Updates...

Here it is... the first week of August.  Time is flying and it doesn't seem to slow down at all.  Last week, we returned from our staff retreat which was a great opportunity to reflect and have some time away.  This past Monday, I gave AJ Rhodes a ride to the airport in San Jose as he was finally heading back to Tallahassee.  AJ attends Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahasse, Florida which is one of our supporting churches.  We were fortunate enough to have him here in Puerto for about a month to help us with our last mission team of the summer as well as our regular skate sessions among other things.  It has been a busy year without the long-term help we are praying for but thankfully, we have had some short term help during some of the busiest times.  

We are looking forward to the visit of a couple from Lubbock, Texas on the 13th of this month. We have been talking for the past few months about the possibility of them joining us long-term down here and now we are finally going to get the opportunity to meet them and show them around.  We'd definitely appreciate prayer for this as it is so important for us to get some help and it is a big decision for them as well.  We ask God to be in the middle of it all.

It as been good to have Erik, owner of "@ E's Restaurant", back in town.  He was traveling to Cuba, Mexico and then the States for the past few months and we really missed him at church.   It seems that good friends are sometimes hard to make down here so you really miss them once when they're not around. 

We will be returning to the States later this month.  We'll arrive in Florida on the 29th of August.  We'll head to Jupiter first and will be there until the 5th of September.  Then, we'll be taking a break in Orlando with family before heading up to Tallahassee on the 10th.  We'll be there until the 22nd.  Next, we'll head to Arizona to spend time with Amy's family, take a short trip to Colorado to meet with the director of Alternative Missions, San Diego to meet with leaders from the Horizon School of Ministry and then back to Tucson for a few days before heading home to Puerto Viejo on the 19th of October.  Hopefully, along the way we will get to see many of our friends. It's been a long time and we look forward to re-connecting.

Please be praying for the church while we are gone.  Unfortunately, no one has stepped forward to lead in my absence.  We are still hoping and praying that one of the local guys will step up and take on the responsibility...that's what we're here for, but it's not a simple thing.  We are, however, happy to see people continuing to grow in their relationship with God.

We would appreciate your continued prayers.  It is incredible to be living in our home and that has taken much of the negative stress out of our lives.  For the first time since we've been here, we are able to devote less time to getting by and more time to our work... simply because life is a little easier and more convenient (not to mention safe and dry).  A huge weight has been lifted off of us and we are so appreciative to all who made it possible through prayers and help.