Symposium Wrap-up

2008-06-12
We’re up early this morning, getting ready to finish packing. We leave Pasadena this morning to drive to Fullerton, pick up Jessica, then make the almost 400 mile drive to Mesa. By 4.00pm this afternoon we should be stopping at Andrew’s workplace to meet him. We’re briefly meeting the owner (click here for the company) who’s helping us with some banners for Dickens Heath Village Church and thethirdplace. After that, we’re meeting a small group from Central Christian Church of the East Valley (http://my.cccev.com) for dinner.

While my Final Project Symposium is complete, the work is just beginning. My deadline for completing the 150 to 175 page final project is October 2010. This is where all the studying of the Doctor of Ministry (click here) comes together, and there are a number of intermediate deadlines to keep, the first being August 15 for submitting a draft final proposal for review, the next being 15 October for formal submission. While each class has had immediate personal application and in our church planting ministry in England, the final project should have substantial application.

I have two topics in mind, and can’t yet settle on one or the other until I flesh them out further in the final project proposal format. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

Possible Topic One: A Strategy for Church Planter Assessment in the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in England. Thesis: The purpose of this ministry focus paper is to present an implementable plan for assessing potential church planters within the network of churches known as the Fellowship of Churches of Christ.

Possible Topic Two: A Strategy for Planting a ‘Simple Church’ Network in the West Midlands of England. Thesis: The purpose of this ministry focus paper is to present an implementable plan for planting a network of reproducing organic or home-based churches in the West Midlands of England.

The first topic has to do with helping produce a more national strategy to support church planting by coming up with a range of assessment means that help potential church planters start planting churches. The second topic is more local, and has to do with establishing and growing thethirdplace network.

Sushi

I'm supposed to be writing my final project proposal, but an evening eating out with Jess and her friend Katie took priority. We went to my favourite eating place in Pasadena, A'Float Sushi. Well, maybe not my favourite place, but one I visit everytime we come here for one of my DMin classes. As for the Final Project Proposal, since I've been waking up at 2.00am every morning since coming to the States, I'll have a few hours to write before meeting with my small group for mutual encouragement and critiquing of what we've developed.

Los Angeles

2008-06-09
There is a reason we’re in LA apart from seeing Jess. Tim is attending a Final Project Symposium for his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) studies. This 2½ day course, led by Dr Peace, is designed to help Tim write a proposal for his Final Project. The proposal is a key piece in providing a focus for thought, research, and writing with specific ministry application in mind. While the final deadline is October 2010 (7 years from start to finish), staged deadlines of 15 August and 15 October of this year for approval of the proposal loom large.

Dr Peace (click here for a description of a book he's recently written and here for more info) is a delightful man, and has really set me at ease about the ‘doability’ of the proposal and the deadlines. Two new points of thinking about it gave me a feeling of relief. The first was that the final project proposal is a tool to progress my thought, research, and writing; that is, the finished product isn’t hogtied to the proposal outline for the 125 to 175 page paper. Second, if I can think about the reading, reflection, and writing as a spiritual discipline that is integrated into my life over the next two years, it will go a long way to making steady progress and bringing it to completion.

2008-06-08
Sunday afternoon and being reunited with Jessica was wonderful! We can see her growth and maturity in so many ways. She finished off the semester with top marks, working two part time jobs of 25 plus hours a week and carrying a 17 hour class load. She has a variety of friends (we had lunch with her and Crystal, Miki, Danielle, and Cormack), and can navigate the Los Angeles freeways and traffic like an expert! She’s working full-time this summer in Investigations at Fullerton Police Dept as a police cadet, providing support to the detectives. Where did our little girl go?

Early Morning Travel

What were we thinking---getting up at 3.00am this morning to catch our morning flight out of Eugene? I guess booking with air miles didn’t leave us much choice, though it was originally scheduled for 8.00am departure instead of 6.00am. The flight changes are a reflection of the consolidation and shrinkage of the industry due to increased fuel costs.

