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Over The Coffeecups
     Warren Mitchell - Editor

TODAY'S PROGRAM 

  Scott Powell, a native of Columbus, Mississippi, is a 1983 graduate of New Hope High School.  Upon graduation he entered the funeral profession in the summer of 1983.  He is a 1986 graduate of the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he received his diploma in Funeral Service.  He is dual licensed to practice embalming and funeral directing in Mississippi and Alabama and holds a National Board Certificate to practice funeral service.  Since March of 1986 he has been a director with Leak Memory Chapel in Montgomery. 

  Scott is married to the former Robin Graham of Montgomery, and they are the parents of three children, Emily age 8, Ben age 6, and Graham 22 months.  They reside in Pike Road where Scott serves as a volunteer fire fighter.  He and his family attend Thornington Road Baptist Church.  He has been a Kiwanian since 1989, and is past president of the Good Morning Kiwanis Club. 

  The topic today will be The History of Embalming. 

LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM 

   Michael Fritz introduced Tommy Ray, a dear friend, who graduated from AUM and had a great job with Regions Bank, but felt the call to go into the ministry.  He left everything here and went to Southwest Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.  The past 2 summers he has done missionary work overseas.  Last year he went to Africa and this year he just got back from Baghdad.  He has some pictures and some words about what has been going on there.  Mike always asks him, he's not really smart or good looking or a great speaker, but people love him.  That was Mike's introduction.

  Tommy said it was good to be with us and be home; doesn't consider Mike to be that close a friend.  When he went to Africa he had 700 pictures and Mike slept through all of them.  He wanted to share a few things that happened in Baghdad and perhaps give us a different prospective of what is happening there.

  One of his professors told him there was a lot of relief work to be done in Iraq.  The war was still going on in March, but he thought it would be over pretty quick and he was asked if he would like to go there.  He left Ft. Worth on June 28th and landed in Jordan and drove to Baghdad, about 1,000 miles.  It was pretty desert all the way. (He showed us pictures as he talked.)  One of the reasons he went on the trip was that Iraq was pretty open after the war.  He wanted to help them rebuild and show the people the love of Christ.  Basically in the Arab world, especially Muslims, view America as Christian and they view Christians as what they see in the movies and TV.  They think of us as immoral and all Christians are like that.  He thought he would go over to work and show the people we have integrity.  To also show them love even though there is a great language and cultural barrier.  He thought it was a great opportunity to show what Christ could do for them.

  When they got to Baghdad and stepped out of the truck the heat was intense; felt lie a hair blower was hitting him in the face.  There was a very strong military presence in Baghdad and they were great in helping their projects get started.  Ten people were on each team working on International Relief, rebuilding hospitals, schools, medical clinics, etc.  His team worked on an elementary school that had been looted.  Everything had been taken, wiring, everything.  They worked on desks, painted, cleaned glass and got some other things started.  Twenty people lived in the school, so they had good interaction with the local people; getting the children back to school.

  They were kept under tight security.  They didn't get to go out into the public too often.

  The Iraq people didn't reject the Americans; were thankful that American freed them from Saddam.  One Iraqi, who spoke English, talked to the people in the street.  They want the military to leave, but not before 5 years.  Just a few people oppose the military.  Women are viewed as objects.  They have no say in their culture.  They couldn't become Christians.  Our women had a big impact on the local women.

  There had been an Iraqi who fought in Desert Storm; captured by Americans and stayed in Saudi Arabia.  He went to Ft. Worth and hadn't seen his family in 12 years.

  The food was great there, also in Jordan.  There is no order right now, no police, only military.  They traveled only from their house to school.  There was mass confusion, no traffic lights, everyone drives everywhere.  Order is needed so military can't leave the country.  They flew out of Iraq to Jordan on a U.N. flight. 

LAST WEEK'S GUESTS

   Milt Livingston's ex-wife, Fran, was with him and she submitted an application to join. 

  Bill Scarbrough's son-in-law, Steve Jester, from Ft. Worth, Texas joined him for breakfast.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

   Mike Winstead thought was the "Seven Wonders of the World".  A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World.

 Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:

      1.  Egypt's great pyramids.

      2.  Taj Mahal

      3.  Grand Canyon

      4.  Panama Canal

      5.  Empire State Building

      6.   St. Peter's Basilica

      7.  China's Great Wall

  While gathering the papers, the teacher noticed that one quiet student hadn't turned in her paper.  She asked the girl if she had trouble and she replied, "Yes, I couldn't make up my mind."  The teacher said, "Well, tell me what you have".  The girl's reply was:

      1.  To see

      2.  To hear

      3.  To touch

      4.  To taste

      5.  To feel

      6.  To laugh

      7.  To love

  The things we overlook as simple, ordinary and we take for granted are really wonderful. 

DISTRICT CONFERENCE 

  The District Conference was held last week at Auburn.  It was held Saturday and Sunday.  Several Members attended and will report on it later.  

 ENTERTAINMENT

   Al McLellan said we weren't over the hill.  He asked how many were raised on a farm?  It is not a job it is a way of life.  We lost a lot of farms over the past 30 years.  Then he sang one of the best songs that displays that thought; it was "Thirty Years of Farming".

 EDUCATION SPOTS

  President Elect Mike Winstead gave me the following spots and they will appear in the newsletter.

  The first Kiwanis Club was organized in Detroit, Michigan in 1914.  The group received a charter from the state of Michigan on January 21, 1915, the day that is regarded as the birth of Kiwanis.  The founding Club's name is Detroit Kiwanis Club, Number 1 in recognition of its heritage.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

   Dick Bennett was in Kentucky; rode all night in order to make the meeting.  That is what I call a dedicated member you set a good example for us to follow.

     President Wilkinson was trying to get rid of items left at meetings.  The items were a pair of glasses and an umbrella.

   Fran, Milt Livingston's ex-wife has submitted an application to join the Club.  We need more ladies to join.  Have you noticed the atmosphere of the Club changes when we have lady members?  It changes for the good.