Back from Peoria

Spent the last the last 5 days in Peoria at the Lutheran Women's Missionary League Convention. We have a lot of fun while getting inspired and motivated. We approved a proposal to spend $1,825,000 on Missionary grants overseas and here in the states. I was so happy to see that Phil's Friends received a $100,000 grant to continue his care packages to cancer patients.

On Thursday Marge and I  took a tour to Springfield and there we saw some of Lincoln's neighbors

Then we went on to the White House and met the President's family.

A site from the Peoria Civic Center and 4,600 Lutherans, mostly women. The folks across the room in white is the choir consisting of singers from across the U.S. They have very little practice but sound marvelous.

This is a sight of all of the Pastors getting ready to distribute bread and wine to the 4,600 people.

I received this long stemmed pink rose from Heidi Floyd who was autographing her book, In a Word. She is a Pastor's wife who had breast cancer while she was pregnant.

This is my Pastor's brother-in-law who is part of a Christian Rock band, called Sibling Harmony ( two brothers and a sister). He was just ordained on Sunday.

 This is Miss America 2009 who just happens to be a Lutheran . She told some inspiring stories and sang a few songs.

And this is me flying the LWML flag getting ready to go home.