reconnecting with old friends

Debbie, Andrew,Rich, Carrie

A special family returns for a visit

Amara

Carrie

Sisters, Emma and Lydia

"the kids"

August 23 Three guests from Kenya

Three Kenyan professionals are in a two week training

program for working with the swine flu virus

in the laboratory setting. They passed by the church

while walking from their rooms to the mall and inquired

"when could they worship with us?" We invited them

to return Sunday morning for worship.

After church Bob twists the arm of the Kenyan Dr to

encourage him to stay for lunch.

The leftovers from the congregational retreat

were more than enough to feed our guests

and the congregation.

Larry and David listen to stories of Kenya

Our new friends enjoyed visiting our church family. They

will be on their way back home by this time next week.

On this day we were able to be a welcoming community

of Christ's peace for our our Kenyan neighbors.

Re-walking the Prairie

Yellow Cone Flowers

Purple Cone Flowers

Big Blue Stem tall grass

Cup plant

End of summer--all of the plants are producing

the seeds that will produce new generations

in the next growing season.

Congregational Retreat (1) Coralville, Muscatine, Mt. Pleasant, Burlington

Doug and John and Charlene, early arrivals

Bob and Millie and Barb are all former Californians

Emily assists with mixing activity in gym

Bryce having fun in gym

Everyone having fun and getting acquainted

Congregational Retreat (2) Coralville, Muscatine, Mt. Pleasant, Burlington

Listening to the stories of our lives

Something about us that no one else knows

Stories about our baptism

Each story is unique but lots of common themes

Multigenerational stories

Congregational Retreat (3) Coralville, Muscatine, Mt. Pleasant, Burlington

Barb Carter modeling listening skills

Sharing in the fellowship of Ham balls and sweet corn

Charlene and Bev help Bill fill his plate

Doug leads our campfire singing

Congregational Retreat (4) Coralville, Muscatine, Mt. Pleasant, Burlington

Jen, Ivan, and Shawn going on a Lion Hunt

Grandma Deb and Bryce on a Lion Hunt

Terri and Shawn lead "I Ziggy-Zumba"--verse 4--- don't poke your eye!

At the end of the day--Barb Carter has

assisted us to create a pathway for peace