Updated Itinerary

• Feb. 8th: Oregon City, OR
  
• Feb. 9th: Plymouth, CA 
  
• Feb. 10th: Highland, CA
  
• Feb. 11th & 12th: Huachuca City, AZ
  
• Feb. 13th: Albuquerque, NM
  
• Feb. 14th: Rice, TX
  
• Feb. 15th: San Antonio, TX
  
• Feb. 16th: Ada, OK
  
• Feb. 17th: Oklahoma City, OK
  
• Feb. 18th: Tulsa, OK
  
• Feb. 19th-27th: Springfield, MO
• Feb. 27th-March 9th: Virginia Beach, VA
• March 10th & 11th: Maryville, MO
• March 12th: Lincoln, NE
• March 13th-17th: Rockford, IL
• March 18th-24th: Cleveland, OH
• March 25th: Aurora, IL
• March 26th: On-the-Lake, WI
• March 27th: Minneapolis, MN
• March 28th & 29th: On the road home ~ ND, MT, ID, WA
• March 30th: Anderson Island, WA

I lived in Springfield Missouri from July 2004 to May 2008. Just a little under four years of life in Missouri to graduate with my undergraduate degree from Central Bible College.  The time that I spent in Springfield will hold a special place in my heart because of all the lessons that I learned and all the deep friendships that I made in that city.  My return visit to Springfield for eight days was a time to refresh some old memories, revisit with old friends, and relive some great times.  And here are some of the highlights.

Apartment Living
My last year in Springfield I shared an apartment with four of my greatest friends from college: Jared, Dustin, Matt, and Todd.  Jared and Todd both moved on and got married over the summer, but Matt and Dustin started graduate classes and got another apartment in Springfield.  Thus, it was kinda a natural move for me to stay at their apartment for the week I was in Springfield.  They now have a few other room mates which I know and Love: Matt Thomas, Noah Lane, and Tyler Herring. 

Bridges for Youth www.bridgesforyouth.net
Bridges is a local non-profit organization in Springfield, MO, that provides an after-school program for kids of all ages for FREE.  They also were my employer for the four years I was in college.  I love Bridges for Youth and all that they do.  The Director, Steve Hare, and his family are such great people and great friends who desire so desperately to do all that they can for the underprivileged and latch-key kids in this city.  Bridges is a Christian program that survives solely upon the generosity of its donors. Now that I have finished that shameless plug…
Returning to Bridges for a few days was very heartwarming because of all that I had emotionally invested there over the years. I went and spent time in the office and did some computer stuff for them, which felt like old times. I also stopped off at my old youth center to see some of the kids that I had seen grow up.  It was very nostalgic.
Steve invited me over for dinner my last night in Springfield, which was very kind of him and Kathryn, his wife. We had huge steaks on the grill and lemon cake. It was delicious! I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with my Bridges family. 

Philosophy Professor
Dr. Calvin Pincombe was my Philosophy prof at Central Bible College.  I ended up minoring in Philosophy, so I saw quite a bit of him, especially because he was the only Philosophy prof.  In eight semesters and a few short term classes (summer time and one during the winter break) I took nine classes with this man.  And not only that, but during the summer of 2006 he took myself, Dustin, and Mike B. on his family vacation to Maine!  Needless to say, stopping by to see Dr. Pincombe and his wife Denise was a MUST.  Dustin and I went over to their house out in the country on a wednesday evening, just two days before our departure to Virginia.  Denise cooked up some delicious mediterranean-inspired, heart-healthy pasta and focaccia bread, and then served us home made frozen yogurt!  It was soooo tasty!  After the “dine” we sat around in the living room talking about philosophy, ACTON Group, global warming, politics, and family news.  It was a joyous evening I will not soon forget.

Master’s Commission Directors
The Missionaries in Padova, Italy, that I am working with (Steve and Patti Gray) alerted me to some email communication that they have been having with a couple in Springfield.  This couple, Beth and Tom, were current students at Evangel University, and had previously been Master’s Commission Directors in TX.  Beth and Tom had heard of Steve and Patti’s desire and vision to start an MC in Padova, and inquired more about it.  It just so happened that such conversation went down about a week before my arrival in Springfield, so course we had to meet up.  And what a better place than Starbucks, right? It was a really great hour talking with Beth and Tom, sharing our stories and visions and God’s call on our lives.  It isn’t often that I get to connect with people like that.  Tom and Beth both had quite a bit of wisdom to share with me, and I was glad to hear it. I drove away that evening feeling hungry… probably because I forgot to eat before the meeting; but also feeling encouraged.  I hope that they felt encouraged as well.      

Friends
(do I think that my friends will actually read this and say, “wow! he mentioned me in his blog,” and that this will somehow boost their esteem and I will walk away feeling like I did a good deed? Because, if they don’t, who really wants to read about me meeting with people they don’t know, right?)
One of my plans in Springfield was to see some old friends from my college days.  I didn’t really have a schedule or anything, but I did have a list of people.  So, I took that list and started.  By the way, if this is boring, don’t read it.
Steve and I have been friends for what feels like a looooong time.  I met him at work and our friendship grew from there. He is one of those who is with me through good times and bad times, the ups and downs of life, even though there is quite a bit that we disagree on.  We both come from different social groups, and so hanging out has always felt like leaving springfield behind and entering into a different world of sorts. One of the stories that I will tell you about us is that two years ago Steve and I both bought “heelies” shoes.  You know, those ones for kids.  Yes… yes we did.  And we wore them until we mastered them, and then showed up all the kids at our youth centers.  And even almost got kicked out of the Mall once.  Yep, a 23 year old and a 25 year old.  Steve, if you are reading this, know that I appreciate you.
Josiah is not really an old friend.  I knew of him in Springfield, but we were never really “friends”. We actually started hanging out in Alaska this past summer, where we connected over our lack of tours from which we make all of our money.  In Springfield, we made last minute lunch plans at an old Chinese place in town, the “Rickshaw”, where we talked about where both of our lives are headed.  And then we argued about politics, which I severely enjoyed.  Our discussion helped me realize how narrow minded I am and how I don’t know all the facts liked I wish I did.  Josiah, if you were the Government and I was the public we would have a Socialist country… because you bought me lunch ’cause I didn’t have any cash!  Thanks so much for spending an hour with me. 
Jessi had coffee and laughs with me, Dustin and Lauren let me do my laundry, Jenna gave me internet, Lauren gave me a hug, Alyssa and Emily fed me dinner, Brinnae helped me remember spiritual passion, Glori gave me a parking space in Kansas City, Darby gave me my tires back, Su and Mike made me Thai food, Brooke gave me her friendship, and Noah, Matt and Matt gave me a home.  Thank you all so much! I wish I could write a blurb about each of you, but hopefully you know it without me writing it.

Well, I know that this post is a little after the fact.  Thanks for reading all the way to the end.  

Next Post: Spring Break in Virginia!