Hi everyone. Another quick message today. to catch you up on our trip (see pictures) and some upcoming things to pray about. It was a great trip! Not restful but good to get away from the daily pressures (to be replaced by others). Now we are having to bear down to catch up again right now and get ready for the upcoming semester.

Praise:

• The trip went well. Lisa and I learned a lot about ourselves and about our kids while in this trip. We were either in the car or navigating through mass transit in the cities we visited and the stress of it all brought out a lot of things. It was good and helped us to see things we need to work on with them and with each other.
• The kids really were exposed to so many things related to our country, the civil war, and living in the city. They experienced Atlanta, New York, Duke University, Princeton, dad’s old alma mater, Washington, Amish country, and much of the South. One of the blessings was catching the broadway musical Annie.
• We got to spend lots of time with several of Lisa’s family. We met her neices and truly got to know her sister-in-law for the first time and our time with her sister Melody was such a blessing as we saw her in her new enviroment, Manhattan, for the first time.
• It was good visiting several ISI staff along the way and we learned a lot about doing ministry through talking with them. They were such encouragements to us. Praise the Lord for the ISI team that God has put together around the country.
• We also touched base with several finanical supporters we haven’t seen in a while. The conversations were like were were never apart. It was such a blessing.
• We travelled safely for the most part. (Minor fender bender hours before we returned the rent car) We also learned the value of listening to (and singing) show tunes on pandora when in long car drives.
• Praise for Steven as he did a good job of taking care of our house and pets (though Belle our cat has been really affectionate since we got back)