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RENDEZVOUS

Reflections of a Traveler

Dave Simmons, Executive Director

Someone asked me "But what do you do?" These are reflections from one of my recent, busier weeks:

Monday: I drove from home in Drummond "to the Mission office in Lolo. (Round trip: 126 miles.) Dear Lord, please watch over me; it’s icy. Help me to drive safely.

Tuesday: Drummond to Priest Lake, Idaho to ... see our new missionaries, Dave and Debby Donnerberg. Stayed overnight with Steve Bicknell, pastor of our RMBM church in Priest Lake. (One way: 306 miles.) Dear Lord, please watch over me on the roads; help me to see the beauty you have created along the way. Help me to be a blessing and right kind of encouragement to people today.

The Bitterroot Mountains are shrouded in mystery as the clouds block my view of their jagged, snowy peaks. At nightfall, their lofty summits will hold familiar conversation with the stars. Passing through Wallace and Kellogg, Idaho, I remember all the underground miles of mines in this area. Thank you, Lord that my job is above ground!

It feels really good to finally get back home and be with my wife Kathy. I don't feel like making phone calls this evening-I'm tired, I know I'm tired. It's time to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Thursday-Friday: I'm at home these two days. I try hard to get caught up on phone calls, Bible study for messages, and preparing to teach the Bible Doctrine Survey class for BTCP.

Saturday: I'm up and headed to Camp Utmost by 8 a.m. for a meeting of the Executive Board and Camp Utmost board. We're exploring and brainstorming the use of facilities and future of the camp. During the meeting I use my laptop to capture the ideas expressed and who said what.

I have to leave at 2 p.m. so I can drive the additional 250 miles to Camp Elohim. An unexpected treat is glimpsing a delicious pink hue brightening the top of Snowshoe Peak in the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness! I reach Camp Elohim just in time for their Christmas dinner party. It's great to be with Warren and Michele Edson, the camp administrators, and other friends and camp supporters I've not met before.

Sunday: After a night in my cozy sleeping bag in one of the camp cabins, I catch a quick breakfast in the dark dining room-Michele left some things for me. Quickly on the road to preach at Community Bible Church in St. Regis on behalf of our RMBM missionary Sid Bartell who had been called away by a sick relative. Dear Lord, You know I'm a little tired this morning. Please give me strength, and enable me to bring a blessing and encouragement to these folks from your precious Word.

Immediately after church I hit the highway. I must arrive at Blackfoot Valley Bible Church in Lincoln in time to set up my Bible Doctrine Survey class. "Iffy" winter roads, but I made it to Lincoln on time. What a blessing the students are! Their good questions help keep me alert; a very good session. Afterwards, I catch a bite to eat and head for home, gratitude filling my heart.

Monday: Back to work at the Mission office. I'm a little tired, but I get some work done. It's great to have Bev Paulson, Glenda Gibbons, and Leota Fred helping me. And by the end of the day, back home in Drummond, I look at my week's travel 1,461 miles!