Missions Conference Month!!

For those of you who think missionary furlough is something like a vacation think again.  Well, yes, we are away from our house,our dogs (one of which recently died), our normal ministry and work, our co-workers, our Cameroon friends and church family, our routine and such.  However, being in full time ministry you are rarely away from doing what God has called you to do...and that is preach, teach, and minister to people. 
We have been in 5 straight missions conferences and that means being in church most nights of the the last 5 weeks (those conferences were in MI,IL,IL,WI,MI).  So tonight, I am sitting in South Carolina thinking about what to post from the last month.  Abby is speaking at a ladies meeting tonight at one of our supporting churches.  The kids are all finally asleep...miracle of miracles happened tonight and that is Chloe fell asleep first and Elias was last! We just had an awesome meeting with one of our North Carlolina supporting churches last night.  We had lunch today with a couple that Abby knew in high school and college and hadn't seen in over 10 years.  We had dinner with our only South Carolina supporting pastor and are preparing for our meeting in his church on Sunday.  So, we are not on vacation, but we are having a GREAT time on furlough!! 

At an apple mill in Byron, MI with the pastor and other missionaries.

At Antrim Baptist with Pastor and Mrs. Ashley, the Cookes, and bro. Wild. 

Some of my favorite pictures of the fall were these at my parents house watching the harvesters bring in the corn from the fields around their house. 

....the kids showing off some corn husks

At the church where my parents attend for their missions conference

peeling apples with my Grandparents for the homemade apple cider at my parents house. 

 

Grammie and Elena in Illinois!

 

...missions conference in Charlotte, MI

...the fall colors around the cabin where we stayed during the conference

 

Grandma and Chloe in Michigan! 

 

Pennsylvania...Chris and Laura

Our last leg of Pennsylvania included reporting to our supporting church, Victory Baptist, where Chris and Laura attend.  We had never met our little nephews Gabriel and Benjamin...Gabe was a lot of fun to tease and talk to!  Elena and Elias had a great time with their cousins.  I was able to take in a new ballpark (Philadelphia) as I went to what will probably be my only baseball game on furlough.  The Phillies beat the Rockies 3-2 in what turned out to be a perfect ending to a game.  The trip to Valley Forge was definitely a high point as well.  I understood alot better the meaning of this difficult part of the war.   We also stopped back at Slippery Rock Baptist Church on the way back to Michigan.  The Lord has really helped that church to grow by leaps and bounds in the last five years.  It was good to see them again and give an update. 

The Phillies taking the field courtesy of my zoom lens.  We sat near the foul pole on the third base side just two rows from the front...very awesome seats! 

Juan Pierre warming up...you can miss him with his socks.  He played a year for the Cubs back in 06'.

Cliff Lee firing the first pitch of the game.  He got hammered the first inning then settled down and pitched a good game. 

The Phillis famous mascott, the Phanatic game to our section. 

Pierre making a great catch!

Thanks Chris for taking me to Philadalphia!  And yes, the Philly cheese steak sandwhiches are ALL they are cracked up to be! 

Laura and Abby playing a flute duet at VBC.

Pastor Mawson and family

We went to Valley Forge, a short 20 minutes from where we were staying and about 20 miles from Philadelphia.  This Baptist Church reached out and grabbed me making me stop by and check out the monuments on the property. 

David Jones was a famous Baptist Chaplain during the War for Independence. 

Elias at the Valley Forge visitor center. 

Elena was my willing subject for photos that day.  She is standing in front of some soldier's huts that they built to survive the winter at Valley Forge. 

We talked to a "soldier" and got to ask him questions about the huts and soldier life! 

Hey, good idea for back at our house in Cameroon! 

At the George Washington arch at Valley Forge.

One of my favorte shots and monuments...General Wayne. 

Inside General Washington's headquarters. 

It was the most perfect day to visit!  We are truly blessed by the Lord to get to see some great places in the wonderful history of our great country! 

Pennsylvania...Adam and Katie

We left soutwest Pennsylvania and took the scenic route through Gettysburg on the way to preach at Adam Burtt's church near the Maryland border.  It was great seeing Adam and Katie in their house and ministry.  They took us to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore during the short time that we were there!

One of the ways to make busy furlough travels more enjoyable is to make your stops in between meetings or on the way to meetings more memorable.  We really accomplished that in Pennsylvania, not to mention visiting family and four great churches! 

It was pretty amazing to go to two historic sites only hours from each other having to do with both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  Gettysburg and Valley Forge are both in Pennsylvania.  Valley Forge will be in the next post, but the kids loved seeing Honest Abe as they have heard a bit about him from their Illinois family. 

 Elena loves taking pictures any time she can get the small camera. 

 



 

 

Thanks for the great visit Adam and Katie!