In my last update, I told you we were on our way to Phoenix, right? Well, we arrived in Phoenix and discovered they were experiencing record-high temperatures. The closer we got to Phoenix, the more our air conditioner and refrigerators struggled to keep up. For the first time since beginning our deputation journey, we couldn’t get cool enough. By the time we arrived in Phoenix, it was 118 degrees outside and nearly 90 inside. It was ridiculous! I don’t remember ever being so hot. It was so bad that we had to bring our extra refrigerator/freezer (that we keep in one of the bays) inside to keep it from the penetrating rays of the sun. It didn’t help. We’re pretty sure it died that day as we haven’t been able to get it to work right since. Of course, we lost all the food that was in it, but at the time, that was the least of our worries. Our biggest concern was getting cooled off enough to sleep. It took some effort, especially since the nighttime low was 90 degrees. Good grief!

Other than the unbearable heat, we had a great time in Phoenix. On Sunday, the 6th of September, we were with North Mesa Baptist Church for the morning and afternoon service. Jason was able to preach the morning service and present our burden during the Sunday school hour. After a delicious dinner on the grounds, we all returned to the auditorium for a wonderful time of singing and testimonies. Afterward, we were able to chat with many people who were interested in our calling. It was one of those places where we felt like we were part of the family, and that’s always a delight for us.

After a short afternoon rest, we attended the evening service at First Baptist Bible Church, which is the church that graciously allowed us to park in their parking lot and use their hookups for our time in the Phoenix area. Once again, Jason was able to present our burden for Wales, and we enjoyed a precious time of worship and fellowship. Afterward, the pastor and his family took us out to eat, where we enjoyed even more fellowship. All in all, it was a glorious day, and despite coming very close, our Xterra didn’t overheat on the drive back and forth to church (though I admit I came pretty close myself).

On Monday, Jason took a well-deserved rest day while I worked on a bit of paperwork and correspondence. Tuesday, we left the heat of Phoenix (hallelujah!) and traveled north to a free campsite near Sedona, AZ. The campground didn’t offer hookups of any kind, but we were extremely pleased with the tranquil setting and peaceful atmosphere we found. Upon arriving, we took a nice hike around the area and allowed our minds and bodies to unwind from the traveling.

The next day, we visited the town of Sedona, popular for its impressive buttes and ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, biking, fishing, climbing, and more. Unfortunately, the town of Sedona has become a hotbed of new age fanfare, so we avoided the town altogether. Besides, who wants to go to such a beautiful place and stay inside the shops? We went to see the beauty of the great outdoors, and we were able to enjoy some interesting sights and a short hike. I quickly realized two things: (1) While we used to hike at least once a week and were in good shape for doing so, we are not in that shape now, and (2) hiking at an elevation of 7,500+ feet above sea level is a totally different ball game. We still had a great time and enjoyed the fresh air and the cool breezes.

That evening, we were privileged to be at Ponderosa Baptist Church and to share our testimony with the sweet people there. It was another great evening of fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Thursday, we drove to another free campground, this one just ten miles away from the Grand Canyon. Other than having no cell signal or internet, we found this campsite to be even nicer than the previous one. The lots were huge, and we ended up with nearly five acres to ourselves. There was a nice trail off the back of our property, so we enjoyed an afternoon/evening hike and settled in for a quiet evening. Just like it was at our previous campsite, the view of the stars was spectacular. And let me tell you, we slept great that night.

Friday was unforgettable. How often in your life do you get to view the Grand Canyon at sunrise? I was a little iffy about the idea of getting up so early, but I’m so glad we did. It was indescribable. We spent the morning walking around the Canyon, taking some pictures, and even did a video chat with the Downeys in Wales since we didn’t have cell service at our campground. It was an amazing day.

On Saturday, it was back to the Phoenix area, though I’m happy to say the heat had calmed down a little bit. I think the highest temperatures we reached during our second stay there was 106 degrees (which is still ridiculous in my book but better than 118 degrees). We spent the entire day on Sunday with the sweet people at Mountain Side Baptist Church. The church didn’t currently have a pianist, so they asked me to play for both services, and I gladly obliged. Jason taught Sunday school, gave a brief presentation in the morning service, and preached in the evening service. I also had the opportunity to sing. During an afternoon lunch with the pastor and his family, we were able to fellowship about the ups and downs of life in the ministry. It was another great day, and we’re so thankful for the opportunity to meet so many new friends in Christ.

We spent Monday trying to catch up on phone calls and other obligations, as well as catching up on some rest. Tuesday and Wednesday were long travel days as we made our way to Kansas, where we joined Victory Baptist Church for the evening service. The church was kind enough to supply their parking lot and hookups for us, as well as allowing us to present our burden for Wales and providing a generous love offering. The pastor and his wife also invited us to dinner at their home before the evening service. Once again, we were made to feel like part of the family, and we enjoyed our stay immensely.

For the past two days, we’ve been on the road, making our way to Wisconsin. Last night, we were able to stay at an inexpensive campsite with partial hookups. Though a little busier than the other two sites we stayed in, it was quiet and peaceful, and we enjoyed getting up this morning and walking around the lake, taking in the fresh air and the sounds of birds and crickets. We hated to leave, but we knew we had another five hours of travel to make, so we spent the morning enjoying our surroundings, then hit the road. Right now, we’re about 45 minutes from our destination in Wisconsin, so we’re looking forward to a couple of days of being still.

That’s pretty much what we’ve been up to over the past ten days or so. Before I close, I want to ask you to please be in prayer for Wales. There are multiple situations I cannot discuss but that will have a major impact on the work of the gospel that is being done in Wales. Our hearts are broken over some of the needs we’ve been made aware of, and hearing these things has made us even more eager to be there. Please pray that the Lord will move in Wales, that He will meet the needs of those who are striving to do His work there, and that He will help us to get there as soon as possible. There is such a need, and every day we’re not there, our hearts grow heavier. Please, help us pray!

Thank you, friends!