All right catlover, I'm new to this message board stuff, so I guess I read your post wrong. I thought you said,(I'm in Sanford. I moved here 26 years ago after having lived in NYC, Chicago, Denver, and Texas to name just a few places) but then realized that you were "quoting" someone else, sorry.
We travel the USA with our ministry full time. People are nasty / hateful all over if you let them. Kind of a tribal thing I think. Now with me, most find me annoying at first, but then I grow on them. Hehe. Not really. After all, I'm the one who stands in the pulpit and tells them that they're doing wrong, right. Not!! God uses me as His vessel, if what He sends me to say offends them, they need to take that up with Him.
We have ministered in 38 states, and have been told on occasion that, "we don't want yer kind round here". Seems Jesus had the same problems right. They wanted rid of Him so bad they hung Him on a cross. Ok, enough preaching.
Personal story. In the spring of 2000 we were in Maine to "do" several concerts and services. The generator that provides the auxiliary power for our tour bus died a sudden death. We lost all our food and had no power for A/C or cooking. A gentleman from Monticello asked if he could help us out. (He was unemployed at the time and had just had to close his families business due to the economy. He knocked on the doors of his neighbors, and others in the community, and raised almost $600 to help us replace it. Then gave us steaks and frozen beef from his own freezer to eat. Each day checking back to make sure we had food. We stayed in the area for the week. Yes, he was a local. Born and raised there.
When the old bus we used completely died for good, it was over 40 years old, people from the "County" raised over $6000 to help us replace it. By the way we give free concerts, so its not like we're Nashville folk here.
I'm sorry you don't have a nice life there. Hey, I hate my own neighbors at home and I'm from here, but that's a whole other thread. I was just wondering though, since I got that first post mixed up, where are you from? Chances are if its East of the Rockies we've been there too.
Just know that with this age of Internet friends, you now have a friend in Ohio. If you brake down on my road I will not only let you use my phone, I'll fix your car, and make you dinner too
In Christ,
Ed
P.S. Just Curious, you must be in the Presque Isle area right, I do know a few Pastors and churches that would love to have you join them. If not, Ill just have to come and talk to them again.