Busy Coming and Going

A lot has happened since we last wrote. The beginning of May, John flew out to Las Vegas with his father and sister to see his brother who was in critical condition due to his decline from the chemo treatment for colon cancer. You probably received our updates during that time and prayed for David. Thank you so much for your prayers and concern through all of that. Praise the Lord for David’s amazing recovery and for God’s faithful provision for us for that unexpected trip.

After the semester here at the Missionary Training Center finished, we were able to make a quick trip the beginning of June to visit all our kids in Chicago and Waukesha. It was a short time, but it was good to see them all and reconnect.

After a lot of planning and coordinating to be gone from home for 3 weeks, we made a trip to Ontario, Canada, to visit Melanie’s family whom we hadn’t seen for 3 years. We made some other stops along the way to visit some good friends, too. It was great reconnecting with everyone! All our kids also made it to Ontario where we had 3 days overlapping together. Some of our kids hadn’t seen their grandparents for 7 years!

After leaving Ontario, we “swung by” Chicago and Waukesha and saw all our kids again. The main reason for going was to be able to celebrate our grandson Mason’s first birthday with him. The small party was a few days early, but it was so special to celebrate this milestone with the other set of grandparents present as well.

When we arrived home from our travels on August 3^rd, John “hit the ground running” with 3 days of meetings. Melanie was quite sick with a fibromyalgia flare-up upon arriving home, so she spent the rest of that week recovering and resting up. Over the following week, we were privileged to help with a cultural event, welcoming the incoming students. The event happened on 4 different days, from 12 pm till about 8 pm. It was long hours, but a lot of fun working alongside some of our co-workers and simulating a cultural experience that gave the students a taste of life overseas.

Orientation began August 17^th and the semester is off to a good start. There are 33 new students beginning the 2 year course here at the Missionary Training Center and 37 returning students. John just taught a class this week and we continue to connect with the students and our co-workers as we interact together both inside and outside of classes.

Thank you for your prayers and support! We are privileged to be partners together with you in what God is doing to reach unreached people groups with His Good News. We are thankful to be serving here, helping train missionary candidates for cross-cultural life and ministry.