Connecticut

The board of the Uzima Fund met to approve scholarships for 50 St. John Bosco students in Kitale, Kenya. There are 9 in primary schools, 15 in junior secondary schools, 14 in secondary schools and three in vocational schools.

Connecticut, February 2025

Feed My Starving Children had a mobile packing event at Tokenecke School in Darien, Connecticut. It was organized by two high school students and over 385 volunteers, lots of them were students, packed 101,520 Manna meals in 472 boxes. That’s enough food to feed 277 kids for a whole year!

Connecticut, February 2025

We gathered with nine members of our former small group to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Before Covid, 13 of us had gathered every Sunday evening to discuss a book of The Bible. Now one member is in another state, and one is in an assisted living home.

Connecticut, February 2025

We participated in the Prayer Service for Christian Unity in the chapel at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, Connecticut. It was organized by Scott Brill of The Initiative and 41 people attended, including some from St. John Catholic Church and St. Luke Episcopal Church. Both of these churches are just short walk from NPC.

Connecticut, January 2025

We enjoyed dinner with an evangelist from Rome who is a Mission Partner of NPC. She is with Agape, which is part of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade) and she encourages unchurched university students to get to know Jesus and to have a personal relationship with him.

Connecticut, January 2025

We attended a coming and going away party at NPC. We welcomed Evalyn Wakhusama, who is a Mission Partner of NPC, and the Founder and Director of Nambale Magnet School in Kenya. And we wished a long-time Mission Team member all the best in his new life in Tokyo.

Connecticut, January 2025

Ninety-five women spent a weekend on retreat at Wisdom House in Historic Litchfield, CT. Most were members of NPC, and some were former members and came from other places. The theme was “Unhurried Grace” – and Cheryl Flectcher was the guest speaker. Although it wasn’t a silent retreat, these women spent 90 minutes in solitude to hear the still small voce of God.

Connecticut, January 2025

We hiked one of the trails in Deer Pond Farm in Sherman, CT. It is part of Connecticut Audubon Society which covers 850 acres. There was a bit of snow there, so we had our first taste of winter. Afterwards, we had lunch and tasted the pies at American Pie.

Connecticut, December 2024

The women in the 6:15 am bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, Connecticut had a Christmas Breakfast. Marilyn and twenty or so others had studied and discussed “The Fruit of the Spirit” during the fall season.

Connecticut, December 2024

PEP, which stands for People Encouraging People, gathered in the late afternoon in the chapel at Noroton Presbyterian Church to sing Christmas Carols. And afterwards everyone enjoyed cider and beautifully decorated cookies.

Connecticut, December 2024

We joined friends and went to sing carols at the homes of friends who are not able to get around like they used to do. We were invited into some of the homes for cookies and then we enjoyed chili in the home of one of the carolers.

Connecticut, December 2024

It felt like summertime when we arrived at The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. The next day it rained – and the day after that there was a blizzard with snow and high gusts of wind. Our last day there was beautiful! And Marilyn got to snowshoe up the hill to the chapel. Click here to see more.

Connecticut, December 2024

We went with members of the Darien Men’s Association for a hike on Salt Marsh Trail in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was a beautiful morning, and the sea grass was really tall! It felt like we were in a wilderness – not in the middle of a city.

Connecticut, November 2024

We celebrated with the twenty new members who joined Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, Connecticut. There was a wonderful breakfast, and afterwards, at the service in the sanctuary, they were prayed over.

Connecticut, November 2024

PEP, which stands for People Encouraging People, had an early Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. It was at Noroton Presbyterian Church for folks who are 55 and over. Many were well over 55 – including one who was 90 years young!

Connecticut, November 2024

We enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner in our home with Kenyan friends from West Haven. They brought their favorite festive foods – mukimo, pilau and chapatis. We prepared the turkey, stuffing and gravy - and pumpkin and pecan pies.

Connecticut, November 2024

It was wonderful to see Sr Genovefa here at the Convent of St. Brigitta in Darien,CT. She is with St. Joseph Shelter of Hope Mission Hospital in Voi, Kenya. This hospital has cervical cancer screening equipment thanks to Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT.

