Normal, IL what a great time

Andrew and I looking our best :)

So...we had a great time in with our friends in Normal, IL. It was such a blessing to be able to catch up a little bit. Andrew and I have not seen each other for a long time, he was thinking maybe 12 years. However long, it has been a long time. It was great to talk about our times growing up in Venezuela, boarding school etc.

We were so welcomed in their home, there aren't to many things like stopping somewhere you have never been before and feeling totally at home! We had already eaten some dinner, but when we got there they had a spread prepared...so I couldn't say no...we enjoyed a second supper. Jada couldn't stop eating baked potatoe with green beans on it.

What a blessing to break our trip basically in half...it made it more like a vacation and less like a "road trip". On the way up we were even able to spend a little time at a rest area that had a play set for the kids to hang out.

Jenny and the Kids outside playing in our "rock box"

They have pea gravel here that is used in the kids parks and for putting between the flat stone to make patios and stuff. Anyhow, we realized that the sand really just gets everywhere on the kids...so we put pea gravel in instead. So...it isn't really a sandbox anymore. :)

Sickness continues to "plague" us. I, Jonathan, was sick over the weekend...not violently ill or anything...but sick none the less. When I got home from chapel this morning Elena vomitted...so unless she gets better by the end of the day we will need to stay home again tommorow. The kids are so cute, they are always asking when they are going to go back to class. We feel so blessed that they enjoy their class so much. :)

We went to Calvary Chapel again this weekend. It was a great time and we had opportunity to meet quite a number of people. We have found our church home. :) How awesome!! We are excited to continue to get to know more of the folks from Calvary Chapel and seek to be a blessing.

Classes, Field Fair, Health, So much to learn....

So..about the picture...it has nothing to do with my blog post...but she is cute isn't she?

So we are at the close of a great week here at the Missionary Training Center in Missouri. We had regular classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I am so overwhelmed with what I don't know and need to learn. We are only a few weeks into classes and my head is already spinning. I was actually quite anxious about it...but then the Lord was faithful to remind me that I can rest in Him to help me learn and do the work in my life that He wants to be done. I probably won't remember everything I am learning...but I have a MIGHTY, ALL POWER FUL, LOVING, MERCFUL, GRACIOUS......heavenly Father who will be with me all the way through the training....when we arrive on foreign soil...when I am afraid....when I am doubting. Pretty fun to just sit and think about actually.

Thursday and Friday were our Field Fair...an opportunity to hear what God is doing around the Globe and what some of the needs are on the fields represented. This year there were 16 fields represented. What an awesome time. Again this week we are wrestling with health issues. PRAISE the Lord sickness did not set in until mid morning on Friday! Elena is not feeling well and Jada is throwing up. Jada seems as happy and chipper as can be...but she sure isn't holding much down. Anyhow...thank you for praying for our health and please don't stop. We are grateful that this happened at the end of the week so we can recover on the weekend and hopefully be back in class on Monday.

What is God doing in Africa?

Jada with my Aunt Marilyn

We were so blessed this week to hear from some of the NTM leadership about what is going on in Africa. God is really doing some awesome stuff there...as I am confident He is in the rest of the world as well.

One of the main things that is exciting is to see how New Tribes is partnering with the African Church to reach Africa...rather than just going in to Africa, setting up shop and "doing our programs".

I am sitting here trying to think about how to write down what I experienced today hearing about the ministry in Africa...and I am at a loss. It may be because we have just started a composition class which is all about proper writing, communicating effectively, etc. Anyhow...maybe more on this topic later.