Minnesota Training and the start of summer

Can you see us there on the front row?  We had a blast at the PPM leadership training a few weeks ago up in Minnesota. It is such a privilege to be included in such a diverse, amazing and devoted group of believers.  We didn't meet one person that we weren't impressed and encouraged by.  There were delegations from not only Haiti but Belize, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, South Africa and various teams that will be working state side.  We got to hear from the president of PPM and what he saw as the purpose and future of this ministry and we are excited to be a part of it.  We received not only spiritual but practical preparation. They even let me attend the emergency preparedness lecture because I told them that I really needed to have that well established in my brain because that is just who I am.  I quite enjoyed it!  The best part was we finally got to meet our teams we will be working with in Haiti and got a list of which groups we will be leading and what we will be doing each week.  It is so fun to see everything coming together.  A shout out to my amazing sister Rebecca who watched the boys while we were gone.  We appreciate you!!

A few days after we got back Caleb got a sinus infection and the van died on the side of the road.  You almost expect this sort of thing when you step out to do something good, but it was still a bummer.  I am glad to report that Caleb is all better and that the van has been brought back from the dead and is still making it's way noisily down the street.

In other great news, we found someone to watch the house for us!  This is a great weight off our shoulders.  We were starting to get a little nervous.  Turns out this person really needed a place to stay during the period while we were gone, so it works out well for all of us! 

 

The boys are playing sports again this spring.  Caleb is playing baseball and is quite the slugger and Ben is part of the dynamic duo with his friend Spencer on the soccer field.  They are so fun to watch.  The night before their first games they slept in their uniforms because they were so excited. 

Our last day of homeschool was last week.  We were done almost a month ahead of schedule!  I was never terribly great at sticking to the plan and Joshua was amazingly great at not only following the plan but getting ahead.  The boys have learned so much from Joshua this year and I am so proud of all of them.  Caleb got comfortable with reading (and actually likes it), learned cursive and multiplication and how to work more independently.  Ben is reading, adding and writing his letters amazingly well for a left handed little boy.  We are sad to close this homeschooling chapter but excited to be a part of Fortis Academy next year.  Josh will be teaching forth grade and the boys will attend Monday and Wednesday and work from home Tuesday and Thursday.  It will be a change, but a very good change. 

We are at 77% of our fundraising goal and we have so many wonderful people to thank.  We appreciate each one that has contributed.  We know that we do not go alone and are so blessed to know we have so much support. We also purchased our tickets last week.  Such a big moment!

Full speed ahead into the next 6 weeks!  Only 41 more days to Haiti!

Much love,

Veronica (and Joshua, Caleb and Ben)