A Good US Visit...

From Dec.21 - Jan.20, we were able to be in the US to visit with family, friends and a few congregations.  As many of you know, it was our first Christmas in the US since 2004...so we were pretty excited!!  And, we were NOT disappointed.  What a joy it was to be home with my parents, to see all the Christmas decorations and hear the Christmas music.  How great it was to ring-in the New Year with my brother and his family in Virginia.  In the mix of it all, we even got to celebrate Andrew's birthday!

Candlelight Christmas Eve

at Covenant UMC, Dothan, AL

Christmas Eve at Mom's House!!!                    

Christmas Dinner!  YUM!!!  With Mom and Papa....

Andrew with Cousin Solomon in VA             

Snow-man!!  First time skiiing!  (Thank you, Uncle Jeph!!)

Look at those snow-angels!!  (The look the part, but can they ski?? ha,ha...)

Relaxing with cousins, Jacob and Theo, after a day of skiing..!

Megan entertaining her cousin, Sky...

Happy 14th Birthday, Andrew!!

 After being with family, we were able to be with some wonderful congregations!  Our first stop was actually Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama--the wonderful church my parents serve.  They received us as warmly as ever!  After spending New Years' with my brother, Jeph, in VA, we traveled down to Rockhill, SC, where we were able to be with Woodland UMC.  

Woodland UMC, Rockhill, SC

With Rev. Larry Parker and our world-traveling friend, Karen Kluever

Having lunch with the Woodland Youth after service--Japanese food!

 From South Carolina, we traveled on over to Blairsville to visit our last home before going into missions.  Of course, our Coosa UMC family welcomed us with open arms!  Thank you, Coosa, for all you do!

Jeanne chatting with Mrs. Gladys

Jesse and Meg reconnecting with old friends and new...

Andrew...with old "buddies"

The friendship never ends...

 After Blairsville, we went down to Gainesville to be with Jon's Aunt Kay.  Our first stop along the way was to visit my brother, Timothy, in Dahlonega, GA.  We got to go out with him and Sara to eat some super delicious Mexican food...and then just visit a while, catching up on all the amazing things he is doing in school and community....

Big Bro, Little Bro (I'm the little bro!)

Then, during our week in Gainesville, we were able to visit with the amazing people of Mt.Pleasant UMC.  How great it was to see our friends from LONG ago...they are the ones who loved us into the UMC back in 1992!!

Mt. Pleasant UMC, Cleveland, GA

 We had other plans with folks at New Liberty UMC, Buford First UMC, the District Office...but weather came in...and, boy, did it come in!!  WOW!!  Three days, iced-in.  But, as we remarked then, we were in a good place to be iced-in!  (Thank you, Aunt Kay!!!)

Aunt Kay and Meg...vying for most colorful!

5" of snow...and then ice!

Also, while we were in Gainesville, we got to spend time with Aunt Doris...to catch up with her over a wonderful dinner at the Longstreet Cafe--those of you from Gainesville will know the place!  And, we got to spend some time with Jeanne's sister, Lorena, in Dawsonville.  We even "let" Jeanne spend the night with her sister...one of those stay-up-late-and-talk-all-night visits!!

 After we were able to chip away the ice and snow, we did get to be with Tate UMC - the very first church to commit to supporting our mission service back in 2005.  They were as warm and as welcoming as ever!

Tate UMC, Tate, GA

Jon sharing at Tate

After Tate, time was up and we needed to get home...back to the work on this side.  We are now back to the work at the seminary, the high school and the teachers' college.  Life is good...God is good!  We thank all of you for all your prayers, your help, your gifts, for warm beds, for hot meals...for EVERYTHING that everyone did in making our trip possible and fun!