IN JUST OVER NINE HUNDRED DAYS, I will be eligible to receive the benefits of social security as is indicated by my (Day BR) countdown.

The number of days until my sixty-second birthday as shown on that countdown is close but not exact and by not revealing my actual birth date, I am able to protect my personal information and identity. We are living in critical times!

When the end of this countdown arrives, I should have an income that will sustain me in this time of the end, hopefully continuing to sustaining me until the last day of this system. Nevertheless, as conditions in this world deteriorate, I hope this income will continue to sustain me despite the ever-increasing cost of living.

Therefore, in order to increase my ability to exist on the amount provided by the government social security system, I have chosen to move to Mexico where the cost of living is still quite a bit less than Whidbey Island or for that matter than any where in the United States. This is a move that will happen if I am able to do so, again, we are living in the last days.

Nevertheless, I am aware that some of my friends do not agree with my choice in how I wish to live and serve God. Some in their effort to encourage me not to leave have told me that Oak Harbor is still where there is need.

My reply to them is the same now as it always has been: Not according to the faithful and wise servant who have most recently made requests to all those who can, to move to Mexico. (Matthew 24:45)

Too, in choosing this path, I must take up my personal torture stake to enable me to more fully follow after the example set by Jesus. (Matthew 16:24)

Despite any contrary comments, however, I have prayed much about this matter and have come to decide that for me to follow Jesus in the way that will be the most beneficial for me, I must deny myselƒ those possessions that most people consider absolutely necessary for life in this system.

Yes, the above verse has helped me gain considerable insight to recognize the personal need to be totally detached from a home, a television, a lawn, a garden, a driveway and many of the other possessions considered normal things most people feel they need in order to live comfortably.

Are we not in the last days? No, in fact, as I understand it, we are in the last hours of this system of things and the thought of comfortable lifestyle can no longer and will no longer be part of my vocabulary of possessions.

Most important, please do not misunderstand my intentions for choosing this direction for my life, I am not seeking martyrdom nor am I seeking an ascetic or even an austere lifestyle.

No, far be it from these as I do so enjoy the comforts of some possessions! Rather, I choose this path for my life because I feel that this is what is personally best for me; what I must need do to accomplish God′s will, to the best of my ability!

Neither will I ever preach my lifestyle choice to anyone else; instead, I will continue to preach only the good news that Jesus taught.

Please know that I am aware that this lifestyle, this path I personally choose is not for just anyone, neither are there many of us, the so-called wayƒarers, who, in these days, are both able and willing to choose to live their life in this manner.

Too, by our choosing this path, we must needs acknowledge that the vast majority of our brothers will make the choice to support themselves and their families in this system in a way that means having those same possessions we, the wayƒarers, have chosen to deny ourselves. So, for all those of our brothers who have made that choice, those ones with possessions, we must not, no, never hold that choice against them, nor ever say a word to the contrary for their choosing it.

Notwithstanding, we will with our whole body, mind and heart, continue to pray that all of out brothers make it into the paradise. Just as important, I pray for these ones who have these same possession I personally have given up, that they will never think ill of me for choosing to follow this path, this lifestyle which is dispossessed of all these normal things. Indeed, I so desire greatly that each and everyone′s prayers will continue for me to be successful on this path of my choosing, especially since it correlates with the doing of God′s will.

Therefore, in taking up the path as mentioned above, I have embraced the need to be free from the restraints of what is commonly know as a normal life. Further, in saying this, I know that understanding this concept is hard, maybe even impossible, for some if not most of my friends and family to be able to grasp.

Still, I believe that the best way I can explain what I am endeavoring to acquire in my life, is to use the words of the master Jesus Christ, and how he answered when he was questioned. Matthew 8:19, 20 “And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

Therefore, because of his words here, I see him as truly the master of what this wayfarer is striving to aspire to. This wayfaring life is the Real Way to life for me.

Consequently, one brother questioned me "If you are selling your home, will you not become homeless?" I explained to him that I do have a home, that it is a recreational vehicle with four wheels and a spare tire. Also, I asked him "Is gaining everlasting life about what possessions we have, or is it in fact about doing God′s Will?" He agreed that possession will not get us into the paradise. Yes, everlasting life is our goal, and we each must decide what path is best for us to walk in order to achieve this ultimate goal of everlasting life.

