NTCP Western US

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

2009-07-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

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

Friday, June 12

2009-06-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

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!

On the hike!

After arriving at the oasis! It was a long hike, and the natural oasis was very refreshing and so beautiful!

Constantly Abiding,

Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

Wednesday, June 10 - Twentynine Palms, CA

2009-06-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

Our first few days here in California have been great! We left Arizona City on Monday early afternoon and picked up our missing team mate at the airport in Phoenix on the way to California. We're so glad to have Hannah back with us! We were super excited when we crossed the California line and we actually saw green grass for the first time in a while, but the scenery quickly changed back to desert and mountains. This area is very beautiful, but definitely different than what we're used to in Tennessee, Alabama, or Florida! On our way in, we stopped by the Joshua Tree National Park. We just missed the welcome center closing, but decided to stop and look around anyway. We had a mild incident when Rebecca walked around a corner and encountered several bees. She spun around to get away and unfortunately smacked her head into the large pole that was there. We were a little concerned about her but she seems fine now, besides some bruising and a few little cuts on her face. We're constantly thankful for the Lord's care and protection over us as we travel this summer! We arrived at the Anderson's house around 6 that evening and went and ate a meal together. They then escorted us to the hotel where we'll be staying this week and made sure we were settled in.

On Tuesday we met a lady in the church named Irene and she took us to breakfast. We had a great time eating at the Carousel, which is a great restaurant here, and spending time with her and playing with her two small boys. We then had some free time to settle in and were invited to the Richards that evening for dinner. They live on the Marine base here and we had a great time at their home. They are such a sweet family and we enjoyed a wonderful meal and then spent time fellowshiping with them and their three children. Mr. Richards had lots of great military stories to tell us and we learned a lot about military life and living on base.

This morning we met with Pastor Anderson and his family around 9:30 am and we all drove to Ontario, CA, with is about 2 hours away. A family in their church was returning from vacation out of town and we were there to pick them up from the airport. However, their flight did not arrive until early evening, so we enjoyed a great day with their family there. We ate lunch at Famous Dave's, which is undoubtedly the best barbeque I have ever had in my entire life. It was great! We then spent some time at the massive mall there and running some more errands with their family. It was a wonderful day getting to know Pastor Todd Anderson, his wife Debbie, and their two children Hannah and Robert. We are greatly looking forward to our time here! The church here has their mid-week prayer service on Thursday night, rather than Wednesday. It was a little strange not having church this evening, but we're excited about tomorrow!

Rebecca, Jen, Hannah, and the Anderson children (Hannah and Robert) with the bear outside the Famous Dave's resturant!

Final day in Arizona City - Sunday, June 7

2009-06-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

Our last day in Arizona City was great! Sunday school and the Sunday morning service were both great here. Missionary Danny Whetstone and his wife were visiting in the services and he taught a great lesson in Sunday School and preached an equally powerful message in the morning service. Hannah was out of town at her brother's wedding, but another girl named Kaylee from North Carolina is visiting here as well and she, Rebecca, and I sang a trio in the morning service. After the service, the church had dinner on the grounds. I hate to say it, but their meal put to shame any dinner on the grounds I have ever been at. It was so much food and it was all wonderful!

The Sunday evening service was also very encouraging. Our trio had the opportunity to sing again, and Bro. Whetstone preached another great message from God's Word. After the service, the Roe family, the Whetstones, Rebecca, Kaylee, and I all enjoyed a meal together at In-N-Out Burger. I believe they only have these in this part of the country, but it was definitely the tastiest burger I have ever had. Everyone has been telling us we just had to eat there, and it definitely lived up to what we have heard. After dinner, it was time for everyone to say goodbye. We're quickly discovering how difficult it is every week to bid farewell to these families and individuals that we're growing so close to. We are so grateful to everyone here and how kind and encouraging they have been! We have loved getting to know the pastor's family and his children, as well as all the other families in the church. We've been so blessed to have the privilege to try to serve and learn at the Heaven's View Baptist Church! :)

In Christ Alone,
Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

Missionaries Danny and Darleen Whetstone were a huge blessing to us. They were here serving the Lord and encouraging this church on their 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Rebecca and Jen with Pastor Roe, his wife Crystal, and their children Sarah, Jacob, and Rebecca.

