Today

IMPENDING: It looks more and more like the hot summer days are going to miss us all together. I guess that is not all bad for Denielle and I as we are facing the imposing heat of northeast Brazil in a couple of weeks. Jr. Camp starts next week up here in N. Minnesota. Jon is speaking nightly from Sunday through Wednesday. We appreciate your prayers for us.

VISAS: The most asked question we hear: “Have you heard anything on your visas.” The most heard answer we give: “We won’t hear anything until the first week of August.” I almost called the consulate yesterday just to check but we wouldn’t be able to go pick them up until the first week of August anyway and I don’t think I could concentrate well on anything else if our visas were here. Thanks for praying.

SCHEDULE: We will be at camp all next week. Good friends Larry and Ruth Lipka (BGFM Director) and Marvin and Barb Sanders (Lord-willing) will be here for Family Camp next weekend. We are looking forward to seeing them. If our visas don’t come through by then we will also be at Sr. Camp the following week. If they do come through it is back to Chicago to pick them up. Soonest departure date after that: week of August 18^th???

FAMILY: ElliAnna turned six months last week and her weekly changes continue to astound us. She hasn’t learned how to pull herself up onto her hands and knees yet but when we put her there she rocks back and forth for a while before collapsing back on to what we call the belly flail. It won’t be long and then we will pine for the days when she would just sit on our laps and play. She also got in her first camping trip Monday and Tuesday (see the pictures). We all were thankful for the chance to get away and spend time with God and each other. We are learning that being married with kids makes communicating a more challenging and fulfilling adventure.

CLEARANCE: God has incredibly provided for our needs. We are thankful for the clearance racks that are abundant at the Department/Clothing stores as they feverishly seek to make room for back to school items. It is a good chance to stock up on summer clothes we plan on taking to Brasil (what we spent most of Wednesday doing).