Trip to New York (with a little excursion into New England)
Wed, May 20 2009 12:09 | Massachusetts, New York, New England, slideshow | Permalink
It is hard to believe that we have returned from our final big trip before leaving for France next month! We had a wonderful time in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. God gave us more friends and prayer partners and we hope that more financial partners will come as a result of this trip as well. Here are some pictures from the trip.
Click here to view in larger format.
Looking ahead:
Thursday (5-21) we leave town for Raleigh, North Carolina. Ruth's younger sister, Rachel will be marrying Jim Small at Friendship Baptist Church on Saturday. We look forward to a good time of reunion with the Pahnke clan and celebration of this new marriage.
Prayer request:
Our visas still have not arrived and we cannot purchase plane tickets until they do. Please pray that they will arrive shortly!
Click here to view in larger format.
Looking ahead:
Thursday (5-21) we leave town for Raleigh, North Carolina. Ruth's younger sister, Rachel will be marrying Jim Small at Friendship Baptist Church on Saturday. We look forward to a good time of reunion with the Pahnke clan and celebration of this new marriage.
Prayer request:
Our visas still have not arrived and we cannot purchase plane tickets until they do. Please pray that they will arrive shortly!
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Celebrating our Heritage: Church History Sites in New England
Tue, May 19 2009 09:43 | New England, Celebrating Our Heritage | Permalink
New England is rich in American Church history sites, and we try to take in a few more each time we visit. Here are several we saw on our most recent trip.
Mission Park, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Mission Park is the location of the famous "haystack prayer meeting" which gave birth to the foreign missions movement of the United States. In August 1806, five Williams College students gathered in a field to discuss the spiritual welfare of the people of Asia. A sudden storm forced them to seek shelter under a nearby haystack. Within four years of that gathering, some of its members established the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). In 1812 it sent forth its first missionaries to India.
The monument contains a relief of a haystack and is crowned on top by a globe. As 21st century American missionaries, we consider ourselves spiritual descendants of these young men and this event. It was a special time for us as a family to pray together in the park and ask God to carry on the work for which many have already given their lives.
Northfield, Massachusetts
Leaving Williamstown, we drove east through the beautiful countryside of western Massachusetts to Northfield. D. L. Moody was born here (top middle and right photos below). He also built, among other things, a conference center (bottom, left) in this town where he would bring prominent preachers in to speak. The campus is today deserted (it's up for sale) so it took a good while before we found Moody's grave. Someone called security to report that there were people walking around looking through the windows (that would be us). When the security officer caught up with us, he kindly pointed us to "Little Round Top" (bottom in middle) where Mr. and Mrs. Moody are buried side by side (bottom, right). It turned out to be less than 100 feet from the house where he was born! We read a report of the funeral which was conducted by C. I. Scofield and R. A. Torrey.
Old South Church, Newburyport, Massachusetts
George Whitefield died in the parsonage of Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, Mass., on September 30, 1770. At his own request, he was buried beneath the pulpit of the nearby church he had helped to found. Brian and Johanna Hanson made all the arrangements for this visit and Bill Deans, a member of the church, proved to be a delightful tour guide. The pictures below, clockwise from top left are: the Hanson and Bixby men standing in the pulpit; with our guide in front of the parsonage; the crypt; a hymn Whitefield wrote; the outside of the church building; Whitefield's tomb in the crypt below the pulpit; nails from Whitefield's coffin; signing the guestbook down in the crypt.
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge (western Massachusetts) is the site where the family of Jonathan Edwards served as missionaries among the native Americans following his pastorate in Northampton. His family was still living here when they received word that Jonathan Edwards had died of a small pox vaccination while in Princeton, N.J. We didn't have long, but we did find the grave of the Indian chief who invited the missionaries to come and preach the gospel to his tribe (top, left); a tower which marks the original meeting place of the believers in the town (bottom, left); a monument in honor of Jonathan Edwards (middle); and the family home (bottom right).
Mission Park, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Mission Park is the location of the famous "haystack prayer meeting" which gave birth to the foreign missions movement of the United States. In August 1806, five Williams College students gathered in a field to discuss the spiritual welfare of the people of Asia. A sudden storm forced them to seek shelter under a nearby haystack. Within four years of that gathering, some of its members established the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). In 1812 it sent forth its first missionaries to India.
The monument contains a relief of a haystack and is crowned on top by a globe. As 21st century American missionaries, we consider ourselves spiritual descendants of these young men and this event. It was a special time for us as a family to pray together in the park and ask God to carry on the work for which many have already given their lives.
