Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #139
Fellow Patriots,
Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #139. Thanks for sharing your time with us here at the PENL and Hope for Survival. We welcome readers daily from around America and beyond. We appreciate your desire to check out what we say and things we are doing to help preparers become self-reliant. The numbers are increasing which says more and more citizens are waking up to the world around them.
I wanted to thank everyone for your emails, cards, calls, text and handwritten letters sent to me the past few weeks. Your kind words of support are treasured and read often in the late hours of the evening. We are in this mess together and I take to heart what you share to me. Thank you. We must continue forward daily and when the weight of the day is heavy, we must dig deeper and lean on our faith and determination. Don't give up and don't weaken in your efforts because that is what is wanted by the evils of this world. Our strength is in our faith and numbers of righteous who want what is best for our family and great nation.
Ms. Lucy and I had a productive week with other local Patriots in our community. We joined two four other HF Patriots for dinner and then we enjoyed a Christmas presentation from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. On Sunday after church, we joined four HFS Patriot sisters and brothers to grab lunch together and a great chat on many topics. We also got to do dinner at a Patriot families house to enjoy fresh fried fish and other goodies. Let me tell you, our brother can fry some amazing fish. Maybe the best if I may say so. It is rare I have this much time to join others but it's the holidays and time to appreciate our extended family around us. Thanks to everyone for sharing your time with us.
We have another busy week ahead at HFS. I will be heading to Alabama for a Friday night presentation on preparedness at a church outside of Huntsville and then a meeting with the HFS Patriot group on Saturday morning. We will then rally up for a HFS lunch gathering with HFS Patriots and other Patriots from the area. It is always great to spend time with our HFS family and Patriot sisters and brothers. I will journey to Crossville, TN on Sunday to share lunch with the Crossville, TN team led by Festus. I'm shooting to visit Waynesville, NC for a lunch rally on Friday, Dec 17th, 2021. More details to follow soon. I plan to be in Roxboro, NC on December 28th or 29th to meet with HFS Patriot sisters and new preparers coming aboard to form a new HFS Node/Team/Tribe.
It will be great to see these folks again. Please keep us in your prayers as we spend a lot of time on the road and also pray for effective use of time to achieve positive results to help our Patriots and communities around the areas being visited. Thank you.
Let us move along...
Thursday Zoom Rallies – Rally #77 was conducted with a full slate of information to share and discuss with the group. Topics included staying the course and remain prepared. We also covered what signs to watch for to indicate SHTF has arrived. We then discussed team unity and support to leadership. We ended the rally with the regular "chatter that matters where participants can speak on any preparedness topic. Thanks to everyone who could attend.
Hope for Survival YouTube and Odysee Channels- If you have not already, please consider subscribing to the HFS YouTube and HFS Odysee channels. We would appreciate your consideration. Because I still work a full time day job, time is limited and I have not been able to set up a routine schedule for recording and posting videos yet. Thanks for hanging with me. Share the link with family and friends. Thanks to everyone who subscribed in the past week few weeks.
HFS Mobile Training:
If you would like HFS to come to your community to conduct training classes or speak on the importance of preparedness feel free to contact me.
Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:
Facebook – Hope for Survival
YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival
MeWe: - //mewe.com/p/hopeforsurvival2
Odysee - Hope for Survival (odysee.com)
Rumble - HopeforSurvival (Platform established. Videos coming soon)
Connect and give me a shout. Share with family and friends.
Guest and Newcomers
If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional
information offered through HFS. https://www.hopeforsurvival.com/post/guest-and-newcomers-information-page
Hope for Survival books: Christmas is quickly getting to our door step. Do you have family members or friends who dabble with preparedness or someone you want to get started in preparedness? Then now is a great time to order and receive copies of my two preparedness books. In the past HFS members purchase books for family members who may be in their early stages of preparedness.
If you would like to buy multiple books of one type or both, email me to let me know and I will work out a special deal for you.
You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)
Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)
Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)
We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.
Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...
Thoughts for the week –
Next ....
Preparedness -
Preparers Checklist -
This is probably the most unique set of checklist you will ever encounter. The HFS Thursday Zoom Group worked on this project in October to set up a checklist for the top 10 preparedness topics and resources. I believe you will find these items to be very different than most checklist you have used or encountered previously. Check this out and have fun doing so.
