Pure Joy… Except for the Battery

TREK TO SEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Sharon and I just returned from a road trip to visit family members, friends, and ministry partners. I also spoke at churches in Spokane Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Friday Harbor, Washington. We traveled earlier to Dallas, then Park Cities and Salt Lake Cities to see dear friends in those cities too.

Our prayer along the way was that we would leave the sweet aroma of Jesus wherever we went. I trust we did so…but we also experienced the sweetness of Jesus in the lives of those we were with. Every stop was pure joy…except for the dead battery as we started to leave Bend, Oregon. It took us a couple hours to get road side assistance, then a new battery.

FRIENDS

Below are a few photos of friends with captions. They point to some of our seasons of service of Christ and His kingdom:

My high school friend John. Great conversation about kindling the spark of faith lying dormant. Please pray. — My high school friend John M. Great conversation about kindling the spark of faith lying dormant in his life. Please pray.

Drs. Paula and John R. (She’s really not blind and they aren’t a shady couple); John was in a Bible study I led when he was finishing high school and Sharon and I were working with UCLA students; I performed their wedding.

Kent and Mryna...part of our UCLA and Jesus Christ Light and Power House ministry. — Kent and Myrna M….part of our UCLA ministry and Jesus Christ Light and Power House training center.

Lynn Wickman...better looking than her husband Mark who helped us plant the church in Ferney, France. — Lynn W…better looking than her husband Mark who helped us plant the church in Ferney, France.

My fellow Doctor of Ministry compatriot, Jon and wife Laila — My fellow Doctor of Ministry compatriot and teacher at Bakke Graduate University, Jon S., and his wife Laila

Rich (part of the Traction staff...retreat for "at risk" missionaries I am also part of the staff of) and wife Denise. — Rich M. (part of the Traction retreat for “at risk” missionaries staff that I am also a part of) and wife Denise.

Selfie with Global Training Network fellow workers Hud and Nancy...wait, that's not Nancy. — Selfie with Global Training Network fellow workers Hud and Nancy M…wait, that’s not Nancy.

These are just some of the friends we connected with. Space does not allow or I forgot to take photos of Jim and Kim W., Mark and Nancy A., Bob and Mary B., Kevin and Kelly S., Cheryl R. and family, Steve H., Aubrey M., Ken, Holly, Ben, and Laura K., Kristen R., Jack and Kay R., Jack and Margie G., Jeff and Denise M., Vince L., GTNer Mark PH., Russ C., Jim and Vivian M., Maynard and Linda M., Bill and Gerry S., Linda K., Rob F., Marshall and Kathleen S., Dan L., Dave T., Don A., Lindsay C., Nancy A., GTNers Carl and Carolyn P., Bill and Carol G., Jim and Lanita S., Larry W., GTNer Joel M., Gary and Chris C., H.D. and Patty W., George D., John and Elizabeth C., and Donnie V.

Did I leave anyone out? Oh, yeah the roadside assistance guy and the Goodyear tire man who replaced our battery. Our only regret (apart from the dead battery) was that we didn’t get to see everyone we would have liked to.

FAMILY

Included in our travel was the chance to be with some of our family. We

connected with our son Linus Jr, daughter-in-law Dani, and grandson Linus III, as well as daughter Kristin, son-in-law Cory, and grandchildren Mason and Monika up north.

Grandson's Mason and Linus III...22 and 2. — Grandson’s Mason and Linus III…22 and 2.

We returned in time for a special birthday celebration for our daughter Stephanie where 66% of our children and almost 50% of our grandchildren gathered (see below). As I write this, we are about to attend our granddaughter Chelsea’s wedding to Alex, and then our grandson Colin’s wedding to Kaysha two weeks later.