~Hither to hath the Lord helped us.~

~While on deputation, my life is full of....
trying to keep my "home on wheels" half way clean and organized,
helping the kids do school work,
hearing "I need to use the potty chair" from little Mary every few minutes,
and ENTERTAINING our Elijah and Mary...who have grown up ROAMING around taxis and buses...so are wondering WHAT in the world they did to get STRAPPED down to a car seat!!!! =}
Our van is often a flurry of activity as we comb hair, wet-wipe faces clean, and try to make everyone presentable for our next stop.  So as we pull up to yet another church, to have yet another deputation service, it's easy to get out of the van with my problems or tiredness rather than "ministry" on my mind.
BUT...I'm trying to make it my goal on this deputation...no matter how tired or "over it" I may feel...to try to encourage those we come in contact with.  The tired pastor's wife who may be feeling like they are not seeing any encouraging results in their ministry,....Our DEAR friends who have recently lost their son in a TRAGIC wreck...etc.
Everywhere you go, there are those who need an extra smile, hug, or prayer!
I'm trying to be a blessing to those we are seeing on this trip.   I find myself crying when they cry and praying for the burdens they are bearing, and trying to make their day a little brighter.
I don't know if I have accomplished that every where I've gone, but at least it makes my heart lighter... thinking that I have.  =)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
While in IL, we met this neat pilot named John.  He built this plane in which our little Mary is sitting.  Come to find out he is a stunt pilot, and did stunts using THIS VERY AIRPLANE!  Want to be impressed?  Go HERE!!! to see him fly.  Remember...John is in the red and white plane.~

~We were planning on leaving IL on Monday, but got a special invitation from Brian and Julie for Steve and Luann and their family and our family to come over for supper on Monday night, so we stayed over.  It was a special and yummy evening.  =) ~

~Brian, Steve, and Phillip "solving the worlds problems."~

~Kimberly and Kara.~

~It was fun for Phillip and Brian to sing a duet together.~

~Then we headed back to the Millers to stay, because our Mt. Zion service was near there.  Our kids LOVE being at the Millers.  Can you guess why?~

~Sarah rowing.

~Mary tried her hand at fishing.  She even caught a fish.  =) ~

~Mary, Sarah, and I went on a walk.~

~Before our Mt. Zion service we ate a yummy supper with the Pastor Bob Thompson and his wife.~

~Our kids before service.  It was a VERY stormy night outside.~

~Our 3 youngest kids watching Pastor Thompson playing his accordion before service started.~

~Bro. Thompson speaking before we got up.~

~Pastor Thompson and Elijah share a birthday.  Can you guess which one is older? =D~

~Then we went by and had such a nice visit with the Eaglestons.~

~Elijah and Noah went with Bro. Don to collect eggs and see the chickens.~

~Bro. Don showing our kids how to make REAL butter.  =) ~

~And he gave us some fresh green tea leaves and dried ginger...fresh from Vietnam.~

~We got to try his yummy homemade butter on his homemade bread.  =) ~

~Sarah came into the guest cottage where we were staying at the Millers, and said to me, "I Love the Millers, can we call them Grandpa and Grandma Miller?"
When I told the Millers that, they said that they'd be happy if our kids called them, "PaPa and Granny Miller."  =D ~

~Dear Sis. Miller, Elijah, and I~

~PaPa Miller shooting his air gun with our kids.~

~And he gave them a kite, and helped them fly it before we left.~

Then we headed toward KS to visit Phillip's Aunt and then on to Nebraska for our service on Sunday A.M.  Pics coming later.
Right now on our Western Tour....Our days are filled with LOTS AND LOTS OF MILES, HOURS in the same seat, and the infamous question...ARE WE THERE YET?!!
Elijah keeps asking WHY we are going further and further from our Ohio home?!  =)  But Jesus is helping us, and we're making memories!