Summer Adventures

So this past summer found our family spread out across the Philippines, Thailand, Fiji & the States! Steve and I were only in Thailand for a couple weeks, but we had a wonderful time helping to facilitate discussion groups for some of our colleagues who are in the middle of the challenges of their 1st term on the field. Connecting with them and helping them process was so life-giving for us, and we were so thankful for the opportunity. We also attended some meetings for those who serve in the role of Language Coach, and we found out that there's a reason life has been so crazy - apparently supervising so many new language students all at once is not the norm. I don't have any pics from those meetings since they were boring meetings but also people serve in secure locations so I can't post their pics online.
Meanwhile, Mikayla has been doing very well in the after-care home for girls rescued out of trafficking. If you're not getting her email updates and would like to, send me an email or FB message, and I can help connect you. I can't share her story/pics, but she'd love to add you to her list, and I know she covets your prayers. While it's an incredibly challenging work, and our hearts break for them, we have been enjoying having her nearby and even took in a movie together recently. 

She also just went back to the States for quick trip as she had a training she needed to attend, and she was maid of honor in her best friend's wedding.

Zach's summer in Fiji went really well - thanks to all who stood behind him both prayer & financial  support. I haven't gotten very many pics from him yet, but our favorite story of the summer was when he wrote to say that he never imagined that the first time he preached a Sunday sermon would be in a Fijian village, barefoot and wearing a skirt! In Fiji, it's actually called a sulu, but we thought it was a pretty cool way to start preaching. :)

Ben thrived at the camp where he worked this summer, and God used him in big ways. He also had fun connecting with a new group of people, and no one fell on their head when they camped out overnight in the hammock ladders. :) So thankful for what God did both in AND through him this summer.

One of my favorite things this summer was the fact that the 3 kids got to see each other! 

It was very brief, just a day really, but so thankful that they got to hug one another and encourage one another to keep pressing on in the direction He's leading them. Our kids are our joy for sure.