Dear all,

Another week gone, and next week this time, Mike will be in Pennsylvania, helping out at World Team's RACE program.

This past week we were able to get into somewhat of a routine - Mike & I each got some work time during the day, Mike supervised some schoolwork for the kids, and after supper we started doing some "house work" - cutting down hedges, etc. For renovations, we have come up with a floor plan that everyone likes, but still don't know some of the details of how it will be done (some will be mandated by the building inspector); yesterday we finally got approval from the trailer park owner, and Mike is in process of getting the insurance coverage (required by the trailer park owner) and the building permit. Of course, with Mike leaving, then camp followed probably by several days with my sister & her family, it will be a few weeks before things are actually started. And finding a contractor who can oversee the project (Mike doesn't have the expertise needed) is proving difficult, as most people are busy. All in God's time.

This weekend was the Summer Celebration here in Three Hills - Saturday was filled with a candy-throwing parade, kids' carnival, "Battle of the Axes" fire-fighter competition, and tractor pulling contest. It was nice to have a family day before Mike heads off for a week, and then it's camp, where we are the missionaries/speakers. So he/we will put in LOTS of "work" hours during those two weeks!! Even this week will be camp prep time for us, and I also have to read over the VBS lessons I will teach mid-August. Sunday morning was also busy - Mike led the worship team and I was in charge of Children's Church (fewer children than usual, and good helpers, made the job a lot easier :) ).

Our kids finished their swimming lessons on Thursday, and all 4 of them passed their levels - yeah! I think we'll take a break before more lessons. This week Laura and Kenneth were invited to VBS at a different church, and after just one morning, they are excited to go back :) They are going through the usual friend ups and downs, and hopefully learning how to be better friends themselves! Christy made a new friend this past week - the daughter of missionaries to a limited access country is her age with similar interests, so they have been spending quite a bit of time together (the family is only here another 2 weeks or so). We've enjoyed spending some time with the parents, and their son was willing to play with Kenneth, even though Kenneth is several years younger. But Christy is also "losing" a friend - she and Jenny went to Veronica's "good-bye" party last week, as her family moves to Nova Scotia this month. Life is never constant; good thing God is!

Continue to pray for Jenny; she has not improved this week, and is asking for more and more help (often we say we won't help her, but we will budget more time for a given task so she's not so pressured). I'd forgotten how emotionally tough this was! And pray for wisdom whether to just tough it out and hope for improvement, or whether to see if another medication change is needed. Of course, there are lots of alternative treatments out there, so pray for lots of wisdom.... It's really time-consuming reading up on all the options and trying to figure out which ones to pursue. Meanwhile, the parents of some of Kenneth's & Laura's classmates live on a farm (Laura went to a bday party there last week) are setting up an Equine Facilitated Mental Health and Animal Assisted Therapy (http://sites.google.com/site/hopehillcanada/home) - see also http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/, which is what they are associated with. Anyway, they have invited Jenny to come help them as they set this up - she would be volunteering her time occasionally to help with chores, etc., which would give her time with animals (which she loves) and help them with the workload (this is a ministry for them - they have no income). So Jenny is excited about that :)

So what's new in Cameroon? The Friesen family is in Yaounde right now, living at the hostel (which is empty during summer break), and both Dan & Lisa have been attending a translation consultants seminar (which Mike and I would also be attending if we were there. Sigh....). They are able to do this because grown MK Naomi Anderton is taking care of little Joshua for them; she will be with them for this coming year to help out with Rachel's schoolwork, etc. - we are VERY glad for this, as it lightens their very heavy workload!! The Abbott family will soon return to the USA, and the Conrods are still waiting for their visas, but are now more confident that they have the correct paperwork handed in. And Dan Friesen mentioned that the translation fund (to pay for the translation work, including giving the translators a "thank you" stipend for the time they are away from their families and their usual occupations in order to work on the Oroko translation) is very low at the moment; this is funded both by Cameroonian churches and organizations, as well as by people like you who donate from this side of the ocean.

Thanks again for your prayers and support. We couldn't have handled this past year without you; and we STILL NEED YOU!!!! Please email us if you have any questions or concerns regarding us still being on support, the work in Cameroon, etc.