Had a great evening at church tonight ... 21 people there. This was our LST team's last Sunday with us. Peter shared the lesson with the group and Jon led singing. They did a great job! Deanna's birthday is on Tuesday so we had kringel and fellowship after services. We had a chance to talk some more with those who've been visiting with us this summer. God is blessing us more and more.

The girls that Brandi and Peter studied with last week have decided to be immersed into Christ! We are all thrilled. These girls are sisters ... Merlin (Mayr-leen) and Heidi ... and are really incredibly sweet. Plans are underway for a Wednesday evening baptism and we can't wait for them to be part of our family. They say they'll even let me mother them ... this is something I'm accused of often and that I've discovered I do quite well here. smile.

Merlin, Riina P., Sikki, Pille and the LST team came home with us tonight. We shared a big pot of Louisiana Gumbo (a cultural experience for them for a change), potato salad and some good old-fashioned 'ICED' tea. Coffee, cookies and a showing of 'Princess Bride' rounded out the evening. It was good to fellowship with our girls from church and to welcome a new friend into our sharing. God is Good!!

Hope your week is wonderful and blessed by our Father in Heaven!

Our weather has been dreary but our home has been warm with special moments.

Yesterday morning, we all fought the drizzles and headed for the open market. Such memories! Even with the rainy weather, all the little farmers (and their wives) were out to sell their goods. We took our bucket, like any respecting Estonian (or Russian) would do, and had it filled with loads of pickling cucumbers. We bought fresh dill, onions, garlic and then came back home for an afternoon of pickle-making ala Kendalls. I prepared the cucumbers, Kayli packed them in the jars and Brandi filled them up with brine (salt/vinegar water). It was a great time of bonding and our mouths are already watering for that 'salty' taste of home. 

Today was the 'big girls' day out so I was able to spend some time with the LST girls (Andrea, Chelsey, Deanna) and Mare. We had brunch at the 'Crepe' restaurant on the square, did some shopping and enjoyed coffee and desert at the Wilde Cafe/Coffee House. The atmosphere was so neat. It has kind of an antique-y feeling and has what we are told is the oldest printing presses in Estonia right there in the room. The company was pretty good too! While I was gone, Brandi and Kaylibug had some 'daddy~daughter' time and enjoyed a movie together in town (complete with popcorn and coke, of course). I just love it when they do that.

Tonight Kayli has been sewing on her quilt and Brandi and I have been working on upcoming schedules, studies for classes and making preparations for our Lord's day tomorrow.

Thank you for your continued prayers for all of our family. Amber, who has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, is doing better now that her blood sugar is leveling out ... Dustin is on his way to Ft. Carson, Colorado where he reports for the first time as an active-duty soldier ... Courtney's baby, Tyler, has been ill ... Lacey and Justin started another year of Mission School this week ... and Jared is awaiting his doctor's appointment on Monday to see what the results of his tests are. Of course, the Estonian Kendalls covet your prayers, as well.

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer"    I Peter 3:12

Today has been a busy day. I spent my day doing exciting things like laundry, housework and computer work. Brandi and Peter had a great study this morning with two sisters who are interested in committing their lives to the Lord. Please pray that God will continue to soften their hearts and lead them to salvation.

Tonight was our LST party ... had about 25 present tonight. Enjoyed visiting with several who seem to be feeling more comfortable with all of us. We continue to pray that God will allow us to get to know these precious people better after the team heads home to Canada. After the party, we headed out to dinner. We've made our Thursday night dinners with the team a tradition since they've arrived. Most of the time they come to our flat for a home-cooked meal, email checks, and an occasional movie, but tonight they decided to give me a break. We've really come to enjoy our fellowship with all of them ... it will be hard to see them leave.

Jared had his MRI and blood work done today. The scans indicate a growth under the skull or on the brain but the drs. did not feel like they were looking at cancer. They will be getting the results of the blood tests back tomorrow and that will hopefully rule out that possibility. He'll see his dr. on Monday to see what the next course of action is. Thank you so much for your continued prayers. My mother's heart so wants to be there to protect him but this is just another reminder that I've never been the one protecting him. Being so far way from my children and grandchildren, especially when they are ill, is a constant exercise in surrendering before God. I'm so thankful that God offers me His comforting arms in times like these.

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.

Rakvere Castle ~ Rakvere, Estonia

Our friend, Ola, from Russia arrived in Estonia at 5:40 a.m. on Sunday morning. She's been here almost a week now and we've had a wonderful time laughing and reminiscing about old times. We've also had a great time seeing Estonia together, traveling when able to places that are new to both of us. The history and beauty of Estonia has been a treat to us all as we've explored medieval castle ruins, old churches, botanical gardens, museums and the local artist's guild to see how Estonian handicrafts are created.

