Though usually dashing to and from airports, we had an usually quiet traveling month after Sarasota and before Kauai, so we found ourselves filling the “dash” with counseling (over 25 appointments), making a site visit to next year’s HIM marriage conference venue (since our usual hotel will be closed due to renovations), attending church 3 weeks in a row (!), doing two podcasts, going to 2 movies (“80 for Brady” and “The Jesus Revolution”—loved them both!), visiting friends who are challenged with medical issues, celebrating with others, and attending a funeral. Besides all of these relational interactions, we had some medical appointments and tended to some housekeeping needs.

It was a very good month. There’s no place like home.

*Going to see “80 for Brady” with our friends Dawn and Lucy was a blast.*

It gave us great joy to celebrate our dear friend Richard’s 70th birthday with lunch out. Richard is not just a great friend; he is an integral part of the ministry of HIM. He is our “hands on” person in the HIM office, taking care of mail and banking—but that’s just the beginning. He volunteers at Engagement Matters weekends, serving on the food prep team, and he volunteers at the Marriage Conference, doing whatever needs to be done. Truth be told, he is always willing to help in any way needed. Maybe the greatest sacrifice he makes is as our “Uber driver.” Richard has assumed the role of getting us to and from Logan and it’s hard to put in words how much that means to us. Not to mention how much in parking fees it saves. We are so deeply grateful for this “chosen family friend” and we celebrated his milestone birthday with grateful hearts.

*Richard’s 70th birthday celebrations just keep going . . .*

The funeral we attended was one of the saddest we’ve ever been to. Dr. Peter Baddoo, an MIT professor imported from the UK, had come to Engagement Matters in April 2022 with his then girlfriend Yuna, and returned in Dec. 2022 with his fiancée, Yuna. They took us by surprise as they walked in for the second weekend, and explained that since they had gotten so much out of the April weekend as girlfriend-boyfriend, they felt they could gain even more now as an engaged couple. At the end of their second weekend, they affirmed that they had in fact gained significantly. We so enjoyed connecting with them both weekends.

Their March 23, 2023 wedding was in the works.

We were beyond heartbroken to receive word from Yuna’s sister that Peter had dropped dead of an apparent heart attack while playing basketball on Feb. 15. We were grateful that we were in town for his memorial service held at Park Street Church on Saturday, Feb. 25. Those eulogizing him confirmed what we had gathered about this high achieving, winsome, man of God. He was esteemed as a man of deep godly character, with a brilliant mind, great athleticism, and a personality which seemed to draw everyone.

It was agonizingly painful to stand just feet behind his beautiful fiancée Yuna, all dressed in black, knowing that one month from that day, she was to wear all white as she walked down the aisle of Park Street Church to be joined in holy matrimony.

Of course we all know “where” Peter is now, and we are truly comforted by that, but earthly pain and loss are Hard. Hopes and dreams of a beautiful life together with the love of her life vaporized in a moment for Yuna, and though she is trusting in God, the darkness is heavy. Please pray for her, for Peter’s parents and siblings, and all of those who are especially close to him.

*Peter and Yuna at Engagement Matters in December 2022.*

Because we travel so much, when we’re in town for something as significant as Peter’s funeral, we are keenly aware that the Lord orchestrated it.

We also feel He orchestrates snowfalls . . . and we’re always so happy when we’re home during such great winter events. How fortunate we were to be in town for several big snowstorms in late February and through mid-March. Truly. Perhaps it’s our California roots, where we both grew up with the monotonous year-round temperate climate, but we never get tired of the seasons this part of the country is known for. Bring. It. On.

Our overnight in Newport to check out next year’s marriage conference site was delightful. Besides touring the hotel and getting the lay of the land, we walked the entire Cliff Walk in addition to several other hikes. The weather was beautiful for March and we drank in the beauty of the crown jewel spot in New England.

*The Cliff Walk is one of our favorite things to do in Newport, RI.*

*Besides snow, did you know I love sunsets and sunrises??*

*Sunrise on the early morning drive into Boston as we took a friend in for a medical procedure.*

After 3.5 weeks at home, we headed west to Kauai, with a brief overnight stop in Oakland to see Gabe and Kari and kids. Though short, it was very sweet and we especially enjoyed geocaching with two of the three. The big brother was at basketball practice.

