Spring is here!

A photo I (Laura) took of a few blooms on a tree on campus.

This week Spring came to Chicago.  The blooms on the trees around campus came out.  The grass turned green.  We’ve taken numerous walks to Lake Michigan’s beach.  I love it, but when the weather is beautiful it sure is easy to see school as a prison!  At this point in the semester it is easy to get weary of study.  However, God is giving us hope in the midst of the daily grind!  Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that when put our hope in the Lord, He’s faithful to give us the perseverance to keep going!  It says:  

But those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.     

               It’s hard to believe that I (Laura) graduate in May!  I’m so excited to have my parents come and visit over graduation.  It’ll be fun to show them Chicago and get a couple good games of Dutch Blitz in! 

We are looking forward to our 6-week cross-cultural internship coming up this summer in June and July.  We’re still in the application process but we’re excited for the opportunity to serve together in a cross-cultural and business as mission environment.  Even now we covet your prayers and support as we prepare.  We will take part in an orientation for the internship in mid-May.    

               After we return from the internship in July our plan is to drive back home for a visit.  We’re sure excited to see our friends Edward and Kristy get hitched in early August.  Also, a new baby is expected in Steve’s family in July and we can’t wait to meet our 4^th little niece or nephew!

Praises:

• Approximately 1/5 of our internship expenses have been provided

• A refreshing marriage retreat in March

Prayer Requests:

• Perseverance in our studies

• Internship (application, support raising, orientation, travel, language learning, protection, serving, debrief)

• Driving home to Canada and then back to Chicago

• Laura finding a job (in her field) for next year

• Direction for our future after Moody

Thanks for all of you who support us through prayer and friendship.  Here’s some photos we took while on the marriage retreat we attended: