The Personal Blog of Barak Strickland

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Returning to Ohio

Victoria and I hope this post finds you doing well! We wanted to take a moment to share a quick update on some changes in our plans and also reach out with a request for your prayers and potential help.

As many of you know, our original plan was to follow our grandson and his parents, Darren and Emily, as they continue in their military career. However, life has a way of throwing curve-balls, and there have been some unexpected changes. Darren will be returning to Camp Pendleton in Southern California in May, which has altered our course a bit. As a result, we are now planning to return to Ohio after assisting Darren and Emily with their move.

As you may recall, we sold our home in Xenia last year, so we are looking for a new place to call home starting mid-to-late May. If you know of any available rental properties, or if you have any other suggestions, we’d be incredibly grateful for your help and insights.

We’d love to stay connected, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can be praying for you as well.

Thank you for your continued love and support—it means the world to us!

Monday, October 10, 2022

To Illinois for NALC Disaster Response

Another trip for the North American Lutheran Church Disaster Response organization. This time to pick up supplies from two churches for Hurricane Ian victims.

On the road again...

Victoria even did some of the driving!

At Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Metropolis IL

Loading relief kits at St Paul's

A quick stop at Illinois Oldest State Park on the way out of town

Next stop, American Lutheran Church in Rantoul IL

Loading relief supplies

Buckets and Boxes!

Our loading crew in Rantoul with the truck loaded and ready to go

Mission Accomplished! Back at the NALC Warehouse in Caldwell OH

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

NALC Trip From Ohio to Colorado

I was recently offered the opportunity to drive a truck loaded with disaster response supplies from OH to CO. My friend Paul agreed to co-drive with me on this l-o-n-g trip. This was for the North American Lutheran Church Disaster Response organization.