Making New Friends in Vermont

Our friends Len and Lynne Benson hosted us last weekend at their home in Rutland, Vermont!  Len and Lynne have spent a lot of time in Albania, volunteering with Planters Seed every year since 2007, including bringing several teams over from their home church, Calvary Bible (below).  We can't put into words how much we appreciate all that Len and Lynne did to make our visit to Rutland so meaningful!

Saturday night Nathan and I were guests at a "Team of Two" communication in marriage seminar facilitated by Pastor Dave and his wife, Dawn.  It was a nice way to get acquainted with some of the individuals we would get to know over the course of our three days in Rutland (not to mention learn a few bug-a-boos in our communication with each other)!  Within the first fifteen minutes we were at the seminar, we discovered that the pastor's nephew (who had called this his home church until re-locating to Albany, NY) had married one of our former student cabinet members  at Asbury!  I had even photographed their engagement pictures fourteen months earlier!

Sunday morning Nathan and I shared the morning message.  We were so blessed by our worship time -- Elias and Holly and the worship team really blessed our hearts.  I was glad I didn't know until afterwards that our message was being video-recorded and will air on a local cable channel in Rutland tomorrow!  I don't know that we've been on tv before! ;-)

Sunday evening the Andersons hosted us at their home in Wallingford for a potluck supper with a group of about twenty folks from church.  Ellie made a friend with a little girl who shared her same name!  How fun!  Reni found some guys who appeared to be boys at heart that got down with him to play cars! ;-)

(Above Left)  Pastor Dave and Nathan, (Above Right) myself with the Browns

Reni cajoled Holly into a game of ping pong.  I think our little guy might be a bit competitive!

Monday night we were back in Rutland town for a potluck at the home of the Temples.

(Below, Upper Right)  I'm with our hostess who is 1/2 Albanian!

It was a special treat to connect with members of the church who have traveled to Albania.  Carol (above, lower center) has traveled three times and helped a lot with the village women's craft business enterprise!  Pat, Phil, and Jay were in Albania in November helping to prepare our apartment for us!  We are so grateful for places like Calvary Bible who have been such valuable partners in prayer and sending finances and people to further the ministry in Albania!

Thank you, CBC friends, for receiving us so warmly!  We are grateful for you!
And special thanks to Len and Lynne, for creating so many opportunities to get to know your church family better and share God's calling on our family!  It encouraged our hearts more than you know!