in Richmond

We drove up yesterday for the wedding of a friend of mine, Ashley Pritchard. We traveled on ministry team together in 2004...seems like forever ago. I remember the conversations we would have at night about our "men." We had a great time! Lots of fun things are happening. Will write more soon, hopefully! Aug. 11-14 we are taking a family vacation to Gatlinburg!!! Woo-hoo!!!

Update from Wisconsin

Rhinelander, Wisconsin is in a beautiful part of the country. It is surrounded by over 1,000 lakes in the county, green and full of vegetation! We saw an eagle flying over on the way to church on Sunday. Spiritually, though, it is a very dark place; an area in which the light of the gospel has only recently been shining! Mark Ring and his family arrived in Rhinelander about 4 years ago. A group of believers had begun a Bible Study and were praying that if it be God's will, He would raise a body of believers in that area. And God has answered that prayer. We had the privilege of working alongside the Faith Baptist Church family. A couple of years ago, a church in the area closed its doors and gave their building to Faith. God has done amazing things to provide for the church. We loved Pastor and Mrs. Ring and loved the church family. It was good for us to see a church plant and the faithfulness and dedication it takes to see it grow. One thing our kids came away with was the idea of having a burden for our own community....to see people saved and discipled in the Word.

We assisted in several activities. One of those was doing religious surveys and giving the gospel through that. Each of our teens had the opportunity to participate in giving these surveys. For some, it was a "Stretching" experience. It is not always easy, yet to learn to depend on the Holy Spirit and to obey scripture in sharing the Gospel was something that I think will have an eternal impact on their lives!

Another activity was canvassing for Faith and Family Days. The kids experienced a variety of responses as they took information door to door for this event. The north is different from the south, and Rhinelander is no exception!

Faith and Family Days was held Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We assisted Pastor Ring and the church people as they held an open house for the community. Pastor Ring was so encouraged at the response of his church family to come alongside and involve themselves in serving! Saturday it was exciting to see quite a few people come by to visit. Sunday morning, one couple actually visited the church. Faith's desire was to share with their community their desire that people know Christ and know the Word of God, and I believe that this was accomplished! Our teens assisted with serving in various ways. We were responsible for the teen and children's rallies, and then assisted however we were needed.

We reluctantly left our wonderful host family on Sunday, the Skinners, and spent the night at a motel in town (that they loved....it was relaxing :)! Monday we headed to camp at Northland and we will be here until Saturday. It has been a great trip so far, and we are praying that this week will be one of spiritual growth in our teens. Some of them have never had the experience of camp, so this in new! I am enjoying relaxing and getting some sleep and some great spiritual refreshment!


Carrie and Dan with Pastor Mark and Lori Ring
A group shot with the Rings...you have to be able to have fun together in church planting!
Culvers...Frozen custard causes guys to do crazy things!
Lois teaching a Bible story during Faith and Family Days
Our Saturday morning early crowd!
Dan and Mrs. Ring visiting with some teens that came by on Friday night
Our group at Buck Lake. The water was so clear you could literally see the bottom until it got too deep!
Our group with the some of the teens and kids from Faith.
Arriving at the Green Bay airport, we fit 13 people and luggage in this van. Northland was gracious to allow us to borrow this for our time in Rhinelander.
The Hodag is the Rhinelander "symbol" ... you can read about it at Rhinelander's Chamber of Commerce.
Breakfast at the Skinner's home. They went out of their way to care for us!
Lambeau Field...on our way in from Green Bay we stopped here. Some learned the the Packers is a football team!
Setting up for Faith and Family Days

Headed to Wisconsin

We leave tomorrow for an 11 day trip to Wisconsin with 8 of our teens and 2 ladies from our church. We will be assisting in the ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Rhinelander, Wisconsin Wed.-Sun. and then heading to Northland Camp Mon.-Fri. of next week. I am looking forward to our time with Pastor Ring and his family. We are assisting their church family in "Faith and Family Days" which is an open house to the community to introduce people to their church. We are helping with the teen and children's rallies, and doing whatever else they may have for us. Northland will be a lot of fun. I am looking forward to being back for a week. I enjoyed my summer up there as camp pianist!

Pictures from July 4th Celebrations

Watching GOOD fireworks in NC

Mother and daughters...cannot be denied!!!

Fireworks on the 4th in NC

At Cheryl and Michael's for the mini-reunion

Hannah and Joe...the younger Sutes!

Fireworks?

Last night was Clemson's fireworks display. Last year they were great! Well, this year, they weren't quite so spectacular. I guess they are trying to use ones that won't cause fires. I am not sure. That, or there was a budget cut. But we sure had a nice time with our family anyway. The Sutes are in town, and both Grandmas were with us, so that was the best part!!!