Friday, July 07, 2006

Faith & Freedom


Greetings from ol' Virginia! As you may have surmised from the lack of updates on this blog, we've been out of town. The 2006 Faith & Freedom Tour in Virginia has had us occupied for the last couple of weeks - and what a glorious couple of weeks it has been.

The early morning hours of June 26 (the 30th anniversary of Dad & Mom's wedding!) saw us hurridly packing the final items into the van and trailer, and heading east. Aside from some incredible rain in Pennsylvania, Maryland and the DC area, the trip was made without incident.

After a day or so of shopping, unpacking and final preparations, the 2006 Virginia Faith & Freedom Tour began on Wednesday, June 28. The week that followed was one of work, fun, and inspiration! As we walked through Virginia's famous battlefields, homes, cemeteries and towns, we not only learned of the people and events that took place, but were constantly reminded of the providential work of God in our history. What a rich and blessed legacy! May God grant that we might be worthy stewards of this inheritance!

Much could be said, and more will be elsewhere - or here later. Time gives me but a moment now to leave you with but a few pictures from this past week.


Josh again recorded and amplified all the lectures for the tour.


Jonathan with young Providence Phillips.


On the bus


Mr. Phillips lecturing in front of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia.


Our family with the guide who led us through the Governor's palace.


Josh & Brian


On Surrender Field in Yorktown, Virginia, we reenacted the surrender of Cornwallis to General Washington. Though, other pictures reveal that our "Red Coat" contingent had a hard time surprising their smiles as they surrendered! True patriots all!


Serving lunches at Scotchtown (Home of Patrick Henry)


Early morning food preparation (classy room, eh?)


Reenacting the patriot attack on Redoubt 10 on the Yorktown battlefield


On the banks of the Potomac at Mt. Vernon


Tour guide and historian Bill Potter


St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia where we were treated to a stirring reenactment of the 2nd Virginia Convention.


Jessica, Josiah, Joanna, Jonathan, and Joseph in St. John's Church


Jonathan with General Washington


At the Iwo Jima monument


Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, Arlington National Cemetary


Joanna & Josiah at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.

13 comments:

The Horn Family said...

Thanks for a window into your week in Virginia! Looks like you all had a grand time.

The pictures reminded me of when I first met the "famous" Erber family on the 2004 F&F Tour in Virginia. You all were so sweet and friendly, and I still have great memories of laughing together while preparing lunches.

~Cara

Anonymous said...

Looks like y'all had fun! I'm looking forward to more write-ups as you have time and energy!

~Heather Sheen

Anonymous said...

We kept checking for a F&F update! Thanks for not disappointing us! :) We were sorry to miss a Virginia tour.
We can't wait to see you all next week!
~Susan

The Serven Clan said...

Looks like a wonderful trip! Some of us will probably run into some of you over this next week (at the HOW) . . . until then,

The Servens

The Clerk said...

Cara - I thought of you while we sat on the benches at the Jamestown visitor's center. That's where I remember first chatting with you!

Heather - Uh, yeah. I'll try to write up a more detailed summary for y'all sometime. Your family really should join us one of these years!

Susan - There were actually only a couple of familiar faces on this tour, aside from the Vision Forum staff. Wish you could have joined us! Will you be there in November? See you in a few days!

Servens - We look forward to seeing at least some of you next week! Why is it that we have to travel half way across the country to see each other?? :-)

Jessica

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

oh! Trying not to be jealous:)

Sarah

P.S. We'll see you all the History Conference next week!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful event--wish we could have been there. I found out a few years ago that my great great great grandfather was in the Battle of Yorktown. It would have been great to tour that area.

Now what is this History Conference you're all talking about?

The Clerk said...

Wow! How neat to have an ancestor at Yorktown! That is one of my favorite stops on the Virginia tour. I'm afraid, though, that if any of our ancestors were there they were probably fighting against us! :-)

The conference we are referring to is the History of the World Mega Conference put on by Vision Forum. (www.VisionForumMinistries.org) It starts on Tuesday, but if you can make it, you would still be welcome to register... and we'd love to see you there! :-)

Anonymous said...

Sounds wonderful, but we won't be able to make it. (sigh)

I think we need something like that in Illinois, don't you?

The Clerk said...

Is that a hint? :-)

Anonymous said...

Subtle, aren't I? :)

Anonymous said...

Erbers,

It looks like it was once again a wonderful Faith & Freedom tour. I wish that I could have been there to help with the early morning lunch preparations. We sure hope to see you all some time in the near future. God bless!

Phillip Bradrick

The Clerk said...

It certainly was another great tour! And at least a couple of us are looking forward to seeing your family next month...

Jessica