Vancouver Island, British Columbia

I apologize for the amount of time that has passed since our last blog posts, but we’ve had limited internet access while out of the country. We spent the past week of our Pioneering adventures on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (that’s Canada, in case anyone was wondering). J We arrived at the home of Pastor James Burgess and his wife Brenda, daughter Chasity, and son Samuel on Monday evening. Getting on the island was quite an adventure. We drove from Waldport, OR to Port Angeles, Washington, where we boarded a ferry (the car rode on the ferry too) to Vancouver Island. The ferry ride was great, though getting through Canadian security and customs was somewhat interesting! They just do not seem to understand how much luggage three girls can need during a summer of traveling, and were just sure we had something else stashed in our car somewhere! It was also strange driving in Canada, where everything is measured in kilometers, instead of in miles, but we adjusted pretty quickly.

Hannah enjoying her cup of Tim Horton's coffee! :)

After arriving, we had dinner with the Burgess family that evening and spent some time fellowshipping and getting to know each other. Tuesday, which was our first full day in Canada, we had the opportunity to participate in a memorial service. The service was for a resident of an assisted living facility where the Burgess family ministers. We were able to read some poems during the service and were very thankful for the opportunity to meet some very sweet people. The Burnside Community Baptist Church has its midweek prayer meeting on Tuesday evenings, and we greatly enjoyed getting to meet the members of this church. Pastor Burgess gave a powerful message concerning the works of the Holy Spirit and what our proper response should be to trials that we face in life. It was a great encouragement.

The memorial service

Wednesday was July 1^st, which is Canada Day. We were able to attend a picnic where members of the Burgess’ church came together with 2 or 3 other churches that are also located on the island. We were able to meet some more very kind people and really enjoyed the time of fellowship and learning about the different ministries. We learned to play a great game called “Splat,” were able to participate in a wheelbarrow (Rebecca and I ALMOST won) and sack race, and played many other great games. There was lots of food and the weather was absolutely beautiful – it was a great day! We also had the chance to clean the church van for the Pastor, washing the outside and vacuuming out the inside.

Rebecca and Jen participating in the wheelbarrow race

Thursday, we had another opportunity to participate in a service at another assisted living facility. We were able to give a little bit of our testimonies and sang a few songs. It was a wonderful privilege to get to meet some of these elderly people and have a chance to try to encourage and minister to them. Later that day, the three of us and Chasity went to an outdoor market that they hold every Thursday in the town of Sydney. We walked around, looking at the different vendors and getting a greater idea of the culture here in Canada. We also had some amazing ice cream! That evening, Pastor Burgess took the four of us to a nearby public tennis court and we spent a few hours playing. We soon realized that we need a LOT of practice, but it was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed the outing.

Trying on some hats at the outdoor market in Sydney

Friday, we spent the day preparing for a sleepover being held for the teenage girls in the church. A woman in the church named Ms. Jean agreed to let us all crash at her house, and we had a wonderful evening together. We taught everyone to play Mafia and Psychiatrist, and they were both huge hits (though Hannah fooled everyone when she was the Mafia and killed of our entire town!) We also watched a movie and ate lots of popcorn. Everyone knows that no sleepover is complete without popcorn! The three of us also had opportunities to share our testimonies and what the Lord has been doing in our lives and what He is teaching us. It is our prayer that He can use some things we were able to talk about to encourage and be a help to these girls.

The three of us and the pastor's daughter, Chasity, on the way to the sleepover.

Saturday morning we slept in rather late, after being awake until close to 5 am the night before. We then all got ready and were able to spend some time going out in the community visiting. Many people were not home due to the Holiday weekend, but we were able to speak to some and had a few good prospects who said they may come out for a service at the church. We’re praying that the Lord will work in these people’s hearts and draw them unto Himself, multiplying far beyond our feeble efforts.

Sunday was a truly great day as we were able to participate in the service at the Burnside Community Baptist Church. We had the opportunity to meet several more of the church members who could not make it out to the prayer meeting on Tuesday evening. We were also able to sing a few songs during the service. Pastor Burgess brought another powerful and convicting message out of the book of I Peter 2, about walking in the Steps of Christ. He spoke about how we not only need to walk in Christ’s steps, but also need to leave Godly footprints through our lives, so that those who come behind us may have an example to follow. After the service, we went with the Burgess family and had a picnic near the ocean. It was a very pretty day, and after lunch we all went for a pleasant walk along the coast.

