Deputation Day: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10

Hello, Hello!

We haven't forgotten about you. However, we have been without internet access/connection for the past five days and now have a few minutes to post a quick update. First, thank you Dave Shelly and Andy Porter (MMS Aviation) for working with me over the phone to confirm that yes, my laptop is configured correctly to use this wireless connection (even though I couldn't connect) and second, thank you to Nate Murry, Grace Church @ Willow Valley's systems administrator for providing the link data necessary to access the church's wireless signal. I'm at the church now taking care of all the internet things a missionary on deputation needs to take care of in this day and age.

Karen and I are doing well. Here's a brief summary of the past few days:

Day 5: Friday, March 19
We had a great travel day for making the six hour drive to Lancaster, PA. That's pronounced: "LANC-a-sher" not "lan-CAST-er". We have been hosted by a wonderful couple who live only two minutes (by foot) from Grace. Jake and Ruth-Ann have loved us for years and are part of a small group that embraced Karen and I during our earliest dating days 7 1/2 years ago. Jake & Ruth-Ann have a Jug puppy, Maverick, who is helping us get our dog fix as we miss Tucker and Tannner.

Day 6: Saturday, March 20
We took the morning and afternoon to take care of errands we needed to run before Grace's missions conference kicked-off with a progressive dinner. What a wonderful way to share with multiple people in an intimate setting. We were hosted at the "main course" house. It was neat because all the missionaries in for the conference had dinner together before the progressive part of the meal began. It's so infrequent that the missionaries themselves get to have fellowship with each other at such events! Way to go Grace for making it happen! Janet, Ted, and Tammy...thank you for all your hard work orchestrating the meal and the evening.

Once we'd had our meal the other missionaries moved off to their respective courses of the meal which allowed each of us to address five different small groups of people during the course of the meal courses. We stayed at one house while the groups moved between appetizers, soup, salad, main meal, and dessert courses. We had a great time, made 5, fifteen minute presentations, shared with 41 different people, and made several new friends!

Day 7, Sunday, March 21
We gave two 45 minute presentations to two different Sunday School classes (the young adults first and then an Adult Bible Fellowship group). We had a great time with both, though we do have a special place in our hearts for the young adults! We had a gentleman who'd been part of the progressive dinner the night before, sit in with the young adult class. He wanted to learn more about our ministry and at the end of the class he made a pledge to support us monthly! Wahoo! Thank you, Lord. And thank you, Mark. We're so excited to have you guys as part of our team!

We were able to connect with several of our friends during the post-service pot luck (it was great to share a table with you Paul, Pat, and Yana!). Then we had dinner with Jake & Ruth-Ann and another dear friend, Patty.

Day 8, Monday, March 22
After absolutely perfect 70 degree weather over the weekend, Monday turned dark and rainy. But the weather didn't dampen the day.

We started our morning having breakfast with Holly & Dawn, two members of Grace's Go Team (missions team) to debrief the conference and to talk in greater detail about our service with MMS. From our breakfast meeting we went straight to Aunt Barb and Uncle Bill's house for a four hour "lunch". There's nothing like a seven course ham-loaf meal! Elvin and Mary joined us to make for a very special afternoon.

We did have time for a short nap before our dinner appointment with friends from Karen's old neighborhood. It's amazing how fast three hours can fly by when you're laughing so hard.

Day 9, Tuesday, March 23
Tuesday was exciting as it was the first day we had to try and connect to the internet. The challenge was getting my computer to talk to the local network. Once the problem was solved (see paragraph 1 above) I worked on the computer up until our lunch appointment with Pastor John and his wife Sharon. It's amazing how much laughing can go on...it's so fun to laugh and in ministry, there never seems to be enough laughing.

After lunch it was back on the computer to take care of MMS stuff until we were off to hang-out with Karen's cousin and her family. It was great to spend some time with them. We'd never really had the chance to visit like that before. Thanks for letting us in, Ruth and Rob.

Day 10, Today
It was up early for a meeting at church with a staff missionary who serves in the area of spiritual formation and the contemplative disciplines within Christianity. Joy, it was such a blessing to find a kindred spirit further down a path we're just starting to walk. We look forward to a growing relationship with you.

I'll be checking MMS emails once I finish here and we'll be back on the road visiting with folks in a couple hours. We're still in need of additional financial partners and are enjoying God's work through us as we share what He's doing through MMS.

Thanks for your prayers as we continue this week of ministry in Pennsylvania. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back on the internet as we're moving to a new host house tomorrow morning. We'll finish our trip staying with Jay & Renee and plan to head back to Coshocton on Monday.