We’ve had a great time the last couple of days. Tammy’s sister (Terry) and husband (Rodney) came down from Seattle with Uncle Bud (Tam’s mum’s younger brother) on Friday afternoon. Sitting around the lounge and telling stories was wonderful! Saturday’s get together with Rick and Margie included a full telling of stories from University days, some of which are even true. Rick was part of our wedding party. Joyce also took part in our meals and memories as a family friend. Joyce made Tam’s dress, cake, and flower arrangement for our wedding.

Speaking of which, we’ve finalised the travel details for Andrew and Jess, and we’re now beginning to plan a renewal of our wedding vows for our 25^th anniversary later in the year. This will take place in England with our Dickens Heath Village Church and thethirdplace family and friends, in December.

Birthday Greetings

I've been overwhelmed by the number of facebook and e-mail notes I've had wishing me 'happy birthday.' Thanks to everyone who's sent me a note! It was a quiet day without anything special to note, which is quite OK with me. Both the kids remembered and phoned (well done Andrew and Jess!). Tam's still looking for a gift for me that's been on our american shopping list, but hasn't been able to locate it yet.

Last Saturday, after the ice hockey game the Solihull Wolves played against the Coventry Chaos, H (yes, 'H' is what we call him; don't chuckle, I'm called 'Ned' or 'Flanders' from the lads' belief that I resemble the character Ned Flanders from The Simpsons!) had a special request. He wondered if I could find some peanut butter filled pretzels that he once enjoyed on a visit to America. Do you know, I have searched everywhere and can't find anything like this? America has everything but peanut butter filled pretzels! Maybe H will be happy with peanut butter filled cheeze crackers....

The America Trip Begins

2008-06-04
Mail awaited us upon our arrival in America at Tammy’s mum’s. Notable was the Christmas gift we purchased for Tam’s mum. Jess hand carried it back to the USA after her Christmas holiday with us, then mailed it to Tam’s mum over 5 months ago. Thinking it was for us, she simply set it aside. We enjoyed watching her open the digital photo frame, then watch the several hundred photos cycle through that we had loaded on it. A birthday card also awaited me from my parents. Funny how such a card can sum up a person, and both Tam and I enjoyed a lengthy chuckle as a result.

2008-06-03, evening
“We forgot to take photos!” That’s what I said to myself when I realized we had left an evening hosted by our friends Greg and Elvie for friends and supporters without visual reminders of our time together. While I lamented my lapse of memory for pics, I nevertheless gratefully praised God for the precious dozen present who represented significant input into our Christian formation. Greg took me under his wing some 25 years ago to co-teach a course on God’s incarnational mission to grasp people with his love for them. Along with his then wife, Arlene, they loved and encouraged early on as we prepared to move to England. Several days before we moved to England, we spent an evening with Greg and Arlene, Arlene’s last before being murdered the next morning. Some years later, after Greg married Elvie, we receive their mutual care and support.

Most of those present dated back to our days at University Street Christian Church in Eugene. Besides Greg and Elvie, there was Don and Dorothy, keen supporters of cross-cultural ministries such as ours. Paul and Jan, who influenced Tam long before she met Tim. Two of their children were in the youth group we led for a couple of years. One of them, Steve, died in a car accident on the day Tim was ordained at University Street (21 years ago almost to the day), and the events of that day still shape our view of ministry and service to others no matter what the circumstances. Ron and Jacqui (another daughter of Paul and Jan) were in attendance, long-time translators of the Bible in Indonesia. I still remember meeting Ron at Northwest Christian College and seeing in him a kindred spirit of love for Jesus. Mayretta, Ron’s mum, who came to University Street our last year there before we moved to Arizona. Dick, director of the Restoration Campus Ministry, a locally supported ministry to students at the University of Oregon, who baptised and married us in May and December 1983. Joanne, whose son was in our youth group, and had a riotous sense of humor. Oh, last, but not least, Bruce and Sally, with whom 11 of us (including Andrew and me) enjoyed a week of salmon fishing in Alaska in August 2006.

