Spring Arbor, MI to Waukesha, WI

Trip so far: 46hr 49min, 3175.0 mi
Wednesday: 1:30pm EST to 7:38pm CST

It’s always hard to say goodbye to close friends, and today was no exception. Our time in Michigan had been wonderful in so many ways – but Christmas is coming whether we’re in Washington or not, and so we found ourselves forced to give final hugs (for now!) and drive off once again. Brean and Chaley – thank you for sharing so much of yourselves with us this past week and a half! We love you (and your whole family!) very much. It’s exciting to see you continually respond to God, ministering to the people He brings into your lives… you are both an encouragement and a challenge to us!

Today’s drive came with an unexpected blessing – four fewer hours to travel than we’d expected! We spent the time wisely with our friends, and then headed southwest. Rounding the bottom of Lake Michigan, we drove through Chicago during the beginning of rush hour (no fun, especially with off-highway detours!) and then headed north into familiar Wisconsin territory. It was amazing how many landmarks remained familiar from our New Tribes Bible school days, which ended here over three years ago.

We’ll be staying through the weekend with our longtime friends Gary and Debbie, who adopted us into their family when we lived here previously. Amy and I look forward to several opportunities to catch up with how God is working in the lives of old friends, and to share the awesome ways He is growing us and leading us in ministry. We’ll also have a chance to reconnect with people at the Bible school, and hopefully to encourage them as they keep working to encourage students to catch God’s vision for reconciling the whole world to Himself through Jesus!

Come Monday, we’ll saddle up again – this time, another half-day drive to Iowa. See y’all then!