Summer Travel!

Hello Friends, 

Our last blog on July 20 concluded with the remarkable Crater Lake in southern Oregon.   As of today, Sept 8, the Lord has given us many more wonderful experiences around Christian community, natural beauty and weather!   This blog picks up from the gorgeous Oregon coast, Christian community in Portland, more wonders of OR, WA, Grand Teton and Yellowstone parks and Cody, WY.   We praise God for the majesty and splendor of His creation.  Can anyone imagine how much more glorious Heaven will be for believers?

Blessings of His creation on the Road

As an anecdote to the ugliness in politics these days, we have come to appreciate the beauty of America's widely varied topographical changes we see along the way as well as the friendliness of strangers.   The beauty of the country is a testimony to the Glory of God, the Creator.  Romans 1:20 says "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world".  Verse 21 indicates it is expected that we will honor God and thank Him for that.

In our devotions, we have been encouraged to reflect on the splendor and majesty of what God has made here on earth and then how much more indescribable heaven will be for eternity for his people. (1 Corintians 2:9)  This alone gives increased hope, confidence and anticipation while maintaining our stewardship roles here on earth, until he comes again.

Blessings of Meeting and Encouraging People

Part of our objective for this road trip is meeting people the Lord has prepared along the way.  There have been countless opportunities to offer a word of encouragement and/or a free gift of a Gideon New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.   We would estimate about 4-5% of folks say 'no thank you'.  Most are happy to take it and indicate it is timely for them.  Some are courteous and take it and promise to look at it.   Some are unbelievers while others may be out of fellowship with Christ.  Only God knows.   Our job is to ask God to prepare hearts, then, as the Spirit leads, offfer the gift.   From service clerks to wait staff to rodeo cowboys to campers we meet...God has prepared people for us to give His Word to.  Praise Him!

• At Cody Cowboy Church, we met a young man that we had seen ride a bucking bronco at the rodeo.  He had just moved here from Texas and was rededicating his life to the Lord.  We gave him a Testament and had an opportunity to pray with him.  He was encouraged.
• While our truck was getting an oil change, John offerred a Testament to the young lady who worked there.  She was very encouraged as she had just lost a close friend who passed away the day before. 
• We gave a man, with an autistic son, a New Testament.  He had a religious backgound but needed encouragement that day.  He was very pleased and asked John to pray with him right there at the campsite.
• Just last night, a waitress from Romainia was thrilled to received the Testament.  Linda even got a hug!

Aside from that mission, we want to be sure to share highlights of the country.   Here are the places we visited in the the last 6 weeks:

Oregon Coast - Shore Acres State Park is a gem of rugged cliffs/rocks/inlets of coast with a surprising history/interpretive center and a large Japanese Garden and Lotus Pond.  We stopped in Coos Bay, Florence, Newport and Tillamook.  We loved the ocean, lunch overlooking the harbors and the gradeur of the constantly changing rugged coastline.  

The Oregon coast at Shore Acres State Park South of Coos Bay

Japanese Gardens and Lily Pond at Shore Acres State Park

 

Hwy 101 Bridge at Newport, OR 

Wonders of Oregon and Washington - We had wonderful times with our daughter Tricia and her husband Ken and our grand kids Seth and Kat.  They are growing up and maturing fast.  It was wonderful to spend time with them.   We had 5 great days with them at a B&B on Whitbey Island, WA!

Hiking to the Lighthouse at Double Bluff Bay

Stunning geography on Whitbey Island reminds me of the lone cypress tree growing out of rock at Pebble Beach, CA.  God has such a wondeous imagination!

Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area

Mt Rainier, WA

The Columbia River Gorge east of Portland, OR

The next section includes ventures through Grand Tetons and Yellowstone with 9 friends who wanted to join us from Texas.  We have become very close as we were all members of the original Leadership Team that form our SS Class, called PrimeTime.  This part was truly a great blessing!

Christian Community -  From Oregon through Boise to the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone

Our dear friends Larry and Kathy Miller, authors and conference speakers,  allowed us to stay with them in Boise on our way to and from OR!  We had a great time of spiritual encouragement with these two wonderful friends.

After Boise we arrive at the entrance to the Grand Tetons National Park where 9 of our close friends from Austin joined us.  Seven of these were all part of the original leadership Team forming the PrimeTime Class at Hill Country Bible Church in 2007.  

This is the group at the iconic Moulton Barn built by Mormom emigrants from the east in the Grand Tetons in the 1880's

  The Group: Sam and Lynda Shoquist, Jean Bringol, Linda and John Weber, Karen and Dave Ness, Donna and Dave Sommers, Ingrid and Joe Chan

The Group at Grand Tetons

The Ladies at Grand Teton National Park

The Group at Hidden Falls at Jenny Lake, Grand Teton's

Linda enjoyed a great bike ride from Jenny Lake to Moose Junction with several friends!

Linda, Sam and Lynda Shoquist and Joe Chan

                          The group at downtown square Jackson, WY with lots of Elk antlers!

Lunch along the road on the Snake River in WY

A Snake River Scenic River Ride is a must!

The iconic view of Grand Teton from the river

No trip is complete without the bald eagle!  This was taken from the river raft on the Snake River. 

There she Blows!!  Although she does erupt regularly it can be anywhere from every 48 minutes to 90 minutes.

The Grand Prismatic Springs are "other-worldly".  A testament to the genius of God in creation!

This is the Upper Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (taken by Dave Sommers)

What trip to Yellowstone wont not be complete without a bison visit!

Cody, WY - This town is amazing!  (in the summer)

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a collection of 5 museums affiliated with Smithsonian 
Institiute.

      The Cody Stampede Rodeo with prayer and national anthem, was great entertainment

                The Buffalo Bill State Park is nestled between mountains and is gorgeous

View from our RV dinette window in Cody, WY

Cowboy John on a trail ride high above the City of Cody, WY

Other points of interest were: 

• The Buffalo Bill Dam, built in the early 1900's was a model for the Hoover Dam and provide electricity for the entire region.  The picture is from the top of the dam.

• Trail rides, biking paths, 
• The Old Trail town with many actual cabins and shops from the 1880's still in original condition.  The famous Hole in the Wall cabin which housed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is there.   Jeremiah Johnson is buried there.

• Dan Miller's Cowboy Music Review was very special!

We know this is long but we have been extremely blessed these last 7 weeks meeting people and seeing God's creation across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.  We sincerely hope you have enjoyed this blog.

We left Cody and the Cowboy State of Wyoming  for Custer, South Dakota, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Badlands.   More in the next Blog.

We are very appreciative of the all the prayers on our behalf for safety as well as a consistent witness and testimony to people we meet along the way.  It is amazing the number of people interested on spiritual discussion.  Please keep up your prayers for us!

Love From the West!

John and Linda