When you throw a disc, you try to throw it with enough speed and power to go as far as needed, but you also do your best to get it to go where you want it. I enjoyed trying that out again for a few days while we were here at our 2nd stop, once again in Minnesota. It is always a challenge to get the disc to fly true, but that is the fun of the challenge. And doing it with others makes it even more fun.
I was able to walk a course close to where we were staying with two strangers the first morning I went out. The second morning I was able to go, I went alone. The last morning was once again with the brother who originally introduced me to the sport, Kent Davidson, so many years ago. It was a bit rainy and was a fair course, but the time together and the conversation helped make it what it has always been for me - a great time to refocus and think about flying true.
That is what we are doing when we stop in to ‘our’ congregations. These congregations have been financially supporting us for quite a few years. It is because they are willing to send funds that we are able to be where we are to tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ. When we stop in, it means we share a lot of meals - sometimes with older members we already know, sometimes meeting new members. Breakfast, lunch and dinner all take a turn being the time to share a good conversation.
This trip has brought us to an El Salvadoran restaurant (have you ever tried pupusa’s?), a few potluck meals and a sports cafe for pork chops and fried fish. Shirley had a breakfast meeting with the ladies where she shared some thoughts and got to spend time with lots of the women of the congregation. Scott went to two breakfasts (one at 6am!) to renew friendships and meet some new members.
And in between there were some vacation moments as well. Besides the discgolf mornings that Scott enjoyed, both Scott and Shirley were treated to a visit to the Arboretum - a collaboration with the University of Minnesota in rolling fields where all sorts of trees and flowers grew. Unfortunately we were just a bit early to see most of the trees and plants blooming, but it was still a beautiful day in what will be an even more beautiful spot in just a few weeks.
Each day we were able to travel to these meetings and then come ‘home’ to our hosts’ home. Members have loaned us their car for this week and the whole trip we will take driving through the midwest. Our hosts, the Sullivans, have hosted us before in the past and it was great to be with them again. These people are all willing to share what they have to make our visit pleasant and effective at the same time. It is wonderful to experience this family.
On Sunday we worshipped together, shared about our work with the class (which we had also done on Wednesday with the youth) and shared one last potluck meal together. Our visit here has been a time of sharing, growth, relaxing and remembering. It is a bit like a game of discgolf: we do our best to make things fly true and enjoy the time along the way sharing with one another.
You can see some of our pictures from Minnesota here before we move on to our next stop (in Omaha, Nebraska with Shirley’s family).
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