Last Saturday I flew from Boise through Seattle to Wenatchee. A retired pastor drove me from the airport to the bus station/train station where I took the FREE Link bus to Chelan. Roberta, host at the Holden Bed and Breakfast, picked me up and drove me to the B & B. I know Roberta from the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry network and it was fun to catch up. It was also great to watch her in action as an incredible host. The B & B was full Saturday night with people going to Holden for the first time and people who visit Holden often. Some of the Minnesotans had worked at Camp St. Croix in Hudson, WI (YMCA Camp) after my dad had been the director.

Sunday we all took the the boat up to Lucerne where we got on buses taking us to Holden Village. There were maybe 40 people registered for the Fall Sojourn. Pastors and deacons from the North Central Washington Cluster came up Monday-Wednesday (some retired leaders came up Sunday or stayed for the week) for their annual retreat. I preached at evening eucharist Sunday evening.

Monday through Thursday I led sessions mid-morning on story-linking. Retired Valpo professors Fred Niedner and Mark Schwahn were also on the teaching faculty–quite amazing to be on the team with them. And Jonathan Rundman was our musician for the week! It was great to have conversations with Jonathan and his wife Dawn, who works for Augsburg Fortress and is an expert in early childhood development. A highlight of the week for me was learning songs with Jonathan and the volunteer choir.

I got some hiking in though my loyalty to the sessions kept me from getting out to Heart or Holden Lakes. It was wonderful to have time with the pastors and deacons from the synod up at Holden for the retreat or the entire Sojourn Week.