Life in Colorado Springs

During my weeks here as a Way Disciple, I've definitely learned to change the conversation to the word. It is almost like a game. Ha ha. I once was almost successful in guiding a conversation from toilet paper to the word. How? We needed TP for the mummy wrap at out outreach activity that week.

I've really proven the "make your needs known". Patricia and I were in Walmart looking for bread crumbs. I said outlound, "If I were bread crumbs, where would I be?" Then, a voice answered back: "in the baking aisle." Need fulfilled! A lady had overheard me and answered back. How funny?

Today is Halloween and we're planning a Bless 'N Treat bonanza. We have people going door to door. (A perfect time because people are expecting knocks on the door.) A group is going to stay at the apartment and hand out candy. And Finally, another group is going to our clubhouse gathering! How fun. We're going to move the word tonight!!

I love you guys, thanks for keeping me in your prayers!

Traveling across America

Traveling from New Knoxville, OH to Colorado Springs, CO was absolutely amazing! I first want to point out that when the Columbus group reached their destination, we had just hit I-70, the route that would lead us to Colorado. We hadn't even made it past the country roads, when they were there, but we were not wearied. For 8 adults, we had 4 cars and we able to drive 2 by 2 very comfortably. How great God is! It was fun to see all the little details come to pass in our group. When filling up with gas 2 cars filled up on the left, the others on the right. We REDEEMED THE TIME! It was fun to see all four cars pull up to the gas station in unison. Think synchronized swimming! We had such a great time getting to know each other during the trip. What better way to spend 3 days! The first night in our hotel, we stayed just outside St. Louis. Everyone piled into the Barkers' room and watched "Meet the Fockers." It was great. The next day involved driving through A LOT of Kansas. It was fun seeing all the plains. We stopped at one point because I need to use a restroom, and get gas. One of the "exits" had a gas sign. So of course, we take it. Who knew when the next opportunity would be! This was the most podunk place I've ever been... and I was born in Kansas! I had to ask Trell how to pump the gas, because I've never pumped gas in 1945 before! A sign on the door warned us that the gas station/covenience store/only place that sells anything for miles is guarded by a shotgun 3 days a week; we were to guess which 3 days those were.
Also listed, was a sign telling people they needed to pay for the toilet if they were not getting gas. How funny. The old man who worked there was nice enough. I'm sure he sees plenty of "city folk" overwhelmed by their very different environment. In fact, if they didn't know we were city folk, Kristen put all doubts away....
Another gentleman was sitting in the indescribable location and, as Way Disciples are known to do, Kristen started a conversation. She asked him, "So, where are we?" The man in overalls said, "What do you mean?" Kristen immediately replied, "Well, what city are we in." The man laughed and simply replied in his country accent, "Well, that right there is your problem." Not only was there not a city anywhere near there... there wasn't even a town. We were in western Kansas, afterall! Kristen, who is my hero, was not taken aback. She was going to brighten this man's day if it killed her! So she picked a different topic: "So, what do you do?" This question, in the eyes of the overall man, was even sillier. He replied, once again in his country accent, "I'm a farmer." Please see previously where I said there wasn't a town near by. Of course he is a farmer. Kristen promptly praised the work that farmers do and showed him how much she appreciated the work they do. Kristen is just that genuinely nice! After digging, well, more like prying more information out of him, we found out he raises cattle. The next thing that happened goes into my history books as, by far, one of the funniest things I've witnessed. Kristen, being from Wisconsin, asked him about the cows. "You know," started Kristen, "I've noticed that the cows here look a lot different from the ones in Wisconsin, ours are black and white, yours are just black... WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?" (Aside: Kristen is awesome at asking open ended questions. End aside.) This farmer dude was not impressed. He evenly said, with of course his country accent, "Well, we raise ours for beef, you raise yours for dairy." Kristen: "Oh, thats really interesting. I've never thought of that before." Then, of course, this guy just grunted: "Humph." Kristen tried so hard to get this guy to talk. He just wasn't that into it.
The following day, after having eaten the best food I've ever had at a truck stop, we rolled into Colorado. It was so fun driving into town with Kristen. Can you believe she's never seen a mountain before! It was fun watching the top of Pikes Peak rise over the horizon. We took many pictures during this drive.

This is the view behind my car (Kansas exit)

View infront of us during traffic on a country road. (Ohio)

Driving through Colorado... very excited.

Kristen listing all the colorado information we could find in the Atlas. State tree: blue spruce; State flower, columbine; State bird, lark bunting.



We were excited to finally be driving into our home. :) I'm so thankful we're here.