Archive for June, 2010
Little 3 year old Luke Martens
by detourblues on Jun.30, 2010, under Uncategorized
Good morning, all you friends of Luke,
I’m writing you this morning with a desperate plea. This is not a request for financial aid. It’s not a request for those easy cliched sayings that come with lending Christian support. We are in dire straits. Luke’s body is falling apart, and the doctors don’t know what is wrong with him. The past week Luke has been in almost constant pain and discomfort. He’s been crying and screaming, nearly inconsolable. Rachel and I have lost sleep with him, and we’re beaten down. Luke’s stomach is the issue, his stomach, his intestines, his bowel. There’s no medical explanation, there’s nothing anyone has been able to do for him. All this pain has come on the heels of what we thought was a solution, something that worked for a child with Luke’s condition that lives in Alberta. It has not worked for Luke. We’re afraid we are losing him. It should never come to a point where a parent has to think that having God take their child away would be the best thing. These thoughts, among others, have crept into our minds. What can you do, you might ask? I am asking all those who believe, without doubt, in the healing power of God to pray, and pray hard. This is our only hope now, that God will touch his little body and bring him healing. We need this, so much. It’s been so hard, we’re desperate. Please, I ask you that if you love Luke, and I know you do, that you will not just shrug off this letter. I am begging you to pray, often and powerfully. I believe that if our voices are raised in this plea to the Lord, that he will speak like a clap of thunder and strike this pain, this suffering from his body. Please, bring this request to all who would pray. Post it on Facebook, bring it up in churches and bible studies. Pass it around at schools and work. Tell your family, your friends. There is a little boy who desperately needs your help, your love. Thank you for your help.
God bless you,
Nick and Rachel
Amateur Radio Field Day (June 26-27,2010)
by detourblues on Jun.08, 2010, under Uncategorized
Field Day is an annual amateur radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators. In the United States, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 30,000 operators participating each year.
Since the first ARRL Field Day in 1933, radio amateurs throughout North America have practiced the rapid deployment of radio communications equipment in environments ranging from operations under tents in remote areas to operations inside Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Operations using emergency and alternative power sources are highly encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructures are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather.
To determine the effectiveness of the exercise and of each participant’s operations, there is an integrated contesting component, and many clubs also engage in concurrent leisure activities (camping out, cookouts, etc.). Operations typically last a continuous twenty-four hours, requiring scheduled relief operators to keep stations on the air. Additional contest points are awarded for experimenting with unusual modes, making contacts via satellite, and involving youth in the activity.
Field Day is held annually the fourth full weekend in June (June 26-27 in 2010). During the month of June, detour BLUES will be including PSAs during broadcasts in an effort to allow our listeners the opportunity to become aware of Amateur Radio and how to become involved!
The Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club, of which I am a member, uses an area on the Chicahominy River at the end of Brickyard Road off Old Forge Rd, near Toano, Virginia. The club will once again venture out the ends of the earth for it’s Field Day exercise. This site is a favorite for the members as it has shelter, power, bathrooms and fewer creepy-crawly things to contend with. Chair-person, Dave W9NNK is the man to contact if you have anything to offer or need any information about this exciting event.
Thanks,
John – KJ4PQH
