Thank you so much for praying for my southern California trip.  It went very much as planned, and for the most part, quite positive and enjoyable.  Jerad and Jamianne Shoemaker took me for a curbside cafe supper and coast "overlooking the beach" walk in Santa Monica Monday evening.  They are doing well indeed.  So, too, are John and Jackie Patterson up at Loma Linda.  I had extended, valuable visits with both couples. 

Both lecture engagements were quite successful.  I was a little nervous at UC-Irvine when I walked into the lecture hall and (moments before my turn to speak) listened to over 40 faculty, students, and residents in white coats intensely debating a bioethical issue.  I called up and got Walt Larimore to pray with me over the cell phone before I got up to speak (thank you Walt!).  Thankfully, I was focused, well-paced, and on target with my lecture and got a good response -- compliments and several good questions that were not difficult to answer.   

Wednesday afternoon I spent some delightful time in the Nightlight Christian Adoptions office with Ms. Megan Corcoran, a colleague who has helped me put together data for publications.  This visit was a mix of professional and social.  She just got married last month, and her / her husband's courtship story is a terrific tale of God's providence. 

I had time to visit two Christian campuses I had never seen before -- Azusa Pacific on Thursday and Vanguard on Friday.  I was especially warmly welcomed at Vanguard, where I was given a tour by Dr. Tara Sirvent, who teaches biochemistry.  I'll have the opportunity to lecture there when I return in January. 

I'm not sure just why, but I never found (or took) the time for any real sorting of issues, as I often get to do on trips.  So I'll probably be "due" for some hours of that sort, somewhere close by, before the summer is over.  The other thing that didn't "perk" this time were airplane conversations.  On the first flight the young lady wanted to sleep, on the second the man wouldn't respond to conversation at all, on the third I had no seat partner, and on the fourth I was with a dad and two young children, but the dad was three seats away and I really couldn't engage him from that distance.  At least I got off knowing that I hadn't funked an opportunity that God put before me.

Thanks again!

Reg