Now I desire to quill as words here upon the quire, the need to take upon this wayfaring journey, and if my path finds me in México to serve where the need is greater, then so be it. If not, then I will continue on my path forward to the paradise. Thus, since my arrival in this harbor, the sails have dropped and soon will be stowed away in dry bins until the time when the warm winds once again blow southward.

It is very cold in the house when I go in so I turn on the propane fire place to warm up the living areas. It is about six-thirty and just moments before the sunrise. After the house warms up, I take a cold shower; the water is still cold because I have not turned on the water-heater yet. I will probably do so soon but for now, I am happy with just a cold shower.

Later in the morning, I go to the coffee shop to access my email and work for a while on my web site and then four brothers show up for a break. We visit for a while and when they depart, I return to my work of the web site.

In the afternoon, upon returning home, I decide to clean the inside of the van so I unload my things into the front bedroom. Later, I prepare something to eat and then retire to my sleeping birth, still in the back of the van.

Today, I get up early, have tea and oatmeal while studying for the meeting. Arriving at nine-thirty I find the hall open and several of the friends already here.

I see sister Louella in her car and walk towards her. When she sees me, she gets out and walks to me for a big hug. As I am walking back towards the hall, Larry and Luanna greet me with a hug and Luanna asks me if I will go to see her mom. The hugs do not stop inside as I renew friendships and acquaintances.

Later, I go to JP and Sherry′s home for supper and association with a dozen friends.

Afterwards, I return to my home to read and then retire for the night.

I sleep in until after the sunrise and finally get up, prepare tea and oatmeal and get ready for the meeting for service. Before going to the hall, I fill my gas tank, stop at the coffee shop to check e-mail and then to the Post Office to mail my rent. I make it back to the hall just in time.

We drive to the Troxel area and work near Alamo street. After repeated not-at-home′s and not-interested′s, John and I finally find a young woman who is very receptive. After sharing some thoughts and a scripture, she makes the comment “This has disrupted my entire thinking.”

John and I both think that she means this in a good way because she accepted the magazines and says that she want to read them.

The afternoon is also busy as I find myselƒ catching up on several needed chores. I first go to the rental home I manage on Ronhaar and put a tarp over the roof wind damage.

Then I return home to repair the wind damage here, mow the grass including the area near the road where I place my For Sale sign.

Again, I awake after the sunrise. What is wrong with me? It must be the pollutants in the air! My eyes are puffy, my sinuses are thick and I feel tired. And, this is only the fourth day that I have been here.

I make it to the hall by nine for the field service meeting and spend the day with three others. We stop briefly for lunch and I only have a cup of coffee. After stoping for the day, I go to the grocery and spend twenty dollars to resupply my pantry and with what I previously had, my stores should last a week or more.

Next, I go to the coffee shop and do some work online before returning home by nine to prepare for bed.

Today I saw a sign near a front door which read: “Just another Day in Paradise” and I stopped and thought to myselƒ ‘How I wish.’

That′s better! I think as I awake with the stuffy feeling nowhere near as bad as yesterday. It is approaching dawn when I awake this morning and watch the room as it fills with daylight.

Later, I go out into the garage storage room and find my bird feeders, take them to the deck to hand from the beams. Now, I just need to buy some bird feeding seed for the small birds, suet for the wood peckers and sugar for the humming birds which I plan to do soon.

It is a late in the morning, the sun already one hand high when I arise, so I go about my routine; I take a shower, eat and prepare for morning service. The first stop before heading to the hall is the post office to mail my tax extension.

Sister Louella is here when I arrive and then Patrick walks up. Louella goes on a study and Patrick and I do calls and a study.

This afternoon, I prepare the van for servicing my vending machines and hope to have a good income from the seven months of sales, however, I know not to expect too much. It is after five o′clock when I finish loading the vending supplies and begin looking for the lady who called earlier to see my home.

She has moved here from southern Indiana to be with her family and she is looking for a home to buy. When she arrives, she is with her daughter and granddaughter and I give them the full tour of the mobile home and land.

