Settling in...Moving on...

One of our greatest concerns in this process of getting ready to go to the field has been making sure our kids are "settled" and ready to live in the States without Mom and Dad.

Ryan and Meghaan were married last Fall. They live here in Waynesburg and are settling in to brand new jobs.

Christopher and Cynthia, of course, were married last month, and Christopher left 3 weeks later for his second tour in Iraq. Please continue to pray for them and the boys (Adam and Brandon).

That leaves Katie (pictured with her mother above). She is 22 and is a Junior at Waynesburg University majoring in Secondary Education. Tomorrow (Saturday) we will be moving her into her new apartment here in Waynesburg. It is a relief to Debbie and me that she has a nice place to live.

Today is Debbie's last day of work at Waynesburg University. For the past 7 years, she has been the Executive Secretary to the President of the University. It has been a great blessing. Each of our children has been able to attend college free! All we have had to pay for are the books! Praise the Lord for that great blessing!

On the Road

I came across this picture online a few weeks ago when I was putting together our Summer Newsletter. The first thing that caught my eye was the road - you know, the white and yellow lines. Then I saw the rainbow. The road is the means to arrive at the rainbow - leading us to the promise!

For the past 18 months we have been "on the road" - 165 churches - 9 states - 50,000 miles. Last weekend we were in southern West Virginia. This weekend we will be in eastern Pennsylvania. The following weekend, back to West Virginia. We have enjoyed the process so much. We have met so many wonderful people - worshipped in many great churches.

At the front of our minds there are always statistics - 89% monthly support raised - 70% cash support raised ... numbers that have been accumulating each week, thank the Lord. We have prayed hard that we would not lose sight of the goal. I know that after the itineration is finished, the mission really begins. One year of language school in Costa Rica then onto the field of our calling ... ARUBA and the ABC Islands!

Each one of you is traveling this road with us. Your friendship ... your prayers for us ... your support for us ... your incredible encouragement to us ... your believing in us.

We are confident that God is with us ... and thank you for traveling with us also. How could we ever feel lonely?

"The Gospel of Job"

The past few weeks I have been working my way through the Book of Job during my morning devotions. I have been able to rediscover the great, yet simple faith of a man who suffered as few have. Take a look at some of the the classic passages from Job - from the heart of a man who, though he has many questions, is still trusting God as he is walking through the dark valleys of shadows.

13:15 "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him."

14:14 "If a man dies, will he live again?"

19:25 "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth."

19:26,27 "And after my flesh has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes -- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me."

Whatever we are going through, may we be able to see His hand in the trial and after the trial has finished. "Now my eyes have seen You" (42:5).

Congratulations Christopher and Cynthia!

We are pleased to announce that our oldest son, Christopher was married to Cynthia Hernandez on May 23 in Houston Texas. Not only do we have another beautiful daughter-in-law (Ryan and Meghaan were married last October), but we are now GRANDPARENTS for the first time! Adam is 4 years old and Brandon is 18 months old!

We ask you to please pray for Christopher and his new family. Having been married only 3 weeks, he returned to Iraq for his second military tour. He will be away from home for the next 15 months.