When was the last time you exchanged pleasantries with a llama? Or looked eye-to-eye with a goat or hugged a pony? How about a ride on a hayrack? Wouldn’t you love to do that again!
The Cedar Rapids Church in Iowa and Andrews Christian Academy families and friends from near and far were recently able to enjoy these experiences and much, much more. As an annual event, friends come together at the acreage home of Loren and Julie Olson. Loren is our head elder, and his wife Julie is our elementary school principal and 5-8 grade teacher. They have generously hosted this event for years, and it has become a landmark experience for all in attendance.
Families and friends enjoyed delicious Iowa sweet corn, Linketts, watermelon and an abundance of delicious potluck foods, all within the friendly outdoors of the Olsons’ acreage. Mr. Olson drove his John Deere tractor through the fields, giving hayrides full of laughter and singing.
If ping-pong was your fancy, you were in luck. You could find it in the barn loft! Air hockey? Yes, that was also available in the loft.
Friends, old and new, chatted while children played in the cool temperatures, taking turns on the tire swing or playing with the critters. Everyone is welcome to attend, and it is a great opportunity to bring guests. Each one appreciated the warm hospitality, beautiful decorations and the animals!
But beyond this, a greater experience was taking place. The event is more than great food and fresh air. It is about building, renewing and creating relationships. Families from two local churches, school families, neighbors from near and far—all gathered to witness and experience the deep joys of family, faith and fellowship. We pulled up our camp chairs, hay bales and benches to visit or rest while watching the youngsters play.
Best of all, as the sun began to set an amazing worship and song service inspired everyone. We heard pleasing harmonies, excellent testimony and heartfelt prayer.
A new member leading worship stated, “It was a slice of heaven,” and he felt like he and his family had found themselves a new church home.
Loren and Julie shared, “We feel so blessed that our little farm is a place where community can come together and fellowship with laughter, worship and making friends. It brings all our cultures together and gives us so much joy.”
What a blessing to share this annual tradition with our church family and school community! We are grateful to the Lord for His blessing at this annual event, to the Olsons, and to all who worked so hard to make the evening a success.
Remember, the Lord has told us in Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Oh, and yes, the Olsons do have a llama—two in fact. And 12 goats, a pony, 45 chickens of various breeds, a dog and …cats!
Carol Bradley is communication leader for the Cedar Rapids Church in Iowa.
