Dear all,

As of this afternoon, school is over for all the kids!! And now they're wondering what they will be doing all summer.... But we scheduled swimming lessons for them starting on Thursday (which is also Laura's 6th birthday!), so that should help a bit; and Jenny takes a babysitting course a week from Friday.

Last week was the awards ceremony for the elementary school, and we were pleasantly surprised that Kenneth received the Daniel award for his grade (several people in each class are chosen for their display of Christian character - gentleness, kindness, patience, etc. - in the classroom, out in the playground, etc.; and the "top" person of these is given the Daniel award). I guess all your prayers for his times of "attitude" really paid off!! Kenneth was also listed as one who achieved over 80% in key subjects (I think it was Bible, Language Arts, and Math), which was a surprise for me, considering how he initially struggled with Spelling. It was neat to look at his report cards for the 3 trimesters and see the steady improvement in all areas. Thanks for your prayers!!

Last week we also received 2 big "news" items. The first was from immigration Canada, stating that my sponsorship of Mike, Kenneth, and Laura had been approved, Mike received his "open work visa" (not that he will get another job, but that he has more freedom in the types of work he can do for World Team here) and the kids received visas, all good until they are either accepted as permanent residents of Canada or rejected. This was great news - progress! The second item was a phone discussion with our landlord in which he accepted our purchase price for this trailer home! Long story with lots of questioning (this trailer needs a LOT of work, and we need to add another room ASAP), but we had put out a "fleece" to God that if it was His will, the landlord would accept that price (which he initially turned down flat). So, we've already done the paperwork and handed over the money, and it is ours (all paid for), humble though it be (and we won't be moving across the street in a few weeks like we had thought!). So now pray that we'll have wisdom in the upgrading part - we have some funds available, and need to decide which of our "ideals" are top priority (and which will be helpful for renters when we return to Cameroon)! Also pray that those who know how to do these upgrades to be available at a reasonable rate - some contractors will not touch upgrading a mobile home, as it "isn't worth it". And, as often happens, with good news often comes frustrating news - it seems that our landlady in Cameroon is making noise about our rent situation there, so Dan Friesen needs to dig up our paperwork and clear our name on top of his already busy schedule. Life!

Christy and Jenny finished their exams last week and enjoyed Thursday at Calaway Park. Jenny had fun at the school's "free swim" on Friday, and Christy helped me at a friend's yard sale Saturday morning. Saturday evening we enjoyed a BBQ/picnic out at "Frog's Gap" with our small group before people start traveling for the summer (and one family will be moving away :( ). Sunday evening, Christy and Jenny helped supervise kids while there was a church meeting; the congregation voted to buy the elementary school building as part of their new church (a sanctuary, etc. will still be built).

Continue praying for Jenny. She continued to get slowly worse until a few days ago when it seems like she plateaued; so while she hasn't gotten any better yet that we have seen, at least she isn't getting worse. She is still able to function independently for the most part, though we are already getting tired of her asking for help - just someone to tell her to move on to the next step of washing her hands or getting out the door. I am so glad that school is over, and she really doesn't have anything she needs to do these days. She started her "double dose" of new medication today, so I won't be too surprised if she doesn't start improving for another week or so. Pray for patience and wisdom; I told Mike that I wish we could just put her to sleep until this herx thing is over....

Well, an exciting week ahead of us. Wednesday is Canada Day, and we're hoping to watch the parade in the next town over (the one here in Three Hills happens later in the month). Thursday is Laura's birthday - a "bunny party" (bring your stuffed bunnies), as well as the start to swimming lessons. This weekend there are some events happening on the Prairie campus, so we're hoping to see some people we haven't seen in a while. Ruth (my sister) and Peter (my brother) and some of their family will probably be around some time this week.

So... pray for Jenny; pray for us as we set up a "summer schedule" where we can still get Cameroon / World Team work done and yet have "kid time"; continue to pray for Abbotts' vehicle paperwork and Conrods' visas; pray for the Bowman family as they tentatively continue on the path toward Cameroon (we had an enjoyable meeting with them this week); pray for Shawn Kelley, admin guy headed to Cameroon, as he gets the last bit of finances straightened out and applies for a visa; pray for the hostel assistant possibility here in town; pray for friends who found out their newborn baby has Downs; praise that my friend, Kim, had her baby this past week; and pray for wisdom as we start fixing up this "house".