Down, Around, & Back Up Again

Friday of the AL/FL trip had me leaving St. Marys, GA, and heading to Jacksonville to spend the evening with longtime GBC friends, Cecil and Teddy Hampton. Since they were working, I stopped in Amelia Island for the afternoon for some time at the beach. After a great BBQ lunch(true BBQ, for all you Texans and Northerners), I headed to the beach. After a little over an hour of bright, hot sun, a big storm blew in and the lifeguard shooed everyone off the beach. I drove back in to the adorable little town of Fernandina Beach, where I had spotted a coffee shop earlier(gotta watch out for important things like that!). I made it into the coffee shop with my computer right before the deluge began, and quickly wrote a status update on facebook about being at a coffee shop on Amelia Island. Within just a few minutes there was a note from one of my favorite former viola students, "No way! My family is here on vacation." A little while later, she, her mom, and her twin showed up to spend my last hour with me before I had to head down to Jacksonville-what a fun surprise!

With Gabriella at the Amelia Island Coffee Shop

I had a really great visit with Cecil and Teddy in Jacksonville, getting some good time of fellowship with them that evening and the next morning. They have faithfully encouraged me along the way, and it was a blessing to have the opportunity to spend some time with them.

Sunday morning I spoke at Fellsmere Historical Church in Fellsmere, FL. This church was a Methodist church that got "too small" and was shut down. The congregation called my great uncle Bill to restructure them as an independent church, and he remained there as the pastor for seven years. It was really interesting speaking in two churches that are primarily made up of "Snowbirds" that leave in the summer. They were so friendly and welcoming, though, and I enjoyed my time there. That evening I spoke at Chapel By The Sea on Hutchinson Island(near Ft. Pierce), which was the church that Uncle Bill started. Again, it's a church made up of snowbirds, but I so appreciated getting to share about missionary care with all of these brothers and sisters.

With Aunt Frances(my dad's aunt) and her son, David. 

Monday I made the long drive home. This trip was such a blessing to me. Almost everyone I met with was super encouraging. So many people blessed me with their hospitality, monetary gifts, hugs, notes, thoughtfulness, etc. My rest time in St. Marys and the two other times that I made it to the beach were so nice and relaxing. I wasn't a bit stressed out on this trip, other than when I drove through one terrible storm for several hours. Regardless of the outcome support wise, this trip was such a gift and I'm so thankful for it!

To see all of the pictures from my trip(some are so beautiful!), click on the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151179406657152.506881.692137151&type=1&l=dc57488a79