After our momentous trek across South Dakota, we arrived at the church early Friday afternoon. It was great timing for all we had been through. We did a “walk through” of the church facility and then began to unload. It seems set up is getting easier each time. Lots of practice must really help!

Setting up Friday.

Music

Friday evening went well. We switched the order of a few of the songs around, and the stage was a bit tight, but the family adapted well to the minor challenges. Several families drove a distance to come, including one who braved the storm we went through.

Building a Vision

Some of us hadn’t slept so well for several nights, but Friday night, we had a refreshing night’s sleep, which we needed. Even though we’ve been in cold weather, we’ve not had to run the heater at night. I think we warm up the cabin . Saturday morning dawned, and about 6 a.m., we were all up and having our individual Bible time. We like to be inside the church by 8 to set up sound, projectors, signs, etc.

We are so grateful to families who give up their weekend to attend a conference. The day goes quickly as we move from session to session, talking with people in between, keeping up with the book tables, and getting things set for the next session. Hearts were definitely open, and we could tell the Lord was moving greatly. Thank you for your faithful prayers for these conferences.

Our final conference for this trip will be in Omaha tomorrow night. Tonight, we are going to be staying at my aunt’s house, and we’re looking forward to that. It feels strange to think we’ll be only three hours from home sweet home.

Sarah for the rest

Joseph sharing.

Anna

Dad

Jesse talking

Mary

Book tables

John and Anna

Often, I'll make signs to direct people where to go.

Looking in through the window on the door.

Mom sharing

A little guy entertaining himself during a session under his mom's chair.

Anna

Headed for their next session.

Dad

Joseph and Anna

One of the families who drove a distance to come.

Talking

Loading out

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

It was a wonderful weekend conference. We still have our last evening to go, on this trip, Monday night, in Omaha, Nebraska. We stopped in Wall, South Dakota, and we’ll be driving to Omaha tomorrow. We’ll report on the conference later, and yes, for those who might know the area, we did go to Wall Drug and experience the experience.

John with two young boys

Jesse

Good night!

Sarah

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).

Tonight was another blessing, and several families drove from a distance. We look forward to tomorrow!

Good night!

Sarah

Music tonight

“And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go” (1 Corinthians 16:6).

I forgot about the time change, so we actually arrived around 1:30 p.m. The church has been very gracious to us, and their facility will be perfect. Set up went smoothly. Music practice has been done, and now some are resting. We are looking forward to our last weekend conference for this trip: here in sunny Rapid City!

Sarah for the rest

Unloading

Working with sound

Practicing

“For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (Zechariah 2:5).

The road is dry, green grass can be seen, and the snow is gone! We’re back to spring. We will be arriving at the church around 3 and will begin set up for the conference this weekend.

Just a few minutes ago, snow was lightly salted throughout the hill side. It was very pretty.

Sarah for the rest

“Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear” (Psalms 10:17).

We prayed, and then Dad went to take a rest while we waited. A sheriff came up a little later, and said they were going to route us on another road to get us back on the interstate. We are grateful for the snow ploughs and emergency workers who are dealing with this situation.

So, we’re on our way again! Praise the Lord!

Sarah

Going again!

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalms 91:2).

Right now we are visiting and helping a family who is replacing carpet in their house with tile and hardwood because two of their children have severe asthma. We arrived at the family’s house yesterday afternoon, and the guys set to work immediately. They ripped out two layers of linoleum, put down the backer board, and then laid the tile. They were up until 2 a.m. this morning getting the tile down, so that they can grout today, since we will leave this afternoon for Rapid City.

Love,
Sarah

Jesse helping

Joseph working.

John's work shirt

I did not stay up until 2 a.m. to take pictures of the entire process.

“And labour, working with our own hands…” (1 Corinthians 4:12).

It was a gorgeous, spring day in Watertown. We’ve experienced a lot of winter weather on this trip, and it was wonderful to have a sunny, warm (50′s) day again. This was the first time a conference was held in a County Extension Center, and the facility worked out great. Set up went smoothly, and after Bible time and dinner, we were ready for the evening.

Dad and Mom before the conference

Twins!

The Lord again blessed the conference, and we are grateful to each family who took the time to come. We are now down to just two more on this trip: Rapid City this weekend, and Omaha Monday evening.