Our picnic!

Monday morning we will again board a ferry and return to America. Please pray that we would have safe traveling mercies and no issues aboard the ferry or coming back through American customs. We will be making a rather lengthy drive down to Anderson, CA – back to the Heritage Baptist Church, after a very early morning. We trust the Lord to continue to guide, lead, and protect us, as He has mercifully done all summer long. Also, please be in prayer for the Burnside Community Baptist Church and the Burgess family - that God would continue to bless their work, that they would see souls saved and the church strengthened. We’re so very thankful for the time that we have been able to spend in Canada and the things that the Lord has taught us during our stay here.

Last day in Oregon

The Lord has truly blessed our time here in Waldport, and this Sunday was no exception. We greatly enjoyed the services here today. In the morning services, Hannah and I greatly enjoyed Sunday School with Mrs. Jamie. Following Sunday School, Pastor Bo gave a very challenging and convicting message from Hebrews 10 about the responsibilities of the church. After the service, Hannah and I enjoyed lunch with the Pastor and his family and a great time of fellowship. We were able to learn a lot about ministering in this part of the country, and had a wonderful time sharing our testimonies and the things the Lord has been teaching us.

After lunch, Hannah and I returned to the hotel to pack and get everything ready to leave after the evening service. We really enjoyed the evening service. Bro. Bo has been teaching through the book of Romans, and they are in Romans chapter 5 now. We learned a lot during the service, and really enjoyed it. Rebecca flew back in to Portland Sunday evening from her grandmother's funeral in Georgia, and we had to leave right after the service to meet her in Portland. We were really sad to say goodbye to the Lighthouse Baptist Church, but we're so thankful for the opportunity we had to be here and have a part in the Kid's Crusade during the week and the services on Sunday. We're so grateful to the Lord for how He worked this week in the hearts and lives of people, and for the 6 children whom He brought to a saving knowledge of Himself. Please continue to pray for these children as they are discipled and grow in the Lord, the continued growth of the Lighthouse Baptist Church, and the Smith family as they minister in Waldport.

Friday, June 26

This week has been going great. God is truly blessing and protecting us this summer, in spite of some unexpected circumstances. Tuesday morning we went out to breakfast with Bro. Bo, Bro. Fred, Bro. Bo's father Rex, and another man visiting from his church. We had a great time and then spent some time hanging out at the Smith's. Rebecca got a phone call that afternoon letting her know that her grandmother in Georgia had passed away. She has been ill for quite a while with cancer. We found a flight for Rebecca out of Portland on Wednesday to return home for the viewing and funeral.

The Kid's Crusade on Tuesday night went very well. Many of the kids from Monday night returned, and a lot of them brought their friends with them. The boys won the penny offering on Monday night, but the boys fought back on Tuesday night and had a clear victory. The team that wins for the week gets to put a pie into the face of the other team's captain, and the kids are really into it! There is also a competition for the child who brings the most visitors, and many of them are calling everyone they know so that they can win and own the beautiful automized scooter. :) We had the privilege of seeing two more precious children come to a saving knowledge of Christ Tuesday evening. We're so excited that God is blessing this week!

Bro. Bo and Bro. Fred measuring a boy for his coffin

Wednesday morning we woke up pretty early and headed for Portland to take Rebecca to the airport to catch her plane to Nashville, TN. Her sister was picking her up in Nashville and then they were to drive to Georgia. We had some unexpected car issues on the way to Portland. The car over heated and we were just able to get off the road before the entire system shut down. We're so thankful for God's protection, as it overheated in the one place in probably 20 miles where there was actually a shoulder to get off the road. We were in Alcea, Oregon - which is pretty much in the middle of no where, and none of us had any cell phone reception. We were able to walk to a house and the kind gentleman there allowed us to use his phone to make some phone calls.

Sister Jamie was kind enough to come pick up Rebecca to try to get her to the airport to make her plane (she made it just in time!), and AAA towed the car (and me and Hannah!) to Corvallis, which was about an hour away but the closest repair shop to where we were located. After a few hours the shop was unable to find out what was wrong with my car, so we decided to follow Mrs. Jamie back to Waldport and put my car into a shop there later. We kept a close eye on the temperature gauge on the way back, but thankfully it stayed cool and we made it back safely, just in time for the Crusade that evening. It was another great night, with Bro. Fred clearly presenting the gospel and all the kids (and adults) having a wonderful time. The girls again won the penny offering (YAY!) and we were able to see one more child come to Christ. After the service, we went to the Smith's for dinner. Mrs. Cindy made some awesome chicken 'n dumplins, and we really enjoyed them.

