Chuck's Update

Dear family and friends,

All summer, I was planning on coming back to BJ and get the teaching biology degree to get certified in teaching high school.

Well, just 3 weeks ago I found out that I can’t get another B.S. from BJU, but since I got a B.S. in Biology and already have been certified in Elementary Education, I can just add on an additional area of certification without any further course work, but just take the Praxis II test in Biology, and I’ll be certified to teach Biology.

I agonized over what I should do next--I desperately wanted to do God's will, but didn’t know what His will was. It’s times like these that perhaps I need to think on how I can bring God glory and focus more on being the man God wants me to BE rather than focusing on what He wants me to DO.

I also found out that Pensacola (PCC) in Florida has a state certified masters in teaching science—a field I feel I need more experience and preparation in before I begin teaching. However, the courses are offered only during the summer sessions, and not Fall and Spring.

So, school doors were kind of closing, and I didn’t know what to do next. My brother suggested I email the principal in Guam that I met last summer, and who offered me a science teaching position, to see if he still had an opening. I put it off a few weeks and then reluctantly--because I was scared he might actually have an opening--I contacted that principal in Guam (where Ginger is) and he said he still needed a Biology teacher! Well, I prayed about it, and the pieces just seemed to fit together and a door open wide, so I told the Lord: Lord, if you want me to do this, please let me know. Numerous family members and people at my church told me I ought to go for it. I was praying "Lord, I think this is your will, and I'm going for it, and if this isn't your will, please stop me." I still wasn't sure, but I told the principal a few days later that I was interested and he was overjoyed because he was praying that someone would come, and I had been on his mind for teaching a Biology class, because they were one teacher short.

All of this in combination, although there's still some fear and anxiety, has given me a peace about it.

So, to make a long story longer :) I sent in my application and resume today and he said he wanted to hire me and would send me the contract by email and arrange for me to fly to Guam this Sunday! Talk about sudden! But that's the way God works sometimes!

Thank you for your prayers, and I know I'll need some more as a new teacher in a new country! I'll be praying for y'a’ll as many of you are starting school again soon. I'’ll miss you guys. I thank God for the opportunity and time I had to get to know you. Keep in His Word and be faithful in doing whatever He has put before you. I pray that God will direct each of you to the place and ministry He has for you.

I plan to leave this Sunday (July 30th) at 6:30 AM and arrive in Guam 24 hours later. Please pray that I’ll have a safe trip and opportunity to be a witness while traveling. Also, please pray that God would use me to impact those around me in Guam for Christ. Amen!

My BJU address will expire soon, so my new email address is:
chkannon@netzero.net

Please let me know how things are going for you and if there's anything I can pray for.

God bless you all,
Charles

Chuck's News

Charles is leaving for Harvest Christian Academy in Guam this weekend. A lot of things came together to make it clear that he should go. He'll be teaching biology, Bible, and a couple of other JH classes. This is a huge step for Chuck, and he needs your prayers, but we're excited for him, too!

More old pics

Grandma, shopping in Columbia, dressed to the nines. Look at that hat and those gloves! This must have been shortly after she was married (married in '34, so maybe late '30s)











Grandpa, in his suit and bow tie. He looks very dapper! Not sure when this was taken--possibly before he was married.



Grandma as a young girl. She was so pretty. Her hair was dark brown and fairly straight when she was young.























Grandma in the middle, with two of her friends. The one on the left is Mary Vernon, who became a doctor. She died only a couple of years ago, and they stayed in contact all their lives. I'm not sure who the one on the right is. I like their dresses!








Grandpa and Grandma arm in arm. This must have been shortly after their marriage. A handsome couple. Grandma always said that "Willie wasn't a 'handsome' man but he had such a wonderful smile!"






















Grandma in profile, probably in her early '20s. She was married at 19.























Portrait of Grandpa as a young man. He has a very sensitive face. Note the "Dinkins ears" that we kids all have!





















Grandma with Uncle Will (on the truck) and Mom!

















A "music party." Grandpa loved music, and loved to play his fiddle. Grandma played the piano. They are standing together behind the two seated at the piano. Seated at the piano are Mr. Smith, Gpa's friend, who played the violin well. Next to him at the piano is Aunt Sis, and standing behind her was Uncle Doug, her husband. Aunt Sis married in her '40s. Grandpa brought his friend Uncle Doug home with him, and he and Aunt Sis got to know each other and eventually married. Uncle Doug was a civil engineer--he built the barns out behind our house. From what I've heard about him he was a very quiet, sweet man. I'm not sure who the other people in the picture are.

Old ancestral pics

I thought some of you would like to see these. I don't know if you can download them from the site...? Let me know if you want a high-quality copy and I'll email them.




Robert Brownfield Dinkins, Grandpa's father, who had a glass eye. Notice he's turned so it doesn't show. His wife, Mattie Doby Dinkins, who died young (Gpa was only 5). The little boy is Gpa's older brother who died very young of a fever. The baby is Gpa's older sister, Leila, "Sis." Grandpa was not born yet.

Robert Brownfield was the man who built our old house (that burned), with the help of a former slave, Simon.

Pics from the 4th

I didn't get many good pictures--though I got some cute videos--so please upload any pics from the 4th that you have!

Dayton and Erin come to Em and Jeff's

Here are some pics from July 8th...Dayton, Erin, Grace, Isaiah and Will spent the afternoon at our house. Dayton & Will kept Jeff entertained with stories of guns and explosions, and Erin and I talked about kids and pregnancy...how gender-stereotyped is that! :D It was so much fun seeing them. Grace enjoyed running around outside, eating grapes, and picking flowers. She called the blueberries "bad grapes."

4th of July

As soon as I can get them off Jeff's computer, I'll post a few pics of July 4th. We had a great time...it was very hot as usual...but we had all the food & family you could wish for. There were a lot more little kids running around this 4th. It seems like each year there are more! Of course, this 4th was special because Dayton and Erin were visiting from Thailand. Grace has grown so much--she's almost 3--and this was the first time we'd seen Isaiah. I enjoyed walking Grace around as she played in the "dirt" (the sand they put on the beach at Dinkins' Mill) and went on a canoe ride. She was scared of the doggies and kept telling them "I am nice!" We also enjoyed little Isaiah...a very easygoing, "cool" dude. Jeff took a nap in the room with him and found out Isaiah likes to stand in his crib and talk to his pacifier! Ella was cute as always, even though she was a little tired from having her schedule disrupted. Even when she's upset, she's entertaining to watch...she can do so many mouth noises and funny expressions! The little guys all had fun splashing in the kiddy pool.

We had a good time catching up with relatives, playing the guitar and mandolin, hearing Chuck's version of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," and of course sampling everyone's favorite dishes! Kimberly and I took a spin on the inner tube pulled behind the boat, and the guys went fishing...Laurance caught a huge bass.

Pictures coming soon. Please add your own too. (Check out Laura's blog for some 4th pics!)