Alas, no pictures, but burned in our hearts are images of these special friends who have loved us, believed in us, encouraged us, and modeled a love for Jesus that still spurs us on after all these years. Our hearts overflow with love and gratitude for you!

2008-06-03, morning
After getting a lift to LHR (Heathrow airport) by Richard, we spent the next 20 hours occupying chairs either in airports or on aircraft. Tam and I arrived at her mum's in Eugene, late in the evening. It was a long day of travel from England, and it was wonderful to get here. I managed to get a meal in me, then retired to the settee to turn on the ice hockey game, which went into 3 overtimes before going to bed at what was the equivalent of 5.00am. A catnap or two in 24 hours isn't much, but while Tim did manage 8 hours sleep, Tam only got three. I'm feeling kind of tired now, and wouldn't be surprised to nod off while Tam and her mum are out shopping.

2008-06-01
After being with Dickens Heath Village Church in the morning, we made our way to Leatherhead (inside the M25, SW of London) for a wonderful evening with our friends Richard, Marian, Laurence and Rosie. Tam and I were so excited to see them! Richard and Marian became part of DHVC in the early days after we had publicly launched the church plant, and Tim baptized Marian not long afterwards. Marian became Tam’s prayer and accountability partner, and it was a sad day when they moved to London with Richard’s employment. The last time we had talked to them was July of 2007 when we phoned them while driving past the St Louis arch---a city they had lived in for a couple of years with a previous job. It was amazing to see how the kids had grown in the 18 months since we had last got together. We rejoiced to see them. What we didn’t know, while we had been stateside, was that they were instrumental in hosting a home group that morphed into a church plant that recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. Well done Richard and Marian, and thank you for your example and faithfulness as apprentices to Jesus.

Friends & Food & Faith

Anton and Sarah are wonderful friends. We've known them, along with their daughters Laura and Amy, a couple of years before the public launch of Dickens Heath Village Church. Anton is a sound and video expert, great at puns, and has named all the important bits of kit used for worship services (Daphne the Desk, for instance); he records and puts all the messages from DHVC on the church web site. Sarah has the gift of hospitality, hence our visit and meal with them tonight.

I was really encouraged by our conversation, for two reasons. First, we talked about how important it is to not just discern God's voice in our circumstances, but have a posture of obedience just as Jesus did, who said 'I obey my Father so the world will know I love Him' (John 14.31, CEV). Second, the crucial role of exercising trust in this obedience, learning to overcome our fears with a confidence that abandoning myself to God is the safest and most secure thing one can do.

As Tam and made our way home, so that I could make a bid on an eBay auction (and win, YES!), I reflected on a verse from the New Testament book of Hebrews. I used to narrowly think of this verse as simply applying to entering a relationship with the Father, but actually, it describes the ongoing Kingdom of God living one experiences in this relationship. 'Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because those who come to God must believe that He exists, and is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him' (Hebrews 11.6, NIV).

Thanks Sarah and Anton, for loving us, and showing us an example of loving God that we can follow.

A Brief Visit to Prague

A couple of weeks ago we managed a three day getaway to Prague. A couple from one of our supporting churches gifted us with some funds for use as we deemed fit. Tam did some digging around, and found some discount tickets. We traveled with our teammates Aaron and Diane.

The weather was delightful, and the architecture and history was wonderful. We walked miles and miles. A couple of highlights include explaining to our walking tour guide the Pentecost stained glass window ("I've never heard such a thing" she said) and being sobered by the box of tefillim (Phylacteries) in the Spanish Synagogue collected before Jewish residents were shipped off to camps and executed. Of 83,000 Jews in the region, 77,000 were killed, and their names are inscribed on a wall of another synagogue close by.

Our trip was another reminder of the kindness and generosity we receive that we do not deserve. We are grateful for the love so many show toward us!

