North by Southwest AND Northwest

A Cardinals game was high on my list of must-dos when in St. Louis during any part of the season. I managed to squeeze one in on a chilly Friday night; let's just say the company was better than the outcome of the game. We left during the 7th inning stretch. It went against every diehard bone in my body, but I was so chilled I didn't care, plus I needed to rest up for a 3 hr., 45 min. drive to southwest MO around midday on Saturday. 

I pulled up at Faith Lutheran in Branson just in time for a good 'ole Lutheran potluck and forum for sharing my presentation prior to their regularly scheduled evening service (6:00 pm, so visitors can attend and still make an evening show). My connection to the congregation is a couple that used to snowbird in El Paso every winter; we lived together my first couple months as a GEO Missionary at Ysleta Lutheran Mission. They're IA transplants who now live in a condo overlooking Lake Taneycomo and graciously hosted me for the night. 

Sunday morning, I drove ~45 minutes to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nixa, MO (Redeemer's main campus, where I presented on my last home service, is nearby in my college stompin' grounds: Springfield). The pastor was out on paternity leave, but you'd never have known; the rest of the ministry team executed his carefully orchestrated plan to a T and embraced me wholeheartedly. 

Speaking of college, I spent the rest of Sunday in Farmington, AR, with my roomie, Carrie. We watched Netflix, snuggled her ailing kitty Walter, got Mexican...it was lazy and it was perfect.

She only lives half an hour or so from my next destination: Springdale, AR. I met up with the Salem Lutheran Ministries crew at a Firehouse Subs for pre-hike sandwiches, which we ate overlooking a waterfall at Devil's Den State Park.

L to R: Rev. Adam Gless, Rev. Brandon Martin, Joy Martin, and I. 

I relaxed at the Martins' favorite coffee shop for a couple hours before a home service first: presenting in Spanish. Salem Lutheran Ministries is an umbrella for an Anglo congregation, a preschool, and Iglesia Luterana Cristo para Todos. The Hispanic congregation gathered for a meal and for many, to hear that Lutheran church planting is happening wherever it is they're from. 

The Martins' home is clearly one filled with love and one built by two world travelers! I got to add star #68 to their wall map of locations from which they've hosted overnight guests. 

The following day, I commandeered a regular Tuesday morning Bible study to share in English and was treated to lunch before my longest drive yet: roughly 5 hours back to St. Louis, most of which was through a driving rain. I had time to unpack before bookending my trip by spending another evening with my fellow Cardinals fans for sophomore Abby's NHS induction. I was eager to support her and also scope out the capital expansion that's underway at my alma mater. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!