Wednesday to Saint Louis

So Wednesday morning we visited with our friends a bit more, then it was back to Milwaukee to fly out - me to Saint Louis and my wife back home. Of course, since she was flying into Reagan National, her flight was delayed! My flight to Saint Louis was pretty quick and easy. The rental car . . . not so much! Turns out this is an extremely busy week in Saint Louis with lots of special events, and I got one of the last rental cars available! (And yes, it cost an arm and a leg!) But hopefully, since I was asked to rent it to help transport the Board around, the Synod will reimburse in full.

Thursday was the first Board for International Mission meeting of the new triennium. That means Board elections. The man who served as our chair for the past number of years got elected to the Synod Board of Directors, meaning a new chair had to be elected. And yes, yours truly was elected. What does this mean? Not exactly sure! Some of my responsibilities I know, some I will discover, and some will come about as I settle into this position. In chapel that morning, President Harrison made a pretty funny comment as he introduced people at the end. When he asked who was elected our chair and I just smiled at him, he said, "Well that didn't go the way I was hoping!" It was pretty funny. Here's the link to the service - check it our for yourself. :-)

Tuesday in Wisconsin

Our second day in Wisconsin . . . Went out to a nice breakfast, followed by a trip to one of the four corners of the earth! What's that (and where's that), you ask?

Well, turns out there are four points on the globe where 45 degrees latitude and 90 degrees longitude meet, marking the center of the four hemispheres of the earth. One of these is in the mountains of Tibet, one in the Pacific Ocean, one in the Indian Ocean, and one in Wisconsin! So we went and now we are members of the 45x90 club. :-)  Some pictures . . .

After that excitement :-)  it was off to our next visit in Tomah, a couple hour drive again through the "wilds" of Wisconsin. We had a very nice dinner with our dear friends and got to catch up.

And we got to see this awesome sunset after dinner . . .

Tomorrow: Goodbye to Wisconsin and off to our next stops.

More Travels!

I haven't forgotten to post, just on the road again . . .

First stop last week was Milwaukee. Flew in late Sunday night. Well, really early Monday morning! It wasn't supposed to be that late, but all my flights out of Reagan National seemed to be delayed these days.

Anyway, Monday morning went to Concordia University-Wisconsin and preached for the Monday chapel service. (Click here to watch) Then lunch with my daughter, and then left to drive upstate to Merril, WI, where two former members live. We hadn't seen them in a while so wanted to visit. It was a nice drive through the "wilds" of Wisconsin. :-)  They have a beautiful home and we had a wonderful dinner and visit with them. Glad they are doing well and good to catch up.

Tomorrow: The 45x90 club and our next stop . . .

Back from Travels . . .

Just got back from two trips and two weeks away.

First was a drive to Detroit, Mequon WI, Grand Rapids, Detroit, and then home again. This was to take my daughter back to school at Concordia University, Wisconsin. On the way there and back, we stopped at my in-laws in Detroit to visit my mother-in-law (in Memory Care) and help my father-in-law with the house and other things he needed to get done. On the way back to Detroit, we stopped in Grand Rapids to visit a pastor who I knew but never met before! So we stopped by for dinner to meet him and his wife and had a nice time. And Shirley, the blueberry pie so so good!

Then it was off to Florida for the Lutheran Haven Board of Trustees retreat and meeting. That was a long three days! Much discussion about the future of the Haven and how to move into the future. Had a tough time getting home. We tried to depart before storms moved in at the airport, but didn't quite make it. We sat on the plane for about two hours, after which we had to deplane due to "tarmac rules" about how long they can leave us there without actually leaving. So we sat in the terminal a while longer, then back on the plane and finally departed about four hours late. But I did get home! And now I'm here for a few weeks until my next couple of trips in September.

Re-elected

One thing to update you all on is that I was re-elected to serve on the Synod's Board for International Mission for another six year term. Elected on the first ballot, so no drama. ;-)  Last convention, there were some very close votes (3-4 vote margins!) with one of our incumbents being unseated and one just barely getting re-elected, so I didn't take this for granted. But I enjoy serving so was glad to be chosen. Now it's back to work.

Update?

Yeah, I haven't posted again for a couple weeks . . . Not that I haven't been thinking about it! Just nothing newsworthy, I didn't think. Just got my nose to the grindstone, trying to get things done, especially since I've got a couple trips coming up. I'll try to post about them a little. 

As for our gardens, the blueberries are done. We did get a good crop this year, even though we were late getting our net up and the birds got a lot at the beginning! The tomatoes are coming in now. Some big zucchinis, purple peppers (?), and some watermelon. The first watermelon wasn't quite ripe - hopefully the next one will be better. 

We're taking my daughter back to school. Her junior year! Time flies. She had a good summer. Worked a lot and made some good money. She'll be happy to be back with her friends. We're helping more with my wife's parents now, too, as they are getting older. We'll stop and see them and do some things for them while we're out that direction. 

Been trying to ride regularly and stay in shape, though it's been a challenge with so much going on. I think something I'd like to do is ride Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah. It's approx. 105 miles. Hilly. I could try to do it as a fundraiser - for LFL, missionaries, something. I think it might be a fun ride. Before that, though, I have the hiking competition with my daughter in November. Ultratrax. We're going to try to win the "Wolf medal" by doing four loops (28 miles) in the ten hours alotted. I think we can do it, though maybe I am underestimating how hard it will be. We'll see. 

That's it for now, I guess. Stay tuned for updates!

Higher Things - Part Deux

So I spent last week at the Higher Things Conference at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. This time without my youth, serving as Conference Chaplain. It's a lot of work! But a great group of very dedicated and caring people. And serving the youth is great.

A few pictures . . .

The chapel set-up in the main ballroom. Nice view of the mountains in the background!

We had almost 900 youth in attendance.

With President Bruss of the Fort Wayne Seminary, getting ready for Matins.

A view of the mountains as we drove to the airport.

It was a very tiring week! I left right after church for the airport and arrived at CSU in the evening. My responsibilities: Monday was unloading the truck and setting everything up - and there's a LOT to set-up! Monday night is Service of Evening Prayer with the Staff. Tuesday the Conference begins. Final preparations and set-up, leader's meeting, the opening Divine Service, teaching a Breakaway session, Evening Prayer, Private Absolution, and Compline. Wednesday and Thursday are Matins, leader's meeting, Vespers, teaching a Breakaway session, Evening Prayer, and Compline. Friday is the closing Divine Service, followed by packing everything up, loading the truck, and then Staff dinner. Saturday is the drive to the airport and the flight home, finally getting back about 9:00 pm or so. That's a long week! But again, a good one!