Recently my family had the wonderful opportunity to take a sabbatical and travel abroad. Two years ago my dad turned in an application for the Eli Lilly Pastoral Renewal Grant, hoping that after 24 years of pastoring he could take a break and be refreshed. His plan was to take our family to several places that had been significant in his life and in his preparation for ministry.

For four months we waited for a letter to come with the results. Even though I was in a department store when Dad called with the good news, I couldn’t contain my excitement and did a pretty good job of embarrassing my sister, Lindsey! It would be a full year before we went on the trip to Washington State, California, Australia, and Hawaii.

The beauty of God’s creation made the trip a real treat. In Washington, we stayed in a quaint cabin on Skunk Bay. Each evening Dad asked us two questions: What was the most exquisite thing you saw today that reveals God’s glory? Who was the most interesting person you met today, and was there anything about that person that you’d like to emulate? We were seeing beautiful things and meeting new people every day, so these questions were always easy to answer. The next leg of the trip was California, where we enjoyed dear relatives, the Big Trees National Forest, and Yosemite with its astounding cliffs and waterfalls.

Finally, we traveled across the Pacific to the land Down Under. Australia was astonishingly beautiful, with green rolling hills, pristine beaches, and so many species of exotic animals. Everywhere we looked there was something new and beautiful. I can speak for my family when I say that we were truly amazed by God’s creation!

A significant blessing of the trip was worshiping in many Reformed Presbyterian churches and making friends in those congregations. In Seattle, we enjoyed the hospitality of several families, and my parents enjoyed old friends. The Fresno congregation was also very hospitable, inviting our family to church activities and family gatherings. We chose Australia as the primary destination for our trip because my dad and his parents lived there as church planters 33 years ago. It was an opportunity for us to see the sights and meet some of the people who’d been important to Dad during his teen years.

The first night we stayed in Frankston, Victoria, my brother, Joel, and I were invited to a youth campout with the three Australian RP congregations. I absolutely loved that time! It enabled us to make friends at the very beginning of our visit and enjoy those friendships throughout our stay. Near the end of our two months in Australia, the presbytery held a “working bee” at Dixon’s Creek RP Camp where we enjoyed working and visiting with our new friends. Of all the time spent in Australia, those few days at Dixon’s Creek Camp were my favorite. The sights of Australia were beautiful, but spending time with our new friends was the most fun.

Our family couldn’t have asked for a better trip; it was better than we imagined it would be and we are all very grateful for the experience. My dad was able to renew old friendships and show us places he’d been telling us about for years. Mom and Dad had a break from their responsibilities and took the opportunity to ponder God’s leading in their vocation of ministry. All of us were blessed by the generosity and hospitality of fellow Christians, all while making wonderful memories.

Our trip ended with a restful week in Hawaii before returning home with warm hearts and great suntans, to dear old friends and family and to a town covered in snow.

Alida McCracken | Columbus, Ind., RPC