Progress?

For the record we are still alive! Sorry for the delay in updates. We have been so busy with orientation in both Bristol and Boone for a week at the end of July. It was great meeting the other 14 physicians and their families who are in the same boat we are going with Samaritan's Purse to mission hospitals in Central America, Asia and Africa. 2 other couples are also going to Kenya but to different hospitals than we are. It was a lot of great info at both locations. Bristol orientation was at the CMDA and was a great time of learning from missionaries who had a combined 50+ years of missionary service. It was more of a big picture...setting goals, being aware of culture, how to mentor and be mentored.Things these missionaries wish they would have known on the front end.

Boone orientation was at the SP headquarter which impressed us with the amount of work and quality of work that goes on there in all their ministries. There it was more focused on the details such as conflict on the mission field, Q & A time with missionary doctors who recently returned from the mission field. How to do your taxes overseas, what banks to use, security training and some fellowship and hang out time.

Then I (Aaron) visited a great friend from medical school who lives in Seattle, Washington. That took us through the end of July and so far August has been summarized by DOLLYWOOD. 2 trips in 1 week! First with cousins and second with friends from med school and residency. As the pictures show, the kids love it but we were WORN OUT.

I've had the opportunity to speak at 2 different churches and have 3 more on the schedule tomorrow, next week and early Sept. Please pray God would speak through me to encourage and motivate through His word.

We have moved our leave date to the last week of September. I keep telling everyone "we want to leave as soon as possible but we are realizing we have no idea what is possible!". We are buying and buying (2 years worth of clothes for the girls) and hope to start packing soon. So many little details that we are trying to trust God to provide. We know He will, we are just so faithless sometimes. Thanks for keeping up!