After our dates had been scheduled, I discovered that Shawn was planning a midwest tour for Master's Commission that brought them as far as Denver - 3 1/2 hours from Steamboat Springs the very weekend we would arrive for vacation! (That had to be God!) I got on the internet and found a great Assembly of God church in Steamboat Springs and called to see if they would be interested in hosting the team at one of their services. I knew God was in it when the receptionist picked up and said, "Jeff Ables? I'm from Franklin!" (She is from my friend Brad Bullock's church and knows our church very well.) She put me in touch with the pastor and it turns out he is a Master's Commission alumni who loves the program and understands the whole touring/promotion process. He invited our students to perform their production at his Wednesday night youth service and it was incredible! They put the MC students up at the church for three days and let them enjoy the exciting attractions that Steamboat has to offer. The youth group at the church responded in mass the night XMC performed and I feel like I've made a life-long friend in Pastor Troy Lewis from Steamboat Christian Center! What a thrilling experience it was to get to introduce the XMC team to one of my favorite places on earth!
Another highlight on the trip was watching my nephew Jeremy propose to his girl friend Stephanie! He had arranged with the staff of one of the restaurants on the mountain to have their outdoor camera (which provides live steaming on the Steamboat website) to have it focused on the place he proposed, which allowed many of their friends and family to watch it happen live around the country! The good news is she said "yes!" Now that's a Colorado connection!Our vacation reminded me of how wonderful the connections God gives us are! Our connection with the family in our church who blessed us with our condo, the connection with that family and others who accompanied us on the trip, the connection with Pastor Troy and our new friends at SCC, the connection made between Jeremy and Stephanie through their engagement: Thank God for the way He connects us! (Especially in Colorado!)
