This summer we were a part of five different Vacation Bible Schools.  Four were in Michigan and one was in Illinois.  During the first two weeks Rhonda, Olivia, Mindy Phillips and I traveled by bus/motor home to Kalkaska and Colfax.  It was a little tight at times but it all worked.  One advantage of staying in the bus was being able to park in the church parking lot which made it
easier for us to practice.  Both Mindy and Olivia worked very well together and really connected with the kids as time allowed before and after the programs.  They did a great job with the puppets.  During the third week of VBS, I worked with Mindy, her sister, Morgan, and mom as we helped at Merson Church. 

It was an exciting week as the children memorized their verses and invited their friends and family.  One boy brought over 20 visitors by himself.  He was rewarded by getting to put a cream pie in my face on the last day of their VBS.  The fourth week I helped with a church in Chicago; and the final week, I was at the Gospel Mission in Kalamazoo.  The kids really enjoyed being involved during the story time and helping out with the object lessons.  At the start of every VBS, I would take prayer requests from the children and adults.  The first prayer request I received was from a sister and brother who wanted God to help their parents not get a divorce.  At another VBS, I was asked to pray for a friend who was on life support. He was injured when he got caught in the middle of a drive-by shooting.  The request I received the most was to pray for a dad or mom who was about to lose their job or were in need of work. Please remember to pray for kids. They are under a great deal of pressure during these trying times.   

                                                                                                                                                                         
Family News:

This summer Rhonda, Stephany and Olivia have enjoyed spending time with Rhonda’s mom and getting out and doing landscaping around our house.  During one of the weeks I was out of town, they put in a stairway along the north side of the house using concrete rubble.  Now they are working on putting together the flowers and shrubs to go alongside.  It looks very nice.  Rhonda has also been able to find time to enjoy doing some of her own painting.  In her most recent painting, she has been able to use some new techniques she learned last spring when she and Olivia were at an art fair in South Carolina.

Stephany finished her freshman year of college and got home the middle of May.  She has been working full-time at the Life Care Center in Plainwell and was glad to get on staff with the same nursing home she worked at last year. Stephany has enjoyed the patients she is working with and is happy to have a job that goes with the schooling she is taking.  

Stephany just started her sophomore classes and is taking them on-line through Liberty University.  She plans to move on campus in January.  She wanted to move there this fall, but all the student housing is full until the start of the second semester.  

Olivia just started her senior year of classes and is already making plans for her graduation.  She has enjoyed having her big sister around and when there has been time, going to the beach with her and taking some beautiful pictures of sunsets.  She has also been doing some painting of her own and is very talented with her paint brush.  I think the next major event in her life is taking the driving test so she can get her official driver’s license.  

I have started to become more health conscience since my cholesterol level was a little high when I had my last physical.  I have found it very enjoyable to get out and walk several evenings a week.  It is amazing how much better you feel and sleep when you start doing a little exercise.