If you read our blog last week, you will remember that I was just getting ready for a bus trip out to Missouri. Nate, a staff co-worker here at Three Springs and I left around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon on our coach bus. We had three groups to pick up in New York, who were all heading out to the National Bible Quiz Fellowship Competition in Kansas City. We had a full bus load of young kids, with ages ranging from 12 to 18, and their coaches or leaders also.
Our group consisted of four different teams that were being sponsored by a ministry called Family Life Ministries from the New York area. Nate and I would alternate four hour shifts of driving and sleeping for the 1,100 mile trip, which took us about 21 hours. The trip there went well with no mishaps, and we arrived around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon.
We stayed at a Holiday Inn, where the quizzing was being held. One neat thing was that our hotel was overlooking the Kansas City pro football and baseball stadiums of the Royals and Chiefs. We could watch the fireworks after the Royals baseball games in the evening.
There were 46 teams from all over the country that had qualified from their local levels. I estimated that there were approximately 400 quizzers there and maybe the same number of parents and coaches. They would quiz Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with the finals ending Saturday night.
Our teams did fairly well, with the top team placing 12th. One of our girls placed 2nd in the individual average score out of all the quizzers. Nate and I enjoyed following our groups around and supporting them as we watched. The thing that really impressed me was the dedication to learning God's Word that most of the kids had. They quizzed on the book of John, and there were many who had memorized the whole book. They knew that book left and right and any other way you wanted to come at it. I know a lot of the learning was academic, but God also says that His Word will not return void. These kids will carry with them what they have studied and learned, which God will use to accomplish His will in their lives. The leaders and parents where great supporters for their kids, and it was encouraging to be able to be used to support their efforts in this ministry.
There were a couple of negatives though on this trip. The first being that Friday morning I woke up with a stomach bug, complete with fever and aches. Thankfully I was able to rest and sleep all day in our room. By Saturday I was feeling a lot better and was ready to travel again that night. The only other negative was being away from my family for 6 days and 5 nights. I can't remember being away for more than a day or two before, and I found that I really missed everyone very much and was anxious to be back home.
Kathryn and the kids also missed Daddy, but with the Lord's help through many prayers, they fared alright while I was gone. Clay did have to go back to the doctor to get another round of antibiotics for his lingering ear infections, which seem to be doing better now. They also had some very large storms that came through with lots of rain and lightning and actually lost power for about an hour one evening, (just long enough to get the candles and flashlights rounded up for a little excitement!). Kathryn did manage to find some time to get the kids down to Three Springs for a picnic lunch and some play time in between all the rain we have been getting. She did say that she could tell that people were praying, with the extra strength and patience she had while I was away. Praise the Lord!
There was a group here at the Inn this past weekend. We had asked a couple of the other staff to cover our hosting responsibilities for us since I was away. We have this weekend open for the Inn and are looking forward to going down to visit with my grandparents and meeting up with my parents who are coming back to stay with us for the weekend.
After arriving home from my trip Sunday night, we have been getting back into the swing of things here with plenty of yard and flower bed work around the property here and also at Three Springs.
I would like to thank those who have been praying for us this past week. God has been good as always and brought us through a difficult week, and we could definitely feel your prayers. Let us know how we can be praying for you as well as we love to hear from you too. Have a great week!
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