VIDEO UPDATE: If you’re reading this in an email, you can click on the image above to go straight to the video.

In our last video we shared about our new Bus Adventure!

Hello Friends!

We’re excited to bring you the latest adventures and milestones from our winter spent in Arizona. Here are some highlights and memorable moments from ministry in the desert this past season.

On the Road Again!

Our trip south included special stops, like visiting family in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Franky and Daisy had a less-than-enthusiastic puppy reunion. We explored Robbers Cave in Nebraska—a former brewery cellar turned underground party spot and criminal hideout—and made a spontaneous stop at the Archway Museum, learning all about transcontinental travel and getting a chance to park there overnight during their slow season.

Driving through Colorado, we admired mountain snow, then visited Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Utah. Contrary to expectations, our crew thought Canyonlands’ breathtaking “Island in the Sky” plateau was even cooler than Arches!

A long-awaited visit to the Hoover Dam was a childhood dream come true for JD. We stayed in Boulder City, Nevada, enjoying some downtime in the RV park pool and hot tub.

Quartzsite Arrivals, Puppies & Milestones

Once in Quartzsite, there was no rest! Lia and the boys flew back to Minnesota to meet a new baby nephew, while Daisy, who was pregnant, water broke right on JD’s lap, making for an unforgettable story and a few tense birthing moments. The three puppies became a highlight of Christmas (our fourth in the desert)—among the bus’s menagerie, which at one point even included a rescued baby bunny and a snake!

We marked our five-year anniversary of bus living and made a special area—dubbed “the place of play” (aka: “Pop”)—for the boys’ toys and activities.

Church Life & Ministry

Serving our local church filled our hearts:

  • Emcee duties for the community Thanksgiving service
  • Helping with Sunday School and stepping up as a puppeteer for “Hideaway Street”
  • Youth group leadership, worship team guitar, and guest preaching
  • Supporting our pastor’s upcoming South Africa missions trip with a country music benefit concert
  • Two baptism services at the Colorado River for local youth, including a touching moment with Crystal, who was “adopted” for the day by our family when her own mom couldn’t attend.
  • Healing and help for Gretchen—including after a nasty dog-induced gash—reminding us of the power of community.
  • We found rewarding ministry opportunities through solar installations and hospitality opening up faith conversations with customers over the course of working together and sharing meals around the bonfire.

We love that our church serves children and teens, in a town primarily made up of seniors, and it was rewarding to see youth ministry and Bible studies growing!

Projects & Improvements

Our property saw lots of upgrades this winter:

  • 12-14 loads of fill dirt to level out the land, create new pads, and prep for future improvements
  • New couch and washer/dryer (finally!) thanks to Facebook Marketplace in the clubhouse
  • Sewage connections for the bus’s new parking pad
  • New play room for the boys

Family & Friend Visits & Field Trips

We were blessed with a two-week visit from JD’s mom, culminating in the purchase of a fifth wheel for his parents. Enjoyed showing our friend Matt around the desert and a short trip to Mexico. Solar clients gathered around many bonfires—thanks to the cardboard from their solar installs!—and enjoyed field trips, like Children’s Theatre performances in Phoenix, and a side trip to San Diego. That trip didn’t go as planned due to a Gibson falling ill, but there’s always next year—and our zoo tickets are still good!

Unexpected Moments (and Bills!)

From sidewinder snake encounters to five-gallon buckets as plumbing, desert life brought surprises small and large—including a tooth fracture, solved with an affordable crown just across the border in Mexico.

And yes, the desert was HOT this spring: 105-107°F for two weeks straight in March, sending most RVers packing early. Maverick’s candle melted completely—testament to the Arizona sun!

🙏 PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for us in this season of unexpected bills and repairs. We’re trusting God for provision and wisdom as we continue our calling and ministry.

Thank you for following our journey! Stay tuned for upcoming stories about our summer adventures and all the ways we’re seeing music and ministry flourish.

Until next time,

JD & Lia, Gibson & Maverick
The Renegade Life

TELEGRAM

We encourage you to join our channel on Telegram, where we’ve been posting short updates between our monthly update videos. We also post urgent prayer requests there too. Download and find our channel at the following link: https://t.me/+-vH59gjLAfM5MThh

Join us on TELEGRAM

SUPPORTER VIDEO PLAYLIST

Supporter Playlist

If you’d like to catch up on our journey in the past, here is a playlist of all our supporter videos. It’s kinda fun to go back and see Gibson as a pudgy toddler, and Maverick was just a babe when we started our Renegade Life Journey!~

SUPPORTER VIDEO PLAYLIST

We love you guys, thanks for watching/reading and we’ll see you in the next video!
Lia & JD