*Geocaching with the grandkids in Oakland on our way to Kauai. Ana is holding the “mini-cache” we found in the hubcap garden.*

We arrived Friday, March 17th, on the beautiful island of Kauai and settled in to an Airbnb with three other couples of the Hazlebeck family. Dr. Dave Hazlebeck is the founder and CEO of Global Algae Innovations (GAI), the organization which underwrites this conference annually as a way to invest in the community of Kauai. The Hazlebeck family came to family camp for 25 years with us, and two of their children served on program staff, so we have great history with them. All four of their children are now married and have given them four grandchildren. This year was extra special as their whole family came together for this year's conference.

*Standing on the shore of Kalapaki Beach in Lihue with Dave and Debbie, the head of the clan.*

*Three of the four children and two of the four grandchildren are enjoying breakfast together at the Kalaheo Missionary Church before service.*

Our days in Kauai were quite full of great ministry opportunities. We were privileged to speak at church on both Sundays we were there as the senior pastor was off island. Since we were here a year ago, the church has resumed a one service morning with breakfast and coffee bar available both before and after the service. Last year, they were doing two services to accommodate Covid requirements and no food or beverages were served. The joy of all being together for fellowship and worship was palpable.

We gave the two-part sermon we’ve developed on “Relationship Lessons from the Life of Daniel” and it was well-received. We loved connecting with many in the congregation with whom we’ve developed relationships over the nine-years-in-a-row we’ve been privileged to serve here.

*The church was full of joy and energy both Sundays we were there.*

Tuesday night we were delighted to be guest speakers for the youth on the topic of relationships. The group of thirty gathered in the home of Tiffany and Bryan Weigand, the youth leaders, which provided a great setting for the evening. The teens were engaged and very interactive and we loved it. With so many distortions and so much confusion being generated by a culture that has truly lost its way, we are thankful for opportunities to speak Biblical truth, especially about such important, life-impacting subjects.

*The teens were very engaged in our conversation regarding relationships.*

Friday night, March 24, we did a marriage seminar and Saturday morning, we spoke on parenting. Though neither event drew huge crowds, a respectable group was out for both and those attending expressed much appreciation. Quite a number “attended” online as there was no childcare for either event.

*The marriage night ended with a robust time of question and answer.*

Besides our speaking opportunities, we had a number of great moments of fellowship with people we’ve grown to love through the years. Time with all the Hazlebecks was a joy.

It’s always good to be with Bill and Susan Gates, with whom we usually hike, but this time we enjoyed having dinner with them.

*Bill and Susan split their time between their homes in Indiana, on Lake Michigan, and in Kauai.*

We were so happy to reconnect with Chanc and Natalie and their three, with whom we spent two weeks last May at Rancho Abierto, the YWAM base in Mexico we partner with. They were part of the Family DTS run by our dear friends, Brian and Sue McCoy, and they live on Kauai. Our plans for a meal together were sabotaged by illness, but we were so happy to be with them both Sundays at church. The bonus for me was having Natalie cut my hair! I learned of her talent as a hairdresser last summer when we met and was so thankful she was willing to give me another cut on this trip.

*We loved getting some time with Chanc and Natalie with their three.*

It was also really fun to have breakfast with Carter and Tracey Welch and two of their three grown up sons. When we met them over twenty years ago, they lived in New England and became part of our family ministries family. Carter was subsequently offered a job in the foreign (to them) land of Santa Rosa, CA, and we assured them they would love it. And they did/do. Just happens that they were vacationing on Kauai while we were there and thanks to Facebook, they discovered that and arranged to meet up with us. It was so encouraging to catch up with them and especially to hear about the ministries their sons are involved in. YES!

*Carter and Tracey Welch and their sons Owen and Turner met up with us for breakfast.*

Our “final” social event was spent with the Booye family. We met them on our very first time of ministry on Kauai and our love for them has only grown through the years. We had a very lively evening together with ALL of them and are truly so thankful for the time spent. It’s so very encouraging to be with three generations of one family who are all faithfully walking with Jesus and loving and living one another well.

*The “senior” Booyes with their three sons, their wives, and all their children welcomed us into the mix and we encouraged one another.*

Tiffany Weigand (youth pastor) with her husband Bryan and their son Taika are joined by Tiffany’s parents, Mark and Pam, who flew in from Oahu so they could attend the marriage/parenting conference. We love this family!!

*Sporting the beautiful leis handmade for us by Rachel Miller and feeling very Hawaiian.*

The natural beauty of Kauai is hard to beat. Since we faithfully walk at least 5 miles daily, we were treated to seeing a number of whale spouts and a few flukes, many sea turtles, and several monk seals. And of course, sunrises and sunsets.

All point to the Creator, who is as present and alive in Bedford as He is in Kauai. How blessed we are to have a personal relationship with Him and to get to share that good news with so many. All praise is His!!