cousin, Ian, and his girlfriend Callie in San Diego.
We really enjoyed San Diego, and really would love to call that home. We were also able to spend the afternoon and evening with the Johnston family, who made us dinner, and spoiled me with some delicious iced coffee :D Josh heard from a church in Fairfield, CA while we were in San Diego, and the pastor was interested in meeting with him. So, we left San Diego, stopped back at the Sanford's home just to sleep, and then left early in the morning to make the six hour trip up to Fairfield.
We met with the pastor and his wife, and they generously put us up in a hotel for the night. Basically, the church is a newer church of about 120-150 people that is in need of a worship team/leader. After meeting with the pastor and also sitting in on a worship practice, Josh and I saw the need but also didn't feel like it would be a good fit for our family long term. After praying about it, we felt like Josh has a lot that he could offer the church, and decided to offer to stay for a trial period, or a time that we could help build the worship team/program up (because we have three weeks before we need to be back in MI..) From there, if progress was being made, we could come back in September.
We decided that if the pastor liked the idea (and could find us housing for three weeks) and wanted to do it, then God was moving this forward. If the pastor didn't, we would move on and that would be the end of it. Well, the pastor liked the idea, and found us housing for three weeks. and this is where we will be until we leave to come back to MI in August. It is an interesting set up. but I am excited to see what God will do with us here. I know that Josh has a lot of knowledge and experience to help grow their program, and is great at leading and teaching music, so he will be used in some awesome ways.
We also ended up going to Redding for a couple of nights, and camped at a place called Whiskeytown Lake. We got to hang out with Derek Collard and do laundry in a super retro laundromat. Oh, and we did get to meet some people from Derek's church, The Stirring... they were pretty awesome and pretty hipster :)
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us throughout this trip... A few specific prayer requests: Josh's throat/vocal chords have been rough for a few weeks, from when he caught a cold. They are still trying to heal, so I ask for prayer for healing on his vocal chords, so that God can use him effectively. Also, prayer for our kids: they have been doing a really great job and seem to love our adventures (Aurelia was telling a lady about them at the laundromat!) but I know that it is a lot to not have a schedule. Please pray that they continue to do well, and continue to get rest.
Tomorrow we meet the congregation of the church (It is called The Edge Community Church). Prayers for that too! Thank you so much again, and know that all of you are in my prayers everyday :)