Connecticut, October 2024

Russ Brine visited St. John Church in Darien, CT. He is the director of the St. John Bosco Education Trust in Kitale, Kenya – and the people of St. John Church provide scholarships for 50 primary and secondary students to be in good Catholic boarding schools.

Connecticut, October 2024

We enjoyed having lunch in Newport, RI with a good friend of St. John Bosco Students in Kenya. She was a neighbor in Rowayton. Then eight years ago, she and her husband moved to Rhode Island. She knows the history of Newport and she took us on a tour to see all the famous homes and told us about who’s who in Newport.

Rhode Island, October 2024

Friends of Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan visited friends at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT. Forman has 9,000 students, and 1,000 of them are Christians. It does a great job of teaching Muslims and Christians side by side. And many of its graduates have gone on to become significant leaders in the country.

Connecticut, October 2024

Back home in Connecticut, we attended a potluck supper at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien with friends from HopeCo in Tanzania and Kenya. HopeCo helps orphans and vulnerable children with education, food and medical needs.

Connecticut, September 2024

We celebrated John’s 89th birthday rather quietly – and then two days later celebrated his eldest grandson’s 30th birthday. Lots of friends – young and old - gathered for several hours on a Saturday afternoon in the Sono Beer Garden.

Connecticut, May 2024

It’s been a year since AFLiK (American Friends of Learners in Kenya) was formed to raise funds for Rossholme School in Kiambiu slum in Nairobi. We celebrated this anniversary, and John’s birthday, with sandwiches from Brendan’s 101 and cupcakes from Sono Bakery.

Connecticut, May 2024

The women in the Tuesday 6:15 am Bible Study at Noroton Presbyterian Church celebrated the end of the Book of Mark with a breakfast. Then these Early Risers, lead by Rev. Brandi Drake, prayed for safe travels and good health for Marilyn during her three and half months away in Kenya, Rome and Croatia.

Connecticut, May 2024

One of John’s daughters gave us specially designed dark glasses to view the eclipse, and John devised a way to project an image of it using binoculars. It was a beautiful afternoon at Roton Point, with the view of the New York City skyline 43 miles away, and sunlight sparkling off the water. Only it didn’t get as dark as we thought it would when the sun was 90% covered. It did, however, feel cooler then.

Connecticut, April 2024

We hiked along the Mianus River in North Stamford with a large group of members of the Darien Men’s Association and some spouses. After two hours in the woods some of us had lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Connecticut, April 2024

We took a mini vacation up near the Connecticut River, where we found Two Wrasslin' Cats, a really different place for lunch. Then we attended “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, a really different musical at Goodspeed Opera House, and in the evening, we had dinner at the Copper Beech Inn, which was also really different because we were the only guests there.

Connecticut, April 2024

The three person Board of the Uzima Foundation met over dinner at the home of one of the members. Uzima is the 501(c)3 formed last September to raise funds for boarding school fees for 50 students from St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Centre. Most of these young people are Turkanas who were rescued from the streets and slums of Kitale, Kenya.

Conecticut, April 2024

One hundred and eighty ladies attended a Lenten Luncheon at the Darien Country Club. This was first time since before Covid that Tracy Fox had organized this gathering of women from all the churches in Darien, CT.

Connecticut, March 2024

On March 13 John introduced Erin Harlow Parker to the Darien Men's Association where she gave a very well received, on-line presentation on suicide awareness and prevention. Erin, a Board Certified Psyciatric Mental Health Nurse Practicioner, is the widow of John's nephew Jeff who took his life by suicide in January 2022. Since that time Erin and her two daughters have advocated for suicide awareness and prevention. Here is a link to the presentation.

Connecticut, March 2024

The largest group ever, mostly men from the Darien Men’s Association and some wives, hiked around Sherwood Island. It was a beautiful day. Everyone stopped at the Memorial to remember all those in Connecticut who died in the World Trade Centre on 9/11.

