Oklahoma, November 1-8, 2015

Getting ready to get on the road toward home after Sunday dinner with the people in Chandler, OK

Carey and I have been privileged to travel to Oklahoma every fall for the past several years.  This trip was filled with many interesting obstacles that we came to realize as being part of the spiritual battle on this journey.  It seemed to have been some of the most intense spiritual opposition I have felt in some time, experienced physically and spiritually, and so we were grateful to know of the prayers of our friends and family as we went.  We began the first Sunday in Caddo, OK at the Church of the Nazarene, our very first time to be there.  It was a privilege to get to know Pastor Timothy Traxel, his wife Sarah, and their two young boys, whom we were blessed to join every evening for a dinner so graciously provided by people in the church.  The services continued through Wednesday evening, and we were touched by the gracious and warm hospitality of the people, and we were thankful to be able to share the Word with them from 1 Corinthians 11.  I am also grateful for the way in which God is working through Pastor Tim and Sarah and others there to reach out to children and young people in this very small town.  We prayed that this time would be spiritually strengthening for them and an encouragement going forward.  From Caddo, we drove the two and a half hours to Chandler, OK, in the northeastern part of the state.  Chandler has been our regular destination for these past several years as we are longtime friends (over 20 years) with Pastor Keith and Nancy Cole and the Chandler Church of the Nazarene congregation.  Per the usual schedule there, we began services Friday evening and continued through Sunday morning, having two on Saturday.  I was especially encouraged by this visit to Chandler.  

We always enjoy being with our friends Keith and Nancy as we share so much in common (“Go, Cubs, Go”) and he loves to tease back and forth with Trina, even across the distance.  But I was also encouraged with the church’s emphasis on prayer and how they are praying before each and every service.  I deeply sensed God’s working in the church, and we were deeply touched through His presence in these times.  What a blessing it is for us to get to continue to walk with people in this way.  Carey and I made it back to Nashville nearing midnight on Sunday night with our bodies weary, but with thankful and rejoicing hearts for all God is doing.  Jesus is at work in our lives and among His people.  Thank you for being a part of that. 
 
Running together in Christ,
 
John

Carey playing frisbee catch with Reba at Pastor Keith's house