Holy Cross--Albany, Oregon

What a joy to be with God's people at Holy Cross Lutheran in Albany, Oregon. It was a blessing to worship in the Divine Service and receive God's gifts and an honor to preach God's Word. Pastor Ley and his congregation received us well. We thank God for their support.

While in Albany we were also blessed to see some friends from Oroville enjoying a meal together at a local eating establishment.

Home away from home

We have now 'landed' in Portland for the last weeks before we depart for Kenya. Still much to do. Stef plans on pre-packing and weighing bags so that we can maximize books for home schooling in our baggage. I, on the other hand, have one class left to complete for my PhD--then the dissertation.

Sunday (29th) we will be in Albany to visit a congregation and the following Sunday (first Sunday in Sept.) we will be in Milton, Washington to visit another. We are certainly glad to have a little stability by staying in Portland these last few weeks before we go. We are all craving a little routine!

Keno Oregon

What a great weekend!  It has been a joy to spend time with our friend Darrell an old classmate from St. Louis Seminary. We were welcomed by Saving Grace Lutheran Church and it was great to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Today I preached for the first time in a month and shared about our Kenya adventure in Bible class. Tomorrow we head toward home and will be in the Portland area for the next 3 weeks. Pray for our safe travels. We cannot wait to stop spending so much time in our van!

St. Matthew's Sonora

We thank God for a great visit with God's people in Sonora. What a wonderful and encouraging time in Sornora with God's people. They treated us to a great potluck, fellowship and encouragement. We look forward to seeing them all again.

Great Visits

What a blessing it has been to visit family this last weekend and visit with Good Shepherd in Inglewood, California. God's people at Inglewood were wonderful hosts and we heard God's Word preached by pastor Hindenberg. Good Shepherd even had a mini reception for my birthday. Thanks Good Shepherd!

You say its your Birthday...

For many years it seemed like I was always able to be somewhere or do something different on my birthday. Today we are doing just that. We will be spending my birthday with God's people at Good Shepherd in Inglewood, California. And with my cousins, uncle and aunt in Cypress, California.

Monday begins our busy week of visiting family and traveling to 5 places in 7 days completing our journey in Oregon.

Homeless and Wandering

Our home is sold, escrow closed and out of the house by 10:30 am.  Now we are homeless as we now visit our brothers and sisters in Christ at Redeemer. We have been received into membership at Redeemer and they are now our home congregation. What a blessing to have their prayers, encouragement and support. Now we will stay with Grandpa for a five days until we head south to visit Good Shepherd in Inglewood and family too. We will miss Oroville, the congregation I served for 9 years, friends and fellow brothers in circuit 12.

But now we are homeless and it seems like we are wandering. Yet when we really think of it as Christians this is not our home, life is but a breath and time is short so we are sent and so we go and tell others the Good News about Christ and what He has done for us--for you and for me. As the old hymn goes, "heaven is our home" pointing us outside of this sin filled world to Christ, His victory and the promise of the New Heavens and New Earth. We are merely on a journey in the Ark of the Church awaiting That Day, living our our vocation and pointing others to Christ.