Today we traveled to Rakvere (Rock-ve-ra). There is an amazing castle there that was built in the early 13th century. It has encountered many attacks over the years since it was the city's fortification but much of the walls and chambers still exist. We climbed very narrow, windy, and steep stone stairways, wore Gladiator's helmets, tried our hands at fencing (those swords are very heavy), saw how nails were forged, did a little jousting, put Kayli and Brandi in stocks, sat in the King's chair at the head of a banquet table and Kayli even rode a horse (but I can't actually remember his name).

The weather has been threatening rain for several days but God has graciously held it back so we could soak in all the scenes and joys of Estonia. On our way home, we made a little detour by way of Mustvee (Moost-vay) to walk along the beach of Lake Peipsi. We did not beat the rain on that excursion but since it was so important to Ola to see the water, we just pulled off our shoes, grabbed an umbrella and traipsed out to the water's edge anyway. We laughed and acted silly in the pouring rain ... Ola said it was a memory that would be with her for a long time.

Ecclesiastes says 'there is a time to laugh and a time to cry'. I'm so glad that this week has been a time for laughing. Those are the times that make a heart feel energized and able to do the harder things that make us cry.

We're praying for you a week of laughter too. God Bless!

The LST team just left after spending the evening here to enjoy a private showing of 'National Treasure' and some of Brandi's yummy home-popped popcorn. We've been enjoying their fellowship so much so we are taking every advantage that we can to spend time with them. They say they've enjoyed being able to come 'home' after a long day working so we're feeling grateful to be able to provide that for them. Makes us feel a little closer to home as well.

We had a great worship time tonight ... 27 in attendance. Ron, Judy and one of their elders joined us from Tallinn and we had a few visitors who are reading with our team. Though it was very warm in our little space, we had a great time of worship, singing and study. Then we shared the slide show that Jaime Banks made of our week at camp. Those of us who were at camp loved being reminded of our time together and those who were not there seemed to wish they were.

It's been a very busy week!

Our private studies, classes and counseling are continuing though some of those Brandi normally studies with are reading with the LST team while they are here. We're trying to take advantage of this time to spend a little one-on-one with some we've been attempting to connect with. That's been nice.

Our flat repairs are going well. Actually, Thursday saw the end of the repairs for now. We've finished the kitchen and the corridor ... the only rooms left to do are the study and bathroom. Those will have to wait until the first of September. We are gearing up for visits from our friend, Ola, from Russia and for a couple who will be here representing a church in Texas. They are considering providing some financial help so we can bring a second team-family to Tartu.  So for now, we are trying to clean up the mess made from our repairs and get the flat ready to welcome our guests.

My most eventful day of the week .. Thursday. We had to be out of the flat first thing so the repairman could finish up the wood floors in the corridor. He said we'd have to spend the night elsewhere so it could dry well before we walked on it. The morning was a little crazy as we hurriedly tried to get out of his way. We packed our Rubbermaid canister with inflatable bed/blankets into the van, left the flat, ran a few errands and then picked up Eva. Eva and I had a date for lunch ... Brandi planned on taking Kayli for a lunch date himself. I dropped Brandi and Kayli off at the Bible Study Center and Eva and I were on our way. Well ... at least that was the plan.

I looked both ways as I was pulling out of the parking lot onto a busy street ... no car to the left ... no car to the right. Unfortunately, there was a small car directly behind me that I couldn't see around all our stuff and I backed right into it. This was the first accident I've caused in 30 years of driving ... had to be in a foreign country!

The damage was really minor ... our van had only a little bit of paint on it. The other car was dented pretty good. Thankfully, no one was injured. The first thing the woman said was that she was on her way to see her father who had been taken to the emergency room at the hospital. We had to wait for the 'politsei', fill out reports, go to the insurance company, fill out more reports, and take pictures before they would let her go. I felt so bad. She was so sweet but on the verge of tears the whole time. I wanted to cry too! I know if the policeman had said a cross word to me, I would have broken down right there. Everyone was really very kind to me; the woman I hit, the policeman and even the insurance man. I don't know what got into me but I even gave my 'victim' my phone number and suggested she join us for church sometime. She said she had been looking for a place like this. Who knows what might happen? God does work in mysterious ways!

By the way, Eva and I did eventually get to have lunch and a real nice visit. We also enjoyed a great LST party that night ... about 40 in attendance. Our Bible Study Center was about to pop at the seams but we had a wonderful fellowship time with many of those who are studying and with the church who came to welcome them.

God is good!

Please continue to pray for the work that is being done here to God's glory. Right now, the team has studies with about 60 people ... some are studying  a couple of times a week. We can't wait to see what God will do with these opportunities to touch people with His message. Please pray that they see an example of God's love, compassion and mercy in all of us.

