The Golembeski's
Thursday, July 13, 2006

The Golembeski's I can't even begin to describe how great this whole experience has been. From the accommodations of members of Northeast to just the whole experience of VBS and prayer booths at the train station. Me, Tammie, Nick and Brandy are all staying at Walt and Vikki's castle. What a magnificent home they have. They have two sons and two daughters. The oldest son (Ryan) I only have met a couple of times in passing. Evidently he has a job or something in probably New York that has consumed most of his time. He is the oldest of the four. Then there are two twin daughters ( Lauren and Kristen ) they are 20 and both home for the summer from college. Lauren goes to college in Michigan, I can't remember the name of the college. This girl has made a life long impression on me. What a wonderful instrument for the Lord. Her heart is made of Golden love for the Lord. When the Lord commands us to Love the Lord with all your heart and Love your neighbor as yourself, she is the perfect example for this commandment. Her devotion to the Lord speaks for itself. Kristen goes to Boston U. I really haven't gotten to know her as well as I have Lauren, but just from the short time that I have spent with her, I can tell that she is full of the Lord herself. She has been so nice and so sweet to us. Jonathan, what can I say about him..... He is 15, and him and Nick has formed a great bonding. I have probably spent most of the time with him and his friends, hanging out in the basement, which is actually Brandy's apartment for the week. In the basement it's like a huge teen center with a pool table, ping-pong table, fooz-ball, air hockey, a weight room/exercise room, a bar and a wine cellar ( of course the teens don't utilize this) What a great kid he is, and great friends !!!!!!! Him and I are the doubles pool champs as it stands. Vikki ( the mother ), has been so hospitable to us, from washing our clothes to making snacks and cleaning up after us, and still having plenty of time to fellowship and visit with us. Probably the perfect mother. So sweet and full of love and generosity. Walt, ( the father), a perfect example and leader for Christ. Anything that we have needed, both Walt and Vikki has been right there to make it happen. What patience both of them have had with us. Especially me. Somehow or another, on Wednesday, the bathroom in the bedroom that Tammie and I are sleeping in, kept running (all day!!!!) and of course, it overflowed and there was a leak in the garage. I felt so bad, but they acted like it was nothing. This all happened on Walt and Vikki's 31st wedding anniversary. What a great couple. To reach out to a family such as ours and love on us the way that they have. They are truly blessed and will continue to be blessed. God is smiling down on their family I am sure, thinking, this family is doing my will and I will continue to bless them for who they are and who they represent. If they ever read this blog, I just want to say.....Thank You!!!!!!!
posted by Kevin Stoxe at 12:13 PM

New York, New York

Hello !!!! I know that it has been a few days after our New York visit that I decided to post this, but with all of the activities and different things we are all doing, this has been my first chance to get to a computer.

New York City...... Wow !!!!! What an experience. We got to Long Island late on Saturday, Then after Sunday Worship, the mission trip all took a trip to New York City. We took a train from Norwalk to Grand Central Station. Then got on the Subway to Wall Street. From there we got on another Subway and traveled to Battery Park. We took pictures of the Statue of Liberty and then went to "Ground Zero". You would not believe how quiet and solemn everyone was in respect of this tragic area. Hundreds of people just showing thier respect for the people of 9-11. It was a chilling experience, yet just in awe of what had happened at this memorial.
From there we went to Times Square where we were all overwhelmed with all of the skyscrapers and multitudes of people. We ate dinner there at "Virgils" on Times Square. It is a BBQ restaurant that Tammie and I really couldn't afford, but one of our host families got the tab. God bless Nancy and Mark.
After dinner, we all split up into different groups and went where we wanted to at times square. Tammie, Nick and I visited "Hard Rock Cafe", "MTV store" ( and this was the location that they always do "TRL") ESPN ZONE, Nick and I could have spent forever here. Large screens were everywhere showing any and every game going on around the nation. Could you imagine how we would act during football season or March Madness!!!!!! We would never come home. Luckily it's only baseball season and neither of us like baseball very much.
To top things off for the day. While we were riding the subway, I noticed some gentlemen riding on the subway that sounded like they were from the south. and they were carrying some bibles. So I just opened up a conversation with them by asking where they were from.
Well they were from Alabama, and they were going to Cemenary School in New York. What the shocker was though, when I told them where I was from, one of the guys asked me if I knew a certain person's name. Well I didn't know the person he said, but I named his cousin, who, not only did I work with a short time, but his wife babysitted both of my children while they grew up. What a small world we live in...... Anyhow..... So many things I could write about New York that would fill up a book. What a wonderful experience, except Nick lossing his cell phone on the train. That was a bummer.