After several fourth of July parties, I told myself “Alright, tonight you are going to bed early, and you can sleep til 8 on your Friday off, before starting in on your to-do list.
Ha.
This weekend was unbelievably fabulous—and I have never been so sleep-deprived! It was worth every second, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Course, that’s easy for me to say— I wasn’t the one preaching or cooking!
17 hours is a long time to be on a plane, but that’s how long it took the Mbewe’s to get to DC from Zambia. And after all that, they were still willing to come all the way across the country for Conrad to preach three sermons for us. I cannot imagine what it must be like to do something like that for a group of strangers, and to stay in an unfamiliar house with a group of crazy people… ;-). I am amazed, and so grateful. Our Lord is so gracious, to give us the time this weekend to be in so much fellowship with believers at home and at church. The messages were a great blessing, and from what I could see, things went well and smoothly. Please remember to pray for Pastor and Mrs. Mbewe this week—he preaches four more times this week, and I believe next Sunday as well.
If you were one of the ones who received any of my panicked text messages of “Pray for this and this and that!”, thank you for praying for us! My mom started to feel better mid-morning on Friday, and all the transportational stuff worked out in the end. My ankle has gotten worse, so that one is still on the list… :)
Alright. I could recap the messages, and share all my long-winded and likely repetitious thoughts, but instead I’ll just direct you to the website—http://www.sovgracewa.org. The three messages are already up. You should listen to them. Hopefully soon, there will be videos up as well.
We have just gotten back from the airport, and I have to confess to finding myself somewhat down. I had a blast this weekend, and genuinely enjoyed having them in our home. When you look forward to something for a year and a half, it’s a bummer when it’s all over with. Therefore, I am going to go to Africa. I know someone there now, so the entire country holds more appeal. Now is the time to do something like that— My parents approve, and that’s all the approbation I need! Definitely starting another envelope… this one titled “Zambia.”
Aaaand of course I can’t post anything without pictures. :-) Pardon me for not editing them much. Just glanced through them and am putting up the ones I like. Today will be long—Been up since 5, did the airport, teach a piano lesson in five minutes, then go into work for a while (last minute…) then coffee with a friend… After that, so much laundry to catch up on!
I have to start back a week or two though, as I have some pictures from the 4th as well.
My brother has become a cowboy… One day only.
Moonrise and fireworks on the 4th.
Took a few seconds to adjust to the right settings, but when I got it sort of ironed out, this is what I ended up with. Not perfect, but still fun!
I told them it was a zoom lens.. “That’s too close!” “We don’t care!!!”
And on to the weekend of the Mbewe’s visit and conference…
On the way home from the airport…
Felistas and Hannah. :-)
Baby toes…
Dessert-ish things after the first session.
:-) Relaxing.
The Mbewe’s had family in the area, so we had the opportunity to have them come visit for dinner. This is the only picture I got on my camera.
Day two!
In the evening on Sunday, we headed up the mountain—toward Sunrise. It was late and we were tired, but I think it was worth it. That drive is beautiful, and so relaxing. Would do it every week if I could!
We found snow!
The pastors on a Sunday evening… I told them a really funny joke.
“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all my inmost being, praise His holy name!”
