roller coaster weekend

This weekend was filled with soem great highs and a horrible low. Let's start with the low.

On Thursday night, after work, I (mike) went to the hospital to visit our friend John who was in the ICU. His wife was not there, so I had a chance to talk with one of his sons for a bit. Then when I was getting ready to leave, his son asked if I wanted to go back and see John. I had not thought about doing it, but since I am a minister Josh (the son) said they would let me. I went back to the room and as soon as I saw him I started crying (not just those "end of a sad movie tears" but the real "weeping" I can't believe I am looking at you in this condition tears) and couldn't really control myself. I prayed with him and cried.

Well, on the way up to IL, we got the call we didn't want to get. John passed away on Friday afternoon. It was a tough ride after that point. Because we were out of town, we did not get to go to the viewing or funeral.

But we had some great news this weekend, too.

The weekend went great. We had a chance to get to hang out with some of the youth and coaches/elders/staff on Saturday night. It was a fun time and we felt right at home. We even said it didn't feel like an interview. It was a great feeling to just be "right back at home" even though it was the second time we were there. We stayed with a great couple, we much prefer this over a hotel :)

On Sunday, I was able to teach the jr. high sunday school and the sr. high sunday night classes. It was good to be able to teach in those settings again. We felt like both classes went well and God used the subject matter to reinforce some things that have been taught over the last few months. We still haven't been able to meet all the youth yet :) (they must be scared of my overwhelming personality :))

Anyway, on Sunday afternoon we had a lunch with the search team and elders again. At the afterlunch meeting there wasn't too much discussion about new stuff. It felt like everyone had already made up there mind as to what they thought about me and the open position (probably didn't hurt that everyone loved Amy and the boys). So they decided they would have a meeting right there after we left. They met and decided to ask us back in two weeks to preach and meet the "rest of the congregation" - you know the people who don't have children and those who don't work with youth or are not elders. They want to give every opportunity for the people to get to meet us. We will also be visiting different SS classes during that trip.

I was offered the job and we accepted. This next trip is almost basically about "PR" with the congregation. We are looking forward to it.

Hopefully, we will be able to move and start in about a month or so. Wow that is strange to type. It has been almost a year since we started this process. Throughout the entire time God has been good, no great.