August 10, 2005

  • Monday was Brandi's birthday -- he says he's holding on '38'! We celebrated his birthday with the LST team on Sunday night after church. Monday, Deb and Jaime Banks came in on the bus to visit Ola and to share in Brandi's special day activities. All us girls did some birthday shopping while Brandi stayed in his 'office' working on studies, etc. and then we whipped up his requested birthday meal .. lasagna. We even enjoyed some yummy cherry-cheese cake and cafe au lait, compliments of Brandi and the new coffee gizmos he got for his birthday. Deb headed back to Tallinn on the bus around 9 p.m. and Jaime stayed the night so she could ride back with Ola on Tuesday. Ola's bus to St. Petersburg left Tallinn on Tuesday afternoon ... we're missing her already.


    Today, I'm back to the computer catching up on all the 'work' that I managed to put off while enjoying Ola's visit this week. It was nice taking a few days off from business to relax and do the sightseeing we had been hoping to do all summer but now it's time to begin making plans for the weeks ahead.


    Our LST project is in it's last week. Their studies will be finished up by next Thursday and we'll have our final party with the readers that night. Things have slowed down a bit with all of the August vacations but they are still going well. Our job will be to follow up with those that have been reading with the team and prayerfully, continue studies with them.


    Also next week, we will be enjoying a visit from a couple representing a Texas church who will be here to investigate the work in Tartu. We are praying that this visit will lead to a new association with our sponsoring congregation and will enable a new family to join us in the work here sometime in the future.


    September will be bringing a return to our Sunday morning schedule, bible classes, beginning English classes, ladies' classes, teen activities and new projects in the wings. Kayli will be starting 7th grade so she'll be taking on some additional studies this year. The coming of the autumn season is already proving to be very busy, so we continue to pray that God will touch the heart of other servants who may come here to work with us. Your prayers would be appreciated as well.


    Please add to your prayer list, our son Jared, who has a small growth on the back of his head. He's been experiencing some headaches so he saw a dr. in the Ukraine today. It is probably nothing to worry about but he will have some bloodwork and an MRI done tomorrow. He should have results by Monday.