoot 15 different types of guns/rifles with Mr. Hawthorne and Mr. O'Neal.











Learning to play tennis with "Coach Kell" (88 years young, but quite an athlete). They are still doing this for 1.5 hrs. twice a week. They drag mom and dad out with them, too (first thing in the morning).










Entertaining family (grandma & grandpa Pollard and Uncle Brent's first trip to Colorado)...











A LOOOOONNNNNGGGG road trip to Birmingham to attend Polishing the Pulpit...




and...










I'd say we're no worse for wear, wouldn't you?

Finally an update

In early May, I held my 2nd (and maybe last) Sun.-Fri. gospel meeting in Springfield, OH. On Friday afternoon, I got to visit the National USAF Museum of aviation history in neighboring Dayton. It was cool! The meeting seemed to go very well, too.










The newest member of the Pollard fleet is Kathy's Honda Pilot. It's our first 4WD and has plenty of space for 8 passengers, so y'all come visit!










We've had a gorgeous spring, with lots of rain (it's been a bit hot now that summer's here). It's made for a lusher lawn and lots of time spent outdoors in our backyard, which we're really enjoying! The family who owned the house before us planted dozens of perennials that bloom in a staggered way so that different things bloom from March-July. It's awesome.










We've had some Cold Harbor visitors now and again, which we have enjoyed. Glenn Myers was over with business in early May, then we had a surprise visit from Mike and Ginny Noggle at the end of that month. Their son, Jonathan, lives in Ft. Collins now.









This year I directed the Future Preachers Training Camp, which Bear Valley has hosted since 1999 (started by Roger Shepherd). I'm the 4th director. We had a great year. Bear Valley really gets involved with FPTC (as they do our Bible Discovery Days--our version of VBS, one that is more elaborate than any I've ever seen or known about). It was a double joy to have my brother-in-law, Bud Woodall, good college buddy, Jason Chesser, and some BVBID faculty to help teach classes and especially to have my son, Gary, as one of the campers. Dale and Carl are itching to be a part of it, too!!!












We did some fun activities during the week of FPTC. Saturday night, we got outfield pavilion seats in left field to watch the Rockies battle the Devil Rays. We came early to watch Batting Practice, and Gary's old man got lucky and caught a Delmon Young BP homer! They were also having a Macy's Rockies tie give away, so he and I have matching ties now.











Another perk of having Bud was Kathy getting to have her sister, Kristy, and our nephews, Lee and David. The cousins had a great time playing together all week. Lee's birthday was on Wednesday. He's 11.

I think one of the biggest highlights of the spring was getting to watch Gary go through the camp and ultimately prepare and then present his sermon. He's preached twice before (once at Cold Harbor and then where Dad preaches in Fayetteville, NC), but I think he really learned alot and seemed to really love it.










Well, that's a thumbnail sketch of life with the Pollards right now (since early May). We did the Memorial Day camp out, Kathy participated in the Bear Valley ladies progressive dinner (we had 63 adults in our home on May 11th), went thru BDD & FPTC, enjoyed family and visitors, and Kathy's taking two more classes at the school this quarter. The boys' school year is done. My parents and brother come in a few weeks, then a very busy August-November! Please come to see us and let us know how you are doing!
Love,
Neal, Kathy, Gary, Dale, Carl, and Clover

Dale Baptized On Sunday

Mike Hite took these photos on Sunday for the greatest event in Dale's life. Thanks, Mike! Below is Kathy's email telling several people and my poem in Daily Bread on Monday. We rejoice with Dale in his decision and we appreciate the many folks who have emailed congratulations and loving words.

KATHY'S EMAIL:

"Dear Friends and Family,

Dale was baptized today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has been talking about this since last September. Neal and I have been studying with him off and on, and last night it came up again. Then, right after Bible class this morning, Dale came up and said, "Mom, please....I'd really like to be baptized today!" Of course I was emotionally unprepared and instantly burst into tears. I just hugged him and said, "Go talk to your father."