Afterwards, I choose not to cook but go out to eat and have hot tea, salad, rice, chicken and beef teriyaki. It is a tasty meal for ten dollars, but I think afterwards that ten dollars is more than I have or wish to pay for food, however, the salad and meat is a nice treat for a change. Then I return home and get ready for bed.

The count has gone below 900 and still a triple digit giant and marks on more milestone passing with the next major milestone being when I go below 100 BR and become a double digit giant. Yes, today is just one day closer to paradise.

I awake at seven and go through my routine of preparing hot water for tea and oatmeal, then the propane runs out and I will have to refill the bottle. I am thankful that it was after breakfast.

At eight-fifty I head to the hall for the service meeting, it being only five minutes away and wait to see if anyone is going out today. At ten minutes after the hour, two sisters (Joann and Debbie) show up and we begin with a prayer and begin with some door to door.

We stop just after noon and I begin servicing some of my vending machines. I find one of the stores has closed and there is a new store soon to open. I will keep watch as to the new store′s opening.

Also, the lady who I showed my home to called and said she would pass so I clean up my For Sale sign and reposition it close to the road. Then I go to buy twenty dollars for eight gallons of propane after which I reconnect the tank for breakfast tomorrow.

The robins are singing when I awake and they continue for several hours. I awake at dawn and force myselƒ to arise despite going to bed long after the sun set last night. I am trying to get back into following old Ben′s proverb: “Early to bed, Early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

I am in it for the healthy part and want to return to my early morning walks before the ministry. I see others (most of whom are scantly clad) running aside the highway next to heavy traffic and I think that these, weather they acknowledge it or not, are exhibitionist. Why else would they be running, almost naked along the highway where the fumes from the traffic seriously deteriorate the air quality.

Here in Oak Harbor, I have always walked at the track and even there, when the trucks go by on the highway some two hundred yards away, I can smell the fumes. But this is just the opinion of an old wayfarer.

I finish my breakfast and prepare for the service meeting at the hall at nine-thirty. Later, I go to the coffee shop to upload the first few pages of revision one of my new web page design which include all seven Quires of my online journal. Soon, I hope to include more pages to have this new upgrade of my website.

I return home just before dusk and prepare for bed.

The sun had risen long before I arouse from sleep, it being one hand high when I finally rise sometime before seven. I go through my routines and then begin studying for the meeting.

A little after nine I don my suit and head for the hall, stopping first to get a cup of coffee. After the meeting I return home and work some more on updating my web site.

Then, at four, I go outside to mow the grass which is growing very fast at this time of the year. Finally, I have supper and return to my computer and it is ten before I retire for the evening.

I awake during dawn, go for a walk, shower, eat and then watch as the sun rises before seven, the exact time is indiscernible due to the forest east of here.

When I begin writing in my journal, I realize that it has now been ten days since I have returned to this overcrowded island and according to the custom in my journal writing while wayfaring, I normally make a comment about any such place visited or activity that has been ongoing for a period of ten days.

So, in keeping with this custom, I will comment at this time in my journal, it being about this harbor whereupon I am anchored.

First, I must admit that it has not been unpleasant here in this seaport city called Oak Harbor, Washington. I say this despite the fact that I earnestly desire not to have to remain anchored within this seaport much longer but instead pray ever so dearly to be able to Journey On, yes to weigh anchor and set sail toward my new home harbor. However, the new harbor that I wish to sail to seems to me now to be ever so very distant, well past the far off horizon, so much so as to appears to me now to be completely external of my ability to cast anchor therein.

Yes, the village of Patzcauro in the state of Michoacán, México is what I would like to look upon now as my home port, the one that I so desire to return to in order to be with family and friends there. That is where my desire to be is now, the home in which I have chosen to dwell and how I so long to Journey On to it. Yet, I remain in wonder as to how long I must anchor here until I will be free to set sail to this place of my longing?

Despite this uncertainty and while my ship lay tethered within this port, I have chosen to do all that I can to fulfill the commission that has been given to us by our master Jesus. (Matthew 28:19-20) Yes, I will spend as much time in the preaching of the good news of God′s kingdom as possible while I have the time to do so. Too, if it becomes necessary, that is, if I need remain here for much longer, then I may need to obtain a part time job to support myselƒ while moored in this port.

