It's Mother's Day and I did my best - given the circumstances - to let Melissa know how much she is appreciated by all of us. The kids are getting old enough that they are actually taking responsibility for finding their own gifts for Mommy - and even paying for them out of their own pockets. (Praise the Lord!) We had a great steak dinner and Melissa's brother, Randy, and his family were here as well to celebrate with Grandma Trudy.
Life is a bit too busy in general right now. I have never been one of those who complain about busy-ness while seemingly taking great pride IN that busy-ness. Here's some of what's been going on/coming up. Melissa and I would appreciate prayer as we try to strike a balance:
* Missed school last Friday to take part in a funeral. My friend Luke was only 31 and went much too early. I have been praying for his mother especially today. Unless someone passes away in his sleep at the age of 99, most deaths are a rough business. But this one in particular was tragic. I loved Luke like a younger brother - I still can't believe he's gone. I can't write more about him without it turning into a book, and I don't have the time to write a book because ...
* Tomorrow starts our final full week of school. We have class all this week and then Monday of next week and then finish with three days of finals. Then freedom. Before freedom comes the grading of about 50 research papers still. (The grading got put on hold while Luke was in the hospital.) I just need to get the papers graded before the final exam grading begins!
* As soon as school is out, we'll have a few days to get some work done on the house. I guess we are thinking right now that we will be renting it out again, but there remains still quite a bit of work to be done before someone can move in: sanding, cleaning, yardwork ... THE POOL. Every weekend, Melissa and I talk about going to the house to work and then ... other stuff comes up. But we have to get it ready to rent by the end of May because then we will be leaving for ...
* My nephew's graduation in Seattle. We have never been out to Seattle to visit my brother Ryan's family and so decided to take this opportunity, since it is not likely we will have a similar chance to travel to the Northwest over the next few years. So we are flying out as a family and then driving back. Yes... DRIVING back ... 2,400 miles or so. Our intention is to present about Haiti whenever we get the chance along the way, all while doing some sightseeing. We're especially looking forward to seeing Yellowstone Park. And we're also hoping to see the highlights of South Dakota and some family there. (Which reminds me... I need to call them...) Also, we plan to swing through Iowa again.
* On the bright side, something has been taken off our plate - for now. We were anticipating spending all of July in Greenwood at OMS Headquarters for Cross Cultural Training. We wanted to get it in because it is only offered twice a year: July and January. Since we've come to the conclusion that we won't be able to get to Haiti full time by August like we had originally hoped, we definitely want to get there early in January for the start of the second semester. But now we're being told that the Cross Training is being reformulated, so we don't have to worry about being in Greenwood all summer, but that we won't have to stick around in January for it. We'll maybe get it in bits and pieces or over the internet or something. Anyway, that's a great chunk of time that is now open for funding work (and maybe a bit of relaxing along the way!).
* Which is good, because if we are stuck here in the States for a few more months, Melissa will be starting a new calendar at her school, with the new year starting August 2nd! The plan right now is that PROBABLY Melissa will be continuing on at her school and all four kids will be going with her. Meanwhile, I will PROBABLY be resigning my position so that I can concentrate all my efforts on fundraising. It is really frustrating not being able to leave for Haiti this August. I was just tonight reading a blog posted by Angie Bundy, wife of the Haiti field director, Brett, and the principal of the school where Melissa and I intend to teach. At one point she was lamenting our delay a bit - and it just made me want to go buy an airplane ticket right now and go!
* Speaking of funding, we've seen some great progress there - as well as some much-needed encouragement. One of the highlights recently has been the folks at Grundy Center United Methodist Church in Iowa. Apparently, they consider us 'their missionaries" and we are overjoyed to claim them as our supporters in ministry to Haiti. I will have to write more about them when I have the time. Right now, I need to get to bed so I can at least start this week well rested.
We would appreciate any prayers you can lift on our behalf. Let us know what we can be praying for you, too!
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