Are we really in America? I think we are still trying to wrap our minds around it; being in the Dom for so long and then suddenly here in Southern California. People sometimes ask if we notice anything different after being away for so long. Well, gas price are shockingly higher. We see more homeless people than before. However some things never change. More people than not are still as lost as ever and need to hear the Gospel in a clear and credible way. Whether it is Dom speaking people tucked away in the mountains of Papua New Guinea or the guy who works the register at the local gas station the field is the world.
Okay end of sermon. We have been here less than three weeks and in that time we have stayed with our daughter in San Diego (Lakeside actually but close enough), rented a car and drove up to Yucaipa, stayed with awesome friends, Ken and Merry for five days, spoke in a supporting church that Sunday, picked up a loaner van from other awesome Yucaipa friends, Dan and Alice and drove back down here in El Cajon, moved into our temporary apartment. Then Jim flew to St. Louis, MO where he was picked up by our friends Steve and Debbie Koenig who took him to Righteous Rides to pick up a Righteous Ride lease van for the rest of Home Assignment (aka furlough). Jim overnighted with Steve and Debbie Koenig then drove our lease van back. Soon after getting back here he went and picked up friends at San Diego International and gave the loaner van back – thanks Dan and Alice, gone to doctor appointments. It has been a whirlwind, but a good whirlwind.
We will be here in El Cajon for two more weeks getting reacquainted with friends and loved ones, doctor appointments etc. Additionally this is our only opportunity to finish up the details regarding the printing of the Dom New Testament. Judy has already started the laborious task of typing in all the cross references into the text and it will take a small miracle to finish this. Then off on our first road trip the beginning of July to see our son Brian and grandkids, attend a Numonohi Christian Academy Reunion in Waukesha, WI, see friends and family all over the eastern half of the US, spend September in Florida with Judy’s parents and also getting the Dom NT ready to print, arriving home sometime in early November.
It is so wonderful being with our youngest two, Darren and Heather, after four years on the field and looking forward to seeing our two other kids, Ilai and Brian plus grandkids very soon.