High Five Tour 2016: Pt 3

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High Five Tour 2016: Pt 3

We are now only a few steps away from our last bit of traveling.  The time we spent in Montana visiting with Lisa's family and resting from the long trip was really sweet, and it was a nice and slow pace.   Unfortunately, it went by too quickly.  When your life is chaotic, living out of your van, and not really having a stable rhythm of life, it is good to have a time of rest to enjoy the people around you and reflect on what is to come.  But it was hard to say "see you later" to people you know and love, knowing it will possibly be about 4 years before we come back to visit.

The kids found a baby Antelope on the farm.  

Lisa and fam.  

Andrew feeding his new cousin Teryn.

During our three weeks in Montana Nora turned 4 years old, we spent a few days with Lisa's sister in Helena and met with a few relatives in Billings along the way.  The kids got to enjoy Grandma and Grandpa and all the excitement of the farm.  When I say it went by too quickly, I mean it's hard to believe that what we've been looking forward to for nearly a year is already behind us.  It has been a very fast season.    

Celebrating Nora's 4th Birthday

Had the opportunity to see some of our favorite people from Canada! 

Family Games

Nora playing in the mud

Following a series of high fives in Big Sky Country, we were now set to travel to Dan's hometown of Milwaukee.  While the idea was originally to fly there (since plane costs were down) it seemed a better idea to hold on to the travel van, so we enjoyed the beauty of the countryside a little longer and had the opportunity to catch a few more Czech Flag State pics:

Bartol kids representing their home State!

Usually when the brakes are low, there's a squeal to give you a hint.  Well, our brakes went from functioning to immediate grind in Minnesota.  Thankfully there was place near by that could help us (and it was only a 3 hour wait).

Last major stop before Czech Republic!

Mt. Rushmore

We went West

Since we've been in Wisconsin, we have been on a logistical waiting tour.  Dan's mom and step-dad recently moved to Wind Point, just south of Milwaukee, so it has been a good time helping them with the move and situating the family into a more consistent rhythm until the Visas arrive.  And we have been able to meet with new people and churches along the way, which has only encouraged us more, as we get to see the love of the church in America for the nations.   

Forever grateful for this man.  Because of Stuart Briscoe's faithfulness, I had a good news to believe in during the summer of 2003.

Forever grateful for this man.  Because of Stuart Briscoe's faithfulness, I had a good news to believe in during the summer of 2003.

While we were in the moving process we found out that Andrew is literally my mini-me.

There have been a few hiccups along the way with paperwork for the embassy and the shipping agency, and I can't say it's been simple, but it has all been moving in a forward motion and we are now expecting our Visas to arrive any day now.  If you would join us in prayer, the Visas are the last thing keeping us from getting on a plane and moving into our new home in Olomouc.  

Our heart is to be a resource for the Church in the Czech Republic; to see the local church thrive and multiply through the good news of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection on our behalf.  We are grateful for everyone who has partnered with us to that end along the way and we are all the more excited to plant our feet and begin the work. 

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High Five Tour 2016: Pt 2

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High Five Tour 2016: Pt 2

Back on that Road for a 15 Hour Drive!

That altitude change was brutal.

The trip to Denver began with a little scare. As we left San Antonio there was a monstrous downpour that began to flood certain areas, and the road Google took us gave us a bit of a scare.  But while we were praying as a family, the storm split the sky into a beautiful tapestry of darkness and light, grey and color.  And the music matched the situation so well as we watched God paint the world above us, and this set the pace for the rest of our 15 hour drive to Colorado.  

We were able to meet with Mr. Devin outside of the Union Station.

We were able to meet with Mr. Devin outside of the Union Station.

Meeting with our good friend Lauryn

Meeting with our good friend Lauryn

While in Denver we were able to catch up with Park Church and good friends along the way.  With the fast paced nature of our trip it was hard not meeting with everyone, and we will miss our family and friends in Colorado.  It was bittersweet to catch up with people we have grown to love and we are grateful to have so many people praying and supporting us here!

This was an uncomfortable windy cold.  We congratulated ourselves for working out something intelligible.  . 

Another cold one with sleet and wind

We finally made our way to Montana, and after a few days of visiting family and friends in Billings and Helena, we are now tucked away in Lisa's hometown of Shelby until the 23rd.  After all of the go-go-go we are giving ourselves a short time to rest and recharge before making our way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then on to the Czech Republic!  We have been looking forward to calming down in Shelby for some time, and we are grateful to have a time set apart to enjoy family and rest well.  