I wish you could've seen his face! He was so excited. He was grinning from ear to ear. He went forward during the invitation song and Neal handled his confession, then baptized him. Dale was still grinning.

A few minutes later he asked, "Mom, did you feel this good....real, real good, after you were baptized? And just think, now I don't have to be afraid to fly anymore."

I feel like our very recent trip to Tanzania had a lot to do with Dale's decision to become a Christian. He was touched, impressed, moved... For those of you who haven't heard me share this yet, one night in Africa, I heard Dale singing in his room, "Now the Day is Over." I went in to talk to him and found him reading the Swahili Bible. He went on several studies with us. He helped hand out candy and Colorado bracelets to the Tanzanian children. He witnessed God's beautiful creation and glory when we went on safari. His heart just took it all in!

Anyway, I DO realize that I've just rambled on like a proud mother, but I wanted to share our good news with you. Oh happy day!"

Thank you for the influence that all of you have had on our sons. Thank you for being a part of their lives. And, thank you for your prayers on their behalf.

Love and rejoicing,

Kathy"

MY POEM:

“NO GREATER JOY!”
Neal Pollard

He said after class in that hectic in-between

“I want to be baptized today”

You’re never prepared nor can you anticipate the scene

When your child wants his sins washed away.

We so underestimate what goes on in their minds,

Our children we watch day by day,

Or the depth they absorb, the truth their heart finds,

In the Bible that points to The Way.

We see bursts of service, maturity, and fears

That points to their accountableness

But it still grabs our hearts and brings Mamas to tears,

When they publicly Jesus confess.

As I stood there assisting the young candidate,

The feeling was close to surreal,

This one is my child, whose conviction’s so great,

That he publicly before Christ would kneel.

In ways it’s a blur, what happened yesterday

In the moments before and then after,

The whole congregation their encouragements to say

The smiles, the kind words, and the laughter.

I’m always elated when somebody chooses,

To come over to Jesus’ side,

That means God has won one, that means Satan loses,

But forgive my extra measure of pride!

This was one I helped to bring into existence,

One possessed of an everlasting soul,

We’ve battles to go, they’ll require persistence,

But there’s no greater joy or greater goal!

5th Trip To Africa--March 22-April 7

My new book's cover (see details below).



















These rhinos passed only several feet behind us!!











Delta Class at Andrew Connelly School of Preaching (BV Extension in Kisongo, TZ)









Dale (despite mug in this shot) says he "loved" doing Bible studies.









My beautiful bride preaching to the ladies (Naama Martin translating). Hey, Nick, look at that gesture. It's CRISP!
These last two pictures are taken at essentially the same spot at the park entrance of Ngorogoro National Park. This first one was of Gary and I in June of 2004. The one below is of Dale and I in April of 2007. Don't worry, Carl. Lord willing, yours will be up there in a couple of years.














Saturday evening, April 7th, ended what by all accounts (including the eight who suffered through the world's worst itinerary going into Africa) was a wonderful trip to Tanzania, East Africa. This was an especially special trip for us for several reasons. It was our first opportunity to go with a group from Bear Valley after the first four being with Cold Harbor. It was also a trip in which our middle son was able to go with us to TZ. Dale, like Gary, loved being there! There were twenty baptisms the two weeks we were there, and we were a part of many of these studies. Kathy did studies, taught classes, and conducted three Ladies Seminars. Dale went out with us four different days to do personal work (and sat in on nearly ten studies). He also helped with various other projects we did (for example, opening coke bottles at the Ladies Day in Usa River). I conducted studies, preached at Kioga, Arusha, and Kisongo, and taught "How We Got The Bible" at the Bear Valley Extension there. I lost my voice from teaching and am still only at about 50% in that regard. Funny, no one's complaining about that. In the middle of the trip, we were able to go back to the Ngorogoro Crater for what we all agreed (those who have been on safaris in the group) was the best safari yet.
On another personal note, my first book has been officially published and is available to the public. It was my thesis for my Master's Degree at BVBID. While I would have done some things differently from a writing standpoint if I had it to do over, I'm pretty pleased overall. Hope everybody out there in blog-reading land is doing well. Congratulations to Jonathan Hadra and Allison Toth on their upcoming (when?) wedding. Also to Laura Elliott and Joseph Kelly, who will wed on May 19th in Henderson, TN. It was my privilege to baptize Laura many moons ago.

