March 2009 Adventures

Nica News from Ed & Linda Baker

March, 2009

We left Nicaragua on March 1^st, with temperatures over 95°F. We arrived in Atlanta, and have had a rather “brisk” month! We are always cold, but the locals keep telling us what a nice spring we are having! We guess our blood has just thinned out.

First order of business was to attend the President’s Gathering for The Mission Society held in Charleston, SC. We were privileged to be selected as some of the missionary speakers for this year’s event. We were given 20 minutes, but giving a microphone to a missionary is dangerous! We had lots to share, but did manage to keep our sharing to the allotted time slot.

Our trip to Charleston just began our travels for March. After Charleston, we headed to Hilton Head, SC. This is the home of Ed’s brother & his family. We had the opportunity to share with their church, First Presbyterian of Hilton Head.

Here we are with the members of their Mission Committee & Senior Pastor, presenting the church with a wooden cross from Nicaragua. Later that Wednesday night Ed was able to preach for one of their Lenten services.

Ed’s father, Jim Baker, is graciously being taken care of by our sister-in-law, Betsy Baker. He was in the hospital in Hilton Head, and then was moved to a nursing home close to Betsy. We took a few days to stay in Hilton Head to spend more time with Jim. We then headed to Fernandina Beach, FL, home of Memorial First UMC. We were able to spend an evening with various mission team members who had come to Paraguay & to Nicaragua. We also were able to have a “Mission Moment” during their 3 church services.

From Florida, we headed back to Atlanta. We always enjoy being able to worship at our home church, Cannon UMC in Snellville, GA. This year we shared during the 3 services with a “Mission Moment”, and then had a barbecue lunch. This has become a tradition with the Cannon mission team & our ministry. Steve Collins coordinates the feast – in whatever country we happen to be in! These 3 brave guys spent the night cooking up good barbecue.

The highlight of our time in the states was our trip to California. We were able to visit with our grandson Austin (daughter & son-in-law were there too) for his first birthday! We are not the least bit prejudice, but he IS the cutest child ever!

We enjoyed our time with Rhian, James & Austin, but headed back to Atlanta. We hope your March was filled with the anticipation of Easter as we all prepared for the resurrection of Jesus Christ!