To be continued.....

To be continued.....

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High Five Tour 2016: Pt. 1

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High Five Tour 2016: Pt. 1

Our Trip So Far...

Our Trip So Far...

What has felt like a distant future for so long is finally about to happen!  We've been on the road for about 2 weeks now, and today we'll be in Shelby, Montana for the next three weeks.  This will be a great time of rest before we make the trip to Milwaukee. While it has been a very busy season, we are hoping to be re-energized, so that we can hit the ground running after we land in the Czech Republic (or Czechia, as it might be called in the near future).

It is a different feeling having all of our possessions in the States fitting snuggly in a van, and the reality of what we're setting out toward is now beginning to hit us.  While the process has been very exciting, it has also been incredibly sobering to say goodbye to life long friends and family.  Our longterm desire is to make much of Jesus through the Gospel in Czech, and this process is a part of the cost to be a part of that. It has been sweet to grow closer as a couple and with the kids as we've been in this interim state. And we're at a place as a family where we are ready to invest our lives in our new city, whatever God may put in our way.

Last night of packing

Last night of packing

Where did our stuff go?

Where did our stuff go?

The moving process was intense to say the least.  Walking the kids through the moving process is almost an annual tradition.  Thankfully this time we're only moving a portion of our things.  

Leaving Bridgeway Church was an exciting and difficult day, as we were surrounded by the love and support our our community that we've called home for 9 years.  They commissioned us on a day that was devoted exclusively to reminding the church of the great commission.  You can check out this spoken word preached on that day in the video above.

Addey's Kindergarten Class.

Addey's Kindergarten Class.

Addey has had an amazing year at Kindergarten.  She has really progressed in a lot of areas.  Her teachers loved her and she made some great friends along the way.  It is one of those schools you wish you could take with you wherever you go!

Addey and her teacher Mrs. Benoit.

Addey and her teacher Mrs. Benoit.

Bartol Family High Five Tour Begins Today!

 Okinawa Harbor people.  It can't get much better. 

 Okinawa Harbor people.  It can't get much better. 

Enjoying the Riverwalk Boat Tour.

Enjoying the Riverwalk Boat Tour.

I still have nightmares of these guys.  

I still have nightmares of these guys.  

Lackland AFB. Security Forces Training Squadron

Lackland AFB. Security Forces Training Squadron

This was right next to the field where I graduated Basic Training.

It was a sweet time visiting our friends in San Antonio.  We got to visit the beauty of the River Walk, as well as Lackland Air Force Base, where I went through basic training and tech school in 2003.  It was a surreal experience, as I haven't been there in 13 years (and I'm pretty sure walking on the grass was a no-no, but my DD-214 says I can do what I want).  

While it was and is a fast paced visit, it has been a really good experience that we will not forget!
To be continued...

 

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Book Review: "Philosophy in Seven Sentences" by Douglas Groothuis

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Book Review: "Philosophy in Seven Sentences" by Douglas Groothuis

Is it possible to give a complete introduction to Philosophy in seven sentences? No.
But thankfully that is not the idea of Douglas Groothuis' skillfully written book. While he takes you on a journey through the thought processes of various philosophers throughout the ages, what he accomplishes best is a whetting of the appetite for deeper thought and a projected discomfort for mental laziness (or acedia). From a single sentence and brief history of each of the philosophers featured, he weighs the themes of their philosophical approaches with how they affect us today. From Protagoras' idea of man being the measure of all things, bringing about a self destructive form of relativism, to Augustine's desire to find ultimate satisfaction and rest for the human soul, each of these thinkers have impacted the way people see the world today, and there is a gold mine to explore with each of them.

After you finish this book you will be spurred on to further study, and you will realize that philosophy is not merely a discipline in isolation, but rather is the pursuit of wisdom and the knowledge of where we came from, who we are, and where we are going. And this applies to every facet of life. Even if you do not agree with all of his conclusions, you will understand why "the unexamined life is not worth living." So, whether you are a seasoned philosopher or an average Joe just looking to understand the deeper things of life, you will find plenty to explore here.

Dr. Groothuis said it well,
"Philosophy is not a closed club or a secret society. Since we all can think about ultimate questions, let's do it."

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