Pre-summer in Greece!

The daily temperatures have increased and so have our schedules. Our formal language learning is over for the summer (we start again in the Fall) and now we have both begun summer responsibilities with HM.

Mike spent three days this week out at the property, Porto Astro, HM’s seaside camp. This is a very rustic camp that you get to by boat and which runs without running water or electricity. He spent his time this week installing bunk beds and making screen windows for the 10 cabins we have there. One of the Albanians who lives on the property cooks for the workers so he is well fed there!

I spent this week reacquainting myself with the refugee community that we serve. I am helping run our first International Family Camp June 15^th to the 18^th. This is an opportunity for refugee families to get away from the city and to enjoy relaxed time together. It also gives them a chance to be surrounded and served by Christians. We planned for about 40 people and already have 120 people signed up!! We explained to the people that this was a very rustic place, not kid friendly-especially for little kids-of which we have 15 children aged 8months to 5 yrs. registered. The people were not discouraged. They said they had come from conditions much worse and they are looking forward to this respite. Needless to say, we have a lot of work to do! We are overwhelmed but are trusting God that He will provide all we need.

We also had the privilege of attending the wedding of Anthi and Haris last night. Anthi is one of the Greek girls who has worked with HM for at least 15 yrs. It was a beautiful God honoring ceremony that started at 8:30 last night and we arrived back home at 4am this morning. One more piece of cultural adaption for us!

HM has many programs planned for this summer including distributing 40,000 Bibles to Greek villages, hosting 5 different sports camps at the property, and sending teams of Greeks to China in August. If any of you would like to partner specifically with us towards one of these projects, you can make a donation through the HM US office, PO Box 726, Wheaton, IL 60189. 1.800.469.8972. info@hmnet.org.gr

Please pray for us and for the entire HM team as we begin the busy summer schedule. Pray for us to be people of spiritual integrity most of all. That we will love the Lord and serve Him in all we do in ways that bring glory to His name. Thank you.

Mothers Day and Babies on the Way!

As we celebrated Mother's Day yesterday in Greece, both Mike and I realized what a blessing both of our mothers have been in our lives. We are grateful. Thank you and we love you.

Because we are talking about mothers, we thought this was a great time to announce new mothers-to-be in our own family.

Michael and Nisha are expecting their second child, a baby boy, Griffin, August 30th. Older brother Jackson will be 4 just in time to meet his new brother. He is excited that it's a boy!

Missy and Paul are expecting possibly two babies this year. One sixteen year old birthmom, Gwen, has chosen them to be the parents of the child she is carrying that is due September 6th and they are still waiting for the homecoming of their Guatemalan daughter, Amelia Faith, who turns 1 this Wednesday, sometime before the end of 2008.

Michele and Jeremy are also expecting their first baby November 15th. She has had a good first trimester and is feeling great!

All the Moms (and Dads) are doing well and we are overjoyed at all these gifts from the Lord. These new lives are especially precious to us as our family has been dealing with infertility for almost 5 years now. We have many grandchildren that we will meet for the first time in heaven and another that is still living with his birthmom. It is humbling to sit back and see the hand of God blessing our family. We are awed!!

Please join us in praying for the health and safety of all the moms and babies involved.

Kalo Pasxa! Happy Easter!

We celebrated Easter here in Greece on April 27th. Mike and I enjoyed an overnight with our HM friends out at Porto Astro (the mission's seaside property). We were joined by about 30 others from our HM team and some other Greek friends as well. As you can see, we roasted lambs as is the tradition here in Greece. The weather was cool and damp, the food was excellent (even though I was too chicken to try any lamb) and we had a great time as we rejoiced together over the Risen Lamb of God who is now seated at the right hand of God interceding for us. What other God would sacrifice so much, His perfect Son, for sinful people like us? We are amazed at His love for us and long to share this love with others!