Finished Traveling! - - - - for now =-)

Elizabethton, TN

Our Northeastern trip began with a friend I met at Oshkosh, WI many years ago. A newer Christian then, he and I have kept in touch over the years. He is a prayer warrior now and growing in the Lord and I am happy to know him. We shared some lunch and fellowship as we caught up together. Knoxville, TN Our first night was spent with an old friend of Bethany's from when she lived in Montana. We had a nice time visiting her, eating some Thai, and just catching up. Ezekiel especially enjoyed her and I think this picture explains that just perfect. She is enjoying being a teacher, and would very much like to minister to her community through her life and just be a Christ-like example to those around her.

Roanoke, VA This was my pastor when we were in England! It was great to see them again. I enjoyed introducing Bethany and Ezekiel to them for the first time in the flesh. =-) During our stay I either picked up a stomach virus, or had food poisoning because Sat. night I was sick really bad. I retired that night early and spent it mostly in the bathroom. After my stomach told me it wanted nothing in it about 8 times I was able to sleep, get rest and start to recover. I felt so bad my sickness caused me to lose time with them, but the time we did enjoy together was very nice. He gave me some time to share our ministry from the pulpit and what a joy it was again. I always enjoy sharing what my hearts desire is, because it gets me fired up again. I can get so bogged down with all of the things of this world every day, but sharing it really lights that fire again for me. =-) Driving north we past through some beautiful country. Nothing like what we came upon out West, but it did have it's own way of being beautiful. Charlotesville, VA Another friend of Bethany's and her husband allowed us to share a few days with them. Newly weds, they both are in school and learning lots. We spent a good amount of time with them mostly getting to know them better, but we also enjoyed seeing the city and surrounding area. Up north a little ways we found some Grand Caverns! Very pretty and neat to see how God's beauty is not just above the ground we stand on. Huge caverns filled with slow growing formations Zeke thought were great. As we entered the Caves he loudly proclaimed, more than once, "WOW!" This brought smiles to all the faces of those who were in the party exploring that day. North again on up to PA and more of the Shenandoah Valley to see. Landisville, PA Airplanes! =-) Here we had time with some old friends from MI that we have been missing for a while. In MI we did many things outdoors together, and just spent many nights eating pizza, playing games, watching movies, or sharing. We were very excited about our time with them again and were not disappointed. These folks now live near their family and Daryl is a part of a aviation company who fly charter flights and tow banners for big events as advertising. The Super Cub is the airplane they use to tow the banners. One night we sure had a good time flying in it. It is an old airplane, used as a trainer many years ago, and still today. A great short takeoff and land airplane, but only holding two people it's more of a purpose built aircraft. We went up flying just the two of us first but then I had to take Zeke and see what he thought of it. He loved it more then I thought he might, so much that when we landed he wouldn't leave the airplane unless we went up for more. After agreeing to take him up for one more time around the patch he willingly got out of the plane. It was great! I'm sure he has "the bug" and that makes me VERY proud. =-) He had to be in the middle of anything that went on and just wanted to be involved. It was a fun time for sure as we visited these friends, we miss them and made up for it while we spent time together. We also looked around at some really cool airplanes on the field. Daddy and his co-pilot. This airplane is a replica of the one Nate Saint flew during his time in Ecuador, South America. Nate Saint was one of a group of men who wanted to reach a tribe of people greatly feared by many for good reasons. They used the airplane to reach them in more ways then one. I would challenge you to read about it if you have the time. Nate was a pioneer in many ways in aviation. A man of many ideas and creativity he designed and made many things to add to the airplane to use for the purpose of reaching the lost. This barrel was used for the pilot to drop preloaded items, during flight, to the people below. This invention is a long rope on the a spool with a motor to pull it back up. At the end of the rope was a bucket which would be lowered and upon the pilot flying a smooth circle in the sky it would stand still on the ground some hundred feet below. Another invention of his was telephone he had along the same lines. It was attached to long cord on the real and another telephone was on the other end for the pilot to talk with those on the ground. All inventions way before their time, and some not even duplicated since. All things to aid in expanding the reach of the gospel. Ezekiel of course had many times to sleep in the van again. Bethany and I said many times this trip that he had done so well, much better then before. (Lego were one way we kept him busy!) Washington, DC We spent a day in DC to see the things of this nation that made it a nation. Here is the White House as we drove into town. A hour and a half wait to see the many documents the National Archives held. During one of our stops to play Zeke decided to stand and pose like this for a little while. The World War II Memorial was very neat to see. Abraham Lincoln's Memorial was quite a sight as well and our favorite. A cute picture. =-) Back down to Virginia, which was just across the river, we stayed with a relative of Bethany's. What a wonderful time we spent with her visiting and enjoying each other. Zeke VERY much enjoyed his time with her as they played, drew, and laughed together. She was renewed with every smile he gave and all the wonder a two-year old can show. We always try to be a blessing to those whom we stay with and this time we really felt we were able to do that. Her fridge upstairs was almost dead so Bethany and I moved the one from down stairs up for her to use. We sure like to help, and pray we can continue to "help" all the way through the ministry God has for us in the road ahead. Virginia Beach, VA More friends from England were here to visit. Traffic made us two hours late, but we sure enjoyed the late night catching up time we did have with them. After a nights sleep we went out with them for breakfast and headed down the road together as we traveled the same direction for Easter Sunday. Oh Yeah! Ezekiel has touched the Pacific, Atlantic oceans, and the Gulf of Mexico all within 7 months! He thought it was pretty fun chasing the waves We enjoyed a couple of days with these friends in NC. When I was a boy and my parents were in training at New Tribes in Waukesha, we knew Kelly. We had a nice visit with her family over Easter Sunday. Coming soon! Our new prayer card!