Launch of The Third Place
Six of us gathered on a Friday night at the beginning of March to 'soft' launch The Third Place home-based church. You can read more about it at http://thethirdplacenetwork.blogspot.com/.

Launch of The River
Along with Dan and Amy, we travelled to Gillingham in Kent to assist in the Easter Sunday launch of The River ( http://www.the-river.org.uk/), led by Rob and Vicky who have vision and passion and dozen-strong team.

Nathan Arrives
Late last autumn a team of four arrived to begin Canvas, a new campus ministry to University Students here in Birmingham. Nathan, from one of our supporting churches in Virginia, arrived in March to join the team. Welcome Nathan!

National Leaders Day
On 1 March Trinity Lane Church in Hinckley hosted over 50 leaders from the Fellowship. The day was called by the National Leadership Team of the FCC to reflect on where we've been as a network of churches, and where we're going. The sharing from churches was inspiring; the diversity of what churches are doing in difficult and challenging circumstances to live out Kingdom of God values and be missional was awesome. Feedback from the day was very positive and we're planning for a follow-up in the autumn.

Back in the UK

OK, 'back in the UK' is a bit stale. We've been back since the 11th of October! But back we are, and delighted to say so. After some time of rest and recovery from furlough (it took me almost a month before I really wanted to talk to people -- I was 'peopled out' from all our speaking engagements), some painting and decorating of the upstairs bedrooms, reconnecting with many people, it was suddenly Christmas and the kids had arrived.

Andrew and Jess were here for 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively, and we had a great time. Their departure was sad, but signaled time to dig into some new projects. Our time prior to Christmas was essential for regaining a sense of the big picture of our work and ministry here, but now we're settling into new responsibilities and routines. In the days ahead I will tell you more.

Counting Down

Our return date to England draws ever closer. We've been settled into the Stafford, Virginia area for just over a week. Tim has a trip next week to Colorado for a church planters leaders retreat. Tam has a trip to Indianapolis the first week in October. And then just a few days later we're back in England!

What are we missing about England these days? Tam mentions our cats, our bed, and our furniture. Tim starts salivating, when asked, over thoughts of a Lamb Tikka Massala on the evening of our return. But both of us agree that some sense of routine and a return to our friends, where we can live out our call to help people walk in God’s ways, keeps us counting the days.

Where have we been recently? We did enjoy a brief trip to NYC at the end of July. Yes, food was involved, as you can see from the photo of Tim and Ruth enjoying some Malaysian fare. In the middle of August, we were back in Newport News, Virginia for a conference, and saw our friend Teressa -- she's an amazing woman who along with her husband Donnie supports our ministry in England by selling her paintings. At the end of August, after leaving Peggy's 126 acre farm in Salem, Virginia we headed for Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Our weekend in the Howard area was fantastic, and then we spent a couple of days in Kingston, NH with friends Doug and Sandi from our Oregon days some 22 years ago. Yes, Sandi, your cinnamon rolls are still the best in the world!

Road Weary

After 52 weeks stateside, we're now getting a bit road weary. The first week in July was our hardest week of travel, with a trip to Kansas and Nebraska from Virginia. We can now say we have logged about 31,245 miles by car (that's 600 miles per week), while having entered and exited 29 states. Fifty-four beds will have comforted our increasingly weary bodies, but only 1 pillow (we take our pillow with us where ever we travel!).

The good news is that our return to the UK is booked! We'll be counting down the 13 weeks remaining until our return to our own bed, our own stuff, our church family and many friends who we long to see and with whom we long to share how God has provided beyond what we could ask or imagine. But not yet.... We have a few more miles to go and more friends to see and more ministry assignments to complete.

One of our recent highlights was a 16 mile bicycle ride down the Virginia Creeper Trail with our long-time friends Ann and Paul. That's the longest we've biked in years, but fortunately it was all down hill. We rented bicycles from a company that took us to the top of Whitetop Mountain, and coasted most of the time. We even had a stop for lunch half-way down!

