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August 31, 2006
August Activities
Travel, friends and family, gardening and harvesting have kept us busy through August. We flew the day that stricter security regulations made flights difficult for many people around the world, but didn’t inconvenience us. Our flights to Denver and on to Minneapolis went smoothly and we were able to get to Dave’s sister’s home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a rented car that evening. I was amused that the model of car we were given was a Buick ‘La Crosse’ since that’s the name of my home town! We arrived just in time to attend to the funeral of Aunt Selma who died at 102 after living in the home she moved to as a bride up until the last year of her life when her son and his wife needed to care for her. A grandson had been with her up until then. She loved the Lord and had been waiting to see him face to face for more than 30 years! At the funeral we were able to visit with a number of more distant relatives. Jo Ann’s home on the lake was a wonderful place to spend almost a week. Wil got to use a jet ski and learn to knee board and ride an air chair (check out our website photos). We loved the peace and beauty of their home and view, and kayaking on the lake, as well as seeing friends and family.
We went via Chicago to La Crosse, not the most direct route, but one that let us spend two nights with very dear friends and see another OMF couple. Karen enjoyed her class reunion. She didn’t remember that she was one of 429 in that class. Only about 10% of the class, plus spouses, were able to attend, but it was a good time of reconnecting with many who came and learning news of others. While Dave and I were at the reunion, Wil went with his uncle to a Green Bay Packers pre-season game! My claim to fame is that I’ve raised an avid Packer fan who has hardly lived in the US, and never in Wisconsin! He loved the game and the Packers won!!
Our church missions retreat went well and the proposed changes have been discussed and are now being implemented. As September starts, so do most of the programs in the church so we expect to be back to a more regular schedule. Karen will be leading a Beth Moore woman’s Bible study, “Living Beyond Yourself,” and Dave will be team teaching the senior adult Sunday School class. Wil has been at soccer practice for the past week and will begin classes Sept. 6. He has quite a heavy load this year, taking both New Testament Greek and Spanish, and being on the Student Council. Pray he won’t be injured and that he will develop and maintain good study habits.
I’ve canned three quarts of vegetable juice (like V-8 but with nine vegetables!), three of tomato sauce, and tried making some very hot salsa. (We’ve grown cayenne and jalapeño peppers!) The freezer is bursting with bags of corn, beans, cauliflower, grated zucchini, and peppers and we’ve eaten and given away bags of cherry tomatoes and enjoyed having fresh strawberries and raspberries on our cereal most mornings. We need a root cellar for all the fall crops which will soon be ready to harvest.
God is good and has provided for us richly. We’re grateful for the health and strength to enjoy and share His bounty. And we are grateful for your part in strengthening us through prayer.
Gratefully yours, Dave & Karen
Posted by David at 3:26 PM
August 17, 2006
Vacation in Michigan and Wisconsin
We got on the plane with a large bottle of homemade fruit juice just minutes before the restrictions on taking liquids on board in carry-on bags as we left Portland last Thursday for our two week vacation. We flew to Minneapolis and from there drove a rental car to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where we spent the first week with Dave’s family. It was a great time of seeing brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts as well as long time friends, while relaxing and enjoying the warm sunny days. We stayed with Dave’s sister JoAnn and her husband Pat at their lovely lakeside home.
Yesterday we drove from there to Chicago to visit friends and tomorrow (Friday the 18th) we drive on to La Crosse, WI for Karen’s high school reunion and time with her brother Bill. Bill’s son Bill Jr. and his wife and newly adopted son, Matthew will be there as well for the weekend. We will be in the La Crosse area until the 22nd and fly back to Portland on the 23rd.
Karen had her chemotherapy treatment on the Wednesday before we flew and will have her next treatment the day after we return to Portland, August 24. Praise God, she was feeling well enough to fly and has felt well throughout the trip thus far.
Posted by David at 8:21 AM
August 9, 2006
August Prayer Bulletin
Dear Team,
The Tualatin Valley Wesleyan Church is using their basketball court to attract young Filipinos and their families this summer and is concerned with how to disciple its members who seem to be too busy with work and family needs to meet regularly for Bible study. On the other side of Portland, two small Filipino congregations have merged to form a larger more effective body of believers. In another church, Pastor Romy is considering moving on from his present pastorate to do a new church plant and is asking for prayer for guidance. Another pastor is needing a change of immigrant status in order to do further studies. These are just a few of the prayer items we brought before the Lord at the monthly Filipino Pastors Fellowship last night. We are very impressed by the commitment these men have to the Lord and to serving Him and their congregations. Last month we had the privilege of hosting this monthly meeting at our home and enjoy getting to know these pastors and their wives. Pray with us for them.
Our home was also the gathering place for about 25 of our neighbors as we invited them over for coffee and dessert to meet our newest neighbors (friends who just moved into a house down the road from us). This proved to be a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with the people who live so near but who we never meet. Pray for ingoing friendships to develop.
The Northwest Asian Youth Conference, held July 10-13 was a great event that allowed some 30 plus high school age young people to come together for worship, fellowship, teaching and a personal challenge to grow in their relationship with God. I (Dave) had the privilege of presenting a seminar session on missions and enjoyed the interaction with these talented teens and their youth pastors. Pray for God’s unique work in each student.
Wil has had a full schedule this past month with a week counseling at one camp for elementary age kids, attending a week long water ski camp with our church’s high school youth group in Idaho, playing on an indoor soccer team and working as a caddy. We praise God that once again someone has anonymously paid much of his tuition for this coming school year.
This week (Aug. 10) we fly to Minneapolis and then drive to Michigan and Wisconsin for a two week visit with family and for Karen to attend her high school class reunion. (We’ll let you guess how many years.) Pray for good and meaningful time with family and for still to be made arrangements to meet friends along the way.
Upon our return to Portland, Karen and I will be participating in a retreat with our church missions committee. We are on the committee’s leadership team which is in the process of reorganizing the committee to make us more effective, to involve more people and better serve the church and the missionaries we support. Pray that we will be guided by the Holy Spirit as we meet.
On both ends of our trip to the Michigan and Wisconsin Karen will be having her chemotherapy treatments. Having the double dose of Herceptin along with the chemo drug Navalbine every other week is a bit harder on her body. Pray she will be able to handle this as we travel. She is now needing to see a different oncologist because Dr. Panutich has had surgery and needs to be on chemo himself. Please pray for him and his family.
Thank you for your partnership with us through prayer,
Dave and Karen
Posted by David at 4:39 PM