Our family lived just a few months shy of eleven years in Santa Barbara. It defined our children’s youth, and remains a truly unique and magical place. The climate and the human contributions to the landscape remain breathtaking to us even after years apart. And at the heart of all of this magic is the people we were blessed to know, work with, play with, and raise our kids with.
While Gena made time for a one-on-one meeting with one such person, I went and met with a group of folks – many of whom I may not have met directly in our time here, but are now part of a community of faith I was acquainted with in the way and by the means of any small-ish town existence. This community has been a steadfast partner with us since we left on our current overseas adventure, and it was a blessing to meet with the saints at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Goleta.
Pastor Keith Jones had transitioned fairly recently from associate to senior pastor at Good Shepherd when I arrived in 2010, and continues his care for his flock still today. We shared a wonderful lunch and then I had the opportunity to share a bit about my work in Asia with a dozen or so folks, and answer their questions after.
The one thing we *didn’t* share in, because again, I’m a writer not a photographer – is pictures. I hope the folks at Good Shepherd will forgive my oversight again! It was wonderful to meet new friends and not only share about my work but hear about ways they serve their Lord in Santa Barbara and through Good Shepherd, not the least of which is an expanded pre-school program including goats and other critters!
In the evening our family gathered for a dinner and time with some special friends from my former parish, Emanuel Lutheran Church, Santa Barbara.
When I interviewed with Emanuel back in June of 2010, I was invited to lunch by their praise team, a group of three women who helped lead the congregation in both traditional hymns as well as contemporary Christian worship music. We met at a beautiful golf course restaurant where, still star-struck by the sheer beauty of Santa Barbara, I was aggressively interrogated and grilled about how I might desire worship to look and feel.
It was a very kind interrogation, but I know one even when they don’t make use of thumbscrews or comfy chairs! Apparently our interactions were sufficient to allay their concerns to some degree, and I accepted the Call and was blessed to minister to them and many others for nearly 11 years.
So in the evening we met up with two of those three ladies as well as the former backbone of the entire church – my former church administrator. A thoroughly capable and organized woman who handled all manner of day to day responsibilities so that I did not have to, something for which I will be forever grateful!
It was a wonderful time together, and a reminder of how special this place and these people were and are.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 