I want to extend a bit thanks to our preparers who participated during the month of October to put this together and complete the project. Great job Patriots.
Top 10 Checklist Areas
(Excludes Weapons and Ammo)
1. Water
- Plan – Identify your primary, alternate and secondary sources
- Water filtration item or system for the home or mobile gear
- Purification method - Tablets, boiling, Clorox, cheese cloth, sand, charcoal, buckets
- Carrier (Mobile) – Canteen, Camel Back, any safe method to store water
- Carrier (Home) – How will you move multi-gallon water carriers from water to home?
- Berkey Water Filtration system – Home system and/or mobile system
- Rain Barrel system to collect rainwater. Home and/or mobile as needed
- Hand pump – Wells, lakes, streams, rivers, creeks, ponds,
- Boiling – How will you do it? No electricity? Fire? Fire starter? Pot?
- Flashlight – Check water source before sticking hands or jug in water. Critters
2. Food
- Dehydrated foods – Requires water, however lighter to carry mobile. Less space
- Protein – Identify sources. Build into home and mobile food plan. This is critical
- Calories – Determine, age, body size, output level, and available foods, to set level
- Diet – Identify those with certain diet requirements due to health. Gluten, Diabetic..
- Seeds – Obtain at least a two year supply of Heirloom seeds to support your garden
- Tools – Obtain tools needed for gardening, gaming, and processing each category
- Solar Oven – No fuel or fire required. The sun and wood may be the final resources
- Plan – Build a multi-layered plan using canned, pressure canned, dehydrated, freeze dried, dried, freeze dried, and fresh, to supply a healthy food plan
·- Spices – Not a must, but a treat. Stock your preferred items to spice up the flavor
·- Sprouts – A fresh healthy option for the home and mobile food plan
- Oils – Home and mobile plans should stock oils used for preparing food
- Raw Honey – A healthy addition to your food stock
- Minimal Cost – Food can be stocked for minimal cost –
** See most recent HFS YT Video on Food Planning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZleDQ0hlQ0&t=94s
3. Shelter – Home and Mobile
- Garbage Bags – Multi-purpose. Jacket, shelter, carrier, flotation, water storage
- Paracord – Multi-purpose
- Patch Kit – Mends holes and rips in tarps, shelter, Mylar blankets, clothes
- Poncho/Liner – Warmth, shelter from wet weather, protection from debris
- Blanket – If Mylar isn’t available, have blankets for warmth in all scenarios
- Solar Blanket – Multiple sizes, easy to use, effective, prevents freezing
- Tarp – Different sizes for different purposes. Cover, floor, protection from elements
- Long sleeve shirt and pants – Protection, mosquitoes and insects, warmth
- Machete/Hatchet – Multi-purpose use for homes and when mobile.
- Shovel – Different size for home vs Bug Out Bag – Multi-purpose
- Bushcraft Knife – Multi-tool serving many important purposes to survive
- Hat – Protects head from bugs, cold, sun, and keeps the head warm
- Bug Spray – Protects from mosquitoes, and other nagging insects
- Plan – Select multiple locations if possible. Survey sites for needs. Do as much work beforehand as possible to adjust the location for protection
- Protection - Lethal – Non-Lethal. Personal choice, Urban, Suburban, Rural, Laws?
- Hammock – Personal choice. Numerous selections. Small, compact, home/mobile
- Grid Down Heat – Identify multiple heat sources for home and mobile. One option is unused paint can, roll of toilet paper, rubbing alcohol 60% or less. Burns hours providing heat. Non- toxic. Can be used in all settings
- Sleep Pad – Portable, pine needles, straw… important to maintain core body temp
4. Security: Lethal and Non-Lethal
- Plans – Risk Analysis of your subject area when possible is critical
- Mindset – Think outside the box – Hard Target – Left of Bang. When you can, pre-plan and get out of threat areas, counties, and states
- Whistle
- Lethal Weapons – A personal choice to selection and type of ammo
- Security cameras (while the internet is available)
- Night Vision Equipment (Can be used as security cameras with IR capability to laptop), Red or Green Dot laser system. Even if not lethal force, can be a deterrent worse case
- Multiple types of flashlights. Head lamp, mag lite, lanterns…
- Spray – Bear, Wasp, Mosquito – Can be used with a lighter for non-lethal defense
- Barking Rex – Requires 110 power. Provides barking support to security defense
- Early Warning – Alarm system, Make-shift notification system. (Fishing line with cans or pie tins or items making noise. Be creative. You want as much early warning as possible.
