In an effort to move our (KingsWay Christian Ministries) to the mountains of North Carolina, we spent time looking for a suitable place. For over 10 years we looked around but to no avail. Then someone suggested that we check out the Waynesville/Maggie Valley area in Western North Carolina, 40 miles west of Asheville.

We went there a number of times and looked around and it did look promising but still, nothing was available at those times. So, we decided to make a dramatic move to the area, for a year, to be in position to deeply explore all possibilities. Plus, by being there, we could establish a “footprint” to help get established and hopefully, accepted, by the people there.

We were making some progress but winter hit the area and we suffered through some “snow-ins”. In addition, Teresa and I had several ailments; colds, flu, etc. And, Teresa came down with the shingles! That pretty much stymied us for several months.

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At Easter, we went to visit her mom, who lived two hours away in Virginia. While there she had excruciating pains in her abdomen. The next day she went to the doctor and after a series of tests, she was diagnosed with cancer. She had surgery in early May (about a week after Easter) and that removed the bulk of the cancer. However, a small percentage of it was “microscopic” and could not be removed by the surgeon.

It was a rare type of cancer that had no chemo treatment available. She tried what was available but that only made her sick. After 7 months of valiantly trying to overcome, she died in November of 2006. She was buried in Virginia. We had lots in the local cemetery there and she was buried beside our daughter who had died 20 years previously.

In addition, her insurance company found a loop-hole in her policy; they claimed “pre-existing condition” and refused to pay. I tried the legal route for a year but that was futile.

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For the time, that ended our attempt at ministry in Waynesville!

After spending a month with her 86-year-old mother, I stored our furniture and other belongings and we both came to Florida; she to her other daughter’s home near Tampa and I returned to our former home in East Central Florida, that was now owned by our son, Marty.

Now on to Part Six – – – .