Hazim prospers!

Last year (May 20) I posted about Hazim, our Iraqi refugee friend in Nashville. Today we called him, just to catch up. We found him in his usual haunt, the Goodwill Store on Nolensville Rd. He has become quite involved in an Arabic church in the Tusculum area. We were so encouraged to know that he continues to walk with the Lord. He always begs us to return to Nashville. Maybe someday!

Miller-Carrillo Wedding

We had a lot of fun celebrating the wedding of Alba Miller and Mauricio Carrillo! Carol made the wedding cake (gluten free). Alba has been a good friend for many years. She does student ministry with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade). Mauricio is Mexican, from Mérida, Yucatan. I believe he also wants to go into the ministry with Alba. Many people attended the wedding from the U.S., Mexico, and many other lands. I also got a good shot of 3 pretty ladies, Carol, Alba y Heather Erickson.

Team Retreat to "El Escorial"

This past weekend 10 members of our core group held a planning retreat in El Escorial. We stayed in the very house where Philip II lived while supervising the construction of his palace/mausoleum, and from which he directed the Counter-reformation. How ironic that we were now planning to start a new Protestant church from his very living room!

While in El Escorial, we were encouraged by the inscription over our door, which says "Post Fata Resurgo" (Latin for "rise again after death"). We may adopt that phrase as a slogan for the new church! (Was Philip II a prophet?)

Peter McMillan and I biked home (72km). A wonderful way to enjoy a sunny, brisk winter day.