Snow!

It has been a very busy week.  I have said good-bye to loved ones, travelled 3000 miles, said hello to other loved ones, worked my first two days in a prison, eaten great New England food, and spent a lot of time walking and driving in snow.

Snow has been something that I have only played in.  I played in it as a child in New Jersey, until I moved to Florida at age 9.  I played with it as an adult when I went on vacation.

This is not play.

Snow is amazing and beautiful.  I keep looking out at it in disbelief.  I cannot believe that I am living in the stuff.  So far, it has not been as bad to get around in snow than I would have thought.  It is definitely a challenge, but not overwhelming.  I know that there will be times when it will be impassible, but even with all we have had this week, that is not the case.  I had one instance that could have been problematic.  I was unable to make a turn because I could not slow down fast enough.  I did not miss it by much, and there was nobody in front of me.  I am still adjusting.

I took a walk with my nephew yesterday.  I took a picture of a graveyard with my mobile phone.  It did not really capture the beauty, but you can get a little sense of it.

I also took a picture of the home I am staying in temporarily.  It is a stone house built in the 1830's.  I am staying in a room that is behind a door that is hidden in a book case.  The books on those particular shelves are appropriately mystery books.  This is just one angle of the house, I may post more later.

Lastly.  In addition to the many important good-byes that I said.  There was one that was less important.  I said good-bye to my Jeep.  I had always wanted one, and finally got one when I was in my late 30's.  God provided by allowing me to keep it all the way until the last day I was in Santa Rosa.  Sold it for cash, which was great since that banks were closed that day.

My much loved jeep was replaced yesterday with a 2002 Chevy Blazer.  Due to paperwork type issues, I will not pick it up until Wednesday.  I am very pleased with it, and Karen will enjoy the heated leather seats!

The next step

It is happening right now.  I am posting this on the bus as I head to the airport.  I am officially leaving California after almost 24 years.

It was hard when we left Florida to come to Golden Gate Seminary in the summer of 1987.  My marriage was just over a year old at the time, and we were leaving behind family, friends, and everything that I had known since I was 9 years old.  There were a lot of tears during those days.

There have been a lot of tears during these days.

The tears of 1987 and the tear of 2011 have a lot in common.  Back then Karen and I were leaving so very much behind in order to follow God's calling to seminary.  It was very difficult, but was clearly the right thing to do.  It is the same thing now, only on steroids.  I am even more clear now that this is what God is calling me to do, I am even more clear now that it would be less painful for me to slam my head in to wall while shoving bamboo shoots under my fingernails and having my pinky toe stepped on by an elephant.

We had had a wonderful sendoff that has lasted a couple of weeks.  I have said good-bye to my friends and colleagues at Christian Counseling Associates, to my remaining clients, to many good friends, to our church family and to family that we love more than words can say.  The best one word description for the last two weeks would be "full."  They have been full of appreciation, joy, hope, excitement and sorrow.   It will only happen through God's strength and wisdom, but I am determined to make sure that the sorrow has not been in vain.  I cannot wait to see how God is going to work in the hearts of the people in the Charlestown area.

Spring Hills gave us a wonderful good-bye reception.  We were showered with encouraging words, thoughtful cards and gifts and great food (well, we did not actually shower with the food).  I will try to post some pictures of that soon.

Bitter Sweet

This past month has been very bitter sweet. As I prepare to leave Santa Rosa after 22 years and Spring Hills after 16 years, I am quite sad. I love my church, and have been blessed to know so many wonderful people as I have seen it grow from about 200 to approximately 1500 in average weekly attendance.

I have had the privilege of working side by side with the best church staff on the planet and the most wonderful group of volunteers in any organization I have ever seen. It is very hard to say good bye to family, friends and co-workers at both Spring Hills and Christian Counseling Associates.

That was the sad part. The sweet part is what lies on the other side.

When I first realized that the Lord was calling me to pastor a church, I had no idea that he would call me to such an awesome little town like Charlestown, NH. There is a great need for a healthy church there, and God has given me an overwhelming passion to reach that community for Christ. It has been very sweet to have that vision grow so strong and to have the support of my family and friends as we get ready to launch.

I am also very grateful for the job He has given me. For those of you who don't know, I will be doing mental health counseling in a prison in order to pay the bills. I expect this job to be both exciting and challenging, while also allowing me the time I need to launch the church.

Please pray for the Krulish Clan as we adjust to this new life. We will do our best to keep you up to date on life in a small town and on what God is doing as we begin this new work in the "Live Free or Die" state.