- Create stand-off from the threat.
- Game Cameras – Ensure you get immediate notification to phone for early warning.
- Walking Stick
- Solar lights
- Flex Cuffs
- ASP – Police Baton – Can be used as lethal or nonlethal force
- Duct Tape – Can be used in multiple ways – Mouth Gag, hand-and-leg cuffs,
- First Aid Kit – See Medicine Category
5. Medicine
- First Aid Kit – Know how to use the kit
- Tourniquet – Have two minimum. Recommend the C.A.T. Combat Application Tourniquet. Never give up your own tourniquet to another. Your life depends on it.
- Combat gauze – Secure a lot of gauze. A major wound or gunshot injury will absorb your supply quickly
- Quick Clot – Secure recommended type
- Israeli Bandage
- Books – All types of medical books creating a solid library
- Hydration Salts
- Suntan Lotion / Sunscreen
- Burn Gel
- Blood Pressure Monitor
- Cold Packs
- Finger-Tip Oxygen Level Checker
- Thermometers
- Fish Meds – (Antibiotics)
- Benadryl
- InsulinHub – Covid-19 meds and other meds as needed
- Aspirin
- Band Aids – All sizes
- Medical Tape
- Preparation H – Face lift cream
- Ammonia
- Colloidal Silver – Carolina Readiness Supply
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Silver Gel
- Moleskin
- All Vitamins Recommended for Each Individual
- Iodine
- Monistat – Yeast Infections
- Zinc
- Tinactin – Feet (Spray or cream)
- Quercetin
– Covid
- Dramamine
– Sleep med
- Iron
- Ichthammol – Anti-Infective
- Acetaminophen / Ibuprofen
6. Communications
- Awareness of conditions between/among locations
- Family communication PLAN. Plan is essential
- Identify Team, Family or Tribe in your plan
- Identify primary communication means – texting, email, etc.
- Licensure required for HAM
- Must have equipment – i.e., must also KNOW equipment types & availability
- Need somebody to talk to – build community
- PACE system (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency contact info)
- Primary contact system – text, HAM, airhorn, flashlight, whistle, other)
·- Identify key family/tribe individuals & how to contact
· - Baofeng UV5R radio available for $35-$50; convenient for families; valuable tool for perimeter patrol
- ALL members of one group would need the same type of radio to be able to communicate
- If HAM is primary for all, then ONE message suffices for entire group
- Signal smartphone app discussion:
- A group member volunteered to research Signal smartphone app & how to phone/text/video chat options. Msgs are in real time.
- Question about limitations of Signal. Answer: Internet dependent but convenient when Internet is available. Signal is encrypted.
- Have to sign in & “share contacts” with any # of ppl. The phone # that shows is any individual’s personal cell phone #.
- Signal: difference between Signal and drop box? Answer: it’s a group & real time. Not dependent on individuals checking email
- Also more private than HAM communication in that only ppl within a specific group can communicate w/ each other. Can’t remove anyone from group, have to delete group & create a new one without whoever group owner wants to eliminate
- CB radio is a good alternative too
- Police scanners: most are encrypted now but still valuable
·- Code words and code phrases. One group member gave neighborhood folks code names; gives him general locations, types of issues.
- Code system time & authentication per same group member. “Hidden” msgs in authentication systems to ensure validity.
- Additional info in due-outs generalized for non-proton users.
·- Batteries, battery chargers, solar chargers
- Make rally points clear to everyone in immediate group
- Signal mirrors, flares, even bottle rockets can be valuable
- Write in the rain pads & pens/pencils
- Perimeter warning system – depends on local area
- Security Alerting Matrix in the Hope for Survival book.
- Former military wire-based walkie talkies?
- Group member offered to send a link. “Old MASH phones” (T-83 Crank phone)
- Burner phones? One group member has 4-5 of them. Another member suggests keep ‘em in the safe.
