Eureka!

We have found it! Our new church home is Harvest Community Church (click on link to see church) in Hillsboro, about a 15-20 minute drive from us. It is part of the Conservative Baptist Association, which is familiar to us because our church in Long Beach, California (Bethany) also belonged to that group of churches. We're happy to be "home" again.

It is by far the most friendly church we have ever experienced! Every Sunday people come up to us and introduce themselves and then spend a little while talking with us, as though they are actually interested in getting to know us. Wow! What a concept--to step out of your comfort zone and go out of your way to meet strangers who visit your church (especially when you haven't been designated as an official "greeter")! What a wonderful idea in the family of God--to put out the effort required to personally get to know the people you worship with! I like it! (Maybe someday it will actually catch on in all churches.)

Last Sunday (June 4th), even though we had already attended four Sundays prior to that day, we were still undecided. As we drove to church I said to Larry, "I wonder what God will do to show us for sure if this is the right church for us? We do like the church, but we're still unsure. How or when will we know for sure?"

About half-way to church, the car began acting up. After stopping a couple of times, we knew for sure--we have car trouble! Should we stop driving and call AAA? Should we turn around and try to make it back home, even if it means stopping every little bit to let the engine cool off? Larry decided we should limp on to church since we were closer there than to go back home. We made it to church (Sunday School), about 10-15 minutes late, but it was okay because the class we had planned to visit hadn't started yet.

When church was over, as I was waiting for Larry to finish talking with a guy he had met the day before (at a men's breakfast), a lady I didn't know came up to me and invited us over to their house for supper--that very night! She said she saw us sitting in church, and remembered us from the Sunday before (May 28th). (They had talked with us for just a few minutes during the "stand-up-and-greet-someone-around-you-time.") She remembered me saying that we were new and would like to get to know some people in the church. So, when she saw us again the next Sunday, she quickly, spur-of-the-moment, decided to invite us and a few other couples over to their house for supper. (Later, that evening, she told me that she had strongly sensed the Holy Spirit telling her, "Invite that couple over to your house tonight.") So she did, and we went! We had a really nice time getting to know them and two other couples. That act of kindness, from total strangers, was God's way of letting us know, "This is your new church home."

Back to the part about us having car trouble on the way to church that morning... Yes, we did, indeed have a mechanical failure--the thermostat was shot, so we couldn't even drive the car back home. (Larry had to replace the thermostat that afternoon.) However, if we had not gone on to church that morning, we would have missed out on a great surprise opportunity to make some new friends, sharing supper together in the home of strangers!

Also, as a result of spending time that evening chatting with three new friends, I am about to be thrust into involvement with Women's Ministries in this new church. One of the women just happened to be meeting with the Director of Women's Ministries (Glynna) last week, and told her about me. Glynna called me, eager to meet with me, because she has been praying for someone to come along side her! (Guess who else has been praying for just such an opportunity as this?) So, we're getting together tomorrow at her office.

God works in amazing ways, answering prayer in many lives all at once, putting His plans in place--all in His perfect time, and His perfect way! (Patience, Jeannie!)

Thanks, Lord, for leading us along Your pathway, guiding us into the plans You have for our lives.