Bicycle Lessons and Florida Update

Should a child whose nickname is “Crash” be allowed to ride a bicycle? Is a crash helmet enough or should we invest in full body armor? Holly learned to ride her bike on Friday and has eagerly asked to go riding every day. On Saturday, we ventured all the way across the street to a tiny cul-de-sac. Our goal was for her to stay on the bike and actually steer. She did fairly well. Yesterday we dared to go beyond the first cul-de-sac to the street behind my parents’ house. On the first time around, she smacked into a mailbox. The mailboxes in this neighborhood are encased in solid brick columns. The second time around, she fell off the bike in our neighbor’s driveway. Amazingly, there was no blood. Thankfully, her courage was undaunted and she was ready for a third and highly successful trip. John took her out this afternoon and he realized, after yet another crash, her problem is that she doesn’t know how to brake. I went out with her after dinner and we practiced braking. She is improving but I am still considering body armor.

John spent the first weekend in May in southern Florida. He stayed with his parents for a day and then traveled further south to speak at a church that is seeking a pastor. John thought that the city was great and the tiny church has potential for growth. But it appears that the retiring pastor’s views are drastically different from ours and it looks doubtful that we will be called there. It was a first step and an invaluable learning experience for John. Meanwhile, we are still here. Still searching, still praying, still trusting that God will lead the way.

Another Step

We have been in the States for seven weeks now. Besides trying to get organized and settled here at my parents’ home, attempting routine and homeschooling and at least one hundred other activities, we have been praying and seeking God’s plan for our future. John is looking for a church to pastor. We have considered several places already from Anchorage, Alaska (momentarily anyway) to Florida. I have even considered Hawaii. (Notice the singular pronoun in that sentence!) Actually, while we are willing to go where ever the Lord leads us, our hearts are in the south and we would prefer to settle in some southern state. John sent out some resumes last week. He spoke with one retiring pastor on the phone and after a couple of phone conversations and reading John’s resume, this pastor has asked John to come and preach this Sunday. At this point, we have no clue if this city is the final destination or just one more step of our journey. Also at this point, I am not going to give many details but I will say that it is a city in the south; way south! John is on his way to southern Florida! We like this location but our prayer is the prayer that Moses prayed when God was leading them through the wilderness: “And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Exodus 33:15 Please keep John in your prayers as he travels and preaches and continues to seek God’s plan.