Trip Reflections

Janet and I traveled February 11-15 to Michigan to share Scripture with a group of “believers and belongers” in a village that no longer exists – Aetna, Michigan.

I saw a billboard (actually saw many) – PRLAY – an advertisement for gambling.

What first got my attention?  PRAY  What was promoted – PLAY

Sure seems Evil to somehow bring God into an activity that is so very contrary to Biblical wisdom and common sense.

Most Michigan billboards had three themes:  casinos and gambling; wines and wine spots; and recreational marijuana delivered, offered or available.  Not one is good for our future.

An alcohol billboard – “Drink Eat Repent”

A liquor billboard – “Making Spirits Right”

Another billboard: – “Genuine Christians Forgive like Jesus”.  True, but not only forgive… for He also told people to stop sinning – even to those He forgave!  John 8:11

Passed by a minivan with a bumper sticker:  SAVE AMERICA – DO THE ROSARY

I danced with an all-black Land Rover.  I mean he’d fly by me and in a few miles I’d pass him as he appeared to be on his phone.  This happened maybe five times thus it felt like a dance.  I also danced with an aqua colored Volvo semi for over a 100 miles through eastern IA.  We both took a drive break where I noted him coming from his truck so I talked with him.

It was 720 miles doorstep to doorstep of Blackwoods.  From Blackwoods to their church is about 17 miles – a jaunt.  The overall trip was 1535 miles.  I paid $3.65 a gallon in IL and got over 34 mpg on one stretch – Yeah!   Only briefly while traveling did we have any music or podcasts playing.

I rarely saw speed limit signs – at least in rural Michigan.  In Illinois there seems to be two speed limits:  one near what is posted and the other very fast – whatever that is.

Along the roads in that part of MI every 300 yards or so is a “place” – with many seeming to be vacant.  Most “places” are mobile homes, doublewides or modular homes.  Many barns are in states of decay or collapse.  It does not appear to be very affluent.  Many Amish with horse and buggy.

The Walmart in Fremont was very, very clean and well stocked.

The church building was erected around 1990 and is a nice layout although showing it was 30 years ago.  As is true for all buildings – updates and upgrades need to happen routinely.  We spoke Saturday evening at the Valentine’s banquet and Sunday morning.  There is a good group and I believe Pastor Justin is loved and doing a good job.

We enjoyed time with the Blackwoods in their home in the woods and taking in their world of church, homeschooling, and chores.  A dozen chickens each named, three cats each named, and a variety of birds feeding on the suet on their deck.

We enjoyed time with Craig and Diana Johnson who joined us on Sunday morning and hosted us on Monday.  They blessed us in the 80’s in our Wyoming church and continue to bless us even while they live in Michigan.  We toured Grand Haven in an all-day snow on Monday.  They heat with a pellet stove which gives off wonderful heat.  Craig is an engineer at Gerbers, the baby food people, and talked about products, hiring and the coming 30 million dollar addition to the plant.

They have a house guest who has a degree in film and is currently shooting another Ray Vander Laan series in a studio just south in Holland.  She is about 23 years old and is delightful and creative.  She made a bouquet of flowers from a book and has a loom for making yarn.