NTCP Western US: Friday, June 12

The past two days here in California have been great. Yesterday (Thursday) we had the opportunity to babysit the Anderson's two children while they went to an important appointment. We spent time playing in the sun at the park, played some games at home, watched a video, and made some lunch. We had a great time with Hannah and Robert! We had been invited over to Mrs. Irene Foster's for lunch, so when the Anderson's returned from their appointment we headed over there. We had a great time with her and enjoyed a wonderful meal together. After lunch, she took us to the best frozen yogurt place in the entire world! We were all very impressed and had a great time sitting outside in the sun and spending time fellowshiping with her. The weather here has been truly beautiful since we arrived, and we're so thankful for it! She then took us to a few scenic places around Twentynine Palms - the whole afternoon was a lot of fun and an encouragement to us.

Robert, Rebecca, Jen, Hannah, and Hannah on the playground at the park

The evening service here last night was wonderful. Freedom Baptist Church is using the facilities of a Seventh Day Adventist church in the area to meet, so therefore they hold their services on Thursday nights so that they will not conflict with the services of the other church. It was a little strange for us meeting on a different night, but it was great to be in church. Rebecca had the opportunity to play the piano for the service and Hannah helped out in the nursery. Pastor Anderson preached a very helpful message concerning Ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church). It was a very strengthening message and we really enjoyed it. Too often we take the church for granted, not remembering that it is God ordained to bear witness of Him to a lost and dying world. After the service, we went out to eat at Jack in the Box with the Anderson family.

Today had been a rather busy day. Mrs. Booth, a member of the church, invited us to go hiking with her and her daughter this morning. Pastor Anderson and their family had some things to attend to this morning, so we agreed to go. She took us on a hike through the desert and mountains to a natural Oasis called Forty Nine Palms. It was very good exercise and a lot of fun. She did warn us about rattlesnacks, but though we saw a lot of wildlife (mostly different kinds of lizards, grasshoppers, some spiders, and quite a few species of birds), we were thankfully spared of any snake sightings! Rebecca and I took a wrong turn and decided to blaze our own trail over the top of a mountain, rather than going around. It took us a bit longer, but it was a great experience and we got some cool pictures! Mrs. Booth joked with us that we decided to "take the road less traveled by."

After our early morning hike and returning to the hotel to get ready, we met the Andersons at their house for lunch. They prepared a wonderful Italian meal and desert. After lunch, Rebecca and Hannah played with and entertained their children. Pastor Anderson asked me if I would mind helping him some with their website, so we worked on that for a few hours and made some good progress. This evening, we returned to the Richards house for dinner. Mr. Richards mother is visiting and she made us an authentic Jamaican meal, which we greatly enjoyed. After dinner, we were able to spend a few hours just hanging out with their family and relaxing. They're truly a great family and we enjoy them more everytime we're around them. We arrived home rather late this evening, and we're very excited about visitation here first thing in the morning!