We're now in Salem, staying with our dear friend Peggy on her 126 acre farm. Yes, it is an absolutely delightful area. Like Abingdon, it's on the edge of the Appalachian Trail. The gentle mountains and ridges are full of wildlife. On the drive into Peggy's land, we saw a young two or three month old fawn. Within an hour of arrival, we watched wild turkeys cross a field. On the way out the next morning, we saw another yearling deer and rabbits. Tim is thrilled because there is grass to mow, and wood to cut with the chainsaw and split for the winter.

I can still remember Bob Hope specials where he would sing "Thanks for the memories..." On occasion, I’ll start to sing that tune or Barbara Streisand’s "Memories, like the corners of my mind, misty water-colored memories of the way we were." Inevitably, I’ll forget the words apart from the first two or three, and Tammy will beg me to give it up. Then she’ll go on to sing the correct lyrics in a much better manner than I can. Admittedly, Tam's voice is more pleasant than mine, but my version of the lyrics are funny...at least to me.

Anyway, I’ve felt for a long time that family holidays are important because they build important memories together and contribute to family bonding — even if the holiday doesn’t turn out as planned. A decade ago we had a great holiday to Scotland and the Isle of Skye; when we tried to repeat it the following year our car broke down in a campsite we had already visited, and it rained continuously on our too-small tent making it miserable for all of us.

We still talk about it, just as we talk about visiting Longleat House and Safari Park during our first summer in England 13 years ago. When we repeated that visit a dozen years later, just before leaving the UK for our current stateside assignment, we remembered the first visit while making new memories to remember....such as Andrew screaming "Giraffes" and finally getting his skateboard, albeit in miniature. I’m chuckling and thankful even now for such memories and the family bonding we experienced.

And so it was in Orlando last month when we met the kids there for a family holiday together. Whether it was the four of us crammed together (joined by Phill from England for one night) in a small hotel room with copious complaints of my snoring (replaced by Phill’s sonorous sounds for one night), or taking a group photograph around a bowl of fruit for our friend Vicki in Arizona, we built memories. And we bonded. And we were family. Together. And that too is a gift from God.
Photographs bring pleasant memories too. I mentioned in an earlier blog seeing our friend Julie in Dallas, for the first time in 24 years, who was in our youth group in our home church in Eugene. She managed to dig up a photograph from some aged archive and shared it with us. I couldn’t dig all the names up from my memory banks, but some of the youth sure imprinted their mark on me. And maybe we did for them too.

Such is our hope, and our thanks, for the memories.

A Day Off

How unusual these days, a day off! I managed to convince Tammy that since we were in an area of ports and navy bases, that a trip to the middle of Norfolk and the USS Wisconsin battleship. It was awesome to go on board. You get on free of charge, and there are volunteers all over the deck to tell you about the ship if you're willing to ask a question. You get on by entering through the Nauticus (http://www.nauticus.org/), a building which houses a museum and cafe and so.

The USS Wisconsin was worth seeing, as was the museum. You can find out more at these two sites:

• http://www.usswisconsin.org/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wisconsin_(BB-64)

But if you decide to eat in the cafe there, expect chaos because ordering and paying are separate, and you might have to float a loan to pay for the meal because it was overpriced.

Awesome piece of military equipment, still in the reserve fleet, so no going inside.

Safe & Sound

"Safe & Sound" aptly describes our arrival into Newport News last week. We arrived on 22 March with no problems en route from Mesa, Arizona. It was a long way, but ever so enjoyable because of the several dozen old friends we saw along the way.

There were so many highlights! Julie, from our youth group in Oregon, who we hadn't seen for 24 years. Dan, who graduated from NCC in Eugene with me in 1986, our first visit together in 20 years. Then there was Julie, whose family are friends of ours from University Street Christian Church days in Oregon, 22 years plus since our last seeing one another. And there was Mark, a classmate from high school we stopped and had coffee with in Birmingham, Alabama.

Too many stories to tell, so I'll tell you about one of our favourite food experiences. At least, one of Tim's favourites!

