At training

We had a wonderful summer and enjoyed our time out in the Portland area over the last several months.  It was great to catch up with friends and family and we were able to meet several new people as well.  Our year of ministry partnership has been rewarding, tiring, a tremendous blessing and a wee bit difficult all rolled up together.  We enjoyed the ability to spend quality time with so many people.  It seems there is never quite enough time to see everyone we want to as much as we want to, but were blessed with many meaningful memories and sweet times with friends and family over the last several months.  After a year of on the go schedules and a van that is nearly always packed for something- we are happy to say we are settling in nicely in our next 'home' on this journey.  We arrived at MAF headquarters in Nampa,  Idaho about 2 weeks ago and will be here through October 22nd.  

An exciting event from this summer- Elsie was baptized.  She asked to be baptized at Gateway, our home church in WA, and Dave was able to baptize her.  It was a special day, Grandpa Paul, Grandma Lynn and Great Aunt Darcy were able to be there too.  We are proud to see Elsie desire to follow God and so enjoy watching here learn and grow in her relationship with our Lord.  

Dave is about half done with the mechanic portion of the training and just finished an inspection on one of the training airplanes.  They are now working on special projects.  It has been going really well and Dave is learning a lot from the experience of the instructors here.  They will start with the flying portion of training in early September.  He is enjoying being back in the shop and around planes and I know he is super excited to be flying again soon.      

As Dave is in class all week, the kids and I are getting into a routine here too.  Elsie is doing great with school, and Sammy joins us a few days each week too.  Isaiah kindly naps while I do school with the big kids.  

Isaiah mainly keeps us busy and laughing.  He loves singing, playing with Elsie and Sammy and is growing "so big" as you can see.  

The kids and I along with a couple other family here were able to tour the fire station close by - they were great with the kids and even let everyone take a turn with the fire hose.  Here is fireman Sammy.

Sammy also has some exciting news- he can now ride a two wheel bike!  He's pretty excited and before long should be able to keep up with Elsie.  

We are blessed to be going through training with the same families that we did our last classes here with, so both us and the kids are excited to be back here with our friends as we walk through this journey together.  It will be a sweet time of fellowship here as we all prepare to serve in different places around the world.  We thank you all for your prayers - we could not do this on our own and are grateful for each of you sharing with journey with us.