Home Assignment 2026 - Stage 4

God’s family can be so amazing. Our time in Minnesota means meeting wonderful servants, sharing memories and getting to know new members of the congregation. 

Our arrival in Minnesota this time was even more surprising - the kind of surprising that only God does regularly. We were picked up at the airport by our friend Jimmy just as he was dropping off the couple with whom we would later be staying and who was loaning us their car for several days while they were away. We had met them originally in Europe when they came to sing. The songs they sang with Psalom, written by Constantin Zhigulin, have become standards in many congregations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. I have translated some to Dutch. 

We picked the Cawyers up from the airport when they returned (in their own car that they had leant us) and our last few days were spent at their house. We last saw them in the Dallas area on one of our previous visits. Now they have moved to Minnesota and we were able to share even more time. 

It is these family times that are so important to our work wherever we are. Our first host was Jimmy, with whom we have stayed in the past. He connected us with everyone else in the congregation, made sure that things were arranged and made time in a busy schedule to eat dinner with us. He had a real home for us to stay for a few days. 

It was while we were at Jimmy’s house that we also did a few fun things together, bringing back memories of past visits. We went to the Mall of America - an absolutely huge mall with tons of stores and even an amusement park in the middle. We had always enjoyed going there in the past when the boys were young. Scott was also able to go disc golfing a few times at a local park which had a simple 9 hole layout. Simple because that is what is best for Scott when it comes to disc golf. 

Memories were also shared when we got to visit for a meal with the Davidson’s. Their boys have grown and this family continues to be a real influence on us and our work. They all take part in supporting the Bible camp (Flaming Pine) where both Shirley and Scott had memories. Scott even did some disc golf putting with the boys and Kent after dinner while Shirley caught up on news with Christy. 

On Sunday we were able to meet so many members of the congregation that we know (and test whether we still knew names) as well as meet new members. Scott taught the Bible class and presented the thought at the Lord’s Supper. Earlier in the week Scott had presented the Bible study with the young people and it was great to see them again on this Sunday morning. The potluck after services was a perfect opportunity to continue sharing.

This evening will be our last meal here in Minnesota for now and will be shared with more members of the congregation. The Edwards just married their daughter off this weekend (we had seen the soon-to-be-wed couple when Scott taught the young people’s study earlier in the week), but there is always a place at the table of the Edwards. This is a place of families - no matter what the family looks like. God has placed His children - all of us followers of Jesus Christ - into a family that is everywhere in the world. We are so thankful for this family and the opportunity to meet so many in such a short time. 

It is this family which has always made it possible for us to do our “driving loop” coming up tomorrow. We often borrow someone’s car and drive thousands of miles through several States so that we don’t have to fly. We will talk about that more in the next stage. 

Here are a few pictures of our time here. 

We have also added some late pictures to some of the other albums.

True North (Home Assignment 2023 - Minnesota)

More than 20 years ago I first learned about discgolf from some guys in Minnesota. We were stopping to visit with our supporting congregation and these two guys asked if me and the boys wanted to go disc golfing. We had never been, but it sounded like fun. (You can see some pictures of another time here) 

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).

We have arrived, alive and well

It is amazing how quickly time moves on – how much can happen in such a short time. It has aonly been a few days since we left Belgium and already it seems like so much has happened.

Most importantly of all, we continue to see how faithful and good God is – even if we do not always see it at the time. Our trip over was safe, albeit NOT uneventful. We saw an airport in Frankfurt wityhout any chairs to sit on (with a three hour wait), things on our flight not quite as planned (but a safe trip!) and some short worries in the middle of our trip when we were somehow put on “standby” (even though we had bought our tickets months in advance). Still, as mentioned, God is still God and we arrived safely at got into bed after a good 25 hour trip.

The very next morning, after about 7 hours of sleep, the ‘boys’ got up to go discgolfing! There was no way they were going to pass this opportunity up. Some great brothers from the church in MN know all the courses around the city (there are a lot of them – and they are all free!), so for the next few hours we walked around a park throwing frisbees into metal baskets. You may think it sounds very interesting, but we had a great time! (and if you DO think it sounds interesting and live in Europe, we need to get together and see what we can do about it!).

Shirley in the meantime went for morning coffee with our host and stopped by a rummage sale or two on the way back. One of the things that we are always so thankful for on these trip are the more than giving hearts of t=all the people we stay with. Dale and Vicki Hawley have us at their home – even though their kids are around, half of the band (from one of their sons) is still living in the basement and summers are prime time to end up with visitors passing through. This family is willing to help out however they can. What a blessing!

We are working up to the 4th of July – which for us tends to be forgotten, since no one in Europe celebrates it of course (the 4th of July is ‘Independence Day’) – but the town we are staying in also has their ‘Booster Days’ which end with fireworks. We went out to the river beach Sunday evening (along with most of the families of Hudson, WI) to watch the spectacle. It was fun to see all the families out together and to hear our boyus laughing the whole time. We were all very tired that evening and have slept well the last several nights.

This week we are still in Minnestoa, visiting with families here, getting to know more brothers and sisters. Isn’t it great that as Christians we have such a large family! I have said it many times before but will reiterate here once again: when you are traveling – anywhere, MAKE the effort, PLAN to meet with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is such a blessing to see how God is working all over the world and to get to know your family. What a wonderful family God has placed us in!

Next week we will be moving on to Muscatine, IA. In the meantime, check out some of our pictures here once I get a chance to load some pictures.