Saturday, June 6

2009-06-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely amazing time here at VBS last night. We saw a great number of people in attendance, in spite of it being a Friday night! The kids were so excited and attentive, and it was a great end to the evening meetings. The girls officially won the penny march, and Pastor Roe got the wonderful pie in his face - the girls were very excited (and I think his wife was MOST excited that it was him and not her!) VBS definitely lived up to the theme of this year, "The Great Adventure." Children who had the most cumulative points for the 3 days received great prizes, such as flashlights, law chairs, water bottles, a fishing pole, and a tent. After all the kids were taken home from VBS and everything was cleaned up, we had a sleepover for the girls 13 and over at the church. We played Ghost in the Graveyard (Hide N Seek in the dark), ate pizza and junk food, and watched the chick flick "Love Comes Softly" movies for hours. I think the first girls began dropping off at about 3:30 AM, but some made it all the way through the night! We had an amazing time getting to know some of these girls more and having an extended time of fellowship.

This morning we met at 9:30 and went out with Pastor Roe on visitation. Despite being rather sleep deprived, Rebecca and I had a great time with their children, and it was notably cooler today (reaching only a high of 104), so the weather was pleasant to be outside. We made a few very hopeful contacts, and we're praying they will be in the services tomorrow. After visitation, their girls came over to the house where we've been staying and we hung out with them for a few hours and had a great time while Pastor and Mrs. Roe took care of some other responsibilities. We're greatly looking forward to and praying for the services here tomorrow. It will be the big closing day of the Vacation Bible School. We're praying that many parents of the children will come to hear the guest missionary who will preach in the services tomorrow.

Pastor Roe realizes the girls have won the final competition and he will be getting the pie in his face!

The girls were very excited to win the penny contest!

The high points winners for the week received great prizes!

Friday, June 5

2009-06-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

We have had a great past 2 days here. Yesterday morning (Thursday) we had clean-up from VBS Wednesday night and got ready for VBS last night. We then had lunch at the Roe's house and got to spend time hanging out with their family. Last night at VBS was great! We saw a great number of kids and adults come out, and everyone was very excited. We continued the mission's emphasis and last night's missionary was Margaret Stringer. I had the privilege of teaching the 4th-6th grade class. They were very rambunctious, but I had a great time with them teaching about mission's. Rebecca had the challenge of preparing Ice Cream Sundae's for 40+ kids and keeping up with them. After we let the kids out, everyone got snow cones and the kids loved it. Once everyone got home safely, we spent about an hour cleaning up and preparing for tonight and then all went back to the Roe's around 9:30 pm for dinner. Mrs. Roe prepared a very tasty Italian meal for dinner, and we played some games with the kids. We were pretty beat when it was all over, but we really enjoyed it all!

Today we were invited to breakfast at a man in the church's house who is a professional chef. He made Spanish omelletes, biscuits and gravy, and potatoes. We were all so stuffed when we left there that we could barely move, but it was SO good! We had a very leisurely day today, able to catch up one some rest and some other things that we needed to do. Tonight after VBS we're having a sleepover with the girls ages 12 and up in the church, so it should be an eventful night. :) Please continue to pray for the VBS here as we will have the meeting tonight and then a big concluding day on Sunday with guest missionaries from out of town to speak in the services here. We're praying for God to really work in the hearts of the children and adults here and give them a real burden for missions, starting with the people living right here around them.

Jen with two of the girls from her class on Thursday night

Rebecca teaching a Bible verse to some of the children after snack time

Jen and her buddy Lance at Vacation Bible School

Rebecca working hard carrying in all the drinks and preparing for the final night!

Wednesday, June 3 - Arizona City, AZ

2009-06-04T16:28:00.001-07:00

We arrived here in Arizona City, AZ Monday afternoon. We were able to stop by the Case Grande National Monument on the way here from Flagstaff, and it was a lot of fun to see. We made it in around 3 pm and were able to get settled in before the Bible study of the Heaven's View Baptist Church that evening. We have greatly enjoyed this place already and getting to know Pastor Darrel Roe, his wife, and their three children. We were able to meet many of the members of the church at Bible study on Monday night and then spent the rest of the evening talking with Pastor Roe and getting to know his family.

