Travelin' Preacher Man

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ~ Romans 10:14–15

Wow! It’s remarkable how different our second summer in Fort Wayne was than our first. Last summer involved a major move, hundreds of hours of Greek studies, learning to navigate a city larger than any we’ve lived in before, and making new friends. (That last one was the best, of course.) This summer was more about practicing some of my recently gained skills, exploring new destinations together as a family, and catching up with old friends.

We were in South Dakota from the end of May to the end of June. It was very nice to visit family and friends we hadn’t seen in a long time, and it gave us opportunities to connect with some of our sponsoring congregations. Pamela attended the LWML state convention. I preached and/or assisted with worship at Mount Calvary (Brookings), Bethlehem (Rapid City), and Trinity (Fairfax). I dare say that even years from now, my “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” sermon from Trinity Sunday will remain one of Camden’s favorites. We also spent a few days playing the part of tourists at the Badlands, Storybook Island, Dinosaur Hill, Bear Country, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Sylvan Lake, and the Black Hills Dinosaur Museum.

Finally, we headed back to Indiana just in time to pack and vacate our rental before the owners returned from their vicarage. We’re grateful this was a short move and that our new residence is suiting us very nicely. We have a designated homeschool room for the first time ever, something we may never be able to live without again. We have easy access to miles of paved bike trails which lead to several playgrounds and sport areas. Perhaps best of all, Logan and Camden quickly made friends with neighboring kids and spend hours a week running back and forth between houses and yards.

I preached a couple more times in July. The first was to cover a vacancy in Hartford City, IN, about an hour south of Fort Wayne. The second was an invitation from Rev. Townes at Bethel Lutheran in Howard City, MI. We made his acquaintance through his family in Brookings and his association with Mount Calvary. He and his congregation were delightful hosts, and we hope we will be able to visit again someday. On our way back, we stopped at the zoo in Grand Rapids and spent a day at Warren Dunes State Park along Lake Michigan. Climbing the 250-foot sand dune and jumping the waves was loads of fun! Our other highlights for July included a free Tincaps baseball game, camping with our Trail Life troop, hosting a few meals for seminary friends, and a trip to Wisconsin Dells to meet my mom, sister, and her daughters.

We stayed closer to home for our final month of summer break, making just one day trip to Indianapolis. The outdoor exhibits at the children’s museum there were closed when we first visited in November, so we tried again… in August…on a day when the heat index was 98! I preached at Zion (Garrett, IN) in August and began a Sunday morning study on Martin Luther’s catechetical hymns. The opportunity to preach five times this summer and get feedback from pastors with different experiences and perspectives was immensely beneficial and excites me for Homiletics II this year and more preaching to come on vicarage. My parents and sister came for a weekend visit in August. The last day of the month was the first day of Classical Conversations for the year. This is Camden’s second year, Logan’s fifth, and Pamela’s fifth year tutoring. My, how the time flies!

Now we’re eager to see how the second year of seminary compares to the first. It obviously won’t be as relaxing as our summer was, but we’re optimistic about it. At least we have some idea of what to expect and already have great friends here to struggle and celebrate with us. We also continue to be encouraged by our wonderful supporters. This whole experience is made much easier by your prayers, words of encouragement, and donations. Thank you!

Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota