We're emptying our house, slowly but surely. Haven't posted anything lately, not much to say as we're both busy trying to get ready to go, but know that time is passing and we're having a lot of 'last.' Our last weekend with friends, our last contemporary choir practice. Sunday will be our last Sunday at church as we leave the following Sunday. We've been to Kentucky on a mission to Redbird Mission, then to Ohio to the sponsoring church of the Angel House Orphanage, then home, only to leave again for a weekend away with friends. We're having a family meeting tomorrow (Thursday), combined with moving the big stuff out of our house. In 10 days, August 1st, we'll be on the plane headed to Kenya. We'll fly out of Des Moines, to Amsterdam, spend a day there and head down to Nairobi, Kenya to meet up with Holly, the orphanage director.

Pam and I know that there is no way we could do this without all the support from our family, friends and church, plus our new friends at New Carlisle Church in New Carlisle, Ohio. Thank you all, Mark

Gypsy

Time draws nearer and nearer. After going on a mission with our Church Mission team to Kentucky, Pam and I then went to New Carlisle, Ohio to the Methodist Church there. We wanted to see the Church that is the basic sponsor for the Angel House Orphanage in Tarime, Tanzania, Africa. We met with the lead person for the mission and the pastor. We also met many of the board members. What a great experience and what a great group of people. So filled with the Spririt.

Upon our return, I took a couple of days off with a friend to golf. Believe it or not, I hadn't touched my clubs since retiring. We went and played a sand green course, one of only 3 left in Iowa and then another older country club. Then that night we started an 80th birthday celebration weekend for my mom with the whole family getting together. That led to the subject of this blog, Gypsy.

For those that don't know, Gypsy is our dog. She's been a great companion and fun to love. We have been worrying and praying about where she would live. We thought we had a couple of possibilities, one was a niece and her husband that would have been great, but she is now pregnant with their first child and live in a small house. Our miniature horse (we speculate she is a cross between a Great Dane and a Black Lab) is now in Kansas with my nephew and his great family, what a relief. We were both relieved and saddened when she left. It's rather strange to not have her at the foot of our bed, or come bounding around the corner of the house to greet us, but we know she'll love her new family.

Just 20 days until we leave, Blessings to you all. Mark

We are getting ready to go. Lots of packing to do. You collect a LOT of stuff living on one place almost 20 years! Pam