May
Before leaving Texas, we drove with Stacy to Denver to attend the Furry Scurry. Sponsored by the Dumb Friends League of Denver, we had attended once before, but this was the first time with our pup Lucy. Making the time extra special, Truitt's brother Mark came from Santa Fe with his new rescue Jack to attend with us! We had a great time at the event and all of us spending time together. Happily, all the furry kids got along just fine!
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| Stacy's Samson & Harper, our Lucy and Mark's Jack |
Our first stop after leaving Bastrop was Silsbee. This would be our last time to take the videos/photos at the Wildwood Sports Day. Although Truitt will continue to do the websites, we won't plan to be the ones that actually do the photography. That will enable us to head out from Texas earlier next year.
Following a visit with friends in the Longview area, we headed for Wisconsin. Did get to have dinner with my cousin Laurie and her husband Jim in St. Louis, so that was a treat!
June
Arrived at the Madison KOA on Thursday, June 1, and got settled in.
On Friday afternoon, we went to the home of Mark Millman, the Director of Missions/Church Planting Catalyst for Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association. Met Kimberly McDurmond from Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Georgia. She was there on a Vision Tour for her church and we would be spending the weekend taking her around the association to meet with SWBA church planters.
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| Kimberly meeting in local coffee shop with Pastor Meskerem Thomas, Rehoboth Madison Evangelical Church (Ethiopians & Eritreans) |
Sunday was a big day! We attended three worship services with Kimberly and met with three SWBA church planters. Morning was with Pastor Aaron Ramquist, Rock of Hope in Wisconsin Dells. Since these pictures were made, the Ramquists have added a fourth little girl to their family!
Sunday afternoon was with Pastor Gonzalo Quesada from Torreon, Mexico. He and his wife Marie are planting a Hispanic church in Madison.
The evening service was in Janesville, about 35 miles south of Madison. Pastor Jesse Beernink is planting Resonate Church. The church will have their official launch in September. By the way, Jesse's wife just had twin boys to add to their five! Sherry even got to hold one of the twins.
The rest of June has been busy in the SWBA office plus Sherry is taking a Spanish class on Friday mornings. Not sure how much will be retained, but it's been a joy. It's interesting that the teacher (photo on left), who is great, is Italian!
Last week in June was Hands of Hope in Janesville, WI. The group, from churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota, came to serve at Resonate Church with Pastor Jesse. This is a new church plant that will be using a leased church. Lots of work was done refurbishing plus a block party. We went a couple of days to do photos/videos.
July
Among other tasks, we attended four different block parties. The Block Party Trailer is being well used this summer! Besides taking pictures, we help keep the trailer stocked and answer questions for groups new to using it.
Had two special Sundays during July - baptism at Red Village Church in Madison and a trip to Whitehall WI with Gonzalo & Maria plus translator and friend Greivin for service at Mision Bautista Hispana de Arcadia.
While we've been in the SWBA office in June and July, it has been busy. We have enjoyed working with Mark since 2009 and this summer was no exception. Among other tasks, Truitt brought laptops to refurbish for some of the pastors here. It's always difficult to answer when someone asks "What do you do?" We help with flyers, websites, updating, encouraging, cleaning & sorting, purchasing supplies, whatever is needed. It's always a blessing for us. We always meet and work with wonderful people who desire is to serve the Lord. This year has been no exception.
The next blog should be from Minnesota. We leave August 1 for Rochester, Minnesota to work with the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention. But first, we're looking forward to our sweet Carter coming to spend a week with us there! Still have plenty to do before we head back to Texas in October.
As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 1:3 (NLT)
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| Pastor Aaron Ramquist, Rock of Hope, reading scriptures and holding one of his little girls. Below is the rest of the family with Kimberly. |
Sunday afternoon was with Pastor Gonzalo Quesada from Torreon, Mexico. He and his wife Marie are planting a Hispanic church in Madison.
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| A little dark, but that's Pastor Gonzalo & Maria in the middle. |
The evening service was in Janesville, about 35 miles south of Madison. Pastor Jesse Beernink is planting Resonate Church. The church will have their official launch in September. By the way, Jesse's wife just had twin boys to add to their five! Sherry even got to hold one of the twins.
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| Director of Missions Mark Millman with Kimberly & Pastor Jesse in Janesville |
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| Sherry having her moment with one of the twins. It had been a while! |
The rest of June has been busy in the SWBA office plus Sherry is taking a Spanish class on Friday mornings. Not sure how much will be retained, but it's been a joy. It's interesting that the teacher (photo on left), who is great, is Italian!Last week in June was Hands of Hope in Janesville, WI. The group, from churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota, came to serve at Resonate Church with Pastor Jesse. This is a new church plant that will be using a leased church. Lots of work was done refurbishing plus a block party. We went a couple of days to do photos/videos.
July
Among other tasks, we attended four different block parties. The Block Party Trailer is being well used this summer! Besides taking pictures, we help keep the trailer stocked and answer questions for groups new to using it.
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| Team from Woodland Baptist Church in Peoria, IL did two block parties, as well as construction. The one above is for Rehoboth. They brought a big slide with them and it was VERY popular!! |
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| Team came once again from FBC Hartsville, IN and did a block party with Pastor Gonzalo in a community park. Kids are gathered round for prize drawing. |
While we've been in the SWBA office in June and July, it has been busy. We have enjoyed working with Mark since 2009 and this summer was no exception. Among other tasks, Truitt brought laptops to refurbish for some of the pastors here. It's always difficult to answer when someone asks "What do you do?" We help with flyers, websites, updating, encouraging, cleaning & sorting, purchasing supplies, whatever is needed. It's always a blessing for us. We always meet and work with wonderful people who desire is to serve the Lord. This year has been no exception.
The next blog should be from Minnesota. We leave August 1 for Rochester, Minnesota to work with the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention. But first, we're looking forward to our sweet Carter coming to spend a week with us there! Still have plenty to do before we head back to Texas in October.
As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 1:3 (NLT)
