July 2, 2005

  • Things have been a buzz in the Kendall household this week. We've been on 'high speed' getting ready for Camp Balchyoca (our Estonian bible camp that begins on Sunday, July 3) and trying to finish up our preparations for the Let's Start Talking team that arrives just a couple of days after we return from camp. It seems we have been meeting each other coming and going but we are excited about the weeks ahead.


    Kayli was able to attend her LTC (Leadership Training for Christ) Award's Party in Tallinn on Thursday. Crystal, one of the interns from Tallinn, was such a wonderful help in getting her there. She came in on the bus on Wednesday night and rode the bus back with Kayli on Thursday so she could attend.  Kayli was awarded her official LTC t-shirt and 4 gold medals for the areas she participated in ... bible reading, chorus, puppets, and live-drama.



    We took a quick trip to Tallinn on Friday for our last camp meeting before we head out on Sunday. Tanel, Evelin and Oksana, who will be acting as junior counselors at camp, went along with us. We enjoyed a great day ... we spent some precious time with our fellow missionaries in Tallinn, The Langston's and then joined the Bank's family, along with the huge crew that are staying at their house, for fajitas and chips before going to our meeting. There are several who have come from Texas to aid us at camp; young folks to do some teaching and counseling ... and some 'not so young' folks to help us with the teaching and crafts. We had  35 staff members; Americans, Estonians and Russians in attendance and a wonderful time of fellowship to set the stage for a great camp this week.



    Lots of errands and last minute things to do today but we just had to find a few hours to go to the "Hansa Days" Celebration that is here in Tartu for the weekend. The "Hansa Day" Celebration is a festival that began in the Middle Ages to encourage trade among about 200 European cities. It has been held every year since (except for during the Soviet Occupation) and brings in many foreigners to share their city's special tastes and arts. We had a great time experiencing folk dances/singing, watching all kinds of handicrafts being made (Kayli even got to make a beeswax candle), shopping and eating yummy cultural foods. We even brought home a beautiful handmade basket made right here in Estonia.




    I'm off to finish up laundry and packing ... prayerfully, we'll get some sleep tonight. Of course, that seldom happens the night before camp starts so we're not counting on it!


    Tomorrow we'll have worship at 11 a.m., eat some lunch together and head to Tallinn to meet the bus out to camp. We'll be back late on July 8. Our LST team arrives on the 12th, so we'll be hitting the ground in Tartu running when we return. We've got a busy summer ahead but we're really looking forward to seeing God do amazing things with the plan He has set in place.


    Please pray that God will produce much fruit during our bible camp and that we will all be affective tools for bringing more into His Kingdom.


    Talk to you when we get back.


    God Bless,


    The Kendall Klan


    P.S. Thank you all for your continued prayers for our grandbabies and our son, Dustin. They are on the road to recovery and Dustin is doing much better. He did have to have a tooth removed and still needs root canals on 3 teeth but thankfully didn't end up needing jaw surgery. We're all thankful for that. Please continue to pray for him. His Army unit is once again making preparations to go to Iraq. It looks like this will be coming about in the near future.