The Events of Sunday, August 15, 2010

After six weeks on the road, we enjoyed taking a day of rest today. While at home we always enjoyed our Sunday rest day, we have not consistently taken rest days on this trip. Traveling can be restful­­; and it can be tiring. So it was a special pleasure to stay put today.

We did drive today, about a mile, to church. We joined the Harvest Evangelical Free Church, here in Story City. They did something I’ve never experienced before: a spotlight on one country for briefing and prayer. Costa Rica was their mission focus for the service. An articulate gentleman gave us some pertinent facts and then he led us in prayer for the missionaries and spiritual challenges of the nation.

The rest of the day we enjoyed our campsite in Whispering Oaks Campground. We had a time of Bible Study in the gospel of Mark. The weather was pleasant today, with a low of 60° and a high of 80°. After a couple loads of laundry, we spent some time relaxing. Ben used his new flint and steel to try to start a fire. Pam caught up on her email correspondence. The rest of us pulled out our books to read. I’m borrowing from Caitlin an intriguing book called Art of Travel by Alain de Botton. He explores the idea of curiosity: how it gives life (and travel) a sense of purpose. I’m intrigued to consider how I can best cultivate curiosity for my family (and myself), preparing us all for future destinations on this journey.

Abby demonstrated the perfect approach to traveling with curiosity. She asked, “What is Iowa known for?” Apart from corn and cattle, we know little about this place. So we eagerly look forward to tomorrow: a day at the Iowa State Fair.