Still, while I am aground here, I have decided to do all that I can to fulfill that commission, yes, and I am enjoying so much the increased time I am spending in preaching the good news of God′s kingdom to the people on this island, especially when I come upon a humble heart. I go out each day of the week and on one or more of these days, I spend as much as six or more hours.

Too, I have set my goal and turned in my application for the auxiliary pioneer service to begin on the first of May 2010, but even before being accepted, I have begun increasing the time this month and should be close to that goal. Nevertheless, when May arrives, I will be ready, willing and able to reach the minimum for the auxiliary pioneer service.

I use the expression ‘minimum’ because for this publisher of the Good News, it is my hope that the auxiliary pioneering will be the minimum that I will have set to achieve. Yes, if my goals are realized, I will be in the regular pioneer service by the new service year. I have been desiring this for many years and maybe this year in September, my long time goal of returning to the pioneer service will be finally realized.

During this ten day spring time stay in this island harbor, I have found the early morning temperature have been first in the high twenties, increasing slowly through the thirties and now are in the low forties. The mid-days, however, have been a pleasant fifty-five to sixty-five degrees; this being what I found so very agreeable when I first moved to the harbor village twenty-one years ago.

Too, the days are getting quite long, about fourteen hours and it is getting hard to awake before the sunrise but I think that this may be due in part to my having electricity and a warm shelter to sleep in and where I can stay awake well past the sunset, which is around eight o′clock at this time of the year.

Yes, often I find myselƒ working on my computer or reading until well after nine, and sometimes as late as ten pm. Whenever I find myselƒ awake at ten pm, which is so very easy to do here, it makes me think how hard it will be to get up and walk the miles before six the next morning. Yes, it is just on day closer to paradise.

Well, this day is well on it′s way, the sun now almost two hands high, so off I go to ready myselƒ for the morning preaching work and I conduct the meeting for the minisrry.

After the ministry, I drive to the hw-store to purchase a bundle of shingles, grab one of my ladders, drive to the rental and make the repair to the roof. I can see that this roof will most likely need addition shingles in the furture.

Later, I go to have a meal at Ralph and Frances′ home and when I arrive, find that Don is already there. Frances has prepared roast with potatoes, carrots and onions; together with the biscuits, it is a good comfort food meal.

I return home shortly after seven but I am tired because I have been awake since early today and will go to bed very early tonight.

Today, the sky is overcast with a heavy mist. I wake during early dawn, a little before six o′clock and go for my walk. I would like to increase the time spent each morning on my walk but first, I feel that I need to correct my sleep schedule to the early to bed, early to rise routine.

Once I have eliminated my sleep debt and am able to get up early, then increasing the length of my walk should be no problem. I go through my routine: shower, shave, hot tea, oatmeal, daily text and etc. Then, I get dressed for the service meeting.

I have been hoping that someone would buy my home but after the last lady said it was too small for her, I feel now that I may need to use a real estate agent to find more prospective buyers. So, if it does not sell before the district convention, when I return, I will consider talking to one soon in order to have it listed.

The car group is four and I am able to help one person see the importance of seeking God with spirit and truth, especially after she asked me how do you know what is the truth. ( John 4:24, John 17:17)

This afternoon, I apply for assistance from the state and was given some help with buying food. I will continue to accept this until my home sells and I leave for Mexico, hopefully that will be soon.

Also, I stop by and purchase a couple of blocks of suet, put it into the feeder and in no time, a northern flicker is eating the suet.

Later, I turn in early for the evening so that I can get up in the morning to walk.

Tis a second day that begins with overcast sky and heavy mist but it is also windy which makes it seem colder today than yesterday. I awake regularly now during the mid dawn, that is after the sun glow but before sunrise.

After service, which becomes only calls because of the rainy day, I go to the grocery and begin to stock up on some basics and a few other items including coffee-house ground coffee. I buy the French Roast because I enjoy the bold flavor.

Then I go home to cook hamburgers for supper and after eating, I drive to the coffee shop to work on line and while there meet Whitney who will soon begin a three month cross country journey in a VW van. We talk for a bit, I give her my card and then I drive home for the evening.

