As we arrived in
Minnesota, expecting cold, winter weather, we were greeted by the providence of
God and the grace shown through his children. Our family at Woodbury blanketed
us in warm fellowship and sharing. It was a very busy visit, but full of a
restful busyness. And to start it all out we were welcomed with a car on loan,
a gps to get us around, and a hotel room for the first night – time to be
together after a lot of traveling.
Our time in Minnesota
was mostly filled with visits with the various ‘Life groups’ which meet
throughout the week – church in practice outside of the Sunday morning. Each
evening we met a different group and on Sunday we met three! Sometimes we
talked about what we were doing, but most of the time we simply took part in
the study and discussion (this time about ‘downward mobility’ – very
interesting thought!) and did some singing. So we not only met the members, but
heard their hearts for Christ as well.
In the meantime we
spent time in the hospitality of two homes as different and similar as can be
from each other. We started in the home of the Chenoweths, whose children are
married or off to college – much like ourselves. Their home is in the country,
out by a lake, and provided wonderful daily walks for us. There was a quiet, a
peace – except when we watched Nebraska lose to Wisconsin on the big screen one
night. Otherwise, our time was filled with gracious and challenging
conversation, gathered in the living room together.
About half-way through
we moved over to the Davidson house – a family we have known for some time, but
which has changed in the years. This is a growing family, with four young boys
(the oldest being just 10) and the last of the four girls (we still remember
Malia, now 16, when she was just 5). Plenty of activity, questions, fun and
evident loving hearts. Scott played lego all day with the boys, we went for
walks in the park and continued to enjoy the life groups in the evenings. Both
homes – for they are truly homes and we felt very much at home – were places of
rest. One was a place of calm rest and discussion, the other an energetic
vibrancy that hugged us deeply.
We met many new people
on this stop and look forward to getting to know them more in the future. We
saw a vibrant, caring, living church caring for each other. What a great
encouragement for us! As we moved on from Minnesota, now driving to Nebraska,
Iowa and Ohio, we were greeted with a light snow – just so that we knew that
it does snow in Minnesota. It was a
day later – after we had safely arrived in Nebraska – that we heard that about
a foot more had fallen. Some more busy rest?
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