The last few days have been amazing. We enjoyed a wonderful worship service on Sunday evening with our Tartu group and were so blessed to have our LST team join us for the first time. We had some great singing, insightful bible study and fun fellowship with those who were there. Kayli received flowers for her birthday and she shared an old-fashioned American chocolate cake with everyone who came. Pille and the team came over after church to enjoy a big pot of borsch that Kayli has been craving for so long.

Yesterday, the college team from Denton, Texas who had come to help for camp (Adam, Jason, Estephan, Emily, Tandy and Kera), came to visit us. They brought along with them Anna (one of the teens from Tallinn), Kaci and Kari Banks and Alana who is working as an intern for the summer in Tallinn. Our little repair man, who was working on the corridor at the time, watched in shock as they strolled in one-by-one with their sleeping bags and pillows in tow. 

We all enjoyed a wonderful walk through Old Town Tartu, the botanical gardens and along the river, then headed back to the flat to have dinner with the LST team and Evelin. All in all we had 20 people in our little 800 sq. ft. flat. Alana and Kaci went on back to Tallinn but the rest decided to camp out in Tartu for the night. Andrea and the LST crew were wonderful to share floor space and couches so we could get everyone settled for the night. Everyone (minus the LST team who were already busy with bible studies) was back here first thing this morning so we got to have some more fellowship time before eating lunch and getting them back on the bus to Tallinn. Before the crew left, we were able to spend about an hour singing. What a blessing that was to my heart. Our repair man thought so too! He said our singing was 'väga illus', which means 'very beautiful' in Estonian.

I must admit it was hard to watch them go away on the bus this afternoon. They are all precious young people with fervor for the Lord's work. We enjoyed their enthusiasm and their fellowship so much. It's also hard sometimes to see our American friends leave, knowing they are heading home and going back to their families. There is always a little blue feeling that goes along with the end of visits like these. Kayli is feeling very homesick this afternoon and wishing for a hug from her brothers and sisters. I think I'd like that too.

Even so, we are thankful to be in Tartu. We really do love it here and feel honored to be part of the plan that God has for Estonia. He continues to bless us with hope and mercy as we serve Him here. We covet your prayers for our family and the work here. Thank you so much for remembering us when you speak to the Father.

Yesterday was Kayli's birthday. I can't believe she's already 12 years old ... my baby is growing up! She was pretty homesick for our family but I think she had a pretty good day that extended even into today. She received several e-cards, phone calls and messages from her brothers/sisters, grandparents and sweet people at home. She was ready to open all her gifts from us first thing on her birthday morning. Among her gifts was a big-girl CD player for her room and a couple of bottles of rootbeer ordered and delivered all the way from the States. She had just mentioned the night before how she was craving rootbeer so it seemed she was more pleased with those than anything else. Funny how such a small thing can bring you a little taste of home and make you feel all warm inside. 

Since our kitchen was still upside down yesterday, I was unable to produce her requested pot of borsch. I did have a stove to cook with by late evening though, so I managed to get her second choice on the birthday plate ... fried chicken. The LST team was busy with studies all day so they joined us for coffee and ice cream last night. And ... they were so sweet to block their whole day out today for her official birthday celebration.

We had planned a day at the swimming center but it turned out it is closed for the month for repairs. So, we let Kayli be the official 'event planner' for the day. We started out with a re-showing of the movie "Madagascar" at the theater and then spent a very entertaining hour at the ice rink. Those of us 'older' folks were a little wobbly on our feet while the younger ones floated about on the ice with much more poise than we did. Apparently, ice skating is not like riding a bicycle .. you DO forget how to do it .. and you look pretty silly trying to remember.  We did have a great time though. After skating, we came back to our flat (and newly remodeled kitchen ... yeah!),  grilled and ate hamburgers, potato salad and chocolate cake ... some watched another movie. I had a nice long talk with Chelsey about how God is directing her and Peter in their service to Him. I've already learned to love their willing and open hearts as they seek His will for their future ministry.

We've really enjoyed the time we've had with all of the folks on our LST team. They've been so kind to encourage and uplift us with their fellowship and it's going to be great working with them for this six weeks. Between them all .... Deanna, Andrea, Jon, Peter and Chelsey .... they have 49 studies set up. So far, they say everything is going well and they are excited about how God seems to pulling it all together. We're excited too!

Please continue to pray for God to bring to us those who are seeking Him and that God will give us a loving heart to share with those He brings.

God Bless!

Our LST campaign has started with a bang! We had our first informational meeting on Wednesday evening and 32 people attended. Our meeting last night brought in over a dozen. As of today, 48 people have signed up for studies with the team and we've got more phone calls to return to people interested in studying. The team has already hit the ground running ... they began their studies yesterday and so far, things are looking very good. We're excited to see what God is going to do with this time.

Please continue to pray that God will bring across our paths, those who are seeking the Light of God's Word, and that we will be directed to share Him in a way that gives Him glory.