July 14, 2006

Relief

Well, we passed! What a relief! Our time with the board came earlier than we expected so we didn't get all the time to prepare that we had been hoping for. Our appointment time was 3:30. At lunch (around noon) we found out that Group B was ahead of schedule by an hour. That meant we needed to be ready at 2:30. We went back to the hotel after lunch (where we are staying and where the board meetings were being held) to get ready. We had forms to fill out, our testimony presentation to review, and of course getting ready! We decided to be ready at 2:00, but at 1:30 the phone rang. They asked us to be ready to go in 15 min.! I wasn't even dressed completely yet. Yikes! So we rushed around for the next fifteen minutes and made it there before it was our turn.

We gave our testimonies (salvation and call to missions). Then it was their turn to ask us questions. Thankfully they asked Jason everything and no questions were directed at me. They asked some pretty interesting questions, I think because of his education and the fact that we did not declare a field. We discovered later we got the "easy" group because at least two guys were asked to preach in Group A. Another couple told us they asked the wife to tell her and her husband's strengths and weaknesses (and they've only been married for a short time).

Everyone in the candidate class was voted in as ABWE appointees. We are obviously behind in the process compared to many, but we know God has perfect timing for us as well.

We have another day of training tomorrow, but our evening is free. We are hoping to see something in the area. Apparently Hershey is only a short drive away and Gettysburg is about an hour away.

Sunday my mom will be bringing the boys so they can be here for the installation service in the evening. I am looking forward to seeing them again. I miss them! It will be neat to meet everyone's children at the conference next week, though some will not be able to have their children with them. It will be a busy, noisy place next week!

Thank you again for all your prayers. I will continue to update you as I am able. Our time is a little less scheduled next week, but of course then we will have two little ones with us too!