The Mid-America Grace Express - Day 1

Heading out on a 5-day tour of my USDA customers. I decided to log my interactions and experiences to see how God's grace is evident this week. Yesterday Kim and I had a great morning at church having all three of our children with us (Luke and Devon just back from their trip to Rancho 3M). We are always encouraged when the entire family is together now for church but yesterday was extra special since Devon and Luke were especially impacted by the missions trip and Tori attended Baptism class after church!

Then Kim and I got to have a long lunch near the airport with some old dear friends, Ken and Gerri Young. We met Ken and Gerri when we started in Amway in 1982! Actually Gerri interviewed me for a job at IBM (I took a different position though) in 1980. They are saints too and we really enjoy being with them. They've always been kind, dear people. Ken's 50th high school reunion (Baltimore Poly I think) was this weekend and they contacted us when they got in town.

As I flew to St. Louis, MO for y first USDA meeting, God sat me next to another saint on the airplane. I young mother with her infant son who was in Baltimore with her husband who was interviewing for a job with the Reformed University Fellowship. Her husband was staying in DC while she flew home to St. Louis. I was on the window and she was on the isle so we didn't get to talk much but I did tell her how much I appreciated what she and her husband were doing. As a father to two college-age children going to secular schools, I really appreciate all those who are giving their lives to college ministry!

On the plane I started reading JI Packer's book on Nehemiah, A Passion for Faithfulness. It's a study on building the church. Recommended by our Pastor who is currently preaching through Nehemiah. God is using all of us to build his church on earth. That's our purpose. And Packer is doing an excellent job describing how it looks to do this with our lives.

Finally I checked in to the Hilton Garden in near the St. Louis airport. I beautiful, new clean and comfortable hotel. And I got to eat a nice chicken fettuccine alfredo before heading off to bed for the night.