After Southwest Bible Camp we headed west to Phoenix, Arizona. The first night we were there we sang for CHIEF ministries and enjoyed meeting and visiting with people.

the CHIEF compound scenery

It was extremely warm there, and during our stay we took the opportunity to utilize the sunshine to quickly dry our laundry! On one of the days we were there Dad was doing some recordings with Huron Claus of CHIEF, and since our grandma happened to be in town that week we went to go visit her in their winter home.

enjoying mini golf in the back yard…and how did we end up with no pictures of Grandma?

On our way out of Arizona we had the opportunity to go to Immanuel Mission on the Navajo Reservation. It was the first time our whole family got to go. The evening we arrived we enjoyed a home-cooked meal with Mr. and Mrs. Bloom, and then went to the weekly night of singing with the staff. That night some of us got to sleep in a tree house! In the morning we got up bright and early to eat breakfast at the school with the students…the little kindergartners were the cutest ever! After breakfast we joined everyone for chapel and then sang some songs for them. I’m guessing that was the first time bluegrass music was part of their school morning.I couldn’t help but think of all the potential for the Lord that was there in the school chapel. What if all these 70 or so students went on with Him, for Him? What a great thing that would be!

The drive in, and thus the drive out, was on a road unlike any our van has been on before…basically under the gravel it was bedrock, which required driving very slow. It took about thirty minutes to go eight miles. Definitely adventuresome! And our van did quite well.

Our way home took us through the beautiful Rockies in Colorado. We had to take a family picture in this scenery, even though it was way chillier than we had been used to for the past couple weeks!

It’s always fun when we see interesting things along the way…

Our way home also took us to a family camp in Iowa for a week…after which we swung home to do a concert…and shortly after that loaded up again to head down to Oklahoma.

Blue Baptist church was holding a youth revival and asked us to be a part of it. We always enjoy being able to minister with them! It was encouraging to see the young people that were involved with leading it.

We always enjoy seeing our friends there that we have gotten to know through ministering together in South Dakota for a number of years.

That Sunday three or four people were baptized. That was really special to see! It’s not something we get to experience very often.

After church that day they had a big meal and fun outside for people of all ages. Some of the riders of the Glory Train may have just been a little bigger than most people were expecting…

…and maybe it wasn’t as comfortable a ride as the intended recipients had. But it was fun(ny) nonetheless.

Our hosts for the weekend were so gracious and hospitable. The Cobbles made us feel very much at home and gave us good fellowship and laughter.

…and food!

We are so grateful to God for everything He provides to sustain us…prayer support, safety, the family of Christ in so many places we go.

And the next place was North Dakota…stay tuned!