Connecticut, March 2024

We celebrated Easter with friends from West Haven, one of whom is from Ghana, and two who recently came here from Kenya. And our Easter dinner included some traditional festive dishes, as well as ham and pineapple slices, sweet potatoes and lemon pie, which John had baked.

Conecticut, March 2024

Kids, teens and some not so young volunteers packed Manna Meals one Saturday in Middlesex Middle School in Darien, Connecticut. Over 101,000 packs were prepared for delivery to partners of Feed My Starving Children in war-torn countries.

Connecticut, February 2024

Our former small group celebrated a belated Valentine’s Day with a feast in the home of one of our members. It was our 3rd annual gathering since Covid. Before then we had met every other Sunday evening.

Connecticut, February 2024

We, and others of the Darien Men’s Association, did an Urban hike on the Norwalk River Valley Trail in Norwalk, CT. We started at the Maritime Museum in South Norwalk, walked through Pine Island Cemetery, past Lockwood-Matthews Mansion, and ended with lunch at the Norwalk Art Space.

Connecticut, February 2024

Paul of Life Ministry Kenya, which is part of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade) spent a week with us. He had been at a Cru Conference in Orlanda for 10 days before coming to CT. His wife Caroline, who is also with LMK, and his 2 young daughters really missed him but enjoyed seeing their friends and supporters here on his phone.

Conecticut, February 2024

The day after they arrived here from Kenya, Evalyn and her daughter Wendy enjoyed dinner with us. When Evalyn was at Yale University from 1999 to 2002, she often took a train to Rowayton on a Monday afternoon and had dinner and stayed overnight with us. Then she attended the Tuesday 6:15 am Bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien.

Connecticut, January 2024

There were five Kenyan women at the NPC Women’s Retreat - Evalyn and Wendy who live in Kenya, two who live in West Haven and and a young woman who had just arrived from Kenya early Saturday morning and really wanted to see the church and all the women on retreat there.

Connecticut, January 2024

A record number of women – 150 of them – attended the NPC Women’s Retreat on a Friday evening and all of a Saturday. They enjoyed worshipping with praise songs and listening to Rev. Brandi Drake and therapist Amanda Craig as they discussed “To be mature is to be basic” from Colossians 1:28.

Connecticut, January 2024

Evelyn, who is the founder and director of Nambale Magnet School, and her daughter Wendy attended the Tuesday 6:15 bible study at NPC with fifteen early risers – some of whom Evelyn has known since she arrived in 1999 to study at Yale Divinity School.

Conecticut, January 2024

On a cold, hazy day, twenty-three members of Darien Men’s Association, some guests and two dogs walked three miles around Greenwich Point. Everyone was impressed with the history of the Todd family and the remains of their mansion.

Connecticut, December 2023

Twenty-one women in the 6:15 am bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church gathered for a Christmas breakfast. They welcomed Rev Brandi, who was just back after her sabbatical – and they thanked Courtney for leading the group through the Book of Mark for the past three months.

Connecticut, December 2023

We attended two Christmas Eve Services - and on Christmas Day, we joined John’s daughters and three of his grandkids for brunch. Then we had a fun afternoon playing word names. And we all gathered again on Boxing Day with John’s brother and his wife and nephew and some friends.

Connecticut, December 2023

One beautiful fall day, we walked five miles on the Norwalk River Valley Trail with friends from the Darien Men’s Association. Then we enjoyed lunch at Orem’s Diner, which has been serving traditional American fare in Wilton since 1921.

Connecticut, November 2023

Seniors, 55 and over, also known as PEP, which stands for People Encouraging People, gathered for a wonderful Thanksgiving Lunch. Everyone enjoyed the turkey, gravy and stuffing and the pumpkin pie. And everyone also enjoyed catching up with long-time friends - and getting to know new ones too.

Connecticut, November 2023

Twenty-eight people, who joined Norton Presbyterian Church, enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together. Then they learned from several elders about the programs at NPC. Mission, in particular, is very active, as team members pray for and support 15 partners in the US, East Africa, Asia and Europe.

Connecticut, November 2023

Ours was an International Thanksgiving Feast with guests from Kenya, England, Canada and the US. We prepared the turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn casserole and pumpkin pies – and our friends brought their favorite foods traditional foods - mukimo, pilau, samosas and chapatis.

Connecticut, November 2023

We gathered with Artie and Kittery Van Sciver at the home of one of the mission team members of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT. Artie is with Campus Outreach in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a mission partner of NPC.

Connecticut, October 2023

Russ Brine, who is a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Kenya, visited St. John Church in Darien, CT. He spoke about the 50 students in the St. John Bosco program in Kitale, Kenya. Many parishioners support these students who are in good Catholic boarding schools after having been rescued from the streets and their homes in slum areas.

Connecticut, October 2023

We saw “The 12” at Goodspeed Opera House on the Connecticut River in Haddam . It is a modern-day, musical version about how the 11 disciples and Mary Magdaline might have felt and what they may have said and done in the Upper Room - the day after Jesus died on the cross. It was a powerful performance!

Connecticut, October 2023

On a beautiful, Indian summer day, we walked across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Walkway. This outing was one of the many hikes put together by volunteers of the Darien Men’s Association. Around 30 men and women enjoyed the views and sandwiches for lunch afterwards.

Connecticut, October 2023

Caroline of Life Ministry Kenya spoke of her evangelizing work with university students – at the 9 am service in the Noroton Presbyterian Chapel and at the 10:30 service in the NPC Sanctuary. This service was livestreamed and Caroline’s family and some friends in Nairobi saw and heard her speak.

Connecticut, September 2023

The evening before Caroline left Connecticut to return to her home in Nairobi she enjoyed gathering for pizza and salad with the NPC Mission Team. She got to know each of them better and they learned a lot about her ministry with university students.

Connecticut, September 2023

John’s daughter and a friend treated us to lunch to celebrate his 88th birthday. He was born the same year that Mickey Mouse came on the scene – and also the year that Social Security was established, which we praise God for – since we retired from our jobs in New York City over 20 years ago.

Connecticut, May 2023

The 6:15 am Bible Study that Marilyn attends had their end-of-the-season breakfast. This beautiful group of friends prayed over her, asking God to keep us healthy and to protect us, especially on the roads, during our three months in Kenya.

Connecticut, May 2023

Stony Creek is one of our favorite places to stop, even for a few minutes, whenever we are driving through this beautiful area along Long Island Sound. This time we were returning from a memorial service of friend, who had been a neigbor and who had lived in Kenya 50 years ago.

Connecticut, April 2023

Christ is Risen – He has Risen indeed! On Easter Sunday, the beautiful rose-covered cross in front of Noroton Presbyterian Church is where families and friends gathered to have their photos taken.

Connecticut, April 2023

Easter Sunday Dinner with our Kenyan friends is always very special. We have watched this family grow since the young mother arrived here by herself after winning the green card lottery. It took some time, but she prevailed by joining the US Army, where she was trained as a paramedic and got her US citizenship. After completing active duty, she got a degree in nursing and is now working in research at Yale New Haven Hospital. Her husband joined her here after she served in the army and, a few years later, her mother as well.

Connecticut, April 2023

The flowers in Rockefeller Center at Easter time are always spectacular. And the buildings are too! It’s always a must to stand and gaze at the buildings since John’s father worked at the ALCOA foundry in Cleveland and was one of four men who put the finish on the panels that separate the windows between floors.

Connecticut, April 2023

We hiked in Cranbury Park with 13 members of the Darien Men’s Association and four spouses. The park is near where John lived years ago, but he had never been there. It is the site of the Gallaher Mansion which was built in 1929-1931 for the inventor and industrialist Edward Beach Gallaher, an early pioneer in automotive design.

Connecticut, March 2023

Eighteen new members joined Noroton Presbyterian Church. Elders of the church spoke at a breakfast about the many ministries, including Mission, which supports fifteen partners. There seven are here in the US, and eight in other countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, Jordan, and Gaza.

