Allen and his two sisters were born in Ohio and grew up 35 miles away in Indiana. His ancestors settled in Indiana before it became a state, in 1816. His grandpa was a school principal.
Allen met Merlene when he was a sophomore and she was a freshman at Berea College in Kentucky. It was love at first sight on his part, he says. They got married and didn't finish college, but have lived to see the blessing of all four of their kids graduating. Rick is a 5th grade teacher by choice, though he has two masters and a doctorate in administration. Debbie is a full-time pharmacist. Charity just got her doctorate in writing and is a professor at the University of Baltimore. Amity has a masters and works at Dickinson college helping graduates find jobs and make career choices.
Allen enlisted in the Air Force to avoid the draft. After basic training he went into television school. He and Merlene lived in twelve different states the first twelve years of their marriage! When Rick was six months old Allen was sent on a "remote tour" to Alaska for twelve months, to St. Lawrence Island. He didn't see the family that whole time, though he could place a phone call once a month for about 10 minutes. He wrote to Merlene every day, once sending a 10 foot handwritten letter on teletype, and often making audio tapes for her.
He was about 60 miles from Siberia on a WWII Aircraft Early Warning site. He was the engineer for a full broadcast television station. They presented many films such as movies, network shows, live news, studio wrestling, talks by visiting chaplains, and Allen himself acted the part of Kaptain Kangaroo for the local Eskimo children from the village a couple miles away. The first month of that remote tour Allen came to know the Lord after a visiting military chaplain shared Philipians 4:11-13. In his own words, Allen went from a crybaby (about things like the military separating him from his family) to an on-fire-for-Jesus crazy man.
And now I quote Allen: "That fervor for Jesus continued to grow in the next four assignments, finding ourselves back in Alaska, this time as a whole family. It was in Alaska we began to experience the move of the Holy Ghost in our lives more powerfully. We loved the military life experience and against all worldly "better judgment", I decided to leave at the end of nine years to seek God and be where we could best serve Him. That search ran from Modesto CA to North and South Carolina, to Carmichaels, PA. Ah, the grace of God! Sends us to a place where many are leaving "for better things". Been here now going on 36 years and experienced both good and bad, content, yet more aware all the time that "We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us", and ever blessed to be part of the living body of Christ, His church."
The Foxes live in an amazing old house that was built as a two story log cabin around 1790! Around 1860 an addition was added in the post and beam style. Merlene says it used to be called "The Lincoln House" after a family that lived there, and later "the pigeon house" after some birds that lived there when it was empty for years. This is where Allen bases his Electronic Service business. He repairs televisions, does the maintenance for a local Christian radio station (BBN) and works for the church as our audio-video guy. Merlene and Allen took the Brian King family under their wing at the time of Karen's illness with cancer many years ago. They still have Rhetta and Bess over twice a week and Brian joins them too. Merlene has done childcare over the years, and is currently caring for a little girl. They have three grandchildren - Veronica, Kylie and Eli.
making bread
and fixing the entertainment system
John has allowed me to paint a map of Israel on our living room wall, in preparation for our trip next month! And it helps when reading the Bible too. I'm learning a lot. The colored dots show each day's planned destinations.
Allen and his two sisters were born in Ohio and grew up 35 miles away in Indiana. His ancestors settled in Indiana before it became a state, in 1816. His grandpa was a school principal.
That is to say, Pat and Charlene admitted they hadn't considered the small passage into the kitchen, and may have chosen a refrigerator that's too large to pass through! Pat's husband Don is measuring doubtfully, and the pastor is checking the old one out for himself.
We feel a little foolish, but check the next blog post. It all works out.
We know it can't be permanent, but it sure felt lovely outside today. See the woodpecker!