southern california

josh & i just completed our move from indianapolis to eaton (arriving at our new home at 5 a.m. saturday morning!), so i finally have a chance to post photos from our california trip. we don't have internet out at the country home, so we are sitting at good 'ol muncie alliance church drinking mochas & dancing to oliver mtukudzi on a sunny sunday afternoon...

twelve days was a super-long time to be away in the middle of our move, but so many moments of our journey seemed resplendent with meaning & intention.

* greg + julie christman (3 days)- surfing, encouragement, refreshing conversations, & a concert at their hollywood church "kairos"

* josh's sister teal (3 days)- food, fellowship, swimming rooftop at the standard

* concert at calvary chapel, costa mesa

* a day with "uncle" dave & "aunt" heidi coombs, dear friends from peru: SUCH an encouraging, worshipful time!

* a day with alice quinty + her family; she was my babysitter in peru!

* an afternoon at jedidiah, sponsors of josh (they gave us a free shopping spree in their warehouse!), & time with the walking on water folks

* an evening at a downtown san diego fellowship--an inspiring german missionary

* early morning surf with jason andre & friends in oceanside

* beautiful dinner with lisa at solana beach; wonderful talks & hospitality at her san diego home

* russell & brianna's wedding in encinitas--josh played in their wedding, & we had a blast with new friends. met tom from surfing the nations, & look forward to hooking up in some way...

* back to l.a. for one last day with greg & julie

here are a few pictures. all the trip photos are here.

: i think this picture says alot about us :

: greg & julie christman :

: greg con mucho sunblock :

: teal flies like a superhero on the rings : (venice beach)

: teal's downtown l.a. apartment :

: uncle dave & aunt heidi, bible translators for the quechua, listening to a quechua praise song from the "walking on water" soundtrack :

: jane, michelle, alice :

: lisa with speedy the turtle :

: josh in ridiculous glasses : can you find me, jason, & lisa? :

: at russell & brianna's wedding :

: josh & mitchy at pt. dume :

: my husband likes to jump off of high & dangerous places :

as always, i barely know how to whittle down the happenings of our trip. it was an incredibly encouraging visit for us. so many old & new friends, & so many confirmations that this step towards music + development is a good one. we enjoyed deep times of fellowship & prayer, & watched in wonder as the Lord breathed life into our future. we don't know what this all means, but we are joyfully entering this uncertain time in the river mansion, awaiting God's direction... visiting l.a., & meeting the folks from jedidiah, walking on water, & surfing the nations (who have all sponsored josh or used his music, offering friendship & support) somehow brought hope to our family vision of art/music/preaching/cross-cultural work/development. really, we weren't given any more concrete steps for our future, but we feel hopeful, swimming in the knowledge of God's care.