Vancouver pastor returns home from military deployment to surprise crowd

East Vancouver — More than 50 people visited Portland International Airport recently to surprise Pastor Bill Sperry, who also serves as a naval reserve chaplain. Sperry was greeted by a crowd from East Woods Presbyterian Church in Vancouver when returning from his deployment in Bahrain. The crowd was a surprise for Sperry, who later that night completed a surprise of his own when he got to see his two sons, who were expecting him to return a few days later. He left for Bahrain in January, but his wife, their children and his congregation made sure to send plenty of gifts, supplies, letters and prayers to Bahrain to help him in his service to the military. Molly Sperry, his wife, kept busy as a single mom and registered nurse, working and teaching at the University of Portland. Regular video chat sessions helped to minimize the distance and time.