Friday May 9th, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Yvonne and I want to let you know that we are thinking of you as we continue our adventure towards Europe. We have been traversing the Atlantic for 8 full days now. One more night, our 9th, and we will arrive in Lisbon, Portugal. On Wednesday we saw our first sign of others navigating these waters – just one small sailboat and another small vessel. Until then we had seen absolutely no other signs of humans! Yesterday we caught a glimpse of land through the mist and fog – the Azores islands. I thought of how so many brave explorers and merchants and settlers sailed the ocean for months – and in small and fragile ships. These people risked their lives for a purpose that burned in their hearts. Boldly they made their way into an unknown future.

The Church moves into the future, unsure sometimes of what lays beyond the horizon. It is a time for adventure and courage and risk. But this we are sure of: God is our navigator, our companion, our strength, and our comforting companion. It is a time to trust and a time to discover ‘new worlds’!

Speaking of companions, I have a travelling companion who has a birthday today! Yvonne is indeed a ‘co-adventurer’ – Happy Birthday to my wife!

Blessings, Pastor Doug