Connecticut, March 2023

“In the Garden” is the exhibit now at Rowayton Arts Centre. Marilyn has two photos hanging there – both of exotic flowers in Kakamega Rain Forest in Kenya. The bird of Paradise is also called the crane flower because it looks like the Crested Crown Crane, which is the national bird of Uganda.

Connecticut, March 2023

Wiggles and Giggles, a children’s clothing store in Darien, is encouraging customers to help children in two slums in Nairobi with school supplies and soccer balls. These will be taken there in July by 22 people, including eight youth, who are going to Kenya on a mission trip.

Connecticut, March 2023

We celebrated St. Valentine’s Day with friends from our former small group. We had met every second Sunday evening during the winter months for many years to discuss a spiritual book. Now we get together just a few times during the year for a special meal.

Connecticut, February 2023

John presented a talk on Submarines to the Darien Men’s Association. The talk covered submarine history over the past 123 years, touching on people, places and events as well as changes in design and mission. He highlighted the role of Connecticut’s two (yes, two) submarine shipyards, and provided insights into the early days of the nuclear submarine program. The talk is on youtube. If you are interested in listening click here.

Connecticut, February 2023

Marilyn’s “Amazing Places in Israel, Jordan, Kenya and Rowayton” opened at Brendan’s 101. There are 26 photos hanging there ‘til March 15th. They are all for sale and the proceeds will help to provide porridge for the 405 students in Rossholme Education Centre in Kiambiu, a slum in Nairobi.

Connecticut, February 2023

We walked 2.2 miles in the Harbor Point section of Stamford, CT with 17 members of the Darien Men’s Association and three of their wives. This new development area by the Rippowam River is a very impressive complex of apartments, offices, and restaurants.

Connecticut, February 2023

Five hundred and two young and old volunteers gathered at the Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing Event in Darien. 101,088 meals were put together - enough for 272 children to have a meal every day for a year. These Manna Meals will soon be sent to countries where children are hungry and undernourished.

Connecticut, January 2023

One hundred and four women gathered for a retreat at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien. Seana Turner inspired everyone with her “On the Beach” presentation as she described how sand, waves and sun relate to Christian life.

Connecticut, January 2023

A Kenyan friend arrived from land-locked Nairobi, and she couldn’t wait to get to the beach. It has been three years since her last visit here with friends who support Nambale Magnet School. She founded this school in Western Kenya to give back to her community after her three years here at Yale Divinity school.

Connecticut, January 2023

We walked along the beach on Sherwood Island with members of Darien Men’s Association and some of their spouses and a Golden Retriever. It was a beautiful day – and a bit sad too, when we paused at the memorial and remembered people we knew who died on 9/11/01.

Connecticut, January 2023

One rather cold and blustery morning, we hiked at Todd’s Point in Greenwich, CT. We joined 15 members of the Darien Men’s Association and the wives of two of them. It was an easy trail with a beautiful view of the New York City skyline – even on a rather grey day.

Connecticut, December 2022

Marilyn gathered for breakfast with 15 friends from the 6:15 am bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church. They’ve been studying the many characters of God as revealed in scripture.

Connecticut, December 2022

One crisp morning we joined the Darien Men’s Association group to tour the Montgomery-Pinetum Park in Cos Cob, CT. We hiked around the 100-acre property in a little less than two hours. It is a beautiful rural place, right in the middle of the town.

Connecticut, November 2022

We had a wonderful breakfast one Sunday morning with the 21 new members who joined Noroton Presbyterian Church. It was good to be with these young people, and some of their children, who will soon be attending NPC’s Nursery School.

Connecticut, November 2022

Our Kenyan friends from West Haven joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner. We provided the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, creamed corn, and pumpkin pie. And they brought a couple of our favorite Kenyan foods - pilau and chapatis. It was a real feast – and we thanked God for all He has given us.

