On March 16, my five-year old son and I, accompanied by a dear brother from my home church in Hawaii, left Florida and embarked on a journey that would take us to twelve states, our country's capitol, several churches, and some beautiful places across the USA.
On the Lord's Day, March 17th, we visited with friends in a church in North Carolina. They provided us a clean and comfortable house to rest and refresh in, along with delicious meals.
On Monday-Tuesday, March 18th-19th, we participated in the very first Capitol Connection. What an amazing opportunity and privilege to share the gospel and pray with our national leaders on Capitol Hill, as well as listen to great preaching. (I finally got to meet Attorney David Gibbs.) =)
On Wednesday, March 20th, we visited the Air & Space Museum and attended mid-week prayer meeting at Fairfax Baptist Temple in Virginia. A man who had been in my father's youth ministry back in the 1970's met us there, then treated the three of us to a steakhouse. On Thursday, March 21st, I dropped our brother from Hawaii off at the Ronald Reagan National Airport, then took my son back to DC for a walking tour of some special places--the White House, the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Smithsonian (where we saw the original Star-Spangled Banner and Washington's uniform and sword). Although it was very cold and windy, my son held up well!
On Friday, March 22nd, I drove to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia, where we pitched camp. Well, not really--we slept in a cabin. We did, however cook our supper on an open fire, and sleep in sleeping bags! =)
On Saturday, March 23rd, my son learned how to strike a match and helped me make our morning fire. In the afternoon, we walked through Luray Caverns, marveling at the beauty God created down there under the earth. After that, I drove us along Skyline Drive, again marveling at the beuna vista to be seen from the many scenic outlooks. We came across several patches of snow, where my son also made a snowman for the first time by himself.
On the Lord's Day, March 24th, I preached at a church in western Pennsylvania, where an old friend has served as their pastor for about twenty years. In the afternoon, I drove to West Virginia (part of the way through a blowing snow storm) and preached at a church there. Both churches were very generous, providing us comfortable rooms to stay in.
On Monday, March 25th, I drove to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our route took us through Maryland, where we again drove through blowing snow. At one rest stop along the way, my son thought it was the greatest thing to eat clean snow and have a snowball fight with his daddy. On Tuesday, March 26th, we visited the Choo Choo Barn, ate ice cream at Uncle Leroy's, and ate supper at Cracker Barrel. =) On Wednesday, March 27th, we visited the Biblical Tabernacle Reproduction, and then I drove us up to northeastern Pennsylvania to preach in a country church there, where I enjoyed catching up with friends from years ago. Brother Jack kindly hosted us in his home, where my son loved the bear rug and mounted elk, whitetail deer, and bear!
On Thursday, March 26th, I took my son to a secluded creek and waterfall a friend of mine had discovered about ten years ago. Then I drove us through Pennsylvania toward eastern Ohio, where we spent a night in a motel 6. On Friday, March 27th, we got up early and I drove us across Ohio to northern Indiana, to visit a good friend who lives in the middle of Amish country. We ate at the Blue Gate (my favorite restaurant in the Midwest) and then took a look at the new church building my friend's church recently acquired. How God has blessed them! That afternoon, we went to southeast Michigan, where we spent the night with the friend who loaned us our van since last October. It was so good to see them and spend time with them. On Saturday, March 28th, our friend drove my son and me to Detroit airport, where we boarded our first of three flights for the day. At around 9 pm that night, we arrived back in Florida, where my wife picked us up.
I am so thankful the Lord gave my firstborn and me so much one-on-one, father-son time for meeting dear people, visiting special places, talking about important things, and just having good, clean fun together! I hope my son will always hold those two weeks in a special place in his memory just like his daddy does. Thank You, Lord, for such a unique and blessed time with my son!
On the Lord's Day, March 17th, we visited with friends in a church in North Carolina. They provided us a clean and comfortable house to rest and refresh in, along with delicious meals.
On Monday-Tuesday, March 18th-19th, we participated in the very first Capitol Connection. What an amazing opportunity and privilege to share the gospel and pray with our national leaders on Capitol Hill, as well as listen to great preaching. (I finally got to meet Attorney David Gibbs.) =)
On Wednesday, March 20th, we visited the Air & Space Museum and attended mid-week prayer meeting at Fairfax Baptist Temple in Virginia. A man who had been in my father's youth ministry back in the 1970's met us there, then treated the three of us to a steakhouse. On Thursday, March 21st, I dropped our brother from Hawaii off at the Ronald Reagan National Airport, then took my son back to DC for a walking tour of some special places--the White House, the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Smithsonian (where we saw the original Star-Spangled Banner and Washington's uniform and sword). Although it was very cold and windy, my son held up well!
On Friday, March 22nd, I drove to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia, where we pitched camp. Well, not really--we slept in a cabin. We did, however cook our supper on an open fire, and sleep in sleeping bags! =)
On Saturday, March 23rd, my son learned how to strike a match and helped me make our morning fire. In the afternoon, we walked through Luray Caverns, marveling at the beauty God created down there under the earth. After that, I drove us along Skyline Drive, again marveling at the beuna vista to be seen from the many scenic outlooks. We came across several patches of snow, where my son also made a snowman for the first time by himself.
On the Lord's Day, March 24th, I preached at a church in western Pennsylvania, where an old friend has served as their pastor for about twenty years. In the afternoon, I drove to West Virginia (part of the way through a blowing snow storm) and preached at a church there. Both churches were very generous, providing us comfortable rooms to stay in.
On Monday, March 25th, I drove to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our route took us through Maryland, where we again drove through blowing snow. At one rest stop along the way, my son thought it was the greatest thing to eat clean snow and have a snowball fight with his daddy. On Tuesday, March 26th, we visited the Choo Choo Barn, ate ice cream at Uncle Leroy's, and ate supper at Cracker Barrel. =) On Wednesday, March 27th, we visited the Biblical Tabernacle Reproduction, and then I drove us up to northeastern Pennsylvania to preach in a country church there, where I enjoyed catching up with friends from years ago. Brother Jack kindly hosted us in his home, where my son loved the bear rug and mounted elk, whitetail deer, and bear!
On Thursday, March 26th, I took my son to a secluded creek and waterfall a friend of mine had discovered about ten years ago. Then I drove us through Pennsylvania toward eastern Ohio, where we spent a night in a motel 6. On Friday, March 27th, we got up early and I drove us across Ohio to northern Indiana, to visit a good friend who lives in the middle of Amish country. We ate at the Blue Gate (my favorite restaurant in the Midwest) and then took a look at the new church building my friend's church recently acquired. How God has blessed them! That afternoon, we went to southeast Michigan, where we spent the night with the friend who loaned us our van since last October. It was so good to see them and spend time with them. On Saturday, March 28th, our friend drove my son and me to Detroit airport, where we boarded our first of three flights for the day. At around 9 pm that night, we arrived back in Florida, where my wife picked us up.
I am so thankful the Lord gave my firstborn and me so much one-on-one, father-son time for meeting dear people, visiting special places, talking about important things, and just having good, clean fun together! I hope my son will always hold those two weeks in a special place in his memory just like his daddy does. Thank You, Lord, for such a unique and blessed time with my son!