Greetings From Starbucks in Virginia

Today Some Down Time

I feel like the little mouse that runs in a circular cage; must be getting tired but at least I know that I am getting some where as I am in Sterling, VA just a few miles from Dulles Airport. Today I have a few errands that I have to run but it not being on the run all day as it seems like I have been doing for the last few weeks. 

My Online Diary

On Sunday the 25th Tyler and I were at the River Pines Bible Church where we shared the pulpit.  The church took an offering for our mission and prayed over us.  Thank you for the help River Pines, the church in the Congo thanks you also. After the Service Tyler, his father and I had lunch at Whole Foods in Folsom. Some one saw our Compassion for Congo shirts so we sat with the man and told him of the history of our mission and plans for the future.  If things go as planned on the first of September we will bed down in the DRC. 

After lunch we visited with the Wilmarth family and their children, what a delightful experience.  It was my first time to get to be with them after their month in The Congo.  It was especially delightful to talk to Marion their high school age daughter and feel her passion for the Congo and the ministry there.  She wants to go back and establish a bakery there when she completes her education.

About 4:30 we traveled to Elk Grove to spend time with my dear friend and partner in the ministry--the Rev. Benny Ellis and his dear wife Pearl.  They had friends in to visit and again to pray for us. About 9:00 pm I was in bed at their house as Benny was taking me to the airport on Monday morning for my 0635 departure to Chicago and then on to Sterling. 

I arrived at the airport planning on buying a bagel and a cup of Starbucks, but ended up hustling to get on the plane.  Shortly after landing on the tarmac in Chicago the airport was closed due to a rain storm with lots of lightning. We were not allowed to pull to the gate, unload from the plane so I ended up missing my lunch which I normally eat when on this flight. When we loaded for the next leg of our flight I begged peanuts from the flight attendant.  I arrived at Dulles Airport two hours late, but was met by beautiful daughter and all my troblems of the day floated away.

Monday

Got no sleep after 2 am, so I was up and around at 4:30. Ann was active a little after 6:00.  Grabbed a bagel and coffee at Starbucks and then off to work with her.  She dropped me at a Starbucks with in walking distance of her work.  We met and had lunch at a near by restaurant and then at 2:30 I met with the employees of her team and the President of Global Impact.  I was scheduled to show slides of the Congo and share my experiences while there.  It was a delightful experience.  After that hour then Ann, the President of Global Impact and I had coffee.  Spent about an hour together.  We were strategizing on how to accomplish more in the DRC.  Her boss had been there working with neglected and abused women and children. About 6:30 we were back at her house eating sandwich.  No one had to encourage me to go to bed.