Northfield, Massachusetts
Leaving Williamstown, we drove east through the beautiful countryside of western Massachusetts to Northfield. D. L. Moody was born here (top middle and right photos below). He also built, among other things, a conference center (bottom, left) in this town where he would bring prominent preachers in to speak. The campus is today deserted (it's up for sale) so it took a good while before we found Moody's grave. Someone called security to report that there were people walking around looking through the windows (that would be us). When the security officer caught up with us, he kindly pointed us to "Little Round Top" (bottom in middle) where Mr. and Mrs. Moody are buried side by side (bottom, right). It turned out to be less than 100 feet from the house where he was born! We read a report of the funeral which was conducted by C. I. Scofield and R. A. Torrey.
Old South Church, Newburyport, Massachusetts
George Whitefield died in the parsonage of Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, Mass., on September 30, 1770. At his own request, he was buried beneath the pulpit of the nearby church he had helped to found. Brian and Johanna Hanson made all the arrangements for this visit and Bill Deans, a member of the church, proved to be a delightful tour guide. The pictures below, clockwise from top left are: the Hanson and Bixby men standing in the pulpit; with our guide in front of the parsonage; the crypt; a hymn Whitefield wrote; the outside of the church building; Whitefield's tomb in the crypt below the pulpit; nails from Whitefield's coffin; signing the guestbook down in the crypt.
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge (western Massachusetts) is the site where the family of Jonathan Edwards served as missionaries among the native Americans following his pastorate in Northampton. His family was still living here when they received word that Jonathan Edwards had died of a small pox vaccination while in Princeton, N.J. We didn't have long, but we did find the grave of the Indian chief who invited the missionaries to come and preach the gospel to his tribe (top, left); a tower which marks the original meeting place of the believers in the town (bottom, left); a monument in honor of Jonathan Edwards (middle); and the family home (bottom right).
Travels in New England, Part 3
Tue, Mar 17 2009 11:54 | Massachusetts, New England, travel, North Carolina, slideshow, Maine | Permalink
We are now back in Spartanburg, SC, with the windows open, enjoying 70+ degree weather. It is hard to believe that less than a week ago we were up in Madawaska, Maine experiencing windchills of -19!
This was truly a wonderful trip. We traveled through two Canadian provinces, 15 states and the District of Columbia, putting more than 7,000 miles on our van. (By God's grace, with more than 217,000 miles, our Dodge Caravan is still running strong!) This trip was special in that we not only met many new friends, but got to reunite with many friends that had been made on our previous trips to New England.
Here is the final segment of pictures from this trip. As you will see, the trip ended with a very enjoyable stop in Wilmington, NC, and a trip to Papa and MeMa Pahnke's in Wake Forest, NC.
(To view slide show in a larger format, click here.)
This was truly a wonderful trip. We traveled through two Canadian provinces, 15 states and the District of Columbia, putting more than 7,000 miles on our van. (By God's grace, with more than 217,000 miles, our Dodge Caravan is still running strong!) This trip was special in that we not only met many new friends, but got to reunite with many friends that had been made on our previous trips to New England.
Here is the final segment of pictures from this trip. As you will see, the trip ended with a very enjoyable stop in Wilmington, NC, and a trip to Papa and MeMa Pahnke's in Wake Forest, NC.
(To view slide show in a larger format, click here.)
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More travels in New England
Mon, Mar 2 2009 08:07 | Massachusetts, New England, travel, slideshow, friends, Maine | Permalink
Here are some more slides that take up where the others left off. We have weathered at least three significant snow storms. However, we are thankful to God that not one service has been canceled. Ironically, our home church in Spartanburg, S.C., did have to cancel their Sunday night services yesterday due to snow!
One of the true blessings of these travels are the friends that we have made. It is hard to express how enjoyable, encouraging and endearing some of these friendships have become to us.
Click here to view in a larger format.One of the true blessings of these travels are the friends that we have made. It is hard to express how enjoyable, encouraging and endearing some of these friendships have become to us.
Snowy Maine
Fri, Feb 27 2009 02:46 | New England, Maine | Permalink
Snowy New Hampshire
Tue, Feb 24 2009 06:56 | New England, family | Permalink
We'll be posting a slide show soon about the people with whom we've visited. But for now, we want you to enjoy the snow with us! We haven't had any services canceled yet due to snow, but (as you can see from the pictures) we have been in two churches where it snowed during our visit.
One thing this southern family is agreed on: we all love the snow!
Miriam turns 4!!
