a night in Detroit

We have been lifted up by the amazing affirmation that only being in God's family brings. Our visit to Sam and Luz Jackson in Detroit was nothing short of incredible. We met three of their precious daughters: Maris, Joana, and Victoria. (Their first daughter lives not far from us in IL, believe it.)



We were literally embraced the moment we reunited and felt the love of Jesus all evening long. We were fed--we were heard. We listened to exciting stories of their church plant in Detroit. What fun it was to share our "intercultural" stories. Sam's church is tri-cultural, with everyone else welcome. Hope we can see the whole church next visit.

Am thinking about what it means to serve God. Seems there are two types of service: a special assignment or ongoing obedience. These thoughts are fundamental to what it means to discern His will.

traveling again

Took a blog-break when we arrived in the States. A month in Texas, now a month in Illinois, with visits to various states in between. Now it is May and tomorrow we are heading for a trip to the East coast: New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana.

It has been a good return home. "Home" is one of my favorite words. And yes, though I have spent precious little of my life in the States, it is home--my passport will attest. Listening to many friends who live here all the time, I learn some of the shortfalls of this magnificent country. I've noticed a couple myself.

But right now the things that stand out are the contrasts from rural Africa. Here are some of the things I like about America:
~ nice smooth roads with lots of lanes
~ street name signs
~ plenty of gas stations with coffee and travel mugs
~ mile after mile of neat, tidy, litterless stretches
~ helpful, friendly policemen
~ polite drivers on the American roads
~ eating m&m's when the mood strikes (as long as it doesn't strike too often)
~ very fast internet
~ church
~ church choirs, church organs, church pianos, church cellos, OK, church music
~ coffee and goodies while you're talking to friends at church
~ having coffee or tea with a friend in an atmospheric little place
~ Borders books and Barnes and Nobles and Half Price books
~ seeing my Mom nearly every day
~ doctors who listen and nurses who are considerate (we had our medicals)
~ people who walk their dogs in the morning and evening
~ communion at church
~ plays: we have seen "Juliet" and "Confessions of St Augustine" (both gratis)
~ the Metra into Chicago
~ Dallas Arboretum and Morton Arboretum
~ beautifully landscaped yards, not surrounded by cement walls

Perhaps I should save the next 90 for another time, but you get the idea: it is so good to be back.
We look forward to seeing as many friends as possible on the continent.
I'll be adding insights and adventures from time to time.

We have so much to be thankful for, not the least of which is our incomparable country.
Amen? Amen.