This week has been one of mostly positive happenings. First, Rose has gathered all the information she needed to complete her job application. This is quite a lengthy and thorough affair, but one that she has been through before, so we pretty much knew what to expect. A big "Thank-you" to all of you have helped us compile information and offered to verify the info if necessary. Rose will go in for her interview next week. During the interview they will literally go through her application line by line (the application was about 68 pages when printed out). Your continued prayers that this process goes smoothly will be greatly appreciated.
Second, I am adapting to the on-going mental exertion that learning Greek requires. I have had 3 quizzes so far ... I aced the first two and did okay on third. This Wednesday was our first exam, and I did well - scoring a 94%! That was a huge relief. Our professor is challenging those of us who are doing well in the class to seek out classmates who are struggling and offer to help them study. I really need to do this, but it will be a challenge on several levels ... mostly logistical, but I should make the effort nonetheless.
We took the kids to the swimming pools here on the complex yesterday. The temperature was in the 90s. Unfortunately, our supply of sunscreen ran out after we covered the kids and Rose ... so needless to say I am rather pink today ... except for a rather peculiar "pac-man" shape on my left shoulder that is completely white. Somehow I got some sunscreen there, but I don't have any idea how that happened.
Also on Wednesday I was able to get a chiropractic adjustment. I went in for a follow-up today. Needless to say I really needed that - my back pain, which was nearly constant for a couple of weeks has all but disappeared. I am going to a health center on the campus of a local chiropractic college. They have a program for full-time students where you pay the regular price for the first visit, but each subsequent adjustment is only $7. So I am being seen by one of the senior interns at the college who is supervised by a professor/clinician. This process is comparable to student teaching, except if the student is having problems, the clinician steps in and does the majority of the adjustment. This has been the case for my two visits thus far, but for $7 a visit I can handle the process ... just so long as I can remain pain free.
On the less positive side of things, the church I have been working with is not doing well. There has been some internal strife that really came to a head just before we arrived last month, and it has pretty much decimated the church body. Attendance has dropped by more than half. 3 of the 5 elders have resigned and left the church. The congregation will meet several times in the next month and then take a vote as to what the future of the church will be. This could involve dissolving the church altogether. Please pray for me and the other leaders of the church that we might have wisdom to appropriately minister to the congregation during this time.
Now that my back is feeling better, I am going to venture into trying to ride my bike to the seminary next week as the weather allows. Our temps have been in the 90s the last couple of days and it looks like the trend will continue throughout the summer ... I am told by the locals that this is quite normal.
Thomas and Jayna continue to adapt well to our new living conditions. We have moved their bedtime back by 30-60 minutes. This seems to help them fall asleep quicker and also causes them to sleep a little later in the morning, which is a good thing most days. They continue to make new friends here in the complex. Yesterday at the pools they made a new friend and had a great time playing with him in the water. This boy is about a year and a half older than Thomas, and he has a lot of confidence in the water. This is a great thing because I believe that it will help push Thomas into wanting to improve his swimming abilities.
Thomas has also been practicing the art of jumping off a swing. I can remember doing this growing up. We had a large metal swing set in the backyard, so I had lots of time to practice. Thomas has been competing with some of the neighborhood boys (both of who are older than him) at the playground. So being the good responsible dad that I am - I took some time the other day when we were over they with no other kids around to give him some pointers. I can see the cogs turning in his brain, and I'm sure he will practice and do better as the summer goes on.
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