[Oe List ...] Salmon on Rupert Barnes

[Nancy Lanphear]

Oh, Pastor Bill,

What a story!  I can just close my eyes and see the picture that you  
have "painted"!  I was gifted with your efforts at supporting and  
encouraging John Rupert in the early days - I did development with  
him in Kenya. What I remember is the brief case that he took  
everywhere with him - up country in Kenya, on development calls, into  
town, on visits to friends - everywhere!  In the brief case was  
underwear, socks, a razor, comb,and toothbrush  - all the things you  
would need if you were stuck somewhere overnight.  The humorous part  
was that one or more of the items could come spilling out on the  
floor or in John Rupert's lap at any time.  And they did!  What a  
trip!  Isn't this a wonderful way to honor a dear colleague and  
rehearse our common memory at the same time.  I love it!  And he  
would too.  We are all loved,

Nancy
On Apr 15, 2008, at 9:15 AM, William Salmon wrote:

>     Repert Barnes! What a blith spirit of a man. With his clipped  
> accent and star-studded eyes behind coke-bottle eye glasses he did  
> not cut a handsome figure, but it was his physical and spiritual  
> energy that transformed everything.
>     Rupert and I became good friends and colleagues when we both  
> were first assigned to the Development Office. We met as a team for  
> 10 days getting ready for our fund-raising drive, but Rupert was  
> uncertain about his place in this universe. After the plan was a  
> consensus and the assignments made, then everyone got ready to "get  
> out the door."
>     Everyone, except Rupert!
>     Wouldn't you know, he and I were assigned to each other for  
> accountability purposes. I couldn't get out the door until he was  
> ready to go. My instructions were, "Stay here until Barnes is ready  
> to go." It was another five days of praticing the pitch before  
> Barnes was convinced he might be able to do this; Lord only knows  
> that the pitch and I now were one. It was a reluctant two-by-two  
> that left 4750 No. Sheridan the next morning.
>     As I recall, as we got into the taxi to the airport, Rupert was  
> still rehearsing his pitch and still asking me for reassurance.  
> Then the miracle happened -- if indeed it was a miracle, but Rupert  
> Barnes became the wild man of development.
>     Part of the accountability structure was for each team of two  
> to call each other every day. Rupert stopped calling the second day  
> were out. Finally, I had a local colleague in his community flag  
> him down long enough to call me.
>     "Rupert, what the hell are you doing?"
>     "Oh, Pastor Bill, I was making evening calls."
>     "That's wonderful. How's it going?"
>     "Extraordinarily well. My last appointment for the night was at  
> midnight!"
>     From then on it was all down hill to success. I don't know how  
> donors put up with his eccentricities. However, he inspired in me a  
> desire to make a few midnight calls of my own. It's amazing how  
> dedication transforms us.
>     I was privileged to have a small hand in "getting him out the  
> door." The rest was history.
>     For being a part of his flights of fancy, I'll forever be  
> inspired.
>     Pastor Bill
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