- Another group member notes that metal cookie/popcorn cans make GREAT faraday containers for small items. (Faraday cage)
7. Night Vision
- Can spend $200 to THOUSANDS. Does the threat justify the need? Are there other planning areas short of needs? Then spend there (like food, etc.) In an urban area with grid up, there will be lots of lights. In a rural area with no lights, night vision will be more important. · Good quality night vision goggles/binoculars go for $2k and up.
· **If** purchasing, take the book; read it; learn how to use.
- Most are battery powered. No batteries, no cigar. Lower level models advise against using lithium batteries. (A group member notes there are slight voltage differences between types of batteries.)
- Night vision scope
- Night vision flashlight. People with no NVGs (night vision goggles) can’t see the beam that’s visible only to the person with NVGs
-· FRL-1 (FLIR?): thermal camera for Apple – allows user to pick up thermal images. Additional cost of $199.99?
- Game & security cameras. A group member recommends Dakota Alert. (Also listed under Security.) P8: One group member has the Dakota Alert at his driveway; can add up to 16 sensors. Make sure they’re waterproof if being mounted outdoors!
- Drone applicable? Mentioned but not explored in depth.
8. Transportation
- Good pair of LPCs (i.e., leather personnel carriers = SHOES)
- Have moleskin when walking
- Boots important if ankle support is important too
- Bicycle with baskets to carry items. Also at least one extra tire, bicycle pump
- 3-wheeler good if terrain is favorable
- Motor-assisted bike can be good. $300-$1k, up to $2k-$3k at high end
- Bike trailers available & highly valuable
- Motorized 4-wheelers, off-road vehicles
- Suzuki Samurai or Sidekick – small, economical, fuel efficient
- No internal computers on old (~ 1970s, 1980s) models
- Will climb a mountain – but be careful because they WILL turn over
- Hold a good bit of cargo
- GREAT gas mileage
- Used vehicles in good shape available for $3500 or so
- Boat or canoe
- Trash bags make GREAT flotation devices
- Horse or mule if necessary – downside is that they need to be fed, may require wagon
- Drone as message carrier – also in communications – listed in transportation too because it may be necessary to get a message to another community with skills not in the immediate community (i.e., doctor, vet, etc.) if no phone or texting communications available
- PLAN travel routes! Remember: one is none, two is one, three is better…
- Plan primary and 2 alternative routes if caught away from home & have to travel
- WRITE each plan in detail so family will know where to look
- 3-legged, wheeled golf caddy: good for hauling Bug Out Bag + extra supplies if on foot
- Railroad hand car if close to railroad tracks
- Question about width of RR tracks compared to Suzuki wheel base width?
- Detailed paper maps; focus on avoiding highways
- Sample from Hope for Survival book + training
- Book author has hard copy of personal plan, digital copy, another copy with trusted friend
- States will send free paper maps. Contact states’ tourism offices with requests
- United States Geological Survey (usgs.gov) has topographical maps upon request
- Useful GPS device: looks like / wears as watch. $200-$300. Keeps track of where the wearer is
- One group member has an old car stowed away near where he’ll be headed
"Group member asked, “If we’re 12 days from SHTF, how to prepare now?” Answer: pray, check gear, review plan. Family first, friends 2nd, others next
Group member question ” Do we stand for Constitutional rights or apply common sense? Point was, is it worth displaying Trump signs, bumper stickers, etc. if they’ll make us a target? Bottom line: opt for common sense. Consequences could be more serious than only a “keyed” car.
