03/07/2018
It has been a very interesting few months on the Living Logos road. Last October, while ministering in western South Dakota, I (Rod) had a collision with an internal infection that landed me on my back for a couple of weeks. Thankfully, Jenni did a sterling job of filling in at the last minute. I was back on my feet in fairly short order and we continued on with our engagements in Wyoming and Colorado. Then, as we were leaving Casper, WY heading for Laramie and on to Colorado, we were caught by an extremely high velocity, but momentary, gust of wind that in one second tore the 20' awning from the side of the RV and sent it flying two lanes over into the median. Our protective aluminum awning shroud remains on the RV tuck-taped in place to avoid flapping noises and paint removal! We are to have a new awning mounted on our 'rolling home' next week. It is surprising how effective an awning can be to keep the RV cool. They tend to heat up like a tin can whenever the sun comes out.
We also, just last week, had an episode with our RV braking system. The driver-side rear axle seal had failed and caused a few malfunctions that could easily have ended in a fire. However, God is gracious and orchestrated a number of things; driving time (if we had continued on to Sacramento, we would most definitely had a fire), and a timely repair by two highly energetic gentlemen at a ministry called Gleanings for the Hungry in Dinuba, CA. They saved us thousands of dollars on the repair and had it done in short order. Thanks Rod and Erwin!
As I was recovering from my ailment in October, Jenni and I talked about taking a short sabbatical in December. We were planning to spend Christmas '17 in Branson with our sons, Jordan, and Timothy. Jordan lives in Branson and Tim was going to fly down. Philip and our daughter-in-law, Meagan would be spending Christmas with her folks in western Wyoming. We were also invited to share the Christmas Story from scripture with The Hostetler Group, an Amish manufacturing business in Buffalo, which was planning a large Christmas banquet in Springfield ini early December. Jenni and I decided that since we had been 'on the road' non-stop for almost fifteen years, we would take a three or four week rest to do some praying, writing, and memorizing. Since we would be parked at an RV resort in Branson at which we have a membership, we decided that December would be a month 'off!' Our son, Jordan, was in the process of looking for a new place to live when he found a house for sale. He made and offer at the beginning of Dec. and closed on the 15th, which means that our relaxing, writing, and memorizing became painting, plumbing, fixing, and moving. :-) By the end of the month I was sore in placed I did not know I had places, but we had a great time together for the month.
We have made some new friends and ministry relationships over the past year, which is always a delight. For the most part, our travels tend to follow a two-year cycle...either starting in California and following Interstate 5 north. After a short visit with family and friends in British Columbia and Alberta we typically venture through MT, ID, WY, western SD, and Colorado. The following year takes us from California through AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN then back through IA, ND, SD, WY, and CO. We wrap up each year in either the panhandle of TX or in Las Vegas.
Jenni and I have been highly blessed by the fact that many, if not most, of the churches who host us have requested that we return, sometimes each time we are in the area. As a result, it is sometimes very easy to simply fill our schedule with ministry engagements with church fellowships at which we have previously ministered. We most certainly appreciate the fact that the message of Living Logos is considered by many pastors to be a vital reminder of the centrality of scripture, both to corporate congregations and to individual believers. But it also means that there are seasons when our schedule is almost 'pre-filled' with little opportunity to foster relationships with new churches. This year was a little different. Since the beginning of April last year we have met and ministered with nine new churches in New Mexico, Missouri, and southern California.
We recently arrived in the Sacramento area where we will be staying until the end of March, then it is on up through OR, WA, BC, MT, ID, SD, WY, and CO.
