Eastern New York/New England Missions Conference

God is good! It was so exciting to be a part of this missions conference. I, along with three other missionary units, traveled around the Eastern New York/New England District and shared about how God led us to the country in which we will serve and gave the congregations an opportunity to partner in that. Each evening (Mon.-Fri.), we were at a church in one of the five zones in the district. All the churches in the zone were invited to the services. Many people attended each of the services and it was a great time to get energized about what God is doing around the world! I love to see how God works in people's lives, leading them to pray more, give more, and go where He leads. I also enjoyed getting to know the other missionaries! We shared a LOT of laughs that week! I really thank God for traveling mercies for all the time I spent on the road and for such an exciting, encouraging, and uplifting week, focusing on what He has called me to!

This is our missionary group that traveled around the state of New York together! We spent a lot of time together and got to know each other pretty well. It's been a while since I've laughed that much! They are very dear to me and I can't wait to see how God uses them in their places of ministry!

More Missions Conference

This is the college and careers class at Turnpike Wesleyan I visited. They are some of the awesome people I met on the trip who have a heart for missions!

Schroon Lake, New York

Schroon Lake, New York

Lake Placid, New York

This is one of the buildings in Lake Placid used in the Winter Olympics. The Olympics were held in Lake Placid two different times.

New York!

It was so wonderful to stay with the Austin family in Long Lake, New York for a few days before and during the missions conference. I was with them in Czech for two years, while I was a GO-Net Volunteer there. Long Lake is so beautiful! It is right in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains! Here are a couple pictures I took.

This is the Austin family, except for Cindy, who's taking the picture! It was wonderful to spend time with them again!

Here's Josiah and me, making weird faces!
Here's Brianna and me.

And this is Ben and me.

This is Kyle and Caleb Austin and me after driving two hours home in heavy snow in the middle of October! It was a quick weather change for me!

Syracuse!

As I said before, I am sad that I forgot to bring in my camera to show you all the wonderful people I met and who opened their homes to me. I did, however, remember in Syracuse, New York. This picture is of the Lamos'. It was Charlotte's birthday, so this is her guitar shaped birthday cake. I really enjoyed getting to know them and the small group that meets in their home each week! They were a lot of fun to stay with and she is a great cook!

Niagara Falls!

The Falls were beautiful, even if it was a cloudy and rainy day! And even if it was only on the American side! It was great!

Wonderful People!

I have only been on the road now for a few days, but I have met and stayed with some very great people! I keep forgetting to bring my camera in with me - I would like to show you pictures of these new friends! I was first at Creekside Community Church, which meets outside of Columbus, Ohio. There, I stayed with a guy who had also lived in the Czech Republic and we shared lots of great stories and even spoke some Czech!

From there I went to Oakfield Wesleyan, a small church south of Zanesville, Ohio. It was great to worship and share with them, and then to get to know one of the families in the church! We had a meal at their house and then sat around and talked for hours afterward! What a blast!

Tonight I'm staying with the family of one of my college friends (Heather: see picture below) in West Seneca, New York, just outside of Buffalo. We had pizza and real Buffalo wings...FROM BUFFALO!!! They even told me the history of Buffalo wings! It's been fun to get to know them better! It's been so amazing to experience hospitality and love from all these people! I really thank God for these new friends and can't wait to visit again!

Ohio/New York Trip

I'm writing this time to ask for your prayers as I venture out on a 2 week trip visiting churches. I leave this Saturday to speak at 2 churches around the Columbus area. Then I will drive from there to the Buffalo, NY area and stay with people from a church there. From there, I will spend a day in Syracuse, NY and then move on to my final destination of the Eastern New York/New England District of the Wesleyan Church! I will be there for a week for a missions conference with some other missionaries. Right now I am busy calling churches and asking for a place to stay, but I know it will all work out! I'm looking forward to this adventure coming up! Thanks for you prayers!!!

IWU Homecoming!

This is the only picture I took at Homecoming. It was good to see friends I hadn't seen in years! Heather and Hillary (above) and their husbands and I hung out a bunch and talked about fun times in college! Then we ate at the good ol' J&L Restaurant in Marion for breakfast! The rest of the time I just ran around talking with all kinds of other friends and catching up! I love all these friends and I am so thankful that God led me to IWU!