I have failed to write here for some time and so I have not reported. As of today, 11-11-11, or November 11, 2011, we have given 165 Holman Military Service Branch Bibles. We have given 101 Bibles to members of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), 39 to soldiers of the United States Army, 16 to sailors of the United States Navy (including my own Sailor's Bible), 4 to members of the United States Air Force, 1 to a Coastguardsman and 4 have gone to police and firemen. Our cost for this project has been $4,227 for Bibles alone. We have had associated mailing and packaging expenses also, but I have erred in not keeping detailed records on those expenses. I think we have done quite a job considering that we are just one person with limited resources but, make no mistake about a man with a mission; it can be done.
We have had $100.00 in donations from other people and I did some work for an old friend, computer and photography, who wanted to pay me. I could not accept money from her for I owe her and her husband so much for the kindnesses I have received from them over the years. I owe them for the friendship they have provided me, and for the care for my son. Their daughter was the first young woman to baby sit for us and they were a comfort to me when I lost my son. How could I take money from her for something that I love to do? Then she asked, "Stephen, what about your Bible project? What if I gave you money for it?" How could I refuse that, gifts for marines and soldiers? I couldn't so she bought two Bibles. The rest has been from my pockets.
I met a man at my favorite restaurant in Tulsa, The Longhorn Steakhouse, and I was wearing a ball cap with "USS Point Defiance (LSD-31)" and a ship logo on it, so, it was natural to talk about our service. I learned he had been career Army, starting as an enlisted man and becoming an officer and rising to retire as a Lieutenant Colonel. We exchanged business cards and I mailed him a Soldier's Bible with his name on it. Sometime later, I received a wonderful letter from him in which he wrote that he would like to contribute, and generously. I just replied to him and then today, I began a search for an attorney to talk to about setting up a nonprofit organization for this mission. I have had one conversation with an attorney, one who served in the Marine Corps, and I will likely follow up with him to see if this is something I can do. Any money I spend on attornies is money not spent on Bibles and I have to focus and remember what our mission is. "Our mission to give Military Service Branch Bibles, The Marine's Bible, The Soldier's Bible, The Sailor's Bible, to the enlisted men and women and officers of the United States Armed Forces, and veterans, to the best of our ability, for as long as we are able."
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