Pastor Tony Martinez and his wife welcomed me to share on Missions Sunday at Iglesia del Valle (Valley Church) on February 6th, my last Sunday in Arizona.

Pastor Martinez is also the Superintendent of the Southwest District of the Assemblies of God. You can read more here. I also visited  Avondale Christian Assembly where District Assistant Superintendant Emilio De La Cruz pastors and Abundant Life Center with Pastor Raul Cadriel. I truly enjoyed getting to know this new district.

Many thanks for introducing me to the Southwest District go to my colleagues and friends, Wayne and Drue Huffman who are now serving on the Missions Awareness Team. 

 

They welcomed me into their home for a typical French dinner. They are now based out of Arizona.  

 

Click for more information on the Missions Awareness Team.

North Valley Assembly and Pastor Scott Thurber and his wife welcomed me warmly. They have faithfully and generously supported me since I first met them and their congregation back in 2005.
Likewise, Evangel Church

invited me to speak on two different occasions during their Missions conference week, the Women's Ministry meeting on Tuesday morning and the Wednesday evening worship service. Pastors Robert and Lorena McFarland have quite the missions-minded congregation!

 

I had several visits with pastors or missions representatives. I made appointments and stopped in to visit Pastor Peter DeLeon at Church on the Green, and Pastor Paul Owens at Lighthouse Church. I shared with Angie Underwood, the new Compassions Manager at Radiant Church. She had a video made of me to show to the congregation and made sure that I would be part of a Core Group whose leader has already contacted me. At Scottsdale First Assembly Tina Davis, Lay Pastor of Missions, introduced me to their congregation at a mid-week service.

 

My first service in Arizona on January 2nd was with Destiny Church, newly merged with Carefree Church. My schedule was full for the month of January.

My brother Mark really enjoys hiking, especially up Black Mountain just behind his home in Cave Creek, AZ. What a delight it was to find the time to renew the experience with him. We climbed it back in 2005 when I visited in Arizona with him and his wife Ann for the first time. Here I am at the top of the mountain in 2011.


My sister-in-law Ann and I spent funtime in Jazzercise when she was home from her travels. Here we are on an afternoon outing in Carefree, AZ.

Normally, I celebrate my January birthday in snowy, cold weather. This year it was in sunny, warm Arizona. Here I am with my brother Mark getting ready to blow out the candle.The time went by so quickly from 29 December 2010 to 8 February 2011. I enjoyed every moment Mark, Ann, and I had together.