Jen and Hannah standing with the entrance sign of the Case Grande National Monument

Tuesday morning we were able to go out visiting and canvasing for the Vacation Bible School that will begin here Wednesday evening. It is around 105 degrees here for most of the day, so we have been drinking lots of water and trying to stay hydrated as we spend a lot of time out in the sun. Everyone makes fun of the fact that it is a "dry heat", but it really is different from back home! We took the Roe's three children visiting with us, and they were lots of fun and a great help to us. Their entire family is so kind and accomodating. After a few hours of visiting, we were able to run some errands with Mrs. Roe and had lunch. We then went out visiting for a little while again in the late afternoon. We were extremely convicted, as every house we visited had already been visited that day by the Jehovah's Witnesses of the area. We have the Truth, and yet they are often so much more faithful in sharing their faith.

This morning we went out visiting again, and were able to make many good contacts for the meetings that began this evening. We spent the rest of the day cleaning and doing preparation for the VBS, which will have a Mission's Emphasis. The children began arriving around 6:15 pm. Pastor Roe opened with announcements and prayers, and we were able to lead the children in some songs in the opening assembly. Everyone then split into their own groups by age and the lesson tonight told the story of David Livingston. The three of us helped out with snacks. Rebecca and I were able to share an object lesson about sin using a rope with the children, and besides one minor mistake it went really well! We were also able to make animal balloons for the children, which they were very excited about. However, I think we're going to have to get faster at making them to keep up with all the children, :) We were also able to help with some songs in the closing assembly, and the entire evening was really a great time and a wonderful opening day for the Vacation Bible School here!

The VBS will continnue through Friday evening, and then we will have a big day on Sunday.during the services here. Please pray for Hannah as we will take her to the Phoenix airport at around 5 am tomorrow morning. She will be flying into Houston, and then to Ohio for her brother's wedding. God willing, she'll be flying back Monday and we'll pick her up from the airport on the way to California. Please also pray for the meetings for the rest of the week. I will be teaching a class about Margaret Stringer tomorrow night and am looking forward to it. We're praying that many of the contacts we have made will continue to come out and we'll be able to see children and adults come to a saving knowledge in Jesus Christ this week!

In His Service,

Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

These Saguaro Cacti are monstrously large. If you look closely, you can see Jen standing near the base of this one. It takes about 100 years just to develop the main trunk of these catci, before the arms can even begin to grow.

Farewell to Flagstaff

2009-06-01T00:26:00.000-07:00

Today was our final full day here in Flagstaff. We had such a wonderful, full day. Sunday school and the morning service at the Ponderosa Baptist Church went very well. Rebecca had an opportunity to share her testimony in Sunday School and we had guys vs. girls in sword drills / Bible trivia. The girls won, of course! :) I had the privilege of giving my testimony in the morning service and then Rebecca, Hannah, and I sang a trio for the service. Pastor Gregg preached a great message out of Hebrews 11 on the faith of Isaac.

After the service, the church all drove down to Sedona for lunch. It is said that the drive to Sedona is one of the most scenic in the country and I can understand why. It was amazingly beautiful. We had an enjoyable lunch at the Sedona Airport Restaurant and then went out for ice cream afterwards and walked around Sedona for a while. After Sedona, we all returned to Flagstaff for the evening service. Hannah gave her testimony this evening and we had the privilege to sing again. The ladies of the church were so kind to us and gave us a basket with a bunch of snacks and other travel things. It's nearly impossible to describe how kind they have been to us. Pastor Gregg preached another powerful message out of Ephesians 6 entitled "Having Done All". He reminded us that the battles of life are not won on the battle field, but on the preparation field. We must prepare ourselves and be careful to put on the whole armour of God that we may not falter in the day of battle. The entire service was a great blessing.

