September, 2026
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings in the name of Jesus, who gave himself for us.
Last spring, at the end of May, when school let out, we had no plans for the summer. Around the middle of June, during my weekly talk with my sister, she asked, “How would you like to come to Utah and see the girls?” “Really?” I told her that I will need to ask Beth, my niece. So, I immediately went out to Beth, and handed her the phone. My sister repeated her question. The phone was on speaker so everyone in the room heard the question. Immediate response was “Yes, yes”, from everyone. Plans were made, as we had done the year before when we rented a van. There was much excitement in the house. It had been four years since the girls had moved to Utah. Then on the day Beth went for the van, she was not able to get it. So, we decided we would go in our cars. Isaac had gotten his driver’s license two months before school was out, which gave us a second driver.
We left Tuesday night around 5PM, planning to drive all night, as it was cooler, especially since neither car had air-conditioning. We drove until 3AM, slept in the car, and went on the next day. We did have a flat tire which took some time to get changed. Driving a bit further we were able to get a second tire to replace the bulge in another tire. We had to stop early that day, at 10PM. That evening we slept in the car again, and started up again the next morning at dawn. We were doing fine crossing Southern Utah until the radiator got hot and the engine stopped. My sister helped us get a tow truck, taking us into the nearest town of Green River. We had to leave that car, and squeezed into the other car, with luggage on our laps. Thankfully, we made it the rest of the way without incident.
On Friday, we went to see the girls. What a surprise they had as they hadn’t been told who was coming. We had three good days of visiting, even staying one extra day. We took a different route home, as the GPS directed us through Colorado and through the beautiful mountains. Again, we made it. And I would like to say, without mishap. The Lord graciously took care of us and protected us, even when Isaac got sleepy and almost hit the guardrail (but no damage to the car).
We arrived back home in time to drop the two boys at their dad’s, to spend the month of July with him. Yes, we enjoyed the quietness. The boys returned the first of August and had a few days before starting school on the 12th. Little Jesse, though not so little anymore, is in the 4th grade. His older brother, Gordon, is a sophomore, and Isaac is a Junior. He is, again, busy in his band and playing in the marching band for football games. He is also playing jazz, with the Texarkana Youth Symphony Orchestra, and with the regular band. He is also in the Texarkana Future Leaders program, and will start taking Jesse along with him to get him on the right path. So, we are now back into the school schedule. When you remember to, pray for them to learn what they need to learn, and for safety in going back and forth to school.
Please pray for our little church. Last February, during a hail storm, structural damage was done. We are beginning the work of taking down the building and rebuilding it. Pray that no one will be hurt during the process. And, continue to pray for our congregation, that we will continue to grow in the Lord as we meet.
On a personal note, I am grateful to the Lord for His keeping power. I went to my heart doctor this month, and an EKG was taken. The doctor told me that things looked good, and that I can come back in a year. In August, I went to my eye specialist for Macular Degeneration. Again, he said things look good. And if they continue to do good then you will only need to come back in six months, instead of two to three months. Lastly, my pulmonologist I met with in June said I don’t have to come back for a year. I thank you for your prayers for my health. I continue to walk daily, in the mornings, while it is cooler than the evenings.
Let me close by saying THANKS to each one of you who support me with your gifts and prayers. I so appreciate your faithfulness. May the Lord richly bless and keep you.
Sincerely, in Christ,
Joan Davenport