I remember as a counselor at the Wilds hearing the skit song, ''We've been everywhere man, crossed the desert (something) man...'' I didn't realise then that it was written by a missionary family. (Tongue firmly in cheek.)  God has kept us safe over the many miles of travel, but we do feel like we have been everywhere!

Sunday morning found us in Superior, Wisconsin. On the way up we saw a bull moose in a snow covered field. On the way South the boys saw a wolf coming out of the woods by the roadway. What a blessing it was to be with a smaller supporting church and get to hear their Easter music on Sunday AM. In the Sunday PM we were in a city with two supporting churches and the sister church pastor's family joined us for the meeting. They also had the service at 7PM to allow for us to drive just over four hours that afternoon to get there.

In family news, last week Parker took his written driver's test in Hudson, Wi. Yesterday, he took the actual driving test in La Crosse, WI. Praise the Lord, he passed both tests and got his driver's license. We were only in Wisconsin for 9 days and he wouldn't have had a second chance if he failed. (Life can be pretty interesting as an MK.) 

Wednesday night we enjoyed a meeting in Sauk City, WI before heading on to Mendota, IL. This morning I enjoyed speaking at chapel at a supporting church in La Salle. We stopped and saw another supporting church pastor in the area as well. God's really blessed our travels and our connectivity. We're thankful for each opportunity to connect with our churches.

Tomorrow and Saturday, Katie will be doing a workshop session at an area ladies' meeeting. Sunday morning we are in Chicago and Sunday night in Georgetown, Illinois. Monday is the semi-annual meeting of BWM in Indianapolis. We're looking forward to speaking with some of the board members and other missionaries.

Thank you for praying for us. We've traveled in very heavy rain, winds and snow in the last week and God continues to keep us safe. We also continue to have the energy we need for a demanding schedule. God's good to answer your prayers!

Thank you for praying for our travels. We are doing a lot of hours in the car, and we need God's grace. So far, God has helped us to enjoy traveling.

Please also pray for our health. We have been in a lot of pollen in our travels. Mac, is especialy struggling with either cold or allergy symptoms.

Here is my most recent update to our church family, which summarises this past week and gives our travels plans. Thank you for your prayers which avail much.

Church letter, 31 March,

Good evening church family,

Thank you for praying for all of our travels and our many ministry meetings. Here is the latest news which I sent to our church this morning. Please continjue to pray for grace for our church and for the Barbas as they minister in our absence.

Good morning all,

We praise the Lord for His grace in our furlough travels. We have now accomplished one month of our three month furlough. We have greatly enjoyed our time at each church. If it wasn't for our desire to be with our church family, furthering the work God has for us in Scotland, we would be happy to have a longer time with all of our supporters. 

This past Sunday we were at Harvest Baptist in Spartanburg. Benson and Christina work at this church. Benson was taken on as a part time music pastor by the church last year. We enjoyed sharing the testimony of God's leading in Sunday School. We did special music and Katie played an offertory. And, I preached the morning message. Afterwards we enjoyed a fellowship meal with several in the church.

We then headed two hours South to Orangeburg, SC. That church was also a blessing to us and we enjoyed a meal with the pastor and his wife after the service. We then drove three hours back to Lattimore, NC to my sister's home. We arrived at midnight and enjoyed an hour's fellowship with ALL of our children. We are enjoying having all the kids here for a few days. Kay Lee and John drove over Sunday afternoon and will be heading back tomorrow.

This coming Sunday AM, we are at Nolansville Road Baptist Church in Nashville. We will spend the week in Des Moines with my mom, before heading further north. Thankfully, the blizzard warning was last week and not this one coming. Saturday is supposed to be 84 degrees in Des Moines! Yikes! The weather is very interesting this year.

God's goodess has been very evident. We are thrilled with His many blessings. Thank you for praying for our travels.

We praise the Lord for His grace in our furlough travels. We have now accomplished one month of our three month furlough. We have greatly enjoyed our time at each church. If it wasn't for our desire to be with our church family, furthering the work God has for us in Scotland, we would be happy to have a longer time with all of our supporters. 

This past Sunday we were at Harvest Baptist in Spartanburg. Benson and Christina work at this church. Benson was taken on as a part time music pastor by the church last year. We enjoyed sharing the testimony of God's leading in Sunday School. We did special music and Katie played an offertory. And, I preached the morning message. Afterwards we enjoyed a fellowship meal with several in the church.

We then headed two hours South to Orangeburg, SC. That church was also a blessing to us and we enjoyed a meal with the pastor and his wife after the service. We then drove three hours back to Lattimore, NC to my sister's home. We arrived at midnight and enjoyed an hour's fellowship with ALL of our children. We are enjoying having all the kids here for a few days. Kay Lee and John drove over Sunday afternoon and will be heading back tomorrow.

