The next day we headed over to Spokane Washington to healing rooms where we went and got some prayer, and we both received some good prophetic words. We also spent some time in the prayer room there. We had two days there. While in Spokane we also went to see John G Lake’s grave. That night we went to see James Goll who was speaking at healing rooms. He was cool and someone we had both been wanting to listen to for some time.

Healing Rooms Spokane, WA

John G Lake's grave in Spokane, WA

We then left to go to a Bavarian Village in the mountains of Washington called Leavenworth. We bought some vegemite from an Australian shop there, as we had long been missing it and we got some other NZ treats as well like ginger beer and crunchie bars. The village was cool and some of the people keep the traditions alive by wearing Bavarian outfits in the streets. Over the next 4 nights we had vegemite sandwiches for dinner; it was so good.

Bavarian Village - Leavenworth, WA

Bavarian Village - Leavenworth, WA

After our feast of vegemite we went to see another ex-pat Julie who Holly had worked with at Open Home Foundation. We met some of her friends who were really lovely and had a good time going to fireworks for the 4^th of July celebration.

The next day after church we were invited to a BBQ lunch with Julie’s friends from church. We had the best time and felt most welcome; we were truly blessed.

Holly and Julie

We were quite sad when we had to leave, but happy to see our next old friends of Holly’s – the Clark family. We had two days with the Clarks who live in a small town inland from Seattle by the mountains. They showed us around and we went and looked at a waterfall and the mountains. They took us to Seattle and up the space needle to look out over the city. They also took us to this cool contemplative service called compline where people chant. We also went to the Pike Place Market which was really cool and had an awesome vintage book store. We also saw the first Starbucks which is right next door.

Waterfall near North Bend, WA

Mountains and river in Washington

Kira, Pexa and Taryn Clark

View of Seattle harbour from Space Needle

Space Needle in Seattle, WA

Pike Market, Seattle, WA

First Starbucks. Seattle, WA

We hit the road again to go to Portland to stop and see another old friend Jonny who took us to these cool food carts which are how most of the restaurants start. The food was yum and cheap and there was a nice atmosphere. There was also a lot of vegetarian food. That night we watched a movie on the electric car that is making a come-back in the USA, which is pretty exciting.

The next day we went to this huge bookstore called Powells Books that takes up a few blocks – it was pretty awesome; so many books you could spend hundreds of dollars easy. We then drove around Portland and out to a cute small town called McMinnville where we saw the Spruce Goose - the airplane made out of wood by Howard Hughes, and had lunch at a lovely diner that has a pet monkey.

Next on our list was Crater Lake. On the way there we got to play in the snow a bit. The Crater Lake was stunning.

Ewan playing in the snow at Crater Lake, OR

Snow at Crater Lake

Crater Lake, OR

Crater Lake, OR

Then we were off to the Redwoods and then to Redding where we spent 3 days getting filled by God and relaxing. We went to the prayer room and also heard both Bill Johnson and Kris Vallaton but the best message we heard was from the youth pastor.

Redwood National Park, CA

Brochure and tythe envelope from Bethel Church, Redding CA

We left Redding and went on to San Francisco for a flying visit; we saw Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. We then pulled into a park and got the weirdest look from some people standing there, when we come back we saw why we got the funny looks - our car had oil leaking everywhere. It was all over the front bonnet. Turns out Ewan had accidentally left the oil cap off and the engine was totally empty of oil. We did a quick clean up and put some more oil in the car and off we went with Ewan feeling pretty silly.

San Francisco, CA

Cable car in San Francisco

Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco

Golden Gate bridge. San Francisco

The next day we took a drive on Highway 1 with some of the most spectacular views of the ocean and cliffs and hills. We stopped at a Carmelite monastery and also at Cannery Row in Monterey, and at Hearst Castle.

Cannery Row, Monterey, CA

Cannery Row, Monterey, CA

Carmelite Monastery, Carmel, CA

Highway 1, California

And then we ended up back in Los Angeles. Now we have completed our drive around the country – 43 states! 

So we have been hanging out in Pasadena for the last few days – going to Pasadena International House of Prayer and different churches, and also catching up with Karen and her husband, an old workmate of Holly's from Auckland who happened to be visiting LA. 

In two days time we will be moving into the Dream Center. Yay!

Holly and Karen in Pasadena