District Tour Highlights

During the past few months that I have been in the US, I have had 3 official district speaking tours -- the Mid-Atlantic District (my home district), the Wisconsin District (my future LINKS district), and the Georgia District (my current LINKS district), as well as speaking at a handful of churches on other districts. Here are a few of the highlights from these 3 district tours.

Mid-Atlantic District

For the majority of the time I was in the US, I was based out of my parents' home in York, Pennsylvania. That allowed me to travel easily on weekends to several churches on the Mid-Atlantic District, which covers south-central PA, Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and part of West Virginia.

I grew up in the Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene in York, Pennsylvania (part of the Mid-Atlantic District). While I was in the US, I had the opportunity to speak at the services at the main campus and also at the service at the York City campus of the Stillmeadow church. My home church has taken the initiative to support me in a new way; they are forming a local NMI missionary chapter to support me in prayer, to keep the church connected with what I am doing, and to learn more about Nazarene missions in Romania and around the world. This is a huge blessing, and I am looking forward to sharing with them at their organizational meeting on Saturday, May 12. The Stillmeadow Church posted a video of my message on their website. You can watch that video by clicking here.

While on the Mid-Atlantic District, I attended the district NMI convention and district assembly. I enjoyed reconnecting with people I had met just a few weeks earlier while speaking in their churches. Since I have been off of my home district for the majority of the past 13 years (while at college, seminary, and now in Romania), I am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak at several churches on the district to connect with Nazarenes across the Mid-Atlantic District.

I was asked to participate in the Mid-Atlantic District NMI Convention by leading prayer for the Eurasia Region.

While at the NMI Convention, I sold dolls made by the women in the Church of the Nazarene in Tigmandru, Romania, to help support their ministry.

At the concluding service of the Mid-Atlantic District Assembly, I was ordained an elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Since I could not be surrounded by those to whom I minister in Romania, it was significant that so many who had recently heard me share about Romania in their local churches were present for my ordination.

Wisconsin District 

When I lived in the Kansas City area, I rented a room from Derl & Karen Keefer. Derl and I worked together in the Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International office at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center. Shortly after I began my missionary assignment in Romania, Derl was appointed district superintendent of the Wisconsin district. I soon received an invitation from the district NMI president to tour the Wisconsin District on my next visit to the US. I later learned that the Wisconsin District would be my next LINKS district.

During the last week of March, I spent 9 days touring the Wisconsin District, speaking in 11 churches. Before my visit, I had requested to stay in church members' homes rather than in hotels. This is always an enjoyable experience for me; I get to know each of the families who opened their homes to me as they share about their lives and express their interest in what I do in Romania.

While in Wisconsin, I was presented with this bouquet of candy at the Madison CrossPointe Church of the Nazarene. I'd never heard of a candy bouquet before, but this one sure was delicious!

I have to admit that I felt like a celebrity in some of the churches I visited due to the amount of promotional materials they had prepared before I arrived. One of the most creative and informative posters I encountered was at the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Church of the Nazarene. The NMI president who created this poster has been battling an illness and was hospitalized the day of my visit.  

The Baraboo First Church of the Nazarene adapted the quiz I had prepared about Romania and tested the knowledge of the congregation before I got up to speak. The missions president even had prizes for those who knew the correct answer. The Baraboo church also recorded my message and has it available on their  church website.


Georgia District

I have been looking forward to the Georgia District tour since we started planning it over a year ago. For the past 2 years, Georgia Nazarenes have been supporting me in prayer, sending me notes for my birthday, Christmas, and other occasions, as well as supporting me financially, all as part of the Church of the Nazarene's LINKS program. My trip to Georgia also marked the random personal milestone that I have now been to half (25) of the 50 states.

While in Georgia, I was given this overflowing basket of goodies from the Albany First Church of the Nazarene to keep me from going hungry while traveling throughout the state.

Unfortunately, my 10-day tour of the Georgia District had to come to an early end. Instead of touring all 12 churches originally planned, I was only able to visit 4 due to my grandmother's passing and funeral. I thank the churches on the Georgia district for their flexibility, understanding, and prayers. Even though it was a shortened tour, I very much did enjoy meeting the Georgia Nazarenes with whom I have been LINKed for the past 2 years.


Have More Photos?
I have not taken nearly as many pictures during these district tours as I would have liked to. If you or someone from your church is willing to share pictures you took, I would love to receive a copy of them. Thank you ahead of time.