June 10, 2008

Wow, it has been so hot here!! In the high 90's! BUT, our God has provided some relief. We have been blessed with season passes for the family at the local aquatic center. It is an outdoor pool/water slide/park. Very nice. We went as a family on Sunday after church. It brought a nice relief. We have been able to keep our home cool with 2 window air conditioners and lots of fans.

We have made it home and it is finally starting to feel like home again. Scott and I arrived in Coshocton on Memorial Day around 3:30 p.m. and by 5:00 p.m. was on the road again with our bags repacked for North Carolina to pick up our boys from Grandma-ma's house. We got there about 2 in the morning on Tuesday and left by 7 a.m. on Wednesday to come home. Arrived home by 7:30 p.m. that evening. Thursday Nathaniel had a eye doctor appt. in the morning and Scott, Shaughn and I had doctor appts. in the afternoon. Friday Scott went to work for a half of day and during that time we received a call that his Aunt Ruth, from Michigan, had passed away. So, on Saturday morning we once again left out with our bags packed for yet another adventure. We arrived home that following Tuesday very late and Scott went back to work on Wednesday. (This was just last week.) :-) On Thursday evening, all day Friday and all day Saturday MMS had their annual conference that we are "required" (highly suggested) that we attend. It was for the entire family with all meals included. Our speaker was Duane Elmer. He has written a couple of books on missions/cross-cultural/communications. We really enjoyed him. So, on Sunday after church, we made it a family day and went to the water park with a picnic.

During our conference we also had a guest, Paul Jones, stay with us. He is moving to Coshocton in July and starting at MMS on August 1st. He has been one of the people raising his support and has arrived at 100% while we were Alaska. He led worship for the conference. Beautiful job! He had a stick shift car and had Shaughn drive it home from the conference Friday night. Shaughn was so excited. He hit a rabbit on the way home and laughed silly about it. And I thought he had a heart. :-)

Our insurance situation is still under prayer. We are going to join Samaritan's Ministries. They are not an insurance company but are a ministry that members help each other out. You have a monthly due amount and instead of paying it to a "home office" you pay it to another member in need. If you have a claim over $300, you submit it and if it is approved, then they well send out letters to other members to pay you their monthly dues to you. The approved claims are pretty specific.

We are still praying and asking you to pray about ministry in Alaska. We desire to know God's will without any doubt. You are all part of this team. :-)

The end of June, June 27-29th, Scott and I have a "Sanctuary Weekend" planned. It is at a resort here in Coshocton that is specially for those in ministry. The owners feel it is their ministry to bless others in ministry with a place to get away. It is where we are having our prayer team retreat at in August. We are looking forward to it.

We are meeting with a representative this Thursday for our pre-teens program. We desire prayers as we go forward in launching this ministry for the local church. We are excited to see what God is doing and going to do through this ministry to the local kids.

Please pray for us as we trying to get out our next newsletter. We desire God to speak in and through it. It is all for Him and all about Him! He is sooo GOOD!!!

Bless you all and thank you so much for your prayers. You are really great! We appreciate you and all that you do. Bless you all!!

Lela and boyz~