The Orrel and Gini Family Chronology

The Orrel and Gini Family Historical Chronology

Introduction:

The reason for this document is that since our marriage Gini and I and family have litterally been globetrotters. It involves where are children went to school and where the lived. This chronology was very fuzzy so I worked on it and also had input from my children.

1962:

We left St.Paul MN in about April. Heidi was about 2 and one half years and Joel about 3 weeks.

We had been living in the basement of Leonard and Hellen on Pusey St. My parents Walter and

Estella had driven up from the farm to say their goodbyes. they stayed with Carrol and Glenn Schroeder

We visited them there and there were some pictures taken. The next day we went to the airport. A number

of people from Simpson Memoria Alliance church, Gini's home church came to see us off. They had special

prayer before we boarded the turbo jet for San Francisco. It was the first air flight for all of us. My Dad was

at the airport but because he didn't know hardly anyone just stood off to the side. I dont remember if I had

a chance to hug him and mother goodbye. We landed in SF and were taken to the "Home of Peace". It was a

a guest home for Missionaries both going and coming from overseas. While we were there we were riding

in a car with some friends and Heidi was sleeping on Gini's lap and she woke up and rubbing her eyes her

finger slipped and her finger nail scratched Gini's eye . At first we didnt think much about it, but it

continued to hurt the next day when we boarded the ship. We spent at least two days on board as the

ship loaded cargo (it was a cargo ship) at various places in the SF harbor. We were scheduled to head for

open sea in the evening but a Dr. came aboard and was inoculating the crew. I decided to ask him to look

Gini's eye. He said he would take Gini to an eye specialist. About an hour later I got a call on ship saying

that Gini's was very serious and that I should pack up our cabin luggage to we should all return to the

home of peace which we did. A christian eye doctor looked at her eye and said that she had infection in

her eye and when it healed it would leave a scar and would cause blurred vision. Well it healed in about

2 weeks. In answer to prayer there was no scar. Now we had to go by plane to VN. Some missionary

friends of ours said they had gone through Hawaii and they had stated at the hilton right on Waikaki.

So we booked to spend 2-3 days there. When we landed in Hawaii we were met by a taxi and taken to

the Hilton. We were given leis and the works. When I checked in I said I wanted the 5 dollar a day rooms.

They laughed at me. Finally the found a room not facing the sea and it was 60.00 a night. Well! we had a

ball on the beach for three days and then on to Manila. Here we stayed in the Alliance guest house. Oh! it

was hot. We got to the home and it was lunch and then siesta. We slept all afternoon and had to be

awakened for the evening meal. We were introduced to papaiya. We were taken the US military cemetary

and it was sobering to see all these graves in white. Then we were off Saigon. Harold Dutton the missionary

in charge of the guest home met us and helped us clear customs and get our bags. Then we saw Saigon

traffic for the first time. When we arrived Agnes Dutton welcome us and she thought we were the visiting

speakers for the US. It was only a few days until all the missionaries from all over VM would meet in the

Mt. city of Dalat for annual missionary conference. We were put on a DC 3 prop Air VM plane for Dalat.

Joel was in his infant seat. We landed and we didnt know if it was Dalat . So I got off the plane and I saw

a white couple and asked them. They were missionaries and this was Dalat. So we deplaned and caught a

VN bus (if you could call it that) and finally arrived at what was then the Dalat School for missionaries

children. We settled in for the conference. Lots of missionaries and school teachers there. We were

to hire a VN girl to take care of the kids. Heidi was with this girl for a day wand of course was very

unhappy so we bucked the system and said the kids would stay with us in all the meetings of the confer-

ence. Joel became like and appendage to my hip as I carried him everywhere. We were assigned to

Danang. We returned to Saigon to buy some things like water filter etc etc and then on to Danang where

we settled into our first VN home. The Woods family was there studying the language and we started

studying the language in a few weeks. We would study language for two years and then stay on as the

Danang station missionary.

During our time in Danang there was a historic flood. We lived near the Danang river that went right out to sea and we saw people on houses be swept out to sea. The US navy guys rescued a baby water buffalo and brought it to our compount. Heidi had fun riding it. During these days the US military had some advisors to the VM army. They had a chaplin there by the name of Howerton. He enlisted Gini to play a pump organ for his services. When he preached he read his sermon and when he looked up he looked to the ceiling...

During this time there was a coup and President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother were murdered. After this there followed a series of military coups. On one such time all law and order broke down and families settled old scores and people were murdered all around us. it was a frightening time.

1965: Heidi this year went to boarding school, first in Bangkok and then the Cameroon Highlands

1966: Left Danang for Saigon (Cholon) to manage Vietnamese Literature and Bookstor

Heidi sick returning to school

Gini severe case of hepititus

we went home on furlough by way of Israel and Europe

1967 On furlough - lived at 1671 Hewitt next to Leonard and Hellen

Heidi to nearby elementary school

Orrel to Bethel Seminary (M.Div)

Karl born April 69

1969: Returned to Viet Nam and moved into the upper house. We returned just after

Xmas. On vacation time went to off-shore islands snorkling

Revival took place at seminary and around the country

71... Dalat school moved from Cameroon Highlands to Penang

1973 -74 Orrel taught as Missionary in residence at Crown. Joel and Heidi attend

Central Luthern School. Lived at 1671 Hewitt.

1974 Back to Nhatrang seminary, Kids to Penang. Karl in first grade. Deteriorating

situation in Viet Nam.

1975 April about 15th we are evacuated first to Bangkok and then to Penang

In may we fly to Canberra and Orrel to the Alliance College of Theology. Heidi

high school coorespondence on semester and then in off to Penang and g raduated

in 77. During this time Orrel taught at the college and pastored Belconnen

Church. Controversy with the Alliance and not asked to return.

1977 : In June came to Dalat to attend Heidi's graduation and then on to the USA

We re-establish the farm, In the fall Orrel works at beet plant, Joel and Karl attend

Danube HS. Heidi in fall off to SPBI. Orrel and Gini establish the Eastern Gate

bookstore. After a year at SPBI Heidi works a year at Lygy and then off to Houghton.

1979: Orrel, Gini, Karl return to Australia, Oconor with Harry and Doreen, Karl attends

Lyneham, and Joel off to Dalat.

1980 The Petersons moved off the farm and closed the bookstore. We fly to Dalat for

Joels graduation. Then back to Canberra. Heidi flew out from USA and then came

with to Canberra and then in August we all fly home (via) Hong Kong and return

to the farm. Orrel assumes pastorate of Wabasso and New Avon Salem in the country.

Joel to SPBI and Karl to Danube school. 1982 Heidi and Tom are married in Danube

church.

1985: Orrel, Gini return to Sydney. Dad was principal of Vision College with Harry W.

Karl to Dalat for Senior year. After fall semester Orrel and Harry have breakup.

after xmas Dan Armstrong invite us to help in Oconor church till may when we fly

in May of 86 for Karls graduation from HS.

1986 We return to the f arm (Heidi and Tom had lived there oneyear). Karl off to SPBI

Orrel and Gini begin pastorate at Redwood Falls AOG

1986-2000 Orrel Gini at the farm and pastor Redwood AOG

2000 - 2000 Orrel and Gini retired at the farm / Interim Echo

Feb. 28 Gini left and Orrel Died

2005 June - Joel and Mia moved into the farm and I lived in

the MCR

20007 - January 6 Orrel marries Georgiann

20007 - Joel and Mia leave the farm and return to Penang