Prior to giving us a tour of New Orleans, the devastation, and the wonderful work being done by Journey Christian Church (http://www.journeyneworleans.com/) and Building Better Communities to help rebuild New Orleans (it will take a long time, 175,000 homes were destroyed, 300,000 people displaced or made homeless), Nathan Hawkins took us to a local seafood restaurant. There, Nathan and Tim devoured a pound of cajun crawfish and a pound of boiled shrimp together. Tam declined and ate another Louisiana delicacy of red beans and rice. For more on the unique history of cajun living and cajun cooking, see http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~jmeaux/cajun.html, from which I borrowed this photo.

Newport News is the locus of military bases, NASA, beaches, and the early history of the New World. In fact, April marks the 400th anniversary of the landing of those first 3 ships, and the founding of Jamestown. For lots more info, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Peninsula.

Anyway, we're here for another few weeks. Northside Christian Church has generously provided accommodation for us that has a lounge, bedroom with a king-sized bed that's so big ("How big is it?") I have to use the cell-phone to ring Tammy to see if she's gone to bed at the same time I have. It's so big ("How big is it?"), that I have to use a GPS system to locate her for our last cuddle of the day. The accommodation also includes entry into the gym next door, so we're back to swimming (Tammy) and aerobic work and weights (Tim).

Maybe I can work off a few of those 15 pounds I've gained since we've been stateside. Where are those cajun crawfish, maybe I'll lift a few of those....

Another Departure, More Goodbyes

With less than 36 hours before departing Mesa for 6 months of highly nomadic life, I find myself reflecting on departures and goodbyes. Yesterday, Tam and I met with Neil, a friend and leader in the church here. We debriefed the previous 6 months of life and ministry we've experienced.

It seems the nature of what we do involves loads of 'so good to see you again' and 'farewell.' It's bittersweet. We celebrate the embrace of friends old and new, then grieve the loss which distance brings to these relationships. It's one thing that makes me believe in heaven---the eternity of Kingdom living and the everlasting family meal we who are children of the King will enjoy. How could the relationships which have been forged not enrich us into eternity?

Anyway, we embark on the next stage of our stateside journey before we can return to England. This Sunday our Olds Silhouette van will be loaded up with all that can carry, and we'll make our way initially to Atlanta, Georgia for speaking appointments. En route we will see a couple of friends we've not seen in over 20 years! Again, we'll say 'great to see you' and then 'may God bless you and protect you until we meet again.' In Houston, we hope to see a cousin I've only ever met once. In Birmingham, and then in Atlanta, we'll see two families who lived in England and were part of the life of Dickens Heath Village Church. In northern Georgia, we're preparing to see a friend who was in our youth group in Oregon, and whom we've also not seen in at least 21 years. Along the way, we'll be in several churches, renewing old friendships and making new ones.

Does this make me sad? Yes. No. Not a chance. I think you know what I mean. My life continues to be enriched by the influence and treasure these people are to me, and even more surprising to me, the influence and treasure I am to them. Chances are, if you're reading this, you're one of them. Thanks for letting me love you, and thanks even more for loving me.

Until the next time I see you, an old Celtic blessing for you:

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Odds & Ends

January was a delightful if bittersweet month. The month ended with a visit from Tim's parents (see previous post). But the week before that included a last family meal of the four of us (Tim, Tam, Andrew and Jess) and we had a great time together. I guess I must have been having too much fun, because I got caught in a photo by Tam. This is what will happen to you if you stick black olives up your nose--yes, you will end up looking like Tim!!

The day I took Jess to uni, we dropped Tam off at the airport and she flew to Indianapolis. She was part of an assessment centre which helps to evaluate singles and couples who are looking to live and work in cross-cultural settings. She came home exhausted and took a day to recover.

