It is with so much joy and excitement that we announce the engagement of our Sara to Eric! Eric is a godly man and we are so thankful for such a great guy for Sara. God has clearly led them together and guided them in their relationship, and when Eric got down on one knee and proposed to Sara, she said yes!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
May was quite a whirlwind for us! Not too long after we got home from Albuquerque we went to Washington State for a regional United in Christ conference on the Colville Reservation. (You can read about the UIC conference from last year, here.)
It was so much fun to drive out there as a family. Dad was the only one of us who had ever been to Montana or the Pacific northwest before now.
riding luggage carts in a Montana elevator
The conference was nowhere near the coast, but since we were in Washington we had to go to the Pacific Ocean, which was another first for us. The night we arrived we found a place to eat called Moby Dick’s—if you are ever in Ocean Shores, this is a tasty option!
delicious…and Abby is about to try clam chowder for the first time
In the morning we made the trek from our hotel to the mighty Pacific Ocean.
And one of the most interesting signs we saw on this trip really told us we were far from home…
On our way to Colville from the coast we drove through the Cascade Mountains…so amazing and beautiful, especially with the waterfalls!
at Deception Falls
The conference in Colville went Thursday through Saturday. This event happened as a result of a lady who came to the one in Bemidji wanting her people in Colville to have the same experience.
here she is with a couple who ministers in Colville
conference location
So many people pulled together to make this happen. Our family stayed busy doing kitchen work, tech, leading music, and singing in the evenings. We had such a good time working alongside friends from home and abroad as well as new ones.
testimonies
Personal stories of coming to faith in Jesus are so powerful. No one can argue against a changed life, or against your own personal experience. I think one of the highlights of this conference was hearing the testimonies of believers…each story is different, but they all demonstrate the same thing—Jesus saves!
these sisters prepared a traditional meal for everyone
prayer time for Native America
the conference center was on the shores of the Columbia river
After the conference we went to visit a missionary couple who had an impact on Dad when he was a teenager. Dad hadn’t seen them in almost thirty years! We had such a great time of fellowship and hearing missionary stories… good reminders of how amazing our God is.
Our next stop was in Reno to sing and to record a testimony for The Storyteller.
Then we made a visit to some friends in Idaho that we figure we haven’t seen in at least ten years. It was so much fun to reconnect with them for the short amount of time we had.
Abby made a friend right before we left
Next, we’re headed for Vessels of Honor for what is always a great young adults Bible conference.
Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Psalm 150:1-2 NKJV
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. …For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:1-6, 11-12 NKJV
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already – a year since the near-death experience God brought us through – one that we all walked away from. We are still amazed at it all. It is hard to find words to express how we feel, except that God is powerful and merciful and faithful, and we are so grateful for each other and for life!
What a journey this past year has been as a result of the plane crash! (If you have not read the story, you can find it here.) We were invited to share our story on the radio with Wayne Shepherd, took our first flight after the crash a few months later, told the story and shared the gospel in a public school, connected with one of our EMT’s when we returned to that community, and watched God open so many doors to tell people the story and point them to Him. We’ve shared this story at kids clubs, churches, and prisons. People recognize that our survival was nothing short of a miracle. We tell them that we cried out to Jesus, He heard us, and that He is real. We are so grateful for this testimony to share with people.
first flight
we were able to share the gospel in a public school as a result of the crash
one of our EMT’s
As believers in Jesus Christ we have everlasting life, which means we know that when we die, we will spend eternity with Him. We were ready to take our last breath. Are you? Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
Praise God for what He has done!
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised… The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. …The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psalm 18:2-3, 5-6, 46 NKJV