Dad and Mom's Heart session

John

Listening

Book tables

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:22).

At that point, John was back out from more communication with the towing company. Steve told him to tell them to come out. They said it would be about an hour before they arrived.

Steve was hoping to be able to give his Feed My Sheep session, but as the time drew closer, it was evident that he was needed in the bus driver’s seat. They used the video recording of the session. We were so grateful that in Oklahoma City we had recorded sessions, just in case we would have a use for them in the event someone was sick and couldn’t fill in for them.

A bobcat arrived that put a large steel plate under the left-front wheel loader’s tire because it was beginning to break through the asphalt. While waiting for the tow truck to arrive, they kept trying to lift the bus with the wheel loader and to put smaller timbers under the wheel. However, each time they did, the timber just sunk into the muck out-of-sight.

Men rallied to do whatever they could to help. This man went and found large timbers and brought them to be used.

The guys worked hard all evening. Safety was a big concern and men were double-checking each other.

At first trying to get even small timbers under the wheel. They weren't able to lift the bus high enough to get large ones in.

And the crowd gathered. Later some brought lawn chairs.

One of many discussions. We were very grateful for the team of men that worked together to get us out!

Many different options were tried. This one was attempting to lift the front wheel, but it was soon decided that that wasn't a good idea.

We were so stuck.

AutoSpa Towing to the rescue! Notice the drive wheels are fairly deep as well. The tag had not broken through yet.

The first attempt was going to be to lift up the back and place timbers under the drive axle, however, he wasn't able to lift it high enough.

Session break time. So, lots of people came out to see what was happening.

Hearts session

Dwelling Together in Unity

The concern always was getting the bus out without damaging it. There was a strong possibility through this whole process that when Uriah was freed, he wouldn’t be drivable even to the point of the frame being permanently damaged.

Steve was able to do part of his Keeping Hearts session, although I did the first 1/2 hour without him. Joseph stepped in to do John’s parts of both sessions for the young people, since John needed to stay outside. Jesse filled in Joseph’s part on Dwelling Together in Unity. It was a team effort, and everyone had good attitudes in switching the roles in which they were used to.

When the tow truck arrived, he tried lifting the back end. That went on for a while but it wasn’t working.

That is when the final attempt came. Some of the family were in giving sessions, and they weren’t aware of the grave danger that Uriah was in! Only Dad, Sarah, John, Jesse, and Mary knew that Uriah might not be drivable.

“O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble” (Isaiah 33:2).

It was a misty, rainy (but no snow!) evening, but a great group came out. We were again blessed to share!

Good night, and we look forward to tomorrow!

Sarah

“I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High” (Psalms 9:2).

One of the blessings of being able to travel is the experience of some different things. This is the farthest north that I have been. As we were driving the other day, I realized that there might be the chance of seeing the northern lights (aurora borealis). I checked and it looked like there was a slight chance that we might see this amazing phenomena. But I also prayed, as I know that God controls the weather, and the space weather, and that He could send the northern lights. And, He did! It was a beautiful demonstration to me of how He answers small and seemingly insignificant requests like this.

Joseph

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalms 19:1).

It’s 10:30, and it’s been an incredible weekend. The day didn’t end until after 9 p.m. tonight, as Dad and Mom did a special “wrap up” session, and by the time we talked, and fellowshipped some more and packed up the book tables, it was after 9. After family Bible time, we saw a special surprise tonight. I’ll leave it with that, but we’ll post on it later. We’ll do a “real” post on the conference tomorrow or Monday; I wanted to give you a few pictures for now!

With a full heart,

Sarah for the rest

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our day” (Psalms 90:14).

Set up has been completed (with much help this morning!), music practice finished, and we are excited about tonight. Please join us in prayer for this evening!

Sarah

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalms 90:12).

Today was a full day, as we shared in two different care homes, and then had supper with friends tonight. Since I don’t have time at the moment to do today justice, but I definitely captured it with my camera, I’ll leave you with a few pictures now, and then you can watch for a full post later.

Sarah

At the first home

At the second home.

Tonight at dinner

“I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations” (Psalms 108:3).

“Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary” (Psalms 96:6).