Starting the journey

Dear Friends in Christ,

In less than half an hour my ride will come and I will join the rest of the group for the trip to O'Hare Airport for the first leg of our journey. We're arriving plenty early --- partly to be sure we get through security ok, but also because we will be meeting up with members from a number of other congregations who are taking the same journey we are. (An early arrival gives us a little time to get better acquainted with each other.) Also represented on this trip will be Bethlehem, DeKalb, First, DeKalb, St. James, Rock Island, St. John's, Rock Island, and Faith, Moline. Some of our time will be spent together and some we will split up into congregational groups to become better acquainted with our individual companion congregations. Please be sure to pray for all on this journey -- for safety to be sure, but also for deepening faith and growing relationships with one another as well as with the people we will encounter.

Yesterday when our group was commissioned we were reminded that we are 'ambassadors.' Ambassadors of Christ, to be sure, but also of all of you. We go representing you and we do carry a large piece of you with us. You can be sure that we will be living deeply into the experiences of these next weeks in order that we might come back to share it all with you. You can also be certain that you remain in our prayers as we go.

I need to double check my bags before I head out the door, so I'll say good-bye for now. We'll do our best to keep you posted on this journey through this blog.

Between now and when we see you again,

Mungu akubariku (God bless you!)

Pastor Janet