F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) is a mission outreach of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church of rural Albert Lea. The mission is to promote fun and fellowship.
With Bev and Wayne Indrelie, plus Genie and Bob Hanson (co-chairs of F.R.O.G.), a bus trip to Lutheran Night at the Twins was planned for Monday, July 21st, leaving from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea at 4 p.m.
As with all organizations, there must be a mission statement. Ours was, “Together we will come, together we will see, together we will conquer, together we will happily arrive back at our starting point.”
The “together we will come” was accomplished when 55 Twins fans boarded a 56-passenger coach bus with Marilyn Matson, the bus driver. As part of the “together” part, “Happy Birthday” was sung by all to Darlene Nicolai.
Coming together even more so was the drawing of various Twins prizes (21 in all). Evan Fell, Christopher Jamtgaard, Samantha Jamtgaard, and Nathan Vanek were selected to go out on the field and lead in singing the pre-game National Anthem. Brad Bjerke won a backpack; Gary Goodnature and John White each won a fanny pack; Milaya Thompson, Jerry Heideman, Tony Stevens and Rob Myers each won a water bottle; Bob Anderson won a Twins baseball cap; Dick Haug won a Twins cowboy hat; Diane Olson won a Twins ladies floppy hat; Bruce Olson, Lucy Grippentrog and Jenny Vanel each won a Twins bobble head; Lois Jamtgaard won a Twins bell (she was one great bell ringer); Chris Amorosa won a Twins ladies wrist watch; Steve Thompson won an old-time Twins bobble head; Sheila White won Twins printed material.
“Together we will see” was watching our four young people lead in singing the National Anthem. Darlene Nicolai was recognized as having a birthday that day on the Twins scoreboard. Central Freeborn Lutheran Church was also on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.
The “together we will see” was a great ballgame. Cleveland tied the game 3—3 in the top of the eighth. The Twins got a home run in the bottom of the eighth to pull ahead 4—3.
“Together we will conquer” was accomplished when Cleveland failed to score in the top of the ninth; thus, the Twins won 4—3.
“Together we will happily arrive back” fulfilled our together mission statement.
FYI – for your information – Genie and Bob Hansen were on their way to an E.L.C.A. Ladies Convention in Charlotte, NC, so they weren’t on the bus. Bev and Wayne Indrelie did a great job hosting (per my spies on the bus). Wayne apologizes to the two bus passengers that followed him as he made a wrong turn leaving the stadium.
The next planned activities are: the Social Even of the Year at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in September, a soup and pie supper; Christmas by the Lake in Clear Lake, IA will be Saturday, December 6th with a bus leaving from behind Slumberland at 3 p.m.
Watch for flyers on the above events.
Thanks to Slumberland, McDonalds, Dairy Queen and KFC for the coupons on the Twins bus. They know how to promote “Minnesota nice.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.