California, September 2008
We spent three weeks in California during the month of September. Our family was blessed to spend two of them at Christian Life College in Stockton, staying in a "missionary apartment" that CLC keeps available for those of us who travel (what a wonderful blessing provisions such as these are to a family like ours). "Schooling" on the road is difficult, so Mom and the girls "stayed put" for the majority of our midweek services in order to focus on schoolwork, and Mark took care of deputation services (which is why we don't have many "in-service" pictures to show you here). We all had great experiences - Mark was able to connect with some wonderful pastors, the girls were blessed to attend both youth and services at CLC, and Glenda was blessed to be included in CLC's Ladies Advance Retreat with Candace (Miranda came down with a virus at the last minute and couldn't attend). What a blessing, to participate in a ladies retreat and bask in His presence. They heard Sis. Nona Freeman speak (for the first time - what a treat), and both were mightily touched. Thank you, Lord, for new experiences, friends, and connections in your Kingdom!
Candace_playing_altar Bro_Sullivan_Citrus_Hts Glenda_presenting_burden
Riverbank_CA Mark_teaching_CLC Girls_Sophie
Girls_Amy Glenda_Diane_Miraflor At_CLC_Church_Picnic
Mark_Art_Miraflor Celebrating_Candace_14_Birthday Kim_Haney_CLC_Ladies_Advance_08
Nona_Freeman_CLC_Ladies_Advance_08 CLC_Ladies_Advance Candace_CLC_Ladies_Advance_08
Travel to Oregon
We were first-time visitors to both California and Oregon, so we played "tourist" in the midst of being overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscapes we saw. Wow - what a beautiful country in which we live! We drove north through the Rocky Mountains and many different national forests, and saw so many wonderful things...how can anyone say that there isn't a God?
Rocky_Mountains National_Forest_Rockies In_Rocky_Mtns
Humbodlt_Bay_Trinidad_CA In_Rocky_Mtns Humboldt_Bay_Trinidad_Ca
Girls_at_Humboldt_Bay Humboldt_Bay_Trinidad_CA Redwood_Natl_Forest
Just_a_lil_red_schoolhouse_lol Rocky_Mtns Pacific_Ocean
Oregon, October 2008
We had just one week in Oregon and it was packed with five services and 'lots' of miles. We made some good pastoral friends and took in a lot of sightseeing along the way. (Our family has voted Oregon as the "Most Beautiful State" that we have visited so far during this deputation!) God is blessing us in so many ways - thank you, Lord, for this opportunity! We are seeing lost sheep return to You, watching others make a brand-new start, and are being overwhelmed by it all.
Rabe_Eugene_OR Chelsea_Miranda Rabe_Eugene_OR
Rabe_Eugene_OR Pastor_Sis_Stahl_Redmond_OR Waterfall_Crater_Lake_OR
Crater_Lake_Natl_Park Pirate_Ship_Crater_Lake_Natl_Park Wizard_Island_Crater_Lake_Natl_Park
Miranda_Candace_Crater_Lake Candace_touched_the_cloud! Mark_Glenda_Crater_Lake
Back to California, October 2008
It was necessary to change our schedule somewhat in order to accommodate a missions conference invitation extended to us by the Revival Center in Modesto, CA. So, back to California we went! The scenery along the drive was incredible (we drove back down along a different highway), and the expectation of 'rest' excited all of us, as we had just covered 1,500 miles roundtrip in 7 days! While that may not sound like a lot, squeeze in those five services, and then rethink your position (smile).
Oregon_Farm Just_a_tree_that_Mom_liked_smile Still_in_the_Rockies
Remains_after_forest_fire_03 Gorgeous_Scenery Mt_Shasta_CA
Thanks to Pastor Brown in Napa, California, we had one place in which to rest for nearly 3 weeks. It was wonderful to "put down" for awhile while regaining our strength and health. We spent those days catching up on projects, concentrating on schoolwork, and threw a little play in for good measure. We went back into San Francisco and did a little more exploring (which included a visit to "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" Museum); we also went to the Jelly Belly Factory (free tours and goodies, yum), and ventured farther into Napa Valley to visit the "Old Faithful" Geyser.