Connecticut, November 2022

Train Show at Rowation Historical Society7

The Historic Rowayton-in-Miniature Train Show opened at Pinkney House after not having been there since 2019. It is the work of our neighbor Brian Kammerer, who has put many hours into creating this incredible piece of artwork. There is also a brand-new exhibit of Brian’s extraordinary handmade dioramas.

Connecticut, November 2022

A young friend from Kenya joined us for the PEP lunch at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT, and there she met one of her sponsors from years ago. She has now almost completed her studies for a Masters in Analytical Finance at the University of Louisville. We’ve known her since 2005 when she was in her first year at Limuru Girls Secondary School, just outside Nairobi.

Connecticut, October 2022

One weekend Russ Brine, who oversees the St. John Bosco Education program in Kitale, Kenya, attended all the masses at St. John Church in Darien. He met many parishioners who have been supporting 50 primary and secondary students who are from homes in two slums.

Connecticut, October 2022

Hudson Mahare and Matt Parker of HopeCo (formerly City of Hope) in Tanzania spent a weekend in Darien with supporters. They met with the Mission Team of Noroton Presbyterian Church, as well as with individual donors. HopeCo has a school and a clinic, and also provides vocational training to help women start small businesses.

Connecticut, October 2022

One Sunday was Service Day at Noroton Presbyterian Church, and many members went out to do things in the community. They baked brownies and cookies and took them to Post 53 for the young volunteers there, and they took soup and plants to some people in assisted living places. There was also a Green Team that picked up trash in parking lots and raked leaves and trimmed bushes at homes of some of the elderly church members.

Connecticut, October 2022

For the past five months, members of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT has been helping two Afghan families to settle into their new lives in the US. All the children over three years of age are in school, and they are almost fluent in English. It has been a bit more difficult for the older ones. And it has been difficult too for them to get jobs; however, three young men have jobs, including one who is in high school.

Connecticut, May 2022

Just a couple of days before we left for Kenya, we hiked in the Audubon woods with members of the Darien Men’s Association – and a couple of their spouses. It is a wonderful place to watch, listen and learn about the things of nature.

Connecticut, May 2022

The first Saturday of April seventy-two women gathered for a half day retreat at Noroton Presbyterian Church. Three of the women, who had been wearing crosses for the past year, spoke about what God has been doing in their lives, and then they passed their crosses on to three new women. This is a tradition which started 20 years

Connecticut, April 2022

Pastor Greg Doll spoke at the PEP (People Encouraging People) gathering about the significance of the foods served at a Seder Meal during Passover. Matzah reminded us that the Jewish people fled in great haste from Egypt - they didn’t wait for the bread to raise.

Connecticut, April 2022

On Easter Sunday morning, crosses covered with beautiful flowers, told us of resurrection joy. Jesus has risen – He is risen indeed! And He is on the loose, doing great things, and bringing people back to churches where they enjoy being together again. It was wonderful to see people dressed in their finest attire, and enjoying refreshments outdoors, even though it was cold and windy.

Connecticut, April 2022

We enjoyed Easter Dinner with Kenyan friends who live in West Haven. They brought pilau and chapatis to go with the ham, and sweet potatoes and creamy corn casserole that we had prepared. And for dessert, we had lemon pie that John had baked – and chocolates and jellybeans from the Easter Bunny.

Connecticut, April 2022

On Easter Monday, we went on a strenuous hike in the Mianus River Gorge with others of the Darien Men’s Association. It was a pretty good workout for us, and afterwards, we decided that we really are fit enough to travel to Kenya again this summer.

Connecticut, April 2022

We met Matt Parker, not a relative, who is the new CEO of HopeCo, formerly City of Hope. HopeCo is located in the northwest corner of Tanzania, and it helps many children in the area to go to school, as well as provides health care for many families in the community.

Connecticut, March 2022

Marilyn and 14 other women gathered for an “early-risers” breakfast at Noroton Presbyterian Church. They celebrated the completion of Jeremiah which they’ve been reading and discussing since last September. They, and some others on Zoom, are now studying Colossians.

