Streets & Trips

We learned a little bit more about each other on our travels this fall. We learned that Jon would much rather take the back roads than he would drive the beaten path (which usually winds up getting us lost). We also learned that one of the things Denielle is not excited about is reading maps as we drive (which she usually has to do whenever Jon finds another back road to take).

While we are only two and a half months into it, we have found this prefield ministry God has given us to be an exciting and rewarding time. We were thinking about it the other day and had to laugh. Who else besides politicians and missionaries get to spend their time making friends?

Our first two months out on the road were tremendous, filled with great meetings, lots of fellowship, and a lot of great people. Here are a few of the highlights:

Central Illinois: It all started with the dear folks at Middletown Bible Church. We will always have special memories from our “first church.” A week at our home office was also very rewarding.

In Eureka the following week we were at our first missions conference. We were responsible for “Kid’s Konference” and special music.

East River (SD): After a long drive back to Hot Springs, we hopped in the car again the next weekend and headed to Bridgewater for a Harvest Missions Festival. The garden fresh tomatoes and peppers and box of frozen meat were one of the extra special blessings we took home with us.

Kansas: A week into November and we were heading to central Kansas. We spent much of that time with Grandma Johnson and Uncle Don while enjoying fellowship with the church Jon grew up in. We raked Grandma’s yard, went to a ladies’ Bible study, visited the Cosmosphere, went to a rescue mission service, and raked the yard again. We really enjoyed being able to spend extra time with the believers in the area.

We also took a quick trip down to Fayetteville, Arkansas to visit good friends from Hot Springs, attended a friend’s wedding, and enjoyed a family reunion in Kansas City over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The fellowship we enjoyed at churches in Douglass and McPherson made us further rejoice that we are a part of the body of Christ. It was especially fun to be able to renew acquaintances with one of Jon’s old friends from grade school.

Minnesota: During December we are trying to keep warm while in Northern Minnesota spending time with Denielle’s family. Our time up north includes presentations at the Grace and Truth and Deer River Bible Churches, Christmas with Denielle’s family, a Christmas program, and a youth retreat at the end of the year. At the end of January we will be sharing in ministry at Boy River Bible Church.