Too Long

(The title of this post refers to the amount of time it has been since the last time we posted as well as a not too subtle reference to the length of the post as well.)

The dates fly by and we have been absent from posting for far too long. My apologies.

We were visiting a church in Western Nebraska yesterday when someone raised their hand to ask a question after I was done sharing a testimony. "Why haven't you updated your blog lately?" they asked. Good question. . .
Here is a quick run down on what we have been up to during the last three weeks or so.

March 16th AM we visited with friends at Boy River Log Chapel (Boy River, MN) and enjoyed a surprise baby shower for ElliAnna.
March 16th PM we were at Deer River Bible Church (Deer River, MN) and enjoyed again the fellowship with believers and especially good friends Rick and Jamie and their family.

March 18th (all day) we went to Duluth with Denielle's mom and sister to purchase supplies for Brazil. After a long day and what seemed like a hundred stores we pushed and pulled until we could get the doors closed on the minivan. I still think we might find Mom in the back of the minivan somewhere.

March 19-26th- What had begun as a "simple" shipment to Brazil turned into a moving project as we decided to move out of our house in Aurora before going to Illinois. We got to looking at the calendar and figured that it made more since to move out than it did to keep paying rent for two months on a house we weren't living in. (No brainer- yes but more on this later.)
So, the packing and sorting began in earnest and continued for the rest of the week and while the house didn't yet get fully vacated, we did pack it all up and get it all organized. It is amazing how much stuff we accumulate in such a short amount of time.

March 26th-Present. We did manage to finish packing in enough time to leave on Wednesday afternoon. It wasn't early anymore and we didn't get to Andrew and Steph's like we had hoped but we did get out of the house and onto the road. (Almost 3,000 miles later and we find ourselves in Western Nebraska where it is stil snowing!) Our first stop, over the last weekend in March, we went to Springfield, IL for BGFM's (0ur mission board) business meeting and annual banquet. It was as fun as usual to visit with other missionaries and supporters.

March 30th- Middletown Bible Church, just north of Springfield is a special place to us as it was the first church we ever visited on our pre-field ministry. We love going back every chance we get and thank God for some precious friends He has given us there.

Mom and Dad Ortler drove our important pieces- all those things we decided we couldn't leave behind- down to Springfield with us where we met up with co-workers Dan and Linda. They have blessed us by allowing us to send things in their shipment to Brazil. 21 totes, foot lockers, barrels, and boxes filled up the Ortler's minivan. ElliAnna accounts for the majority of things we sent. So many of you gave things and cash for these items and we praise the Lord for it. He is good. One church in Nebraska sent a load with their youth group as far as Minneapolis where we picked it up. What a blessing!

April 1st- we hit the long road for Hot Springs, SD after a brief stop in Eureka, IL. Denielle was able to take in Calvary's Ladies Retreat on Friday and Saturday.

April 6th AM we visited friends at Harrison Bible Church and enjoyed listening to the choir from Cornerstone Bible Institute give a concert. Jon's sister travels with the choir.
April 6th PM: After the world's greatest potluck, we hit the road down to Dix Bible Church where we will spend the majority of this week with Jon's family.

We praise the Lord for the opportunity He has given us to visit our families and friends during these couple of months. Hebrews 6:19 continues to ring through our ears: "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast."