Taking the Long Way Back

The last week in October, we raced from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Hialeah, Florida, driving four long days to get there.  We were happy to do it, since we enjoyed such great services and fellowship in both churches and wouldn't have wanted to miss either one.  However, we decided that, since we have the time, we would take the long, slow way back to Iowa.  The Friday after Thanksgiving we said goodbye to Karl and Dyrie Francis in southern Florida and drove to Valdosta, Georgia.  The next day, we drove the rest of the way to Atlanta to be able to visit our friends' church there.

Steve & Penny Everett

We met Steve and Penny Everett in Debrecen, Hungary, when they moved there to pastor the International Church (now The House).  We enjoyed having them close by and built a friendship with them and their three teenage children.  Too soon, however, they moved back to the US and planted a church outside of Atlanta.  What a joy it was to see them again, to worship together, and to catch up over lunch!

On Monday, on our way to Tennessee, we made a quick stop at the Chickamauga Chattanooga National Park where one of the most important battles of the Civil War took place.  It was fascinating.  I especially was interested how the Spencer repeating rifle gave the Union an edge over the South.

Chickamauga battlefield

 We drove on to Kingston, Tennessee, to take advantage of an invitation we received from the owner of a retreat center here. The invitation to spend a couple of days free of charge came when we attended a missionary retreat last year in Croatia. This morning we once again met the owner and he welcomed us warmly, pleased that we had been at the retreat in Croatia.  The weather has been foggy, cloudy and misty, but the beauty of Whitestone Country Inn still comes through.  Thank you, Paul and Jean Cowell, for your generous southern hospitality!

The main house at Whitestone Country Inn