First Post

Welcome to our first posting. We are over half way through with our deputation, but we do have a busy summer scheduled. We thought you might enjoy reading about the last leg of our deputation journey.

This road trip started on Wednesday, May 28th. We left from our home in Social Circle, GA and drove to Montvale, VA. We arrived in Montvale around 4 pm Wednesday afternoon. We went to the local Walmart to kill some time before church started at 6:30 pm. We arrived at the church, set up our display and met the church members as they came in. Rodney preached, and after church was over, we jumped back in the suburban and hit the road again. Rodney doesn't like to eat before he preaches, so we had a late dinner. Josie's favorite place to eat is Denny's. There happened to be a Denny's next to the hotel we stopped at. No wonder Rodney and I have gained so much weight over the last two years. We eat late, and we are eating too many pancakes.

On Thursday, May 29th, we got up and drove to a state park (I think in Virginia). We hiked to Little Mountain Falls. This was a moderate 4.5 mile hike. It was supposed to be to a waterfall, but the falls were not as big as we expected. It was a good workout. Katie & Josie love to hike. It is really good family time. After the hike, we drove the rest of the way to the town for our Sunday meeting. We arrived in Elkin, NC late Thursday evening. We stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool. The girls love to swim, so when the hotel has a pool, they are ecstatic!

On Friday we looked for a cheaper hotel. We decided to stay in the local inn. For about $20 less, we got a room without a refrigerator, without complimentary breakfast, without high speed internet, and without a laundry room to wash clothes. We decided cheaper is not always better. After the hike on Thursday, I could barely walk. My calves had never hurt that way before, and I had been doing the Curves workout for close to a year.

On Saturday, we looked for another hotel. Try to imagine packing and unpacking three suitcases and toiletries in the back of a suburban with hanging clothes and a missionary display. It is a real pain! We checked in to the new hotel. It had everything the other hotel was missing and complimentary popcorn and cookies every night. We visited Stone Mountain State Park of North Carolina. We hiked to a 200 foot waterfall. Rodney, Katie & Josie climbed up the falls and slid down the natural rock "slide" at the bottom. It was a fun day.

On Sunday, June 1st, we did not have a scheduled meeting for the morning service. We dropped in a church up the street from our hotel. The pastor allowed Rodney to teach the adult Sunday School class. Before the pastor preached the morning message, he asked the church to vote to support us. What a blessing! Our Sunday night meeting was scheduled. Rodney presented our ministry and preached. It was a tremendous service. The pastor at this church also voted that night to support us. This church supports for $150 per month. Praise the Lord! He is so good to us.