Home sweet home.

Just got back from speaking at a missions weekend at Perry Hall Baptist Church in the Baltimore/D.C. area. It was a good weekend of ministry and I felt very welcome at Perry Hall thanks to my friend, Chris. Chris and I studied together at Dallas Seminary and he is now on the staff at Perry Hall. Thanks to his help we were able to begin a relationship with Perry Hall's missions board 3 years ago. They faithfully supported us for the entire time we were in Russia. This weekend was an opportunity for me to express our heart-felt thanks to them in person and also serve them by bringing a word of encouragement for their spring Missions Re-charge weekend. I spoke twice and enjoyed the experience very much. It was encouraging to be able to share a fresh vision for missions out of Isaiah 25:6-9 with their congregation. Many seemed to feel that I had broadened their perspectives and given them new insights on the importance of missions.

I also had the chance to reconnect with Chris and his family after being apart for several years. We did a little sight-seeing in the "inner harbor" area of Baltimore (where Camden Yard and the Ravens' stadium are located). It was cool to be able to see some of these sights.

It was a good trip but I am also glad to be home. There's a Russian saying that goes something like, being a guest is nice, being at home is better. I loved staying with Chris and enjoyed it very much and now it's time to get back into the flow of things at home.

**Update**

A few pictures...

Me out by the scoreboard and the warehouse at Camden Yard.

Cal & Rachel drifting at Planet Pizza. A future Fujiwara in the works.

Cal goofing around with turtles & ducks. Diggin' Jurassic Park(?)

Sealy posturepedics new mattresses - they're as tough as nails.