Updates

June 1st already! We moved here 11 months ago today. Here are a few updates:

1. Ya-Ya completed grade 9 with 6 A's and 2 B's (nothing below 85% the way they work the grading system here). She will have a pretty heavy course load next year with a full year of french and she will be taking Algebra I. She goes to the beach with us for vacation; will go to the same beach with her youth group in July; she will attend Camp Mini Yo We in July for two weeks; she gets home from that and attends Band Day Camp at her school.

She will be somewhat busy.

She has made a couple of friends here. 'Talks' on the computer with her friends from Burlington. Many aspects of Tennessee she is starting to enjoy. We are so proud of her progress and putting up with us.

2. Mercy is now 10 months old and weighs just over 11 pounds. She is adorable. She is playful but has just recently enjoyed sitting on our laps for a little cuddling and a nap. She is house broken and trained, finally. She loves to play ball with grandpa and goes for walks to the pond with grandma. She loved it this year when the Grandkids got to visit and she got to go up North and visit them. When she hears the neighbours outside she thinks that they are "her kids". We have to tell her no they aren't ours.

3. Grandma continued all year to do Bible study at the first church we attended here. The ladies who teach are awesome and our little church doesn't have, as yet, a ladies daytime Bible study. Prayer request.

I am also getting more involved with the Bridge ministry here in our town. Candy Christmas (I believe she is a professional gospel singer) has this huge ministry she started in Nashville feeding the needy who live under the bridges in Nashville. She has extended this ministry to the less privileged here in our town. We pack weekend backpacks for about 45 children from one of the schools in downtown Gallatin plus every month we serve a hot meal to about 200 and give them all the groceries to take home that they can carry. This is a more physical ministry than I have ever been involved in, real change, but rewarding.

Well I guess Marriage Encounter was physical at times more mental and emotional but this Bridge Ministry is all physical. Both have (had) prayer as the basis for all we do (did).

4. Grandpa has pretty much completed the transformation of the plant here in Springfield. He is working on a new project for his same boss, which will mean a change of job, location but not a move for us (good thing!). God willing.

5. We continue to miss the kids and grandkids but they are so faithful to phone and have each now visited us twice here in Tennessee. We will be able to visit them this summer a couple of times. All this is wonderful, but its not the same. But at least, I am not getting stuck in my memories as I did for so many of the first months here. So I am making progress.

6. Rich is going to Africa on a two weeks missions trip with his church. They will mainly visit AIDS orphanages and schools. Jake and Heather and kids are preparing for a move to Niagara Falls, Ontario to minister there at Glengate Alliance. Pray for the boys and their families for protection and God's will and purposes in each of their lives.

7. Our little church is growing and in a building campaign right now. Not an official fancy financial campaign, just the pastor keeps putting the vision he has for ministry here with a new building and also his vision to build churches in Europe and to send teams to the Sudan.

That's us for now. Have a great summer. Thanks for all who have prayed for us, encouraged us and continue to be part of our lives.

Love from
Grandma