This coming Sunday AM, we are at Nolansville Road Baptist Church in Nashville. We will spend the week in Des Moines with my mom, before heading further north. Thankfully, the blizzard warning was last week and not this one coming. Saturday is supposed to be 84 degrees in Des Moines! Yikes! The weather is very interesting this year.

God's goodess has been very evident. We are thrilled with His many blessings. Thank you for praying for our travels.

The Lord blessed us with safety as we traveled much over the past ten days. We had such a good time with all of our supporting churches. Thank you for praying for our travels and ministry.

On Monday of this past week, we did an extra ministry trip. Our oldest two children and their spouses have all worked at the Bill Rice Ranch and the West Branch. We drove up Monday to visit the Ranch and enjoyed a tour with Matt and April Downs. They were so kind to take time to fellowship with us and show us around.

After leaving the Ranch, we went over to the headquarters of the Sword of the Lord. What a joy to see a facility and meet staff who are having a great impact in God's harvest field. On Tuesday we visited a third ministry which is very special to us as we visited the Baptist World Mission headquarters in Decatur. BWM is our mission agency. We have been with them since the Autumn of 2005. We praise God for His grace in keeping BWM strong both doctrinally and practically. They are a huge help to all of their missionaries and we are thankful to have them behind us.

This weekend we will be with Benson and Christina at their church, Harvest Baptist in Spartanburg. Sunday evening we will be at Orangeburg Baptist Tabernacle. On Monday, Kay Lee and her husband, John, are heading over to meet us in Lattimore for a family time. This will be the first time we have been all together since Benson and Christina's wedding. We are looking forward to making some precious memories.

We are hearing good things from our church in Scotland. Please keep the Barbas in prayer as they continue to fill our shoes in our absence. We very much appreciate their labours.

Thank you for keeping up with us and for praying for our family and ministry!

The Lord blessed us with safety as we traveled much over the past ten days. We had such a good time with all of our supporting churches. Thank you for praying for our travels and ministry.

On Monday of this past week, we did an extra ministry trip. Our oldest two children and their spouses have all worked at the Bill Rice Ranch and the West Branch. We drove up Monday to visit the Ranch and enjoyed a tour with Matt and April Downs. They were so kind to take time to fellowship with us and show us around.

After leaving the Ranch, we went over to the headquarters of the Sword of the Lord. What a joy to see a facility and meet staff who are having a great impact in God's harvest field. On Tuesday we visited a third ministry which is very special to us as we visited the Baptist World Mission headquarters in Decatur. BWM is our mission agency. We have been with them since the Autumn of 2005. We praise God for His grace in keeping BWM strong both doctrinally and practically. They are a huge help to all of their missionaries and we are thankful to have them behind us.

This weekend we will be with Benson and Christina at their church, Harvest Baptist in Spartanburg. Sunday evening we will be at Orangeburg Baptist Tabernacle. On Monday, Kay Lee and her husband, John, are heading over to meet us in Lattimore for a family time. This will be the first time we have been all together since Benson and Christina's wedding. We are looking forward to making some precious memories.

We are hearing good things from our church in Scotland. Please keep the Barbas in prayer as they continue to fill our shoes in our absence. We very much appreciate their labours.

Thank you for keeping up with us and for praying for our family and ministry!

The Lord blessed us with safety as we traveled much over the past ten days. We had such a good time with all of our supporting churches. Thank you for praying for our travels and ministry.

On Monday of this past week, we did an extra ministry trip. Our oldest two children and their spouses have all worked at the Bill Rice Ranch and the West Branch. We drove up Monday to visit the Ranch and enjoyed a tour with Matt and April Downs. They were so kind to take time to fellowship with us and show us around.

After leaving the Ranch, we went over to the headquarters of the Sword of the Lord. What a joy to see a facility and meet staff who are having a great impact in God's harvest field. On Tuesday we visited a third ministry which is very special to us as we visited the Baptist World Mission headquarters in Decatur. BWM is our mission agency. We have been with them since the Autumn of 2005. We praise God for His grace in keeping BWM strong both doctrinally and practically. They are a huge help to all of their missionaries and we are thankful to have them behind us.

This weekend we will be with Benson and Christina at their church, Harvest Baptist in Spartanburg. Sunday evening we will be at Orangeburg Baptist Tabernacle. On Monday, Kay Lee and her husband, John, are heading over to meet us in Lattimore for a family time. This will be the first time we have been all together since Benson and Christina's wedding. We are looking forward to making some precious memories.

We are hearing good things from our church in Scotland. Please keep the Barbas in prayer as they continue to fill our shoes in our absence. We very much appreciate their labours.

Thank you for keeping up with us and for praying for our family and ministry!

Thank you for keeping up with our family as we travel in the USA. God has given us safety and has blessed our ministry opportunities with each church family. 

I just sent the following update to our church family....

Good morning church family,

Thank you for keeping up with our family as we travel in the USA. God has given us safety and has blessed our ministry opportunities with each church family. 

I just sent the following update to our church family....

Good morning church family,