After the service it was time for us to say goodbye to this church that we have come to care for so deeply. It was very hard saying farewell to Pastor Gregg, the Barricks, the Kiritsys, and the Packards, but we are so thankful for the opportunity we have had to get to know them and try to be a small encouragement and help in this church. These people and the Ponderosa Baptist Church will definitely be in our thoughts and prayers as we continue throughout this summer. Tomorrow morning, we leave for Arizona City, which is only about 3 1/2 hours from Flagstaff. We're very thankful for the short drive, after the two day drive we had out here last Monday. Please be in prayer for us as we travel tomorrow, as well as continuing to pray that the Lord will work in the church here in a mighty way and they would have many visitors and contacts in the future as a result of the work this week.

In Christ,

Jennifer, Hannah, and Rebecca

May 30

2009-05-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today we had the chance to go out door to door in the Flagstaff area. We spent some time in an apartment complex not too far from the place where the Ponderosa Baptist Church is meeting. Though many people were not home on a Saturday morning, we did have a few very good prospects. Pastor Gregg was able to speak to one lady especially who just got saved a few days ago but had no idea where to go from there. She was so happy to speak with him and was thrilled to hear about the church. We're praying that she and her 8 year old son will be able to join us Sunday for the services. We went to one apartment that had a tiny fenced area around the small patio but the sliding glass door at the house was open. We knew someone must be home so we opened the gate and Hannah walked up and knocked on the door. As she knocked, a pitbull and a smaller dog came running out the open sliding door barking like they wanted to eat us. I was in the back so stepped back out the gate and Rebecca very quickly followed me but then proceeded to slam the gate closed, leaving Hannah locked in with the dogs. It turns out both dogs were much less ferocious than they sounded, bt it was a very funny experience. Through it, we did have an opportunity to talk with the man who owned the dogs, so it was all worthwhile, :) Though I must admit I have an easy time saying that when I was safely outside the gate! We visited for a while but it began raining so we met back with Pastor Gregg and he drove us around the area some and showed us some places of interest. After this, it was still pouring so we headed to the Packards house, where we were to eat lunch. We had a great time of fun with them and their family for the rest of the afternoon. We especially enjoyed playing with their four children and I learned some great food prep tips from Mrs. Packard!

Tonight, all the families of the church met together at the Kiritsy's for dinner. We had a wonderful time being with these people who we have already become so attached to. We got to make some animal balloons and tell a Bible story to the kids, and everyone really enjoyed it. Tomorrow will be our last full day here in Flagstaff, but we're very excited about the services and other activities planned. We're praying Ponderosa Baptist Church will have many visitors as a result of the visits made and flyers handed out this week, and that God will be glorified through it all.

By His Grace,

Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

May 29

2009-05-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

Today was a truly wonderful day. We met with Pastor Gregg this morning and then returned to Williams to finish speaking to business owners and hanging flyers for the crusade that the Ponderosa Baptist Church will be holding there at the end of June. God really gave us great favor with a great number of people today and we were able to hang many more signs than we were allowed to yesterday. Rebecca and I got the opportunity to speak with a lady in a shop who had just recently moved to Williams and has not been able to find a church home. We had an enjoyable time talking with her and invited her out to the services on Sunday. God willing, she said she will be there and she was very excited about coming. We are praying that she will not be hindered and she'll be able to make it. After finishing all the businesses in Williams, we had a great time at lunch with Pastor Gregg and then had a few hours of free time before meeting up with him again to finish hanging door flyers in some apartment complexes. We then went to the home of the Barricks, a family in the church, for dinner. Mrs. Barrick cooked an amazing Italian meal and we had a great time fellowshiping with them and their two daughters and son. After dinner, we played Rook for a while with the family and had a really fun time - despite all the competitiveness, :) All the families here have been so sweet and encouraging to us, and I am amazed anew everyday at how far out of their way they go to be kind and helpful. After another amazing day, we're really looking forward to tomorrow and the services Sunday!

