Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are finished with Pre-Field Training in New York City.  It's hard to believe, quite honestly.  We literally arrived here in New York on Sunday, July 1st and it is now Tuesday, July 31st.  We just finished this afternoon and people have already started flying home to get back into the life of a support raising missionary. 

It's crazy to think that we've just spent an intense time with people who I didn't know a month ago, but now feel incredibly close to and...most of them I will not see again until heaven, probably.  It was a difficult farewell today.  They are all incredibly sweet people who blessed our lives in many ways.

Our desire is to stay in touch via email or skype or Vonage or something as best we can so as to be a source of encouragement to one another as we head to our fields and get on our fields of service.  We consider them very dear to us. 

Just so you know, we are leaving tomorrow (Wed) to travel to Vermont for a few days to relax and wind down from this very intense month of training.  Then, we travel to Philly where Jim is preaching at Pilgrim Church in Manayunk/Roxborough this coming Sunday.  They are a wonderful supporting church and we always enjoy our time there with them.

Then, we'll be spending time with our family in Christ at Springton Lake Church for several days before heading to Jim's parents in MD and then home to see Chico (our cat). 

All for now...blessings on you all!

Jim for all