Connecticut, March 2022

NPC Reception for Afgan Family and Volunteers

Many of the 70 volunteers, who are helping the two Afghani families that NPC is supporting, met with the 15 members of the families at a reception. Layla’s Falafal in North Stamford provided delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, and the young mother in one of the families baked lots of wonderful bread. The five children that are in school are doing well, and four of the men now have jobs.

Connecticut, March 2022

We hiked again with members of Darien Men's Association and some friends – this time in Waveny Park in New Canaan, where the walking trail is 3.5 miles. The mansion, or “castle”, which was built in 1912, is surrounded by 300 acres of open fields and some ponds.

Connecticut, March 2022

The new NPC manse is now home for the Youth Pastor and his wife and their three little ones. It is a very modern version of the old manse, which had lead contamination, and sadly had to be torn down.

Connecticut, February 2022

On a brisk cold day, we hiked 2.5 miles around Greenwich Point with 14 others from the Darien Men’s Association - and with two furry friends who had a lot of energy. The view of the New York City skyline was fantastic!

Connecticut, February 2022

Purity, a Kenyan friend who is a banquet manager at WEE BURN Country Club in Darien, CT, had lunch with us. We have found that inviting friends to our home and to sitting around the table and talking has been good therapy during grey winter days .

Connecticut, February 2022

Many families packed 94,000 nutritious MannaPack™ meals one weekend at the Feed My Starving Children packing event in Darien. These rice, soy & veggie meals will be sent around the world and will give hope to children who are at risk of being malnourished.

Connecticut, January 2022

Marilyn walked the 2.5 mile trail in Sherwood Island Park with friends from the Darien Men’s Association. The highlight was seeing the memorial for all the Connecticut people who died 9/11 in the twin towers, which on a really clear day was visible from this spot by Long Island Sound.

Connecticut, January 2022

Winter arrived in Rowayton at the beginning of the month – just a few hours after we arrived back home from Alberta. And then it arrived again at the end of the month. It has been cold, but not nearly as cold as it was in Alberta at Christmas time.

Connecticut, January 2022

One of John’s nephews died, and John and two of his daughters attended the Celebration of Life Service for him in Atlanta.

Atlanta, January 2022

We enjoyed singing carols at the PEP (People Encouraging People) Christmas lunch at Noroton Presbyterian Church. We were led by the Director of Music and some members of the NPC choir.

Connecticut, December 2021

We gathered with members of our former small group to say farewell to one of the long-time members. She sold her home and has moved to Indianapolis to be near my daughter and son-in-law and grandkids.

Connecticut, December 2021

The women who have been attending the 6:15 am in-person bible study at NPC had a wonderful Christmas breakfast. We have been reading and discussing Jeremiah and referring to Eugene Peterson’s “Run with Horses” book.

Connecticut, December 2021

PEP, aka People Encouraging People, celebrated three important events - Thanksgiving, Veterans’ Day and the 401st anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact. Everyone enjoyed the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy dinner - at lunch time.

Connecticut, November 2021

One beautiful fall day, we hiked 3.8 miles in Mianus River Park, along the border of Stamford and Greenwich, with 9 members of Darien Men’s association. The leaves were still very colorful, and there were lots of huge glacial rocks.

Connecticut, November 2021

We gave thanks to God for our many blessings, and we enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner with Kenyan friends from West Haven. We had not seen them since Thanksgiving in 2019. Their family is larger now – with Beniah, who was born in August.

Connecticut, November 2021

Admiring the Lion

The Christmas/Holiday Gift Show at Rowayton Arts Center opened the day after Thanksgiving. Marilyn enjoyed volunteering there that afternoon, and seeing friends, many of whom have purchased her photos and note cards in the past.

Connecticut, November 2021

Our not-so-small group of a year ago gathered at a member’s home for a wonderful meal to celebrate, and to give thanks to Our God for keeping us all safe during Covid time. He is Good – and all the time He is Good, as our friends in Kenya say often.

