Desert Messenger

January 1, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 17 Patti Polk at Gem & Mineral Club Jan. 16 Desert Cowboy Church Craft Fair 1st Sat. of every month! Daily Activities! QIA 928-927-6325 235 E. Ironwood St., Quartzsite BINGO Opens at 5pm. Early Birds 6:30pm. Main 7pm. Concessions Available We want dates of your events planned for NEXT SEASON! SUBMIT FOR FREE at www.QuartzsiteCalendar.com SAVE YOUR DOG! SNAKEPROOFING IN QUARTZSITE! Jan. 6 & 7, and Jan. 13 & 14, 2020 9 am-4 pm I teach your dog to avoid snakes! Quick & Effective! For more information call Tom Fisk @ 928-207-2551 Quartzsite Town Park NEAR THE DOG PARK N. Plymouth Ave. $ 39 95 per dog $ 39 95 per dog 70 N. Central Blvd., Quartzsite OPEN Monday-Saturday 7:30am-4pm featuring: Rock Java's Tea & Specialty Coffees Delicious Baked Treats FARM FRESH PRODUCE NOW AVAILABLE! Licensed & Insured BLM Approved! 27 Years Experience 27 Years Experience Miller RV Repair is BACK IN QUARTZSITE! 406-212-0155 By Jackie Deal Was it the word "desert?" Or the word "cowboy" that caught my eye? Not sure, but several years ago I ventured out to South La Posa to investigate the Desert Cowboy Church. Ever since I've been part of the 50-80 people who huddle in the cold outdoors to attend church, when in town there are perfectly good churches with plush seats and stained glass windows. Oh, by the way, you need to bring a chair when you come. Also warm clothes and maybe a blanket. There is an association of Cowboy churches that, according to the in- ternet, numbers around 200, how- ever the La Posa church is unaffi li- ated with any organization. About 14 years ago it was started by Dick LaFever. About 11 years ago, Ken and Roberta Roberts asked Randy Cardinal if he would fi ll in as speak- er until they found someone else. Randy says, "They fi nally found someone: me!" Randy was ordained in 1973 but he had been out of the ministry for 40 years when he started preach- ing at the Desert Church. I'm not sure Randy preaches; he teaches, he posts the scriptures he uses on a white board and encourages folks to "read the Bible for yourself." Randy sports a Fu Manchu-type mus- tache - only longer and more luxu- riant than most such. And in black clothes and a black cowboy hat he looks the cowboy part. His past seems to include everything but cowboying. He was a professional baseball player with the Houston Astros; and claims the distinction of striking out Willie Mays. (Well, his wife claims, he demurs.) He has served as a Suicide Preven- tion Counselor and had a ministry on the Las Vegas strip. He still is in contact with his mentor and tutor, 95 year old, Rev. Dr. Jim Reid who helped and encouraged him through the University of Las Vegas Semi- nary Extension course. It was in Las Vegas that Randy met his wife of 41 years, Nancy. Randy was stage man- ager for the Dunes Hotel and Nancy left her job as an overseer of eight restaurants, (the boss was far from "politically correct"), and became a bartender across the street. Randy has a beautiful deep sing- ing voice and sings occasionally at the local jams. He said, "Only the shower head knew he could sing," until he moved to Quartzsite. He doesn't lead the music at the Desert Church. Pam Bostic, with a love- ly gentle voice, leads the singing and Mark Church sings, plays the American Flute and the guitar. The church is open November to mid- March, 10 am every Sunday. Nancy says, "We're open unless you have to take a boat to get here." They've only had to close once since open- ing. They meet on a cement slab with canvas drop cloths on two and half sides. The wind blows and the seats are hard but the view out across the mountains is worth it. Head South toward Yuma and turn in at South La Posa BLM area. You'll see signs pointing you to an unusual outdoor meeting with The Creator in the heart of his creation. Join the Quartzsite Roadrunners Gem & Mineral Club at the Quart- site Senior Center on Thursday, January 16th at 6pm to hear re- nowned author and agate collector Patti Polk speak. Patti Polk is recognized as one of the top agate collectors in the world, as noted in the highly respected ref- erence book, Agates III, by Johann Zenz. A passionate rockhound, she has been collecting, cutting, and polishing rocks for jewelry and dis- play for more than 20 years. A skilled lapidary artist, Patti is also the author of three best-sell- ing rock collecting books, Collect- ing Rocks, Gems, & Minerals; Col- lecting Agates & Jaspers of North America; and The Crystal Guide. Patti's work has been published in Rock and Gem magazine, besides other periodicals; and she is a much sought after presentation speaker at rock and mineral clubs and other venues throughout the southwest.

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