3 of our family are currently warming up in sunny New Mexico. Melissa is warming up in the Philippines! Maybe I should start there this month...
If you have been following our daughter's journey through facebook or through her blog melissaannetrip.blogspot.com, you will know that she has on the adventure of a lifetime! It started with an amazing plane ride to Korea, then on to Manilla. She was able to work with some misisonaries and teams 2 weeks in Batangas city, and is currently near Naga City. This trip has been a time of growth and discovery for her. She ended up quite sick several times those first two weeks, and began to feel kind of useless. I think that is a trap that missionaries allow themselves to fall into all to easily. There is always a plan - even in sickness :) She had a number of amazing opportunities to work with students and made a lot of new Filipino friends. Now she is working with 3 MK's who obviously adore her, and has had opportunities to share her testimony and learn about other ministries in various villages. Make sure to check out her blog for a lot of photos!
Kelly, Matthew and I have had a great time this past month. We began our adventure in Idaho at my family's reunion. After a week with them, we took off to Yellowstone. How incredible! In three days we saw Moose, Bison, Bear, Deer, Elk....this list goes on. We love to camp and had a wonderful experience being in nature - away from electronics (except for those couple of hours waiting anxiously to hear that Melissa had arrived safely :) - just focusing on what an amazing place God had created!
We are currently in New Mexico, enjoying time with Kelly's family before heading to student week at Glorieta. We don't get to spend much time with Grandma, so this is a treasure. We have also been given opportunities to speak in churches and reconnect with several pastors in Arizona and New Mexico. I am so grateful for their encouragement and support. They are always so excited when we come in town, eager to hear what God is doing in Canada.
A FEW SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS:
*My health - I have been feeling really well. There was some concern that with all of the travel I might have another flare up - but this just hasn't happened. I will have surgery in September or October to remove the mass from from between my small and large intestines. Praise Him that the biopsy came back clear!
*Pray for Melissa! She really is having an amazing adventure and when I asked her if she would be ready to come home in a few weeks, I was met with a sigh. I know that if it was up to her, she would probably stay a year! Pray as God works in her and through her. He is stretching her, showing her things about Himself and using her to minister to others. We are so proud of her!
*Pray for student week this year. We always meet with many students who are interested about our work in Canada, but more importantly feeling a tug from God to go and serve. It is an absolute joy for us to talk and pray with these young adults - be a part of their journey.