Bro. Fred using an illusion to illustrate to the children how Christ is the only One who can take away our sin

The banana eating contest - blind folded and with no hands!

Thursday was a very quiet and leisurely day after the craziness of Wednesday, and we were thankful for a chance to recoop. Hannah and I were able to go down to the ocean and spent some time climbing on rocks and watching the waves. I got soaked when one wave came up and unexpectedly covered a rock I was standing on, and I was quickly reminded how powerful (and COLD) the ocean is. How awesome to think of the great power of the God that created such a powerful body of water! He has not changed and is still just as powerful to bless and protect His children today as He was when He created the worlds. What a great encouagement! :) We had a wonderful dinner at the Smith's before the services. We had chicken, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese - we almost felt like we were back in the South! The services were again wonderful Thursday evening, with even more visitors coming out and more people hearing a clear presentation of the gospel. The boys came back and won the penny offering (with some help from Bro. Bo, I think...) and tomorrow night will determine who gets the pie!

Mrs. Jamie singing "The Lord's Army" cowboy style! YEEHAW!

Today we had to put the car back in the shop again, and praise the Lord - this time we found a place in Waldport! We got there at around 9 am and they did a carbon monoxide test and determined that there was no blown gasket head, which is a huge blessing. We had to take the car back at one for an oil change and a few more tests, so we drove up to Newport to visit the lighthouses there. We were able to visit the Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay lighthoues and get some awesome pictures. We then took the car back to the shop in Waldport and grabbed some lunch while they worked on it. God willing, it's hopefully fixed now and shouldn't give us any more trouble, but we'll definitely be watching everything closely as we continue to travel. Bro. Bo made steak and shrimp kabobs for dinner on the grill, and they were awesome!

Yaquina Bay lighthouse

Yaquina Head lighthouse

Tonight was the last evening of the Kid's Crusades, and it went great. The girls won the penny offering again, making them the winners for the week, and the guy's team leader bravely took the pie in the face. There were some extra pies, and so the girl's leader ended up with one as well! A little boy named Ethan who worked really hard all week inviting people ended up winning the scooter, and he was super excited about it. Pastor Smith's kids Allen and Bree came in second and third for the most visitors, and they seemed excited about their prizes as well. We are sad that they are over, but this last night was a great conclusion to the week of the Kid's Crusades, and we got a lot of great ideas of games and illustrations to use the rest of the summer. We were able to see six children come to Christ this week during the Kid's Crusades, and we're so thankful to the Lord for allowing us to have a part in the meetings.

The Yaquina Bay Bridge

Waldport, Oregon

Mt. Shasta

Heceta Head Lighthouse, outside of Florence, OR

We arrived here in Waldport, Oregon on Monday afternoon. We met with Pastor Bo Smith and were able to get settled into our hotel. That evening the Kid's Crusades began here. They will run each night this week through Friday. We arrived at the Baseball field were they were scheduled to be held, but due to high winds the tent could not be held down and at the last minute Bro. Smith was able to relocate the meetings inside. The Kid's Crusade was wonderful and so much fun! Fred Matthews is conducting the meetings, and the kids really loved it. The Crusades are great, filled with songs, object lessons, illusions, games, animal balloons, and a clear presentation of the gospel. Monday evening we were able to see three precious children led to Jesus Christ, and several others received assurance of their salvation. After the meeting, Mrs. Jamie Smith prepared a wonderful spaghetti dinner, and we all enjoyed getting to know each other a little bit. It was quite a large crowd, with the three of us, Pastor Smith and his wife Jamie and their three children (Bree, Allen, and Charity), Bro. Fred and his wife Cindy and their threee children (Ashlyn, Anna, and Jonathon), Pastor's Smith's father Rex, and another man visiting from Bro. Rex's church. We all had a great time.

Pastor Bo Smith and his father Rex Smith trying to tie down the tent for the services, against the strong winds

Everything set up after relocating the meetings indoors

The registration and penny exchange table - who will win this week, the girls or boys?

