January 9, 2012
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What a Weekend!
Wow, what a weekend!
It was different that what I had originally envisioned, but it was blessed by God just the same.
The weekend started with a Friday afternoon visit to the neurosurgeon who did my L4/L5 microdiscectomy in 2004. With the back problems I have had over the past three weeks, Jenni and I both felt that this visit was necessary. He commented that the symptoms I was having were typical for a disc herniation and that we needed to do another MRI. God made it possible to have one at 5 PM the same day! My doctor wanted to see me on Monday and I told him about my planned weekend... 6 1/2 hour drive from Houston to San Angelo on Saturday, 2 1/2 hour drive on Sunday afternoon from San Angelo to Odessa, and an 8 hour drive from Odessa to Houston on Monday. His comment, "You will most likely make it to Austin and need to turn around."
On the same day, Jenni and I made a tough decision. We had been hoping to make this journey together as a family. However, we are planning to move out of the LWN parsonage on Tuesday. We thought we would be ready... wishful thinking
. We decided that it would be best if Jenni stayed in Houston and have the three extra days for the final packing. We also decided that Bekah would make the journey with me.
With Bekah, my backseat driver, ready to go on Saturday, we headed out... stopping every hour to walk and stretch out my back. To God's glory, my back felt better on Sunday morning (after the 6 1/2 hour Saturday drive) than it did on Saturday morning. Grandma Mary was wonderful to us and so hospitable. She stays in a retirement home which rents out rooms (just like a hotel room) to guests. We ate twice in her cafeteria, met so many wonderful friends of hers, and reminisced about Pastor Sandy. Our service at San Angelo First was GREAT. The presence of God was very strong in the service. The people were so warm and fun. Don and Carolyn Ardrey, the pastor and wife at San Angelo First, we very kind to us. We enjoyed it in every way.
After lunch, we made the 2 1/2 hour drive to Odessa. Great drive out in the middle of nowhere
. On our stop, I noticed that there was a winter storm warning for Odessa that night. Rain turning to snow during the night and a full day (Monday) of snow expected. Bob Childress, a member of Odessa First and friend through the South Texas District, mentioned that the Odessa folks wanted to help us "prepare for the Ukraine" by providing this special snow storm. The advisory mentioned that ONLY emergency driving was recommended for Monday. So, our plans changed again. We decided that, after the 6 PM service we were "gettin' out of Dodge" and going to drive 3 hours back toward Houston where the temps would be a few degrees higher on Monday morning and we could save the snow for another day
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The service at Odessa First was wonderful. We had a great time with Pastor Terry and Gayle Pierce and their congregation. Joining us there was Tami Lewis and her children from Fort Stockton, Texas (2 hours from Odessa). The Lewis family have been regular attenders of LWN's online community for about 2 years now. We have only met in person twice, but God has allowed me to be their pastor via the internet since there is not a Nazarene church within driving distance in Fort Stockton.
Following the service, we began our 3 hour drive out of Odessa and landed in Sonora, Texas, for the night. Now, we just have a 5 hour drive today! My back is doing well... better than when I left Houston on Saturday morning. Bekah has been a wonderful travel-buddy and a trooper! We are missing Jenni and Sarah somethin' fierce. Thanks to everyone for your prayers. God has been so good to us. What a joy to serve Him!