Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

God is surely qualified to give strength to the weary, because He Himself never becomes weary or tired! He is the Everlasting God, the Lord, and the Creator of the ends of the earth! He never sleeps, never goes on a trip, and never makes a mistake! Praise the Lord for His miraculous protection and provision for those who wait for Him!

BOISE, IDAHO: August 3-8

Family Reunion: The last time we enjoyed a family reunion was in 2011, when the Strader family and the Kopsa family traveled to Florence, Alabama to join with our other relatives living in the area. What a wonderful visit that was! But this time it proved to be impossible for them to coordinate work schedules and travel costs to bring so many people so far again. However, they decided to combine their meager resources half-and-half to pay for just one person – ME – to go to them! We took lots of pictures to send to the other relatives in Alabama, especially to Nonna (my mom’s nickname).

Introducing the Strader Family: My oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Rick Strader. They live in Boise, Idaho with my grandson Nick. Rick is an actor and director, currently serving as Technical Director of the Brandt Center at Northwest Nazarene University. He also serves as sound and lighting tech at First United Methodist Church (Cathedral of the Rockies) and has recently started a theatre ministry called Cathedral Theatricals. Melissa is a gourmet cook, as well as Artistic Director and Choreographer for Capital City Ballet Company and school. Nick is a junior in high school, already an accomplished dancer in the ballet company and a talented musician/composer (piano, violin), plus aspiring to be a video game designer.

Introducing the Kopsa Family: My youngest daughter, Monica, is married to Jason Kopsa. They live on the outskirts of Missoula, Montana, with my three granddaughters Rylee, Cassi, and Emily, all of whom excel in sports. Jason is a businessman and Monica is a jewelry designer and flower arranger. Rylee is a senior in high school and already an accomplished poet and story writer. Cassi is also a story writer, as well as a visual artist, and a musician (piano). Emily is primarily a sports enthusiast.

The Kopsa family traveled across the mountains from Montana to join the rest of us in Idaho! During our time together, we reported on family news and shared our many creative gifts. Melissa showed videos of her ballet company’s performances. Monica showed jewelry that she had crafted. Nick played his violin. Cassi played the piano, drew me a picture of a panda bear, and also gave me a copy of the children’s book she had written and illustrated. Rylee emailed me some of her literary works to read. All three girls told about the many kinds of sports events they were involved in, showing some video clips of important highlights from their games.

On Friday evening, I hugged each of them goodbye, one by one, as they stood 8 in a row by the airline ticket counter. Hopefully, we can continue to stay connected on the internet!

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA: August 8-15

My new hosts, Earl and Phyllis Scharnick, met me at Pensacola Airport on Saturday morning following my all-night flight from Boise. I spent the rest of the day relaxing!

In the morning, I shared about CCAM at Grace Community Church. Then, from 3 to 6 in the afternoon, the Scharnicks opened their home for interested people to attend an informal sharing time to learn more. Many people gave donations and received gifts of art prints, art cards, or children’s books. And then they gathered around to pray for me and CCAM! A few days later, GCC Secretary Patti Gatewood made some prayer cards for me to distribute during the rest of my trip.

While waiting for God to clarify the next destination, I was able to get some much needed rest before moving on. Just in time, it was arranged for me to proceed to St Petersburg, Florida!

Also during that time, we were waiting for God’s answer to our prayers for a host family in Nashville, where I was supposed to go on August 18! Anne Royappa, a member of GCC, networked for me among her contacts in the Nashville area, and God led her to the perfect hosts, George and Diane Sumrall! Diane and I began getting to know one another by email in preparation for my visit.

In the meantime, I was enjoying getting to know my Pensacola hosts, the Scharnicks! Earl and Phyllis were such fun to be with, often taking me out to eat at my favorite places. Earl is the manager of a local Starbucks, directs youth dramas at Grace Community Church, and is a ventriloquist puppet master! Phyllis is the leader of the prayer group at Grace Community Church and has promised to bring the CCAM prayer needs to the group’s attention as often as we report them. We even set up a Skype video chat for my hosts to meet the CCAM students and staff.

On Saturday, August 15, the Scharnicks drove me back to Pensacola Airport to board my flight to Tampa, prepaid by Central Christian Church in St Petersburg!

Part Five of my trip report will tell about the last two segments of my journey, St Petersburg and Nashville, plus the flight back to CCAM in Cambodia, and the amazing welcome celebration that awaited me when I arrived there!

Still Soaring on Eagle’s Wings,
Gioia

Soaring on Eagle's Wings - Part Five →