On Monday, April 13th, Kat and I (along with our belongings and Kitty Cat, Luigi) left our New Hampshire homestead of sixteen years to begin the 1500 mile journey to the Orlando, Florida area. Talk about two completely different ends of the United States East Coast and weather variations. We left NH when mud season was in full swing and snow piles were still high. Ice still covered the lakes and nights still experienced winter chill temperatures. When we arrived early Wednesday, for a visit around Hilton Head Island, SC (a favorite spot for us), we knew the hoodies, sweatshirts and the heat switch in the truck had to go! The spring we've been longing for was all around us with the green grass, leafed trees and flowering plants.
The Mud The Snow Piles We Left Behind in New Hampshire
After a great lunch at a local HHI Mexican Restaurant, we proceeded on the final five hour trip to Kissimmee, Florida -- our new home. By the time we neared Daytona Beach, the warm southern skies burst forth torrential rains that were so severe, many stopped (including us for about 5 min) or slowed to 20 MPH just to be driving safely as it was so hard to see. Even with that small delay, we made it to our destination by 10 pm. Luigi was so glad to exit his three-day old cage home in the back of the pickup!
So we've been here now two full weeks. In the past, after visiting and vacationing this would be about the time we'd begin the return trip. But the Rumney, NH house is in the final stages of being sold and the job I had in Tilton, NH was transferred down here to Poinciana, FL.
One thing has not changed in these 1500 miles of travel and that is our mission for the Kingdom of Christ. In fact, just today, Kat and I viewed via our cell phones the 2015 Exponential Conference taking place in nearby Tampa. The things we both heard confirmed the calling and desire to "Love God, Love Others and Make Disciples" all in the context of the Culture and Community we live. So, God has set before us the Mission: "Celebrate - Connect - Contribute" => I call it ... "The 3 Cs". God is paving a path for us even in unfamiliar (to us) but extremely needy (for God) Osceola County, Florida. In my next post, I will talk more about that ... but for now it's Life Journey Connection in Central Florida => The3Cs.org.