Connecticut, October 2021

Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien had its Service Day on a beautiful Sunday morning. Members planted bulbs, raked leaves, picked up trash, and delivered soup to some elderly folks and brownies to the Emergency Medical Service team operated by Darien High School students.

Connecticut, October 2021

Jonathan Addleton (third from right), the new Rector of Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan, visited Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien. He spoke of his work in “Some Far and Distant Place” – which is the name of one of his books. Forman Christian College, where only 15% of the students are Christian, is supported by NPC. .

Connecticut, October 2021

John and the Tin Man

We went to a Wednesday matinee at Goodspeed and saw “A Grand Night for Singing”. This was our first time at Goodspeed in two years. And before the show, we had lunch at Griswold Inn in Essex, which has been operating there continuously since 1776. All the lamp posts on Main Street were decorated for Halloween with characters from old movies like “The Wizard of Oz”

Connecticut, October 2021

One brisk Monday morning, we hiked four miles in Devil’s Den in Weston, CT. We had to be very careful as wet leaves covered a lot of rocks and roots. But it was good to be doing something outdoors with some new - and some old - friends from the Darien Men’s Association.

Connecticut, October 2021

Norton Presbyterian Church had a Fall Kick Off Celebration. It began with an impressive service on the lawn that included a twenty-member choir and eight musicians. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed lunch, and just being with people again. It was an especially fun time for families with little kids.

Connecticut, September 2021

Russ Brine, Founder of the St. John Bosco Education Trust, visited with members of St. John Church. It had been two years since he was last here. He thanked the many donors who have helped 50 students in Kitale, Kenya to go to good boarding schools. Fund raising for school fees for 2022 will start in November. You can contact marilyn@theparkerplace.org with questions.

Connecticut, September 2021

Three high school students are spearheading a Feed My Starving Children Packing Event which will take place on January 8th & 9th. Volunteers will pack 100,000 Manna Meals for hungry children in devasted countries. For ways to donate to help with the cost of the ingredients or to volunteer go to give.fmsc.org/darien. Contact jessicaschmidt967@gmail.com with any questions.

Connecticut, September 2021

Friends in Mystic

We went to Mystic, home of Mystic Pizza (remember the movie?), to join friends for lunch by the water. We have known the couple for several years but just learned that they are from Parma, the same suburb of Cleveland where John grew up.

Connecticut, September 2021

We celebrated John’s 86th birthday with Rowayton friends outdoors on their terrace. All of us had been vaccinated, and it was good to be together without having to wear masks and not having to keep six feet from each other.

Connecticut, May 2021

Our small group met at the Raymond Boathouse in Pinkney Park in Rowayton, beside the Five Mile River. We finished our study and discussion of “Galatians – Engaging God’s Word”. We had done the first five lessons on Zoom, and then we were able to meet in person for the last lesson.

Connecticut, May 2021

Pastor Greg’s mother spent two weeks here visiting Greg & his family at Easter time. And she joined us for lunch one Sunday. It was good to be with her for a couple of hours. We met her and her husband Frank in 2007 when they were in Kenya on a mission trip, and we were living in a house on the grounds of the Presbyterian University of East Africa.

Connecticut, April 2021

We joined a group arranged by the Darien Men’s Association and went to Groton. In the past, members have usually gone into New York City and wandered in historical areas. This year because of Covid, they explored several towns in Connecticut. Four in our group had worked in Groton many years ago, and they reminisced about what the town was like when they lived there.

Connecticut, April 2021

John has just one sibling - a brother who is three years younger than him. He and his wife and their son live in Berlin and we hadn’t seen them in over a year. So we met them for lunch at the Griswold Inn in Essex, one of our favorite places along the Connecticut River. We have often had lunch at The Griswold before going to Goodspeed for a Wednesday matinee of one of their always fabulous musicals.

Connecticut, April 2021

Cardinal

And then we celebrated John’s 86th birthday with his daughter at Scena in Darien. It was our fourth time to eat out in a restaurant after not having done that for over a year. It is good to be doing things again with friends and family now that we, and they, are fully vaccinated.

Connecticut, April 2021