Transition Update

Arrival at our new base!

Whew! I can think of few things that compare with an international move. This seems to be particularly true when you are moving and maintaining your ministry responsibilities both at the same time. I am so grateful to Lynne who did so much of the sorting of some things we’ve had in our lives over our 30+ years of marriage. Most of all she coordinated and substantially ran our three garage sales and the sale of so many of our furniture and appliance sales. They were all major tasks and God upheld her although there were some pretty rough days. Thank you so much, Lynne!

The date we’ll remember for a long time was May 12! We arrived in Indianapolis, however, not together. My travel privileges are still in force with Continental Airlines so we travel on a stand-by basis. Our flight from Houston to Indianapolis only had one seat available so Lynne went because Katie was waiting on us. I came in later that day and Lynne’s brother met me in a pick-up truck because we had 6 pieces of luggage. Katie and Lynne had already proceeded to Huntington, IN and I caught up with them that evening.

It seems like a lot of time has passed since the first two weeks and those weeks were jam packed! Here’s a synopsis:

May 13: Returned to IND to pick up freight, truck developed a $1,700 oil pump problem. Engine had to be removed from the truck to get to the oil pump. (Unexpected moving expense)

May 14: Moved Bryce out of the dorm and into Grandma's house

May 15: Purchased a car. We got a 2000 Buick LeSabre, great shape. Took written driver's exam for a license.

May 16: Church with Katie & Bryce. Shopped for a bed in the afternoon.

May 17: Moved Katie and roommates from one rental house to another. Cleaned the basement of the new rental house. Someone had been using the dryer without a vent. Lint covered the walls and floor joists. What a mess!

May 18: Got auto insurance, driver's license, and transfered car title into my name. Continued moving things for Katie and her roommates.

May 19: Drove to IND and got bumped on 3 flights and spent the night in a hotel in an attempt to get to Ft. Myers, FL to drive my parents to Indiana for the summer.

May 20: Arrived in Ft. Myers around noon, got to my parent's home and began the necessary things to close up their home for 3 to 4 months.

May 21: Left my parent's home at 7:30A and drove until 8:30P. Made it across the GA/TN state line and stayed in a hotel in southern TN.

May 22: On the road again around 8A and got into New Castle, IN about 4P. Got into our car and drove to Huntington and got there at 6:15P.

May 23: Church with Katie & Bryce, team softball practice at 1P. I'm the only 'seniors' representative on the team. I'm the only player that qualifies for AARP!

May 24: Settling into more office hours. Yard work, only 2.6 acres

May 25: More office hours. Evening double-header softball games.

We are graciously being hosted by Lynne’s mom while we get our feet on the ground. Lynne is now the secretary for the Student Development Office at Huntington University. Praise the Lord for this provision!

Wonderful friends of ours, Michael and Trish Pinckert in the Houston area, hosted a housewarming gathering for us in their home on June 5. About 30 of our friends and supporters came and we had a great time of catching up. Lynne and I had the opportunity to bring everyone up-to-date in person, give more details on our return from Honduras, and make a presentation on WGO (World Gospel Outreach).

As I explained to our friends in the Houston area, I am still a missionary, albeit, a stateside missionary. The ministry is still not strong enough financially to provide me with a salary and I have no indication from the Lord that I have been spiritually released from his original call on my life. I have served WGO now for over 16 years and have grown every year to believe more and more in its vision and will continue to spend 25% of my time in Honduras. (My first trip back was June 21.) The remainder will be done from a home office utilizing the internet and phone. I don’t make this statement to be boastful but the ministry still needs my talents, abilities, and the knowledge I have gained with and through it these past 16 years. It is my heartfelt desire to continue with WGO as a self-supported missionary. I believe that God will continue to use me in even greater ways in this ministry in the years to come.

If you are not currently a part of our support team, may I ask you again to consider some level of financial support for me and my family? Some believe that if they cannot give enough to ‘make a difference’ their support doesn’t help. I can tell you from personal experience that even the smallest amount DOES ‘make a difference’. If everyone believed this and gave their small amount, we would have been much closer to reaching our approved monthly budget the past two years. Believe me, no amount is too small.

Now that we’re stateside, it is our hope to be able to visit with many of you that we have not seen for far too long. Although we’re in Indiana, we haven’t seen many of our Indiana supporters yet. We’ll eventually feel as though our feet have hit the ground.

New phone numbers: Steve – 260-366-3480; Lynne – 260-366-3488

Please give us a call at your convenience!

Thank you all so very much for all your prayers in our behalf, your friendship, and your spiritual, emotional, and financial support!