Great time in the States

       As I sit to wrote this update, I noticed that my last update was almost two months ago. It appears that I didn't hit my goal of an update every two weeks this time :(. Life here is moving quite rapidly to say the least. We spent two weeks in Indiana with our "Bigs" and other family. It was so good to see them and our parents again. While we were back we spent two days in Chicago so that most of the family could participate in a 1/2 marathon or a 5K. That was the first race for several of them. Before heading back to Indiana, we met up with an SI family that is now living in Chicago and had dinner with them. Also while we were back, we attended the annual SI banquet in Indiana. Several people mentioned that it was maybe the best banquet they had attended.

Lowell Troyer cutting a new door into the block wall.

      After returning back to the DR, I had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua to help out the SI family there with their new base that they are getting ready to move into the end of November. Even in the Nicaragua heat, we are (I am writing this from Nicaragua) able to help them out with their project. One thing I have appreciated during my time here is how the different countries are able to share resources like this when they are needed. It was one more time that I was able to work along side Lowell and Cheryl Troyer from Guatemala. They also came to the Santiago this last summer to help us out with the two summer teams there.
     I head back to the DR on Sunday afternoon. It will be good to be back to a "semi-regular" schedule once returning. The Santiago base project is moving along good. With much already done, there is still a lot to do to get ready for our spring teams.
       Karen has been busy as usual at Genesis. She now has Courtey Barlow there to help her with the site and that has been a huge blessing to her. Most evenings she comes home with new ideas or dreams of how they can better serve the needs of the children there. It is exciting to see them work together there as their first focus is on where God wants the site to go, and then what is best for the children and their families. God continues to do great things at Genesis.
       Thanks again for all the support and prayers that we have experienced during our time here in the DR. GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME.

This is a photo from one of the bathrooms in the new base in Nicaragua. Yes it is a breaker box, in a working shower. The most interesting thing about this photo is that at the Santiago base, we had an outlet in one of our showers there and could not believe that!!!!!! This of course tops that :)