Pastor Bo opening up the first meeting of the Kid's Crusade

Tuesday evenings Crusade was also really great. We learned how to play Wipe Out, and we can't wait to hold another Bible club so we can use it! Bro. Fred apparently really loves games involving water, and they're all hilarious. There were two more children who accepted Christ as their Savior Tuesday night. We're so very excited about this week and what God is already doing in the services. :)

Jen trying out the prize for the child who brings the most visitors this week! It is awesome!

Weekend in Anderson, CA

The weekend here in Anderson has been wonderful and very busy. Saturday morning we had the opportunity to go on visitation near the church. We were able to knock some new doors and make some good contacts with people in the neighborhood. The fair here was still going on and a few members of the church set up a table outside and put up a side advertising free drinks. They were able to pass out many drinks, tracts, and information packets about the church. There was a great deal of interest and we’re praying m any people will come out to the church services as a result of the contacts made. We labeled over 500 tracts during the week, and by Saturday afternoon they were nearly all gone. We’re so thankful to the Lord for His blessings.

After visitation, we ate lunch with the Lucatortas at In-N-Out Burger. After lunch, we returned to the house for a little while before getting ready to go to the rescue mission that evening. God truly blessed the service there and we had a great time. The place was completely packed, with at least 150 people there. We were all able to give our salvation testimonies and sing a song. We were so privileged to have the chance to try to minister and be an encouragement to these people. Pastor Lucatorta preached a powerful message and one young man accepted Christ as his Savior after the service. Hannah and I also had the opportunity to speak and pray with a lady and her daughter that have been having a very difficult time and are in great need the Lord’s help and guidance in their lives. We all had such a wonderful time and had an enjoyable meal afterwards.

Singing at the mission

Sunday morning we had the privilege of riding the Sunday School bus. They just recently got a large bus, and we were able to be there for the maiden voyage! We had a wonderful time picking up the children and getting to meet them. The morning services were great. We were able to sing in the morning worship service, and Pastor Lucatorta preached a very fitting message to fathers. We then rode the bus back to take the kids home, and returned to the Lucatortas for lunch. The evening service was also wonderful. We were able to give our testimonies again and sing, and Pastor Lucatorta preached a convicting message about the blind man healed at Bethsaida.

Pastor Lucatorta praying before the send-off of the big bus!

After the service, the church gathered together for an ice cream social. We enjoyed getting to spend time with some members of the church that we had not yet been able to meet. Hannah proved herself to be the air hockey pro, beating all the contenders. Afterwards, the Lucatortas and a few other members of the church took us to see the Sun Dial Bridge. It is very beautiful, especially with all the lights turned on after dark. We are so thankful for the chance to minister here and see much of the beautiful scenery God has created in this area. We are very downhearted to leave this place and people that we have so fallen in love with, but we’re also excited about our next travels and what God is still planning to do. God willing, we will leave here in the morning for Waldport, OR, and would appreciate your prayers for our safety while traveling.

Hannah dominating everybody in Air Hockey!

The three of us with the Rochlitz family

In Christ Alone,

Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

Friday, June 19 - Anderson, CA

I apologize for the time that has passed since our last post, but our past few days have been rather eventful. We bid a sad farewell to Twentynine Palms early Monday morning and headed for Magic Mountain, located in Valencia, CA, just north of Los Angeles. We had a safe trip and spent a great day at the theme park there. They had some amazing rides and roller coasters, and we really enjoyed the day, though it was very long. We even got our picture taken with Batman and Aquaman! That evening we spent the night in a hotel not far from Magic Mountain.

We left early Tuesday morning for a very long day of traveling. We spent the first part of our day in Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks, on the Eastern side of California. We were able to see much beautiful scenery and General Sherman, which is the largest tree on earth. On the hike down to see the tree, an elderly couple began a conversation with us. We started talking to them and told them what we were doing out West and about some of our travels. We soon learned that they were visiting as well from Idaho and that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Although we did not get an open chance to witness to them, we were able to spend some time talking with them and building a relationship. Their names are Don and Julie Minton. We are praying that we would somehow be able to see them come to Christ, and we plan to send them some things in the mail and continue to build a relationship with them. We would ask all reading this to pray as well for this precious couple – they were very kind and sweet to us, but we know they are without Christ and in need of a Savior.