Pastor_Clayton_Brown_Oct_host Candace_being_silly Miranda_Candace
Jelly_Belly_Factory_Tour Pres_Reagan_JellyBelly_Portrait The_girls_at_Jelly_Belly
Man_playin_guitar_roadside Pier_39_San_Francisco San_Fran
Boy_at_the_pier Pier_39 Living_Statue_\
Seal_getting_a_tan_smile Seals_at_Pier_39 From_Ripleys
Candace_at_Ripleys Mark_at_Ripleys San_Francisco
Alcatraz Seal_at_Pier_39 Mark_Glenda
At_Coit_Tower Guy_walkin_on_glass San_Francisco
Candace_ChristopherColumbus_Coit_Tower Coffee_Shop_Little_Italy Lombard_St_curviest_road_in_world
Moms_lookin_tired_in_Little_Italy San_Fran_skyline Mark_Glenda_Golden_Gate_Bridge
Golf_Course_midst_of_Napa_Valley\ Napa_Valley_Statue Vineyard_ready_for_harvest
Old_Faithful_Geyser Old_Faithful_Geyser_Mt_Helena_CA Old_Faithful_Geyser_Mt_Helena_CA
Fainting_Goat Candace_Mark_and_Mr_Llama Four_Horned_Sheep
Mark_Glenda_Old_Faithful_Geyser_Park Napa_Valley_Vineyard Palm_Tree_Napa_Valley
Stewardship Missions Conference, Modesto, California - October 24-26, 2008
Pastors Randy Keyes and Tim Johnson
We were blessed to be a part of this conference, held annually at the Revival Center. From the moment we arrived at our hotel, we were truly 'spoiled' and made to feel so incredibly welcome. Each missionary family was chauffeured to each event by the Ministers in Training staff, a Cup Bearer was assigned to the wife (who assisted with whatever need we might have), and wow...the services were spiritually refreshing! Dynamic worship, uplifting testimonies by each missionary, fantastic choir songs, and anointed ministry by fellow Missionary Gary Sones and Rev. Jeff Morgan. The conference then culminated in a night of sacrificial giving which included both offerings and worship. Our family is thankful for the opportunity to share in this experience, and truthfully, we will not be the same. We made lifetime friends, many of whom we hope will be helping us minister to the Finns in the future!
 Pastor_Randy_Keyes Glenda_speaking Mark_speaking
 Mark_with_Metro_Miss_Scott_Grant Missionary_Gary_Sones Mark_with_Missionary_Paul_Rivero
Revival_Center_Mass_Choir Signs_for_the_Times MKs_with_Co_Pastor_Tim_Johnson
Sow_in_Need_Greed_or_for_Seed_Jeff_Morgan Miranda Time_to_Give
Bill_Shelton_family With_Cup_Bearer_Adaria_Wilson Albert_was_right_hand_in_boosting_prayer_team_members
Men_with_burden_for_Finland With_new_friends With_Alex_who_loves_finland_smile
Glenda_with_Sis_Kim_Johnson Mark_with_Pastor_Randy_Keyes Glenda_with_Sis_Sharon_Keyes
Family Time
We discovered new family ties while attending the funeral of Mark's uncle in 2006; imagine our surprise when Mark and Jeff Morgan walked to the platform... only to find out that the uncle we were remembering, Bertel Alphin, was also their grandfather. As we have never been able to personally connect with them, we made a point to visit with each family and get to know them a little better prior to leaving California. We also spent time with other family members, including Joyce and Herschel, Jeff and Mark's parents. - - Jeff and Sandra offered to give the girls a break from the road, something that they desperately needed, and for which we are so grateful. People, God really does know everything about us - understands what we, as His children, need - and He seems to always supply right on time. We are thankful for "newfound family" friends, and we look forward to years of great relationships to come!
Joyce_Emma_Herschel_Morgan   Mark_Morgan_family Jeff_Morgan_family 
     
MS - AR - TN - KY 2008 OH 2008 MI - IN - IL 2008
LA - 2008 GA - FL 2008 MK Retreat - SOM 2008
TX to CA 2008