May 28 - Flagstaff, AZ

2009-05-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

Today was a truly amazing day! We met this morning with Pastor Gregg for a meeting at Starbucks, which is a great place to start the day. Hannah especially enjoyed her cup of morning coffee, while Rebecca and I settled for hot chocolate and a smoothie. We had a great time of prayer and then headed to Williams, AZ. The Ponderosa Baptist Church will be holding a citywide evangelistic crusade in this town at the end of the month, and we had the opportunity to speak with business owners and gain permission to hang fliers in windows at many of their local businesses. After a few hours of visiting, we ate a quick lunch and then Pastor Gregg took us to see the Grand Canyon. It was truly breathtaking! We are including a few pictures at the end of this post, but they cannot even begin to show the vastness or beauty of this small part of God's magnificent creation. We then returned to Flagstaff and met with the Ponderosa Baptist Church for their weekly Cottage Prayer Meeting. It was wonderful to see the whole church come together to pray and beg for God's blessing on their lives, the salvation of souls, and the continued growth of their church. It was such a privilege to be able to be involved in this sweet time. After the prayer meeting, Mrs. Kiritsy prepared an amazing Mexican meal. I am quickly learning that Mexican food in the Southwest far surpasses any attempt made by Tennessee! We will be returning to Williams tomorrow to finish visiting the businesses we didn't get to speak to today. We continue to look forward with great anticipation to what God will do the remainder of this week!

Constantly abiding,
Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

Arizona!

2009-05-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

After many miles and many more great times, we arrived at the Ponderosa Baptist Church, in Flagstaff, AZ last night. We are so excited to be here and cannot wait to see what the Lord will do. Pastor Joshua Gregg met us last evening and introduced us to the family we will be staying with this week. The Kiritsy family has welcomed us into their home and have already been such a blessing to us. After a great time of fellowship and getting to know each other last night, we headed to bed greatly anticipating the next few days. Today, we had the privilege of eating lunch with a family in the church and then were able to spend a few hours distributing flyers for the Ponderosa Baptist Church. We are praying God will use them in a great way to bring visitors into the church and see souls saved. We then prepared for the Wednesday evening church service. However, before the service we had dinner with the families of the church. It was a wonderful time getting to know each other, sharing some testimonies, and (of course) having great food! The church service tonight was wonderful. We had a great time of worship and prayer together, and Pastor Gregg preached a convicting sermon from Matthew 19-20. This is such a beautiful place. We are right on the edge of Mount Humphrey, and the awesomeness of God's creation seems overwhelming everytime we see it. We truly serve an awesome God, and we are praying He'll be able to use us to be an encouragement and help to this church as we continue throughout this week!

Standing on the promises,

Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

The Journey Begins..

2009-05-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

Today, we began our travels. Before leaving, all of the pioneers met with Mr. Y and we had a great time of prayer and last minute fellowship, fun, and pictures before heading out. It was a wonderful meeting, though emotions were high as we faced the sadness of leaving our friends and the excitement of setting out on the journey of our lives this summer. We cannot know what God has planned for each of our lives this summer, but we look forward with great expectation to the wonderful things that He will do! We got out on the road about 9:30 Eastern time, and began our long trip on I-40 headed West! We saw beautiful scenery as we passed through Tennesse, through Arkansas, and eventually into Oklahoma. We are spending this first night at the home of Scott and Pamela McElyea, in Chickasha, OK. They are past Crown graduates and we have had a great, though short, time with them. We are so thankful for their willingness to open their homes and welcome us! Tomorrow morning we will head out again. God willing, we will complete this first leg of our trip and arrive in Flagstaff, AZ tomorrow evening!

In His Grace,

Jen, Hannah, and Rebecca

Training Camp!

2009-05-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

The past week we have been involved in training camp in preparation for this summer. We have had an amazing time and are learning so much. Every day, we have had great services, and the Lord is truly working and speaking to our hearts. We have also had some great sessions on various topics, including soul winning, neighborhood Bible clubs, and travel safety. Last night we had the opportunity to participate in a camp out. We had a marvelous service around the campfire, snacked on smores, and then spent the night in tents. It was so much fun! Please pray for us as we are currently conducting Bible clubs. They began Tuesday afternoon and will continue through Thursday. The Lord has been doing a wonderful work already in the hearts of the children, and we are looking forward to the remainder of the meetings. We will be leaving Monday, May 25th for our first stop, which will be in Flagstaff, AZ, at Pastor Joshua Gregg's church. We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we will be traveling and should, God willing, arrive Tuesday evening.