After Sequoia, we continued north to Yosemite National Park. Traveling through these parks took much time, because all of the roads are nothing but hair pin turns and driving straight up and down mountains. We were very excited when we actually reached 25 mph at one point! It gave us an excellent chance though to behold God’s beautiful creation. We were able to see many beautiful waterfalls in Yosemite, and we even saw two black bears! One was out in an open meadow grazing and was pitch black. The other was a blonde black bear (I know, very strange!) and the rangers told us as far as they know there is only one in the park. We were so grateful to God for allowing us to be there at just the right time to see him as we traveled.

We left Yosemite and headed toward San Francisco, where we planned to spend the night. It was another 3 ½ hour drive, and we were all rather exhausted when we arrived around 11 pm. We were a little concerned to find that the hotel we planned to stay in no longer had vacancies, but the man at the desk was kind enough to find somewhere else for us to stay. God continues to take care of us and provide for our every need this summer. Wednesday morning we were able to sleep in a little bit after the preceding two exhausting days, and we had breakfast and saw some of the sights in San Francisco. Though I would not want to live there, it was a beautiful city. We visited and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge, and we got our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean! We were also able to spend a few minutes at China Town looking around and drove down Lombard Street. The thing that probably struck me the most about San Francisco were the roads. Many of them seemed to go straight up and down at nearly 70 degree inclines. We would drive across an intersection and the road would just seem to disappear from under us as we crossed over it! We spent a lot of time driving in low gears to get up those hills, but it was all a great experience.

We left San Francisco around 1:30 in the afternoon and finished our trip here to Anderson, CA, where we will be at the Heritage Baptist Church. Pastor Lucatorta and his family greeted us so kindly, and we have been having a wonderful time staying here with them. Upon arrival, we were able to change clothes and unpack, and then we went out to eat with the Lucatortas and headed straight to the Wednesday evening church service. It was a great blessing. Pastor Lucatorta preached a very helpful message out of Jude, and the entire church family greeted us so kindly.

Thursday we had a wonderful breakfast and then spent the morning helping Pastor Lucatorta at the church, mostly putting labels on tracks and preparing baggies to be put on the cars at the fair this week. Their church is right across the street from the fairgrounds, so many people use the church parking lot for overflow parking – it is a great opportunity to get them some information about the church and the plan of salvation! We had a pretty quiet afternoon, able to catch up on some laundry and a few other things, and were invited that evening to the home of the Rocklitz family for dinner. We immediately fell in love with this precious family. They have 8 children at home, and we had the greatest time spending time with them. Mrs. Rochlitz prepared an amazing Mexican meal, and afterwards we taught the entire family to play Mafia, a game which was a big hit with the children. Rebecca and I decided to revert to our childhood days and even managed to jump on the trampoline with all the kids without hurting ourselves!

Friday Mrs. Lucatorta prepared another tasty breakfast and the Lucatortas took us to Burney Falls, which is a little over an hour away from Anderson. It was a beautiful waterfall, even above the ones that we saw in Yosemite. Pastor Lucatorta told us that Teddy Roosevelt said it should have been one of the wonders of the world. We then enjoyed lunch and a time of fellowship with the Lucatortas and returned to Anderson. This evening they had a get together of all the Senior High teenagers and College aged young people at the Lucatorta's house. Mrs. Lucatorta made her famous pizza and we all got to know each other and watched a film entitled “No Turning Back.” It is the story of the Whitmans, who were one of the first missionaries to Oregon back in the 1830’s. Mr. Whitman also later led the first wagon train to make it over the Continental Divide on the Oregon Trail. It was a very powerful story, and we all enjoyed watching it. I won’t spoil it for any who may not have seen it with too many details, but there were few dry eyes by the end of the film!

Weekend in Twentynine Palms, CA

We have had an amazing weekend here in Southern California! Saturday morning we met with the Pastor and another man in the church named Bro. Vic and had a time of prayer prior to going out on visitation. We were able to visit many houses and meet many people who live in this area. There were a few people we were able to spend some time speaking with, letting them know about the church and inviting them to come out for a service. We are praying that God will do great things and work in the hearts of these people, that they may come and hear His Word preached. Many people in the Anderson's church are military families, which is awesome. However, this means that most families are only able to be in the church a maximum of three years before they are stationed elsewhere and have to leave. We are praying that God will send some very strong and faithful families who permanently live in this area to be an encouragement to this Pastor and church!

