June 29, 2005

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  Hi!  I'm going to post a few pictures from Puerto Rico.  Of course it's hard to take pictures while I'm preaching, so there's not many of those.  But I had a few hours to head out around San Juan and El Moro so I snapped away like any other tourist.

  
  

  Overall, the trip was a tremendous blessing.  I spoke on Abraham as an example for the last generation (surprise!).  I think that's become a favorite of mine.  Thirteen youth groups joined together at a rented hall for the weekend.  Friday night's sermon was carried live by the Adventist radio station in San Juan. 

  
  

  The trip was also a blessing because I was able to spend some time with Ketsy, Ketty, and Junior - three friends who when they were teenagers lived with my family while they learned English.  It was so good to see them after seven years - and meet their families!

  
  

  My trip back was nearly as eventful as the one going.  We were two hours late leaving Miami for Dallas due to the fact that our pilots weren't there. (OK, that actually is one of the better excuses I've heard for delayed departures lately.)  Then the ride was so bumpy that they had to fly slower to make it smoother.  Then the landing approach in Dallas was off so after making a low-level pass over the runway the pilots decided there wasn't a good way to still land in the space left and did a go-around.  This is only the second time I've experienced an aborted landing on a commercial flight.  Did I mention how choppy the ride was?  About this time the poor fellow across the aisle began putting to good use the doggy bag thoughtfully provided in the seat pocket in front of him.  The crew came on and asked the passengers to lower their shades and make sure the air vents were all open to try to cool the plane as much as possible for the benefit of the queasy at stomach.  After we landed they asked all the passengers whose seats needed extra attention by way of cleaning to leave their call button lit!  I'm glad I have a strong stomach.  I actually like turbulence if it's not too rough.

  
  

  So, I made it on the next flight to Little Rock (the one after my scheduled flight) and missed my Monday night Bible study.  :s  My sister gave it for me, as I had left the materials for it, and I'm sure it went well.

  
  

  OK, I know, I know, enough rambling.  Now for some pictures.

  
  

  

  
  

  I love the ocean!

  
  

  

  
  

  Here's the hall where we had our meetings for the weekend.  I never was at the back when the lights were on to be able to get a picture of the audience.

  
  

  

  
  

  During a song service.

  
  

  

  
  

  The nice, friendly, playful dog at the house where I stayed.

  
  

  

  
  

  OK, on second thought, the dog at the house where I stayed.

  
  

  

  
  

  Milton and Ruth, my hosts for the weekend!  They were so good to me!  I ate the best Puerto Rican and Dominican food imaginable!

  
  

  

  
  

  Junior and Ketty.

  
  

  

  
  

  Ketty and her husband, Ignazio.

  
  

  

  
  

  Ketsy and her two girls - Rosalyn and Naomi.

  
  

  

  
  

  The gorgeous sunset Sabbath evening.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  The beach-front skyline of San Juan.

  
  

  

  
  

  Night shots of El Moro.

  
  

  

  
  

  A scene in the Old Town.

  
  

  

  
  

  I think this is a similar picture to the one I took nine years ago when I accompanied the Class of 1996 on their Senior trip to Puerto Rico.  Some things have stayed so the same, while other things in this world have changed so drastically in the last nine years.  I hope Jesus comes before another nine years.  "Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come."

  
  

  Oh, and yes, on Sunday I went swimming out into the ocean with Junior - and now I have a painful sunburn!

  
  

  Please pray for the young people who heard the messages.  I know that many were touched, and one young lady responded to my appeal for baptism. 

  
  

  Hope you enjoyed a few shots from my busy weekend!  Later today I leave for General Conference in St. Louis.  I miss all you guys!  Call me!

  • 1:21 am
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