Carl and me in San Antonio

Carl looking at the Alamo church's baptismal font. He wanted to know how the people fit down in there. Makes no sense to me, either.







Carl wanted to take a picture of dad. He's a natural with the camera, even if he chooses his subject matter poorly.










Carl in front of the Alamo church.










In front of La Villita (village market place near River Walk and the Alamo). Carl thought the cowhides were cool.






Carl and I were in San Antonio for a speaking engagement I had. It was a blast!! We went to see the Alamo, ate at the Alamo Cafe, and had neat airport adventures (running to catch connections and playing the "stand by" game--we decided to try to get back much earlier than the midnight arrival we originally had). It was great bonding time. Carl is very quiet, even with us, until he has your complete, undivided attention. Then, he really opens up. It was very memorable for me, anyway...

February Happenings

Well, we've had two Pollard birthdays and lots of great visitors to our home and congregation.


Dale celebrated his 11th birthday. His big interests were Batman stuff and cowboy stuff. He's growing up! A week from Sunday, he and Carl will be participating in the Young Lions' service at Bear Valley (I think he'll be leading singing). Incidentally, Gary is serving on the Lord's table at Bear Valley all this month--that's a first here.






We've had several missionaries come our way in the last few weeks. We had a special missions' emphasis Sunday at Bear Valley on 1/28. Cy Stafford (pictured with Cary and Bonnie Samford; I'm holding their precious Aubrey) preached a great sermon on Sunday morning. It was Cy's first visit to Bear Valley (the Andrew Connelly School of Preaching has been "tied" to the school for at least five years). We love the Stafford family. Kathy, Dale and I will join six others from Bear Valley (Michael, Lynn, Melissa, and Matthew Hite and Brian and Anna Wilkie) in Tanzania next month.


Last week, we were able to attend a dinner for Mountain States Children's Home. The dinner was held at the Radisson in Longmont north of town. They had newborn potbelly pigs and our three farm boys had to get a picture with a p-b-p.








Kathy surprised me by bringing my birthday party to the building. 37 and I've never felt better!!

Happy 2007!

Happy New Year! Here's a post, mostly of pictures made in the "Holiday Blizzard" of 2006. We actually got two snows--the first was officially 32 inches deep and the second was about 9 inches deep. There was probably a day when we had at least 40 inches on the ground. Unbelievable! 2006 was a great year for us, filled with lots of emotion but so many blessings. Neal preached in 17 different pulpits in 9 states plus Paris, France and two places in Tanzania. The Pollards moved west after twelve years in Virginia. The boys participated in an oratorical, were active in the Virginia homeschool group, Gary competed in a Bible Bowl in Denver, and the three of them have adjusted to their new home with new friends in Colorado quite well. Kathy is teaching the boys at home (this is her 8th year doing that) and starting in the fall began taking classes at the Institute to earn her B.A. degree. She takes two classes each quarter. She also is teaching 2nd-3rd grade on Sunday morning. She'll be teaching a week in the "God's Precious Daughters" that begins this Sunday (1/7) at Bear Valley (for 3rd-6th grade girls). Dale and Carl will be in the corresponding "Young Lions" class. We are keeping busy, and would love to see you (whether you live near or far).

Here are the pictures...




Digging out from three feet of snow













The Pollard kids

Self-Portrait

Red Rocks after the snow













BVBID Staff Christmas Party

Terry, Marina, and Timothy ate with us the week before Christmas. They live
and work in Kramatorsk, Ukraine.