After visitation we were invited to lunch at the Booth families house. We had an amazing lunch and then they took us out to Joshua Tree National Park to do some sight seeing, exploring, and rock climbing! It was so much fun. We climbed up some scary precipices but were rewarded with amazing views. The only scary part is when you get up on top of these huge rocks and the wind starts blowing really hard through there, but it was great for our prayer lives! :) We were able to climb up a mountain and see an amazing view for hundreds of miles. Joshua Tree is a great contrast. You can go from flat plains where you can see or miles, to magnificent mountains, to tree-filled forests, and then back again, all within a five minute drive. It's truly awesome to view God's handiwork and the imagination of our great God. It was so kind of the Booths to drive us all the way out there and patiently deal with our daredevil ways and endless photographs.

The three of us with a Joshua Tree at the top of a mountain in Joshua Tree National Park

If you look very closely, you can see two tiny grey and black specks at the top of the rock in the center of the picture. That is Jen and Rebecca! We climbed our way up the side of the rock wall to get up there.

In a hole in one of the huge rocks

We enjoyed a great Mexican meal out with the Booths after our excursion and then met the Pastor and his family at the church to clean in preparation for the Sunday services. We were able to help vacuum floors, organize chairs, clean bathrooms, and otherwise straighten up to have everything looking as nice as possible for church Sunday.

Sunday was a very wonderful (and very busy) day here. Rebecca and I went first thing that morning to help with the Soldier's breakfast that they hold on base on Sunday mornings. We helped set up food and really enjoyed meeting the Marines and hearing Bro. Booth's Bible study lesson out of Hebrews 1. After the Bible study, we cleaned up and hurried to get over to the church for the morning service. While we were at the base, Hannah had the opporunity to teach Sunday School at the church. She taught the children the Ten Commandments with the motions, and I know they all enjoyed it. In the Sunday morning service, Pastor Anderson asked us to sing and give our testimonies. We would sing a song, give a testimony, sing another song, and so forth. We were very winded and out of breathe when we wished, but we had a great time doing it. I'm so thankful we had a chance to share with this great church a little bit of what God is doing in our lives.

At Freedom Baptist Church, everyone stays together for the song service and then the children split out for Junior Church. I had the amazing privilege of teaching the kids in Junior Church. We sang some fun songs and I shared with them the Bible account of Jonah and the great fish. After the lesson, I talked to them about obedience to God and asked them to give mesome ways they could be obedient to the Lord in their own lives. I know they were listening to Hannah's Sunday School lesson, because they all proceeded to quote the 10 Commandments to me! It was very cute and encouraging. They were all so well behaved and listened so well, and I am so thrilled that I had the opportunity to spend the time with them. Rebecca got to work with the 2 and 3 year olds during the second hour, and she had a great time as well with the children. She taught them about creation, and it was so cute to see all the kids walking around afterwards with their little rubber animals that she had given them.

After church Sunday morning we were invited to what is called the Warrior's Fellowship. It is a Sunday afternoon lunch that they hold for all the single Marines at different church member's houses. This week it was at Mrs. Irene Foster's house, and she cooked an amazing Mexican lunch that everyone enjoyed. The Foster's have a 2 year old little boy, so after lunch we all watched Winnie the Pooh. It was very funny but a great time.

The Sunday evening service was also wonderful. We were able to sing again, and Hannah played the piano for the service and also the special music for the offeratory. After the song service, I was able to help in the nursery with the children 2 and under, and they are such a joy to work with. It is the true that the most fertile ground we will ever find is in the hearts of children. We must never forget or overlook the influence that we can have on eternity just by spending time teaching children to love the Lord. There is a family in the church who will be leaving due to being stationed elsewhere, and after the service we had a fellowship in honor of them (with lots of food, of course, since we are Baptists!) It was encouraging to see the whole church family being together and showing their love for this family that will be moving elsewhere. After the fellowship, it was again time to say goodbye to many people we have come to care for so much. Though we say these goodbyes every week, they do not seem to get any easier. We have had a truly wonderful time here at the Freedom Baptist Church in Twentynine Palms, California, and we are so thankful to the Pastor, his family, and all those who fed us, drove us around, and were such a blessing to us! We know that God will continue to bless this Pastor, this church, and the members here for their faithfulness and love to Him.

Pastor Gregg sharing the Word of God on Sunday morning

Hannah, Rebecca, and Jen with the Booth's three children: Kiara, Kevin, and Kiana (forgive me, kids, if I spelt your names wrong!)

The Anderson family and the Pioneers