Nov 12-13 Waynesboro

Sunday morning I left the house at 6:25 for a 2+ drive to Hermitage Presbyterian Church, Waynesboro where I met up with Jaci (Smith) Patman where she is currently serving as interim pastor. Jaci and I grew up at West Side PC having many of the same mentors/influencers in our lives. We attended Madison Junior High and then West Seattle High School. Later in our junior year in college (attending different colleges) we studied abroad for 6 months, Jaci in Paris, me in Lund Sweden. We met up at Spring Break both with Eurail passes and toured France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Over the years we have stayed loosely connected so imagine the fun we had catching up with one another! Yes, many “women do” were used!

I arrived early enough to enjoy a hot breakfast at Hermitage, meet a few people from the congregation before the worship service began. This was a small country church, one of 5 PC U.S.A. churches in Waynesboro. So special to worship with a new church family! After a delicious moon dinner provided by Chef Keith, I joined Jaci at an afternoon meeting of elders and pastors from the other town and country Presbyterian churches as they joined together for Better Together. This group has met for the last 18 months working together in mission collectively that they would not be able to do individually as a church. Very encouraging to see how they are supporting one another and the impact they are having in their community.

Waynesboro is located in the Shenandoah Valley. Monday morning included a walk along a tributary of the Shenandoah River. It was a beautiful morning for a walk and yes Jaci, Keith and I were able to share MORE WORDS, So good to catch up on old times, life of the last 40 years, ministry and looking forward! Then it was time to say goodbyes.

The drive today was starting Skyline Drive from the south end midway exiting at Highway 33 (two weeks ago I drove from the north heading south halfway when the trees were in full color) today the were very few leaves remaining but the view was still beautiful!