So I turned 29 yesterday and had home-made guacamole for a birthday cake. I wish I had a picture of it, but I forgot my camera for the whole week of being in Alt. Forgetting one's camera is a cardinal sin and I have repented... So, anyway, this is the age that everyone says they are when they lie about their age.... I think I'll like this year, but I don't know if I will like it enough to not want to try the next years too.
This is my last real week of academics (until language school in Thailand). I have two big projects to finish and present and then I don't have any more academic deadlines. I will have 3,000 pages to read and another 10 page paper, but I can do it on my own time. I like reading and 10 pages seems like nothing at this point in the game! So!!!! I willl soon be grade-free! Who wants to have a number represent how much they learned? That is why I love being in clinic--it is experiential learning. BTW, I love what I am doing. Praise be to God who designed me for this kind of work.

First thoughts from Kiki...

wow, what a crazy month! I've had so many mixed emotions that go with as many diverse events. I can't believe that it is already July!So, I realized the other day (it happened to be around our anniversary--FIVE YEARS! Congrats to us!) that God has been moving us toward Thailand in different ways since high school for me and college for Trey and that the two of us have been moving toward Thailand together for six years.

I was thinking about this as we were preparing to be interviewed by the MTW staff for approval and it was a great comfort to me. If you have ever heard me talk about our call to Thailand, you know that it isn't all a rosy adventure for me. I have my hesitations and concerns and fears. In other words, I am a realist (Trey says "pessimist"). But the other reality is that during the doubts and fears of SIX YEARS I have always known that to not go would be to run from God's calling on my life like Jonah did. I don't know about you but I don't want to end up in a proverbial whale belly.... (I wonder what a modern day whale belly would be). But I also want to see the very best of what God has for us and know that fears and present security have not become my gods.

Thanks to all of you who have helped me wrestle with those little gods/idols of fears and present security/comfort during the six years! Keep up the good work and come

visit us when we get there!

This is me dancing on a no AC bus on our way to the beach retreat with 50ish college students--I had a little too much sugar! Also I miss that hat--I left it on the that same bus on our return trip.