9. Bug Out Bags
- Plan on 10 or more days that may or may not take us home. This is the BIG bag, NOT the (1) everyday bag or (2) short travel bag, but (3) the BIG bag
- Advice: Begin with the BAG. It must be heavy duty & stand up to weight
- Basic items to include: food, water, shelter, fire starter, maybe stove (maybe not) – depends on individual needs and some level of creativity
- Filling the bag:
- Lethal and non-lethal protection – stop threats from either humans or animals
- Water – many options:
- Lifestraw – lightweight, takes very little space, can drink directly from mud puddles
- Water purification tablets
- Canteen – can heat water, has cup to eat from
- Sawyer Mini Water Filter – filters 100 gallons
- Camel Back or Mule – heavy when filled with water, will have to balance out weight according to individual conditions
- Cheesecloth – filter out obvious sludge before running through water filter
- Solar water heater for the all-important coffee
- Food – also many options
- Dehydrated and/or freeze dried foods are lightest weight
- Jerky
- Protein bars
- MREs
- Keep MREs only for home because of weight & bulk (Suggestion)
- Okay for short on-foot travel but not for long distance
- One member buys entrée-only without accompanying (& bulky) items. Pays approximately $2.50 per entrée only; very good price for the amount of protein each entrée contains
- If full MREs, take individual items out of the bulky MRE bag & pack them individually
- Food tubes (Note taker missed the name of this!) Buy empty, pack with food such as peanut butter + honey. Munch on the go. Carolina Readiness Supply (carolinareadiness.com) has these tubes in the store.
- Other items:
- Master key,” i.e., bolt cutters
- Crowbar is weight is okay
- Headlamp + LOTS of batteries
- One member favors traveling at night but regardless of travel time, can attach a small solar panel to pack and charge while traveling
- Conversely, can charge while sleeping if traveling at night
- “Lucy Lights” – solar, lightweight, but bulky. Available at carolinareadiness.com
- More items from previous categories: Band-Aids, head gear, mosquito net, fishing line, bug spray, etc.
- Cat bells! Little bells on a ribbon or string. Good inside a house, but also good around a campsite. They WILL make noise if disturbed
- Change of clothes: including at least 3 pairs of socks
- Panty hose to guard against mosquito bites
- Multi-tool (i.e., Leatherman, other brands)
- Large knife to cut small limbs – for firewood or to get out of the way
- Standard Paracord or Paracord with core that can be used as fire starter
- Bug spray + tick repellant
- Mylar sheet / blanket
- Large outdoor trash/leaf bags – can be used as flotation devices
- Waterproof matches
- Tesla lighter
- Fire starters, including (1) 2 Altoid tins filled with Vaseline-soaked cotton balls or (2) toilet paper cardboard rolls stuffed with dryer lint
- Backpacker towel
- Toilet paper in a Ziploc bag
- Soap / body wash / shampoo – unscented!
- Feminine hygiene items
- 22 long rifle – great all-purpose gun
- Henry makes a versatile one – Henry 22 AR7
- Great for hunting and protection
- Kel-Tec sub 2000 also good – 9 mm, folds in half. Hope for Survival video on this item posted pre-2020, probably Fall 2019
- Signal mirror. Combined with magnifying glass = fire starter
- Super lightweight fishing kit
- Whistle
- Kerchief
- Barter Bags – anything that can be traded, but with cautions: NEVER open Bug Out Bag (BOB) to rummage through within anyone’s sight for barter items. Keep barter bags on person either in a fanny pack or in pockets.
- Cigarettes, lighters, “airplane” alcohol bottles
- Toothpaste, small fishing supplies-
- **Keep survival items on person in case BOB is stolen
- Extra glasses or contacts
- Hatchet, machete, break-down camping shovel
- Old Boy Scout books
- Currency and/or small-denomination silver coins
·- Belt with concealed zipper compartment
- Put pockets on boot tongues, conceal paper bills there
·- Conceal paper bills under shoe inner soles
- ID copies
- Mormon prepper guide
- Chapstick and wipes
- Head gear – hat, bandana, whatever works
- First aid kit
- Medications
- Duct tape
- Sewing kit
- Pencil & paper – preferably waterproof pad (also under Communications)
- Toothbrush & hygiene kit
- Hand warmers, safety pins, eating utensils
10. Team/Tribe/Node
- This area seems to be a major stumbling block for many
- Must have a group with multiple skills represented within the group
- Sometimes takes only 2-3 people to get it going and growing
- (1) Build a team; or
- (2) become part of an existing team
- Requires networking, reaching out, building trust
- Takes WORK and effort
- Resources: pool all or keep separate? Must decide
- Good books – any of these leads to looking at people differently – assessing gifts, talents, etc.:
- Sheep No More
- Left of Bang
- Gift of Fear
·- May be more difficult to build an effective team in a rural area where people are more (1) self- sufficient or (2) think they are
·- Identify common interests – i.e., canning, hunting, gardening, etc. – and build from there
- Feel people out – find out whether they’ll support a team or not if things go south
- One fortunate neighborhood of 18-20 families has 8 former military members
- Tough to create “real fear” to assess how individuals will react
General Resources
·- AbeBooks.com
- Used books, including old Boy Scout Handbook and Field Guide
- Less-than-new tech books (plumbing, etc.)
