Dear Family & Friends -                                                             April 1, 1997

I am sad to say I missed March’s blizzard departure from New England. I am sure the snow will all be gone by the time I arrive home late next week, which means it will probably be longer than a year before I see snow again. This note is just a brief update for those of you who have been following my recent plans.

I have been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from you – not just financial, but with letters, comments, and prayers as well. My monthly budget and outgoing expense needs have been met through various contributions. Thank you for the role you’ve played in this process.

Here is a modified schedule of events, with key dates noted, for the next month:

·        April 6: Commissioning at West End Assembly of God during a.m. service.

·        April 9: Final day of work in the Surgery-Trauma ICU at Medical College of Virginia Hospitals. It has been fun and relaxing to return to my old job for just a few months and the extra income has been helpful.

·        April 10: After attending West End Singles’ Ministry in Richmond, I am driving overnight to New Hampshire so I’ll be there in time for…

·        April 11-13: Motorcycle class! I’d like to get my motorcycle license and one day a motorcycle (already named Hezekiah Honda by two of my cousins Jthough it ended up becoming YaYa Yamaha, after a very cute baby in Guinea).

·        April 19: Yard Sale! So Mom and Dad have fewer things to store.

·        April 20: Speak at First Baptist Church in Salem, NH.

·        April 24: Depart from Boston in the afternoon, fly to Newark and then to London-Gatwick.

·        April 25-May 5: Traveling in England with a friend. Pray for us – we’ll be driving a rental car.

·        May 5: Join the ship in Plymouth England and settle in for the next two years.

In subsequent months, the Anastasis will be traveling to England, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, & France. This time will be used to raise money and procure supplies for future outreaches. Three months (July – September) will be spent in the shipyard for routine maintenance and upgrades. Shipyard time may well find me painting pipes, scraping rust, or doing whatever else needs to be done.

Prayer requests:

·        Ample Opportunity to say Good-bye to Friends and Family. For those of you who don’t realize this, I will be gone for 2 years.

·        Safety and Sanity while traveling in England at the end of April. We want to have a fun time seeing the sights!

·        Easy Transition to Ship Life. Since I’ve already been on board the Anastasis, I have a pretty good idea what to expect. Cabins are small, roommates are plentiful…you get the picture.

·        Job Adjustment & Work Relationships. Because the Anastasis will not be on outreach again until December, my job will be focused on supplies, public relations, etc. for these first few months.

·        Deeper relationship with God – and that serving Him would remain my highest priority.