Arrived In REDDING!

Hey everyone!

We arrived in Redding yesterday, after an amazing journey across most western states! It was an incredible trip, in every respect, as God kept us safe and looked after every detail along the way. We made excellent time, and we went through probably 20 radar traps without a problem (obviously, because we weren't breaking the law!).

It is absolutely beautiful country along the west coast. We traveled down the I5, so we weren't close enough to see the Pacific. Still, the weather just continued to become warmer and warmer, and we got some nice photos from the trip. If you'd like to see them, I will add them to my facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14316&l=d11cd&id=634156160)


Testimony #1
Well, considering that this blog is called "These Are Your Stories", I will now tell of my first tale of God's provision. Many of you know that there have been many hoops that Chad and I have jumped through to get across the border.

We had some anxiety as we approached the crossing, having prepared long and hard to make sure we had done everything in our power to get across to Washington St. We dressed up nicely and shaved (first time in a long while!), and spent about 40 minutes in the lineup of vehicles approaching the toll.

We prayed and asked God for favor, claiming our identity as children of the King. (Royalty don't have a problem getting held up at borders!) Chad prayed more specifically for us to encounter a Christian border official.

We were sent into a particular building for processing, and within 10 minutes we were called forward by a border official. He asked about our business, and we explained our situation as I showed him my acceptance letter. He read a handful of lines without speaking to us.

"Do you guys love Buddhists?" He asked. "It's a yes or no question."

"Yes" I replied.

"You guys must be Christians. 'Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you' stuff, right?"

"Yeah, that's us." I said.

He went on to read for a little while longer, asking for only one other document from Bethel (which was amazing, because I had prepared about 10 legal documents, and so had Chad, and he didn't even look at Chad's!). Again, he just read in silence.

"Are you guys going to blow up any abortion clinics?" He asked, without humor.

"No sir," I said. "We love those people too."

He told me that that was a good answer, and that he'd have no problem giving us the proper paperwork for the full stay in the U.S. He even went as far as to not put an expiry date on the process, so we could stay as long as we needed.
He said "God Bless" as he stamped our passports, and the whole ordeal lasted probably 20 minutes. They didn't even look in our vehicle, and they had no skeptical inquiries.

This is an incredible example of God's favor! We have heard from other students, one in particular, who was interrogated for almost an hour by one border official. This student even had the border official withdraw his weapon to scare the student into possibly saying something that would spoil his visa application! That student, Shawn, also made it across by God's grace.

I pray that this story would bless you by verifying God's favor in your own life. I believe that this story contains the blessing of God over any international issue you may encounter in the future. Believe God, and be encouraged!

Blessings,
Connor