Tuesday, February 22, 2011

ARIZONA TRIP

Sandy and I just got back from visiting our FWB church planters in Arizona. On Thursday and Friday we visited with the Goodmans and Bennetts in Marana (just north of Tucson). Jeff and Josh took me out to see the area and then to have a Sonoran Hot Dog for lunch. It was, I mean they were good.
On Thursday night, we attended their weekly Bible study. They meet at their apartment complex and here is their sign and the room they meet in.




Everyone is invited to a free meal before the study. Here is Jeff, Josh, Heather, and Ashley getting everything ready.




Singing




Jeff is teaching.



After another song, Josh finished the teaching.
They both did a good job and told it straight. There was a record attendance of 41!
On Easter Sunday, they start meeting on Sunday mornings in a local school.



We had a great breakfast on Friday. You can eat outdoors in February in Arizona.
On the left is Jeff and Heather with their daughter, Ava.
In the center is Josh and Ashley Bennett.
My wife, Sandy, is on the right.





Here is Sandy and Ava with some beautiful desert scenery. Ava was a little sweetie the whole time. (Sandy was, too)




Cactus are bigger than they look on TV.





Arizona has a beauty of its own.
In the center right of this picture is Old Tucson, the location of many movie westerns.





On Saturday we drove up to Florence to be with Howard and Patsy Gwartney.
They took us out to see the property for their new church.




Here is another picture of the property. It was a rare occasion and actually rained.




Of course we had to eat out. Here we are with Howard and Patsy.



This is Sunday morning at the school. You can see the church's truck. They started unpacking it about 6:30 that morning.



Before church




Mrs. Pat Thomas mans the information table. She also plays a clarinet in the band, sang in a trio, and teaches a weekly Bible study at an RV park. She is Patsy's mother and the wife of former Home Missions Director, Roy Thomas.



They have a pretty big orchestra for a new church. They sounded good, too!




Howard during the service.




At the end the chairs are all stacked up to go back in the truck. A lot of people pitched in and take down was like a well-oiled machine.




It was very exciting to be with these families and new churches! We had a lot of fun together. I also enjoyed our times of serious discussion. The Bennetts, Goodmans, and Gwartneys all have a heart for God and for starting new churches.
































1 comment:

  1. We really enjoyed having you guys with us!!

    ReplyDelete