Crossville, TN

This has been my 3rd visit to Crossville over the past 5 years. Many of the friends still recognize me, one brother referring to me as "the brother with the blog". I don't know what it is about this area that attracts me, but it could be that eastern Tennessee is very beautiful and I find the neighborhoods so pleasing with so many picture-perfect homes situated in such lovely settings. Many of these homes are located on lakes or golf courses and the residents are very friendly, in true southern fashion. For two days we went out in service in an area called Fairfield Glade, a few miles from Crossville. This is the area where you find these exceptionally fine properties. Much of it is a retirement community with some portions set aside as time shares.

The community is quite hilly, so it provides a good workout in the ministry. Not only are the streets fairly steep but so are many of the driveways. We wondered how people get around this area during snow or ice storms. Sister Grindstaff, who is 75 yrs old and lost her husband only a month ago, goes up and down these hills like a young woman. She told me she likes to walk, and I believe it! She is one of two original Witnesses in Crossville and remembers when they used to meet in a small room above a drug store before the current hall was in existence. About 30 years ago she and her husband used to live in Knoxville but loved Crossville so much that they decided to move here. Now there are two congregations, one of them (the North) having 160 publishers, 10 pioneers and 13 elders.

There are many deer and some wild boars in the Fairfield Glade area because of the large tracts of forest that haven't fallen to developers yet.. It was quite interesting to be working the neighborhood and see deer, singly or as families, casually munching on the householders' plants, practically oblivious to our presence (see pictures). Of course, the residents aren't happy with the deer eating their flowers, etc. but there isn't much they can do. One of the sisters mentioned that she cuts up a bar of Irish Spring soap which she then scatters around her plants. She finds that the scent keeps them away.

The weather had turned extremely hot & muggy, so much so that even local residents complained that it usually doesn't get this hot until August. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I can bear up under the heat while in service with no problem. This is important to me because I like to be adaptable to those areas that aren't as "comfortable" as California, which is a point of consideration during the preaching work as I travel.

As a final note of interest the old train station in town was used in the movie "Sergeant York", which starred James Stewart, if I remember correctly. Some of you "old timers" may remember the movie.

I decided to move on through Tennessee to North Carolina. My first stop will be Asheville and a blog update will be forthcoming. Until then. be well and keep in touch....Bro. Sappo