Sat, Feb 21 2009 06:09 | New England, family | Permalink
On February 20th, our baby girl celebrated her fourth birthday! She had celebrated her first birthday in France, her second in South Carolina, her third in Maine, and now her fourth in Massachusetts. It was a special treat to be able to celebrate at Uncle Brian and Aunt Johanna Hanson's home. She was treated to donuts for breakfast, a wonderful birthday lunch (she had requested green beans, chicken and ice cream) and a trip to the Boston Children's Museum (courtesy of the Hansons). We praise and thank God for His abundant grace to Miriam and to us through her.
Travels in PA, OH, MI, ON, NY, MA, RI, and NH
Tue, Feb 17 2009 07:31 | Massachusetts, New England, travel, Pennsylvania, slideshow, friends, Ohio | Permalink
OK. We have been so many different places already on this trip that it would be a bit much to make an individual post of each place. So we have assembled a slideshow giving you the highlights of where we've been and who we have seen. We are grateful that God has kept our van running well (we're at 213,000+) and provided for all our needs. We have made many good memories and shared many good hours of fellowship with friends. We wish you could have joined us!
Go here to view slides in larger format.
Go here to view slides in larger format.
Slideshow: Spring New England Trip, III
Wed, May 28 2008 08:25 | New England | Permalink
Celebrating our Heritage: Boston
Sat, May 17 2008 05:50 | New England, Boston, Celebrating Our Heritage | Permalink
Last Friday (May 16) Pastor John Beals of Immanuel Baptist Church took us and Brian and Johanna Hanson on a walking tour of Boston. We saw Park Street Church, John Cotton’s grave, the site of the former shoe shop (now a Staples store!) where Moody was converted, John Winthrop’s grave, Mary Chilton’s grave (passenger on the Mayflower), the graveyard where Increase Mather and Cotton Mather are buried (didn’t see the actual gravestones). We also saw sites associated with Paul Revere (house, the church where lanterns were hung and his grave), the tomb of John Hancock and the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”). Boston is chocked full of history, both national and religious. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour, though our feet were a bit weary by the end. And do you want to know what was Micaiah and Miriam’s favorite event of the day? The subway ride in and back out of town!
Celebrating Our Heritage: Missionary Rock
Thu, May 8 2008 07:17 | New England, Celebrating Our Heritage | Permalink
On Monday, May 5th, we stopped in at Andover, Massachusetts to see the former site of Andover Seminary. We walked down Chapel Lane, and ¾ of the way around the circle at the end is a little path leading into the woods. We followed it for a few hundred feet and came upon “Missionary Rock,” a marker erected in 1910 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the American Society for Foreign Mission.
The marker reads:
In the “Missionary Woods” once extending to this spot,
the first missionary students of Andover Seminary
walked and talked one hundred years ago. And on
this secluded knoll met to pray.
In memory of these men
ADONIRAM JUDSON SAMUEL NOTT SAMUEL J. MILLS
SAMUEL NEWELL GORDON HALL JAMES RICHARDS
LUTHER RICE
Whose consecrated purpose to carry the Gospel to
the heathen world led to the formation of the first
American Society for Foreign Missions.
In recognition of the two hundred and forty-eight
missionaries trained in Andover Seminary, and
in gratitude to Almighty God, this stone is set up
in the centennial year of the American Board.
1910
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Slideshow: Spring New England Trip, II
Fri, May 2 2008 08:06 | New England, slideshow | Permalink
Spring New England Trip, Slideshow I
Tue, Apr 22 2008 07:14 | New England, slideshow | Permalink
We traveled back up to the New England area on April 12th. Here are a few pics of some of the places we've been and the friends we've made so far on this trip.
Slideshow: Winter New England Trip, II
Wed, Mar 26 2008 11:17 | New England, slideshow | Permalink
Here are a few shots of our final days in New England. I'm afraid we got a little lazy about pulling out the camera in churches during that last part of the trip, and most of these pics come from other parts of our travels. We promise to do better! We did have some great services, but you'll just have to imagine those with your mind's eye.
P.S. If you'd like to see the pictures enlarged, double-click on the image.
Slideshow: Winter New England Trip, I
Fri, Feb 29 2008 08:00 | New England, slideshow | Permalink
The first part of our Winter New England trip has taken us to 7 churches (2 in New Hampshire, 5 in Maine),over more than 2,000 miles and through lots of snow! We hope these pictures will give you a glimpse of the beauty we've seen (God's creation) and the joys we've shared with brothers and sisters in Christ (God's new creation).
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