More Road Time

Last Sunday I drove to the Western Illinois Correctional Center to visit Phil.  It was good to see him again and he is always appreciative of the visit and expresses how much he appreciates the church's prayers and support.  We are the only family he has.  He is where he deserves to be and he is paying his debt to society, but I am always a little saddened when we leave him.  But it is also a good feeling to walk out and away from there! 
I thought of all of the Christians past and present around the world who were/are imprisoned for being willing to take up their cross and follow Christ.  We need to pray for them and be thankful for our religious freedoms.

Thursday, I drove to the World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.  I got caught up on the latest in the pork industry, and enjoyed a lot of free food.  It was a little bigger crowd than the last few years, probably due to the early spring allowing field work to be completed.  One vendor told me that when he started in the business 25 years ago there were 375,000 pork producers in the U.S.  Now there are only around 50,000.  Fewer producers now, but the operations are much bigger.
Unfortunately, I spent way more time on the road than in Des Moines.  I did fill up the tank with $3.22 gas before I left town.

Friday night we drove east to Leo for niece Kacie's graduation party, which was on Saturday afternoon.  Good food, fellowship, and a keg of root beer awaited us.  We got to use the quiet bedroom, so we were able to sleep in Saturday morning.  We enjoyed our short stay at the Klop's Resort and headed back home Saturday night. 
Congratulations Kacie!

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
II Timothy 1:8