SUNDAY SCENES IN PROVIDENCE

Walking to Downcity Church for Sunday morning worship and teaching.

While Jim was in meetings, I relaxed, including sitting on a busy corner people watching.

One our way to supper, we walked past this important landmark.

Jim stands in the front of the congregation's historic building.

Almost to our destination, the top-rated Mill's Tavern.

Happy about my giant, amazing, stack of onion rings. 

LOOK WHERE WE ARE!

Despite how it appears...

...we are not in Venice. Not even in Europe. We are in Providence, Rhode Island.

Jim has a dam safety officials' conference and I got to come along to keep him company and have some fun on my own, too. Over the next few blogs, you'll get glimpses of our trip. Today's glimpse is from a gondola ride on the river that flows right through this lovely city. Jim arranged it all. He's such a sweetheart and I'm being completely blessed already.

BETSIE IS FABULOUS

Many people have asked how Betsie is doing up at college. The answer is fabulous!

She lives with great, amazing, Jesus-loving girls. She likes her classes and professors even if she is having to study and work really hard. She is running for Student Government freshman senator-in-training. She's been visiting First Baptist Church of Columbus and attending on-campus ministry activities, especially at the Wesley Foundation. She is making wonderful and funny friends. And she is happy, though it isn't always easy being away from your family when you know they are leaving for Africa in less than 4 months.

Today, Betsie and many of her classmates started social club recruitment at MUW. She attended numerous parties (don't worry, the non-alcoholic variety) and will do so all weekend before being picked up as a pledge on Monday. Betsie wasn't sure when she first started at The W if she'd pledge a club, at least not right away. But what she's come to realize is that a social club is a family that will be here for her when we're a long way from her.

See, Betsie is fabulous. But even fabulous girls miss their mamas and daddies and siblings. Even fabulous girls sometimes wish that God's plans didn't mean that their family had to be quite so far-flung. But praise God, He realizes that these fabulous girls need Him to send some provison in the form of other people.

 

And is her Heavenly Father ever providing for this need in truly incredible ways.

THE BLESSING OF BEING INCLUDED

Doing what God tells you to do isn't always easy. If we say that we're followers of Jesus, then we have to be willing to do the kinds of things that Jesus did. That even includes leaving behind family and friends. He left His Heavenly home to come to earth and then when the time was right, he had to leave His carpenter's life in Nazareth to begin His public ministry.

I can only imagine that at times He missed home. After all, He is fully God but He is also fully human.

Sometimes, I miss my old life. I miss lazy Saturday mornings, my pets and chickens, the kids playing freely outside, and getting to spend time with my church girlfriends. Hear me out now, I am very, very thankful for our time here at We Will Go. I know God called us to move here and it has been the best training and transitioning for moving to Africa that I could even imagine.

But part of that transition has meant letting go of our old life. Because of our busy ministry schedule, I rarely get to see friends back at our old community or church friends outside of Sunday morning services.

Wednesday, a friend from church absolutely blessed me when she texted to see if I wanted to join her and the women from her Care Group at a local restaurant. It took some juggling with plans, but I was able to go. What a sweet, sweet time of fellowship it was.

I will follow Jesus no matter the cost, HE IS WORTH IT, but I am also so grateful that He allowed me a little bit of time with these women. He understands. He's made even greater sacrifices.

Supper at Babalu's.

Coffee at Cups.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

WHAT HAD ME SMILING?

Seeing these Swaziland "twins" today at Hands and Feet Ministry

 at We Will Go.

THE ACTUAL LABOR DAY

And here are some shots from the actual day:

A Lego cousin conclave.

Betsie decides who of the cousins wins the jumping competition.

My boys, fierce competitors.  Really.

Grandmommy comforts Libby after the boys "helped" her join in on the jumping contest.

A LABOR FREE SUNDAY

Sunday morning was worship at my old home church, First Baptist Gautier.

Lunch with the more family members and friends.

Man enough to enjoy the pink stuff in public.

Jim and Anna arrived and brought gifts.

Reading on the front porch swing.

Down to the beach for a walk.

My beautiful girl.

Anna brought belated birthday gifts for Merry.

The sun sets on a beautiful Labor Day weekend Sunday.

At the beach with my true love.

Sunday night pizza supper.

Despite the holiday weekend, Betsie was a dedicated student and worked on schoolwork.

We also worked on her SGA senate campaign materials.

And watched lots of Duck Dynasty.