Not Wanting to Say Goodbye

The days are winding down here in our first semester at language school. We will be traveling all summer raising more support and serving in local churches. Many missionary families will be graduating in a week and we will miss them next semester.

Our kids have formed strong friendships with many children on campus. Some of them won't be back next semester. Jordan and Ben will miss their close friend Joy, as her family will be moving back to Connecticut.

The boys invited her over for supper the other night. It was so cute.
As I write this, I hear the kids playing in the other room with a boy named Israel.
Israel speaks more Spanish than English and it is good for Jordan and Ben to continue their exposure to the language. Honestly, there is no language barrier when it comes to kids playing.
They could care less...they just keep on playing and chatting away.

As for us, we will miss many families that we have gotten to know over these last four months. Last night, my classmates threw a big party for the graduating class and it was so much fun to fellowship with them all. I will have a separate post on that in the near future.

Kaylee's friends include three her same age, and many others, including many of the Bible Institute girls that love her to death.

We are all looking forward to this summer of travel, seeing family, and ministry, but we don't like the goodbyes. I guess it comes with the territory of serving and following the Lord's will in ministry.

Thank you for your continued prayer for our family!

My Classmates (Part 3)

I have already introduced all my classmates both HERE and HERE, but I wanted to share a recent group shot I took of the whole group.

Please pray for our class as we all will be traveling to different places during the summer. Some of my classmates will not be back next semester due to different dynamics. Pray also that we will all stay diligent in studying Spanish during the long summer break. It will be difficult to stay focused on Spanish as many of us will be ministering in English speaking churches during the summer.

How Well Do You Know Your World?

Are you looking for a short diversion from your work at your desk?


Take the "How Well Do You Know Your World?" quiz.

Points are rewarded for how close you get to each location and for how fast you answer.

There are 14 different categories that will test your World Geography.

Can you beat your spouse?
Can your kids beat you?
Can you beat me?

Final Push

We are counting down the days to the end of the semester.

25...24...23...22...21...

Time has flown by this semester.
It is hard to believe we are almost
done with the first half of language school.
Each day brings a need to focus on the final push
of study in preparation for ongoing assignments and the final exams.

Above: My first hour grammar class (5 days a week)
Yes...that's me in the back row.

Studying with a group of classmates has been an extra blessing this semester.
At various times each week, there are times for prayer as a class.
Above is Tim & Debbie praying for our class.
God has been good to give our family new friends throughout this semester.

Paul W. (our class president) leads our brainstorming session in
planning a send off party for the graduating language school students.
We will be hosting a sit down meal for them and all the language school professors.

Meet the graduating class of 2008.
We will miss these families and individuals next semester,
but we take encouragement in that they will
be heading off to their respective fields of service.

Please pray for this group as they desire to
spread the Gospel in the Spanish language.

¿Qué dijo? (What did he say?)

Each Sunday we attend two different Spanish speaking churches in the area as part of David's continued exposure to the language.

Kaylee all ready for SS.

Pastor Mendoza preaching in the AM service.
Each service is a lesson in linguistic concentration.

Our family usually sits with the Kunnari family (our GMSA co-workers).
It has been enjoyable to spend more time with them on Sundays.
We will miss them greatly, as they will be moving to Chile in June.

The boys class is taught in English & Spanish.
Tim (in the blue) is the boys' best friend at SS.
Last Sunday their class sang a special number in Spanish
during the AM service. We are thankful for this time of
exposure to Spanish and we hope it helps in their
language transition once we move to Chile.

We are looking forward to attending English services this summer as we will be traveling around the Upper Midwest on deputation. There is nothing like singing and hearing your "heart language". You can follow our summer travels by viewing the right-hand side bar entitled "Upcoming Summer Travels". Continue to pray for us as we prepare for a busy summer of speaking and ministry opportunities.

Catching Up (Part 3)

The Texas weather is heating up to another level.
Today it's 98 degrees and it's time to get the kids pool out.

Filling the kid's pool.

One week before my grandparents left for MN,

we all went over for supper and a short swim.

The kids loved swimming with great grandma.

Kaylee loves our little pool in the backyard,
especially when the boys aren't splashing!

The Whitcher kids came over for a dip on a very hot afternoon.

Kristi and Mellisa W. were able to spend some time catching
up after a couple years of not seeing each other.
We met their family in SD in a round robin missions
conference. They serve with Baptist Church Planters helping
start Hispanic Ministries across the USA.

Kaylee and her friend (and neighbor) Alejandra

I recently made a prayer card for one of my Spanish tutors,
Obed de la Cruz (from Mexico). We have become close over this
past semester. This is his first year of Bible Institute.

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The days are counting down till the end of the semester (16 class days).
Thank you for your continued prayer and support during
our time here in Texas. We are looking forward to our
summer travels and seeing many of you.

Catching Up (Part 2)

Over the last few weeks, Kaylee has started Potty Training!
That's right...no more buying diapers.

She has done very well, much to our surprise.
Her sticker page is now full (the above photo is two weeks old)

During our extended Easter weekend, we had an off-campus
picnic with our GMSA co-workers, Dan & Diana Kunnari.

The boys loved the park and the opportunity to run
around for several hours.

Climbing trees is now on the boys list of things to "try".

Kaylee getting some extra attention from "Uncle" Dan & "Aunt" Diana.

Kaylee playing with Leah K.

After eating lunch, we all took a walk through the wildlife reserve.

The outing was a great change of pace for all of us.
For Kristi, it was a chance to talk more with Diana.
For David, Dan, & Diana, they were reintroduced to the outdoors,
since they spend most of their time inside in class or in study.

The whole group: Our family, the Kunnari's, Bethany, & Peter Wilson

Thanks for your continued prayer
for our family during our time of
language preparation here at RGBI.
There are many unknowns that are in
the near future, but we know for certain
that God has us here for a purpose.

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*Congrats to Mark Perry from Ohio.
He was the only one to answer to the phonetics quiz correctly:

g = velar, voiceless stop

Catching Up (Part 1)

During the last month, there have been many fun events in our
family's life here in Texas. In the next several posts,
we will highlight, through pictures, those events.

A Sunday at our house.
Above: Kaylee's new dress. The boys still in their PJ's.

Kaylee's SS Class sang Jesus Loves Me in English & Spanish.
As you can see, Kaylee really stands out in her class, due to the fact she
is the only little "gringa". She was hopping up and down while looking
for us in the crowd. Once she found us she waved at us for the rest
of the song.

We invited Grandpa & Grandma Flinck for supper and for a
free musical concert on campus. It was one of the last times
we were able to be with them before they traveled back
to MN for the Spring.

There were a few days when it got up to 100 degrees.
Our pool has been a blessing to our kids and their friends.
(L to R) Elijah, Ben, Jordan, & Jesse

Little Miss Diva

Due to the hot weather our apartment's main transformer blew
around 6 pm, in the middle of Kristi making supper.
It was fixed around 2 am that same night,
but it made for an interesting evening.

That night we put the kids to bed in the dark.
Kristi is reading the next chapter of Little House on the Prairie
to the kids by (the red) flashlight.

There is a large crew of kids on campus that our kids play
with on a daily basis. During a very hot weekend,
they all planned a water party to cool off.
Water balloons, water guns, and sprinklers
made for a very wet and muddy afternoon.

Come back for part 2 of "Catching Up"