Home safe

We arrived home safe and sound a few minutes ago (about 6:30 am local time; 4:30 US Central). Smooth trip all around. Expedited through security (thanks to gov shutdown?). Very grateful to be home. Grateful for time we had in the US with family, supporters, and friends. Trusting that the Lord will make support fall into place again.

Please pray for our trip home Wed-Thurs

Please pray as we travel home Wednesday and Thursday for a safe and speedy journey. We look forward to getting back after two months in the US. It has been a wonderful time here in every way. But we are ready to return.

So many good people to thank for making our time here a good one, not least of whom are Micah and Valerie, Joel and Tansy, and Leila. We enjoyed time with our parents and some of our siblings, as well as some uncles.

Time was short in one way, as we traveled in ten states: Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. There was a good bit of back and forth as well, which couldn't be helped, but turned out well.

For the first month, we borrowed several vehicles for travel. During the second, we rented a car. Rentals are very expensive for such a long time, and considering that we need insurance, since we're not covered by any US policies. No perfect solution on that.

I was able to preach and teach from the Word more this trip than previous ones, which I liked, but not sure how that works out in terms of our need to raise funds. We go back with that need still undefined, but we trust that the Lord will provide.

Pray also for me: Saturday week I teach about 40 Christian workers, none in full-time ministry, on how to study and teach the Bible. Most are from São Paulo, where the seminar will be held, a few from other cities.

Next week, also, daughter Leila comes home for a couple of weeks. Pray that her trip is safe and pleasant as well.

The bags are packed ...

Routines during travel

Over on ZenHabits, Leo Babauta gives five tipos on "How to Keep Habits Going During Travel." All are good. I especially like this one:

Try to do the minimum. Keeping with your flexible mind: if you normally exercise for 30 minutes, try 5-10 if you’re pressed for time or low on energy. If you normally meditate for 20 minutes, try 2 or 5 minutes. It’s better to keep it going with the minimum, than to only do it if you have the time/energy for the full session.


Travelling in a stage-coach, then and now

 

There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in travelling in a stage-coach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place. -- Washington Irving

I do not say it has been from bad to worse, but I have found that strange comfort of being bruised in a new place by shifting one's position, discovering new angles of riding through the journey and weathering its bumps. I pray this makes me hardier in my soul, not hard of heart.