Midwest Tour Scrapbook

Our week began by worshipping with the innovative fellowship of Willow Creek Community Church where Bill Hybels shared about "God-thing" experiences. Then, we couldn't leave the "Windy City" without indulging in a Chicago deep dish pizza at the original Pizzaria Uno, soaring to the top of the nation's tallest building, the Sears Tower, and experiencing the "L" - Chicago's elevated train system.

Chicago from the bottom to the top!

After these big city experiences, we retreated to a quiet RV park about 40 miles northwest of Chi-town where we experienced one of those "God-things". We awoke one morning to a knock on our door and a vaguely familiar face... the friendly face of Julie whom we met at a Boulder, Colorado RV park! Jim & Julie are the couple who left us chickens on our picnic tables and a check taped on our door a year ago on our "Mission Possible" tour! (See October 21, 2002 entry.) God truly does the impossible by bringing our families together after all of these months and miles! And yes, before they rolled on down the road, we found another check (but no chickens!) taped to our door! God is so good to send little "I'm taking care of you!" reminders through His people along our way!

With this assurance, we headed up the road through the beautiful dairy land of SW Wisconsin and into Minnesota. We shared with Crystal Evangelical Free's MOPS group and then departed for a "MALI" in western Minnesota.

As we drove to Marshall, all of us were probably thinking, "Why are we driving 2 hours into the middle of nowhere?" But God had a bigger plan than what we initially saw! We were warmly greeted by Leslie Hart and the staff of Marshall EV Free Church.

Kyle, Stacey, and our gang!

And following the sound check and setup, the youth pastor, Kyle, and his wife, Stacey, bravely invited all 10 of us for dinner at their home. What a neat time of fellowship we had with them and their 2 precious daughters and some great praise & worship accompanied by their guitar and cello!

The next morning Laurie & Sharon shared the message God has given them through the "Mom...and Loving It!" conference....and 14 ladies said "Yes" to Jesus' call to make Him Lord of their lives and of their families' priorities!

WOW! We are humbled that God would choose to use our normal families to draw individuals and other families to Himself! This is the reason we do what we do.... as crazy as it sometimes is!!!