MLK Holiday Weekend

Last Saturday, a reception was held for our niece Jennifer (Roger and Julie's oldest) as she is leaving for training in Virginia for two months and then to South Asia for two years as a Journeyman missionary for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.  She is excited and humbled by this new venture she will undertake.

Me, Jennifer and Sondra

Jennifer, Melissa and Daniel

Roger and Julie

That evening, some friends from Flagstaff called and we met them at Richie's Diner in Rancho Cucamonga for dinner.  Rich and Marissa Bowen have lived in Flagstaff for many years, and Marissa is Greg Freeman's sister.  We knew the Freeman family from the 1970s at the First Baptist Church in Rialto when I was a vounteer youth minister there.  Marissa was in my youth group back then.

Marissa and Rich

Then, on Sunday I had Jennifer come to our Vision Plus Church in Riverside to give her testimony and share how we can best pray for her as she goes overseas.  As a surprise, Jacob Stoutenburg visited our church, as he is on vacation from his job in Northern California at Mt. Hermon Youth Camp.  We also observed the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in the worship hour.

Jennifer at The Vision Plus Church

Jacob and Galen

The Communion Table

After church, we went over to California Baptist University to eat the Sunday Brunch with Rich and Marissa, Greg and his work partner Steve.  Then we drove down to San Diego to be with Shawn and Crystal and Bailey, as they had taken their fifth-wheel trailer to Mission Bay for the holiday weekend.  We spent the night in the trailer too, coming home around 5 pm this afternoon.

Shawn and Crystal's Trailer

Bailey in the swings at the Campground.

Bailey looking at the ocean at La Jolla Cove.

I just got a call from my mechanic, and his first words were, "I've got good news for you."  Those are sweet to hear when talking to someone who is working on your car.  He said he has the engine put back in my Chrysler Sebring and has been driving it yesterday and today to make sure all is well.  It is such a blessing, as we thought  we needed to put a new engine in.  I feel blessed.