Sunshine and Hot Temps!

We have had a beautiful Spring in West Michigan - the flowering trees and bushes are at their peak, with more blossoms this year than ever. BUT, it hasn't been very warm, temps below the usual, which can be frustrating to me. I love warm (more like hot) weather.

So, while Michiganders are still in the low 70's over the next week or two, Dennis and I will be enjoying low 90's in Florida. We head out this weekend to spend some down time in Fort Myers and then to the Wesleyan Church General Conference in Orlando (held every 4 years). I'll probably be posting some pics and keeping you updated on the happenings of General Conference, which I believe is significant this year.

Chapter 6 - A New Thing

If God were writing a story of our lives (and I like to think he is), I think he would be at Chapter 6. The story begins when Dennis and I met...32 years ago, but it really began the day we were born because we both have a story before our story. It seems we have lived five chapters of our story (full of romance, adventure, joys and sorrows, good times and hard times), now entering the sixth. When we resigned from SLWC three months ago, we were coming to the end of the fifth chapter, and we were eagerly waiting to see where the sixth chapter would begin for we sensed that God was moving us beyond the local church.

Over the past couple months we have been zeroing in on two possible options. It has been a process in both cases. While walking the Grand Haven pier this past Tuesday evening (this has not been an unusual scene in Chapter 5), we landed on a decision.

On Thursday it was approved that Dennis will be filling the role of Assistant District Superintendent for the West MI District of the Wesleyan Church along side of DS, Mark Gorveatte. Dennis' primary responsibilities will be leadership development (80%) and global focus (20%) - both play into his passions, strengths and gifts, forming a sweet spot that excites us. The position will officially begin on July 12th. Certainly this is still very involved in the life of the church, just in a very different way - in a broader scope.

We'll still try to sell the house, but don't feel a need to rush that since we can commute to and from Grand Rapids where the District office is located. Eventually, though, we would like to move to Grand Rapids. We'll see how the story goes...

So, here we are...moving on to a new chapter in our lives. New things...that thought has been on my mind lately and these scriptures have crossed my path to solidify what God has been placing on my heart.

Isaiah 43:18-19 ~ Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Revelation 21:5 ~ I am making everything new!

God is the Author of the story of our lives. He will take all that we've experienced in the past 30 years of ministry and somehow weave it into this new chapter. He is doing a new thing! I am eager to read ahead, but the chapter isn't finished yet. That's for us to discover.

Final Sunday

Eleven years ago on May 18th Dennis preached a message as he candidated for Sr. Pastor at Spring Lake Wesleyan. This past Sunday, May 18, he shared his final message as Sr. Pastor at SLWC. The morning services were not without tears, laughter, hugs and thoughtful words.

We certainly felt loved and celebrated by the staff and the people that make up SLWC. Here are a few of the happenings of that morning:

• a lighthearted drama - a couple of "senior ladies" (Rose Grimes & Lisa DeLass) reminisced about the past 11 years
• Pete and Dave shared the top 10 lessons they learned from Dennis
  
• a heartfelt video with greetings that ranged from the Beers in Australia to our own Watermark church plant, Steve Deur
• a surprise visit from Jim and Cindy Dannenberg - wonderful prayer partners who came up from FL - it was great to hear Jim pray over us as many gathered around us at the altar
  
• a final presentation, which was a total surprise to us, was a new Yamaha scooter (we have an older one we love to bum around on)

Dennis always carries 3x5 cards in his pocket and so the congregation wrote notes to us on 3x5 cards. There are so many...we haven't finished reading them all yet.

Thank you SLWC for 11 wonderful years! We will miss you! I'll say again what I shared on Sunday morning... it has been a joy and privilege to love you, grow with you, and to serve along side of you, all because "he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col. 1:1-13)

Mike's Graduation...

We had a great time celebrating with Mike and Joni on his graduation from Point Loma.

Dinner out with both sets of parents on Friday night at P.F. Chang's.

Saturday turned out be a beautiful sunny day for the outdoor commencement.
Note the Pacific Ocean in the background.

With a full load, plus a 20-hour a week job,
Mike graduated Magna Cum Laude! Way to go, Mike!

We went to see a Padres vs. Rockies game on Saturday night - Padres won!

Mike accepted a job at Eastlake Church in Chula Vista in full-time Youth Music, giving oversight to worship for 7th - 12th grade students.
We're proud of you, Mike!

40 Miles of Hiking...

Dennis and I are currently in CA for Mike's graduation from Point Loma Nazarene University this Saturday. We flew in Sunday night to chilly weather. Late Spring is not the time of year to come to southern CA if your seeking a sunny day on the beach. San Diegans call this time of year "May Grey," because of the marine stratus that rolls in every morning which can remain all day, but can give way to some hazy afternoon sunshine. Actually, the weather is about the same as MI right now.

It was one of those May Grey days on Tuesday morning when we started out at 5:30 am to the community of Campo (which isn't much), probably most known for the beginning point of the Pacific Crest Trail. Joni sacrificed sleep and an hour of work to get us there by 7:00 am. Passing a major Border Control unit, we took a dirt road about a mile to reach the Mexico border where we found the PCT marker noting the beginning point of the 2650 mile long trail that runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.

Up for the challenge!

It felt good to get started on the trail just to get moving and keep warm in the damp, misty rain that was coming from the low cloud cover that morning, which stayed with us for most of the day.

Five miles in or so, we took a break to rest our feet and fill up on some granola bars, fruit roll-ups, some amazing granola Kari sent with Josh, and fruit leathers. The most difficult part of the first 20 miles was a 1.4 mile climb at 6.9 grade.

Lunch break - stopping to eat was the best part!

We arrived at our camp spot at 6:00 pm, set up our 2-man tents, and after a bite to eat, we all settled into our sleeping bags at 7:30 - it felt so good to lie down! We woke up at 6:00 the next morning with blue skies and sunshine, which was a welcome sight.

A great spot to shed the shoes and give our feet a rest,
and of course, fill up with some energy food!

Forty miles of hiking covered desert terrain to the pine tree mountain top of Mt. Laguna, the highest point of San Diego at 6000 feet, where we ended our part of the hike. With tired and achy muscles Dennis and I said our goodbyes to Josh and Julie on the trail and parted ways, but not without handing over any leftover goodies in our packs. I admire anyone who can hike day in and day out like that for a entire month, which is exactly what Josh and Julie are doing - 28 more days to go. We started out with a couple and two single guys who plan to hike the entire trail, finishing up in August or September. I wonder if their names will be added to the "2600-Milers" list, the 60% who actually finish a thru-hike.

Although we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, we were happy to head back to San Diego (we dropped a car off at our ending point) looking forward to a nice hot shower and a meal out with Mike and Joni, with a sense of reward for 2 days on the trail.

You will be missed!

This is our Ministry Program Team - who gave us a wonderful evening of dinner, thoughtful words, and gifts. Dennis and I felt loved and celebrated. Thanks team for a great night and memories of some amazing years of ministry together!

Final Stretch...

With today's date, May 1, Dennis and I are getting hit with the realities of our final weeks here at SLWC. May 18th is just over two weeks away! Life kind of goes on and then it's here.

Tonight we have a farewell dinner with our Ministry Program Team, hosted by Dave and Dina, which means it will be extra delicious! Saturday night Dennis is hosting a D/X-team dinner to celebrate the discipleship/leadership teams he has led over the past 11 years. So, the countdown begins...

We continue to trust the Lord with our future, knowing He will give us clear direction in His good time.

These are bittersweet days...