Not-Glacier, Day 6, Kooskia, ID to Billings, MT via Boseman

Sunday, July 5

We enjoyed the first two hours on US12 yesterday, but the three hours we continued this route today were even better--mile after mile winding alongside swift rapids with steep mountains on either side. Definitely slower than I-90, but well worth the side trip.

We came over Lolo Pass and arrived in Missoula, MT, in time for a Burger King lunch. I was back to knitting as we headed down I-90 past Butte and the continental divide to Boseman. We have old friends who recently moved there. Cindy says she started supporting us when she arrived at Faith Missionary Church in 1980, which would be when we were still in Brazil. Cindy had no idea what she was doing committing to missionary support, but she stayed with us until she retired a few years ago. Her sister Kris and Kris's husband Steve were also at FMC. Kris says we were the first missionaries they ever had for dinner, and they were so nervous that Steve practiced saying grace to be sure he would do it right for the missionaries. :-) A few years later they became missionaries themselves with Child Evangelism Fellowship, serving immigrant communities in London, then training workers for the Caribbean. Steve has advanced Alzheimers. They have just moved to a granny flat beside Steve and Kris's daughter's home, and Cindy is with them. Both Cindy and Kris are nurses by training so Steve has great care. I'm so grateful for Kris to be surrounded by family in this difficult time. Their faith shines brilliantly. We hesitated to stop with Covid in the air, but I'm so glad we did!

We dodged a major thunder storm between Boseman and Billings. It didn't more than drip on us until we were safely into the hotel. This place has a full kitchen, so we had room to enjoy our Hormel Completes, a can of three bean salad, carrots and miscellaneous desserts. Lewiston was our furthest point west, so we are now homeward bound albeit slowly. Starting to consolidate food boxes and make room in the trunk.