- Thrift stores, Goodwill: good for basic “how to” books on a variety of topics. Don’t need most recent editions, just how to do stuff (basic plumbing, electrical work, etc.)
Next ....
In haste to get all the things one believes they need for resources such as food, water, shelter, security, medicinal, communications, and so forth, a few things often forgotten or not considered are how one will wash dirty clothes. Some may have solar power or generator power, yet, do you really want to waste your stored battery power or generator fuel to wash laundry? Why not consider a manual style method. Here's a couple methods one could consider:
The laundry bucket method is cheap, simple, and requires minimal effort to build and store when not in use.
Here is another DIY method using the same concept however it will take a few additional resources. It is very simple to put together.
Or you can go even more manual and use the washboard method. You will need to obtain the resources to go this route and though more manual labor is required, it will probably cost more upfront to use this method. The washboard method:
As with most Americans we like high tech equipment and access to keeping things as normal as possible, what would life be like without a dryer to go with our high tech bucket washing machine? Ahh, I thought you would never ask. Here is a fairly simple method to build your own grid-down dryer.
What will you do when your batteries are depleted, you have no method of heat indoors because you are out of fuel to power a generator and you have no wood available for your woodburner? Or, maybe you do not have a generator or wood burner access. What will you do? Like with all resources on hand and available to you, you must use and test these items to determine what level of production they provide for your need. If the heat source is not entirely sufficient to your need, you may have to identify a counter method such as more blankets and sleeping bags. You can find many alternative methods to consider however you must do so now and not later. Here is one possible consideration:
Here is another option to consider. Remember, we are trying to warm the area and not heat the entire living quarters or house.
A couple of other items you may wish to consider adding to your resources and may have forgotten would be:
- A manual can opener. Ensure it works on #10 cans
- A crank radio
- A manual potato smasher
- A lemon peeler
- A wheat grinder
- Handwipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Siphon hose
- Lots of candles
- Water filters
- Cash
- Extra buckets and lids for many uses
- Duct tape, cordage, and bungy cords
- Sanitation needs
- Cat liter (works great for many uses)
- Common sense
- Written plans
- A family or community team
We all know this list could go on forever however by now I hope most of you already keep your own checklist of things to procure and maintain.
Sometime when you have a few hours extra, go visit Lowes or Home Depot, Wal Mart, Sams or Costco, Walgreens or CVS...... Simply walk-through aisles and look around to see what you may have not considered and will likely need. To prevent yourself from going broke, know what you need vs what you want.
Next ....
We are continuing to read and hear about shortages. Trucks, parts, drivers, fertilizer, agriculture problems, shortages in the supply chain, chips for transportation vehicles, and on and on. Here is a good overview by Prepper Now that was posted recently.
Next ....
With all the news and continued turbulence taking place around the globe, everyone can hopefully see the ongoing problems taking place that impacts one or more aspects of our way of life. Yes, we still have many who believe the system will fix itself. Maybe so. But how long will it take and are you willing to chance it and put your bet you won't suffer in some way before it possibly fixes the problem? Just remember, if trucks don't run, nothing moves. No trucks, no food. No trucks, no fuel. No trucks, no parts. No trucks, no medicinal needs. You get the point, right? Time will tell.
And that is it for my thoughts this week. Let's move along now to some preparedness and other news for the week.
Preparedness News –
1. From Swampfox - Survival Blog - Smallpox? – Managing a Serious Possibility, by SwampFox (survivalblog.com) - The latest fear mongering topic is smallpox. Scary yes. Like everything else, learn and prepare for the topic.
2. From Ashley Adamant - Practical Self-Reliance - 18 Herbal Remedies Anyone Can Make at Home (practicalselfreliance.com) - While discussing the topic of preparedness I sometimes feel a spur itching my backside and I will ask the question "what's your plans when Walgreen and CVS are closed for good?"
3 From Living Life in Rural Iowa - Three Prong Approach to Food Storage: How to Make Sure You Are Covered For All Situations (livinglifeinruraliowa.com) - The hardest step to preparing and storing food is getting started. I have probably read a thousand different ways to tackle this topic and it all comes down to the same thing.....just start.
4. From Jessica Fender - Survivopedia - Building Your Survival Pantry – Here's Your List - Survivopedia - Here is another list. It is good to review list and crosscheck with your primary list for new items. Easy stuff. It never hurts to have more checklist. The tough part is getting started using them.
5. From Ashley Adamant - Practical Self-Reliance - Canning Cranberry Juice (Two Ways!) (practicalselfreliance.com) - Are you a cranberry fan? I love cranberries. Sauce, salad, juice, mixed in crushed ice with sprite, or crushed ice and grape juice. Cranberries are also healthy for your kidneys.
Other News -
1. From Brandon Smith - Alt-Market - Mainstream Economists Are Struggling to Hide the Incoming Economic Collapse - Alt-Market.us - If a person is following the stock market they must be scratching their noggin to understand why the market doesn't match the real state of the economy. The rate of job loss and homelessness does not match the market. Why aren't we being told the truth? (Thanks Festus for this submission.)
2. From Francis Poretto - Liberty Torch - Running Scared Edition – Liberty's Torch (libertystorch.info) - Oh how the left wishes to label most of us and put us in a state of fear. For many the labels stick and cause them daily misery because they start to believe the labels. What say you?
3. From Paul Craig Roberts - Institute for Political Economy - The Fragility of Freedom in the Free World - PaulCraigRoberts.org - Fear. It's on every corner it seems. Fear creates dependency on the system and the same authorities creating the fear. Where does it leave those of us not drinking the punch?
4. From Tom Marlow - Survival Sullivan - What Preppers Should Know about How Government Works - Survival Sullivan - I don't know about you but I often find myself in disbelief of things I hear coming out on plans the government has in store for we the people who pays the salaries of those imposing so many restrictions on us.
5. From Kort Kirkwood - New American - Deportations Drop Almost 90 Percent. Biden Regime Treason Continues - The New American - Imagine a government who takes away or severely restricts the rights of its people by raising cost of healthcare, fuel, food, and taxes while importing refugees in record numbers who are afforded all the benefits of the same lost benefits of those paying the bills. Families are starving and freezing because of a loss of jobs and benefits because all funds must be used to pay for shelter. How could things get so messed up in such a short period of time?
Drum roll...........
That's all my Patriot brothers and sisters.
Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.
May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.
Even with all the worldly challenges, struggles, and heartbreaks we must always give thanks for the blessings in our own life and our family each day. Life can be hard and sometimes unfair to us, but we still have many things to be thankful for each day. We must not forget them.
Many HFS Patriots are in tough situations and having to choose between the Covid-19 vaccine or losing their jobs. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as these folks move forward with a decision.
We pray our thanks and gratefulness for those who recovered from Covid-19 the past week.
We have Patriots with personal prayer needs and/or family members with prayer needs as well.
Please pray for our Patriot sister and brother in Western NC as they both recover from Covid-19 or symptoms equal to Covid-19. We are thankful our Patriot sister is home from her hospital stay and ow recovering.
Please pray for our Patriot sister in Central GA who is recovering from foot and ankle surgery. May you heel and mend timely without issues.
We pray for our Patriot sister and brother who's grandson is having brain surgery at Vanderbilt University at weeks end. Pray for the resolve of the surgery, recovery, and a healthy life ahead. Prayers for a safe return home from Nashville, TN.
As we have prayer needs for answers to health and family matters we also have prayers of thanks for recent health answers and recoveries.
We all must pray strong and often for the citizens of our great nation. Many of our sisters and brothers are struggling daily with things they witness, encounter, and are surprised with out of the norm. Many times we are in unchartered areas, however, we still must keep our faith and focus on the big picture. Our prayers and faithful strength together will be required often to battle the evils being thrown upon all of us minute by minute.
As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community and nation needs us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on hope. Remember we are a blessed nation and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.
Blessings,
Bravo Echo Out,
Preparedness101@protonmail.com
