Close to the Wire

The check list of things that need to be done before we leave is slowly but surely being checked off. Some things have been transfered to the 'things to be done in Hawaii' list, but progress is being made. There have been a few set backs. Dad was replacing the hard drive and optical drive in his desktop computer and somehow it died in the process. Last night, walking out of the bathroom in the dark, he walked straight into the doorjamb and got a rather long, vertical cut on his forehead. I steri-stripped it, and it should be fine, but poor guy! Then later today, while finishing up the chocolate making operation, accidentally poured boiling water on his left hand. Ouch! He has had it in ice water for about three hours, and hopefully it will recover with a minimum of pain and peeling. (Several hours later, the hand seems to be doing really well! Praise the Lord!)

Since we are flying Continental, our two bags each can only weigh 50 pounds. I am working on the packing and we bought a medium sized suitcase which should be easier to accomplish the volume/weight balance. One of our larger suitcases needed weightless batting and foam to fill in after the limit was reached, and the other big one may have the same situation.

In the good news department, my friend Elena, whom I have been counselling about marriage, reports that her husband has taken over the kids schooling and household expenses, AND bought her a new car! Before, she never knew what he had in the way of funds, and rarely saw any of it. she struggled to take care of everything. Wow!

A girl I met, who was temporarily staying at the convent across the street, came by on her way to visit family on her summer break. She has  been living with her auntie, who is a nun, in the convent in Bukidnon, and going to school at her aunt's expense. I had advised her to submit to her aunt with gratitude, as to the Lord, and worship when in church (no matter which church) and read her Bible and enjoy fellowship with the Lord. She was happy to report that she is at peace, and her aunt, who had been a bit harsh in the past, has even been kind and affectionate toward her, and not arguing about religious issues. I was so glad to see her doing so well!

It is a lot of work closing things up and preparing to leave for a year, but we are feeling more and more ready to leave. Pray that the Lord will give us good health and stamina for the coming months.