As for me, I went up into the mountains with a group of about 15 for a weekend training retreat for living and working in a cross-cultural setting. I may have missed riding a four wheel ATV in MN and AZ at Christmas, but I made up for it by driving a four wheel drive vehicle in a couple feet of snow up into the mountains at Show Low, AZ, and then on the return through Payson, AZ down to Mesa. I drove a loaner Yukon that was sweet to drive. I would love to go again!

Family Visits

We've just said goodbye to Tim's mum and dad who visited from MN. Their trip was a gift from their children (Mike, Diane, Tim and Pat) for their 50th anniversary. It was like a mini-family reunion while they were here. We took a trip to Quartzsite, which during the summer has less than 5000 residents, but swells to upwards of 250,000 people in the winter months. We met Tam's dad Marvin and wife Carolyn as well as Tam's aunt Joyce (Marvin's older sister) and uncle Rollin. It was fun getting Joyce and Rollin and Joyce and Rollie together again, the first time since our wedding 23 years ago. It reminded us of the story of another aunt (Ruby, Marvin's oldest sister) of Tammy's who took photos of the four at the wedding day, but went home only to learn she had been taking photos all day without film in her camera!

We also managed to visit with with two of Tim's aunts and an uncle in Mesa. Shirlee (one of Dad's older sisters) and Mert winter in the area, while Marilynn (Dad's youngest sister) happened to be visiting the last couple of weeks. Unknown to us, Marilynn was also booked on the same return flight to MN, so we took them all to the airport.

I don't think they were too happy to leave AZ and the 70 degree F temperatures for the frosty environs of 9 below F temps of MN!

It was a wonderful visit for 5 days with mum and dad, and we're so glad they were here.

For more on some interesting facts and photos of Quartzsite, click on this link: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0101/feature6/

A Trip Across the Border

It was a 3 hour trip each way, but we visited Nogales, Mexico with Jesus. Well, not Jesus actually, but Jesús Celaya. Jesús is associate director of Hispanic Ministries here at the church in Mesa, and was actually born and raised (until he was 11) on the Mexican side of the border before moving to the American side.

It was fascinating talking to Jesús about Hispanic culture and his groundlaying work for a new Hispanic church plant in Mesa--He's only been in this position at the church for three months. While we were in Nogales he pointed out the area where he lived (high up on a hill) and the Catholic church where he served as an altar boy.

I asked Jesús why it was so common for families to name their children after Jesus. He explained that families thought having a child in the family named Jesus offered some sort of spiritual protection. Often, it's the firstborn, but Jesús laughed and said he had no idea why it took his parents until the 9th child to do so!

We ate taquitos (little tacos; any word ending with 'ito' mean 'little' -- something Jesús taught us on the day) once we got there in a little hole-in-the-wall place. We wondered the shops and EVERY shopkeeper asked us to come in and take a look at their goods. And if we passed them and came by half-an-hour later they asked again! Some would say, "Come and buy some of our Mexican junk, please. It is a very good price."

Lunch was at the El Hacienda, similarly good and cheap. And it was on Jesús!

Would I go again? Well, I thought this might be a research trip to go again when my parents visit in a couple of weeks, but I don't think they would enjoy it--too much walking and too touristy--just knick knacks and such. Great to visit for a day, but even better to chat with Jesús, Nancy, Melissa on the journey there and back.

Wonderful Family Times

We had a wonderful time in MN for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. First time everyone together in one place, ever! It was great being able to honor mum and dad. Thanks to Ray and Barb for giving us a place to lay our heads at night. Came home with a cooler full of venison--even if it was delayed by 36 hours before getting to our house in Mesa.

Alas, no snow, therefore no snomobiling. Similarly, in our visit to Lake Havasu City to see Marvin and Carolyn, no working ATV, so no four wheeling in the desert mountains this time around. Maybe next time.

Pictured, from left: Front row: Kathy, Diane (Marla sitting), Dad, Mom, Rollie (sitting), Tammy and Mia; Back Row: Jennifer, John, Mike, David, Harley, Andrew, Jessica, Tim, Alex, Pat, Carly.