Leaving for Costa Rica in 8 days, heading north today.

Five Oaks Community Church is home to us. We began attending there 9 years ago when we moved to Minnesota and our children were raised there. Vickie and I have both grown tremendously in our faith through the ministries of our church, and we believe our children have learned the importance of living out faith in practical ways.

Since we moved to Byron, IL, we have been attending First Baptist Church here in Byron. We have grown very fond of this little small town church and folks that will bend over backwards to help a neighbor or a stranger. It's a church of about 150 or so folks whose roots run deep in this town of 4,000. Generations upon generations of families have attended here, but we felt welcomed by many and we call this our home now, for as long as we live here.

Yesterday in the service, Pastor Randy asked us to come up front and talk about our plans for our mission trip to Costa Rica and then he announced that a special offering will be taken up for us next Sunday, January 2. The whole church prayed for us. It is reassuring to know that friends in Minnesota, Illinois, and other states around this great nation are praying for our trip, our effectiveness, and that the Lord's work will be accomplished.

But, before we head south, we're heading north to Wisconsin Rapids to visit Vickie's Mom and Dad and the rest of her family. It's a time for Norweigan delicacies such as lefse, pickled herring, lutefisk, and other once a year items. Lefse, I could eat every day...lutefisk, on the other hand, have plenty of butter and salt handy, and choke it down.

I like the way our finances have worked out for this mission. We're covering all our own costs, and 100% of the money that has been donated to us, goes to the K-6 library project and other needs at La Palabra de Vida. Praises to God for allowing us to accomplish our goals and His work!