After a late evening, I sleep in until seven and awake to a sunny day. Upon arising, I eat a left over hamburger for breakfast, drip brew a cup of bold, continue with my routines and then have a little time to work on my web site upgrade. I have decided to not add a daily entries to my journal unless there is something interesting to write about, in order for this journal not to become an exercise in weather reporting.

Much of my activities, however mundane, while I am docked in this port, revolve around my routines, some of which include finishing the cleaning and repairing my home, upgrading my website and my regular participation in the preaching work. I must report that the last routine has become my favorite one, where I become better acquainted with the other ones who go out regularly, but mostly, the preaching activity is my favorite when I am able to speak to a person who shows an interest in the Bible message.

Occasionally, of course, there will be other special events that I would want to include and those reports will follow but as for my regular entries, I will now make them only a few times each month, well, at least until I spread my sails and take to the wind again.

Upon rising this morning I hear a commotion going on outside on my deck, walk out of the garage and immediately hear a flutter of wings escaping my intrusion. I walk inside of the mobile to prepare my breakfast and cup of hot while keeping an eye on the feeders.

Before I can even get my first sip, a crowd of birds return, so I finish preparing my hot drink, grab my camera and sit down near the window facing the feeders.

Again, my rising finds my deck filled with my feathered friends which again take flight fleeing from my appearance. Too, the first of my activities is my cup of coffee and before I can take a sip, the crowd of avian creatures have returned to their business of feeding from my generous portions that I have been providing them.

Like yesterday, I can not even get my first sip before the crowd of birds return. However, I finish preparing my hot drink, grab my camera and sit down near the window and resume the photographing of the birds.

Today, I am able to photograph my first photo of a black-capped chickadees as well as both male and female downey woodpeckers.

I even see my first rufous hummingbird this spring. He does not stay long enough for me to get a good photo, but as soon as he sees me, takes off.

Not too much later, the rufous comes back to feed again, and in the course of several days, the rufous hummingbirds becomes accustomed to me being here and do not flee when they sees me.

It is not long before I have to fill the bird feeders again. Too, to save on the cost of suet, I have begun saving the chicken fat that I purge from my chicken prior to eating the meat and I put the fat into the empty suet containers I have been saving each time I purchasing new suet from the store. I add a little bird seed and some corn meal to the fat and then store it in the freezer. When I bring it out and put it in the suet feeders, all of the tree climber and many of the other birds fight over the suet.

What they do not know is that they are eating fat from another bird. But, methinks, that they do not care where it is from, just that it helps them stay full.

I awake early each morning now but no longer before the sunrise which is near to or even before six am now. There is a clear sky today and a few low lying clouds are moving out of the south quite fast. I have set up my computer in front of an east facing window so that I can watch the morning while I study and type.

Although I realize that even though I wish my stay in port to only be short lived, I have come to enjoy living here with the amenities this harbor and shelter provides me. Too, I enjoy spending time with my dear friends who live in this port. The only down side to my staying docked here is the high cost of this living here and I am quickly running out of money. So, in order to be able to remain here longer, I am looking for a temporary job to help pay my expenses while I do remain docked here.

The expenses that I am referring to are the utilities; those that I am using to heat the water for hot showers, cook meals, keep the battery charged on my computer, keep lights on after sunset and provide power to do the cleaning and repairs to the home. However temporary this port call will remain, despite having hot showers available every day and hot food and hot drinks for every meal, ²  the stay here has been very comfortable for this traveler.

A large bank of high clouds have come in from the south and blocked the sun which is about two hands high making it time for me to prepare to leave for the service meeting.

At six-thirty, this evening, I watch a full rainbow in the east for the longest time. At times, it transforms into a full double rainbow but the upper rainbow is so faint that my photos only captured the lower rainbow. It continued right up until seven o′clock when it dissipated completely.

The abundance of rainbows is one of the things that I enjoy about living in Washington but I guess to have rainbows, you′ve got to have the rain.

Very cold morning but it is warming up nicely by the time I leave for the ministry.

Today, upon going inside to boil water for a cup of hot, I see a hummingbird again, however, this one sticks around to drink more of the sugar water that I have in the feeder and I am able to get a full photo this time.

Yes, I have been really enjoying the birds coming to feed here in Oak Harbor.