MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 03-07-2006

Greetings! Our trip home from Georgia last week was uneventful, albeit very quiet. The kids, except for Gaelin, all got stomach flu, which ran its course the day before, leaving them in zombie-like condition for the drive home. We had to postpone the twins' birthday celebration 'til their digestive systems healed up enough to tolerate food. Terrible stuff that's apparently making the rounds. We had a good meeting in Lighthouse Baptist Church in Columbus, GA (Pastor Marty Wynn). Pastor Boutwell from Immanuel Baptist Church in Kenai, AK was the speaker. I had met the two of them at Bro. Boutwell's church during a trip I made up to Alaska back in Fall of 2004. Bro. Wynn was kind enough to have us in for a meeting also. It was good to be able to introduce the family to the Boutwells, since I had to fly solo when last I went up to Alaska, and their church recently began supporting us. We're planning to drive (yes drive) up to Alaska in 2007, and Bro. Boutwell's going to help us get into a string of churches along the way, as well as some of the churches I didn't have time to visit last time. I'd like the family to be able to see Alaska, and meet our supporting churches up there before we go to Africa, since it will be some time before we get back on furlough to do so.

Our meeting in Bethany Baptist Church in Ava, MO (Pastor Sorenson) also went well. We had a full day in which to visit and minister to the people there. While in the area, we took the time to drive to Mansfield, MO, and visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder home and museum. This is the house where her and Almonzo lived out the remainder of their lives, and where she wrote the now famous Little House books. They had a bunch of family heirlooms and artifacts that were mentioned in the books, like the family bible, and Pa's fiddle, on display. It was pretty cool, since both Anna and I grew up reading those books. Well worth a visit.

This weekend we'll be in Arnold, MO with Pastor Jim Beller, in Arnold Baptist Tabernacle for their missions conference. Looking forward to that. Bro. Beller is the fellow who wrote America in Crimson Red, his excellent history of the Baptists in America. Pray for the meeting, that all will go well, and that we'll be a blessing. Pray for our travels, and our health. Pray for our home church, Grace Baptist Church, which is having a revival meeting Sunday through Wednesday, that God will work in people's lives, and that our church will experience God's reviving presence.