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Praise the Lord

Classroom NOISE

Repeatedly, our attention is drawn to the outside by rattling windows and occasional whistles from the passing trains. Between the MTI training center and Elephant Rock is an active railroad track. Trains pass about every hour carrying coal, tons of coal. We wonder where all that coal is going. Along the track is the Santa Fe walking trail that leads in one direction to Palmer Lake. Most of us explode out of the classroom and head for the trail to clear our heads of epsilons, glided vowels, aspirated 'f's, and LAPs (language acquisition projects).

2008May - Language acquistion training

The English language only uses 44 sounds. There are many more. At Missionary Training International, we are training our tongues to make different sounds and it's not easy! Imagine shaping your mouth like you're playing a flute and saying the letter V. Now say in F. These are two of the 20 sounds we practiced today. We're learning to "asperate." Have you ever heard of a "fricative?" Me neither. Please pray for us.

Retirement 2008April

Thanks to everyone who came to the WA State Dept of Natural Resources retirement open house for Jim. The Human Resources Division made posters, certificates and arranged for healthy refreshments as part of the celebration. The WA State Commissioner of Public Lands and Director of the WA State Dept of Labor & Industries gave certificates. DNR Division Managers from Human Resources and Resource Protection gave certificates and momentos.

After almost 33 years with the Department, it was a wonder time for me to say thank you to many people.

Moving to Mongolia plans

We have purchased two 1-way tickets to Mongolia for 11Jun. JCS has arranged for us to live in a missionary's apartment for 2 months while she is gone, while we find and furnish our own place. We will begin language school (3-hours/day) on 16Jun. Pray for our visas that have not arrived yet.

Summer School

We received an e-mail from Mongolia last night informing us that our language school of choice will hold a summer session just for us. The message also said that we should go ahead and buy airline tickets for the beginning of June because our visas will certainly come through. Please pray that all the powers that be (in UlaanBator & then in D.C.) process their paper work efficiently.

April Details

Thanks for praying.
Liz's sister, Dee Anna, is in her 5th week of recovery and doing well. She is obeying doctor's orders & healing.

About 3 weeks ago, we got a call from a woman asking if we could use a caregiver. Trying not to act tooo quickly, we met with her over an hour after the phone call. She is a wonderfully warm, compassionate, & gifted servant. Joanne has spent a few hours with Liz's mom and is proving to be a gift from God. We are resting more easily knowing she can help. God is amazing as He provides for us.

Last week, we proceeded to purchase plane tickets (finally). Before we did so, we wrote to our Mongolia contact to confirm dates & were told that we have plenty of time to get our student visas, in theory. However, he also said that the language school we have chosen may not have a summer session. Most likely the school will not be able to enable a visa for us a full 2 months before class would start. This could mean another delay of our departure. Perhaps we can sign on with another school for a survival crash course until Sept. Even Liz thinks September is too far off. We feel a bit foolish for not thinking through these details but are proceeding in prayer trusting that things will work out.

Jim has 13 days left until he retires and is feeling ready for that transition.

As we get closer to leaving, it is easy to be overwhelmed with the details. This morning I was thinking that I too often worship the god of worry. God is obviously the designer of details. I need only look at this month with Dee Anna's 'no cancer' story and Joanne, a loving caregiver appearing out of the blue, to be reminded that the Lord will provide. I want to worship the Lord God Almighty, not the worry-god.

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." Philippians 4:8-9 the Message
Liz