What a hot day we had today! I have a digital thermometer outside that registered 33 degrees. Karin and I are both very tired today and I’ve got a headache from it. Well, one could always have it worse – it was 36C in Dallas today and the weekend forecast is 37C. Thank goodness we’re not in Dallas yet! I’ve got to loose some of this Canadian walrus fat I’m lugging around. The time on my bike is helping…

We have been looking at the costs of moving from every angle. U-ship, U-pack, U-haul, (U still pay a lot), they pack, they drive, you borrow a truck, you fly with your stuff, you borrow someone else’s car, the list goes on. We’ve made the painful conclusion, especially with this year’s gas prices, that our measly amount of stuff is not worth the price of shipping it. In other words, it’s cheaper to leave most things behind and start over. Obviously, there are things we can’t part with, but it looks like a second garage sale is not far off.

Our shop work is nearing a conclusion. After two years we have only 11 working days left. The person replacing Karin has been here for two weeks, and the person replacing me was hired and starts Monday. It’s been over three years since we’ve decided to go to seminary, and this thing is getting real, fast. But I still won’t believe I’m actually a Dallas theological Seminary student until I’m on campus!

We are still quite impressed and pleased with all the support that we have gotten. Our funding is basically in order. Friends keep telling us that they’re praying for us. In fact, we just received another donation yesterday for the purpose of helping us with our moving expenses. What remains is the process of immigration, the last big hurdle. A highlight of this week has been the chance to talk to one of my old friends from Korea. He lives in Michigan, on leave for the last two months. He and his wife had just received a baby boy. After only a few weeks with the new family, he (a Captain) is being called up for further training and then being deployed to Iraq, where he has not yet been. This man is one in a team of 12 going to train the Iraqi army to become a better army and defend their own country in the wake of the Saddam Hussein regime. He’s leaving his wife and new baby behind. He’s stepping into harm’s way. These are great people, sacrificing much for the love of their country: America. And between coming home from Korea, having a new baby and leaving for Iraq, they found the time support me financially and promised to pray for me. That’s what hero means: a servant leader attitude that I can only hope to imitate. And I do have a hope that peace will break out and he can come home to his wife and son soon. How long… do we sing this song? How long, do we sing this song…  (from a little Irish rock band)

I’m posting up some pictures on the right of some various highlights of our last few months. Hope you enjoy them.

I will write again next month before we leave.

God’s good day to you,

Dan and Karin