All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

Well friends, we've come to the end of our adventure. The last week has been a bit of a whirlwind. I've been very busy helping folks clean their apartments, looking after their children as they pack their belongings, and giving rides to the train station and grocery store while still keeping the house open for it's normal weekly festivities. After Friday's Bible study, everyone went around the room and said some very kind things to me, said their goodbyes, and prayed for me. That's what we do around here, and we do it every time it's someone's "last Friday." I felt very blessed by this, and tried my best to really receive and soak in their kind words. I'm so grateful for this experience and for my new friendships. I could picture myself doing this full time. And shamelessly I will admit that it has increased or awakened a desire in me to be a homemaker. I just really enjoy caring for a home and having people over and the whole bit. Hospitality is a skill that I most certainly want to continue to improve and grow in. It's important that people feel welcomed, cared for, and loved. I want to meet those needs. Several of my friends will be stationed in Washington state, and I've already been invited up for a visit. Isn't that cool?

Brad and Debbie returned from their three-week trip to the USA on Saturday. Although they are laden with jet lag and claim exhaustion, they look grand to me! It has been good catching up and spending time with them. We had folks over on Sunday after chapel for a BBQ, a couple of games of volleyball, and some Olympic entertainment. It was a lot of fun! I am sad to leave the Festaburg hospitality house, but I am also excited and looking forward to being home again. I miss my friends and family very much, and I'm even feeling refreshed and ready to return to work. What a full time this has been, and yet, I'm ready to transition again.

Please pray that my flights may go smoothly on the way home as I am fly standby again. I was planning to fly out today, but just before leaving for the airport learned that all flights were booked full. I am told that tomorrow (Aug. 7th) looks much more promising, and so I am hopeful I will fly out this time around. But we'll see what happens. This standby gig is an adventure in and of itself, isn't it now?

Thank you all for your support. I could not have come here to serve and love like this without your words of encouragement, your prayers, and your financial giving. What a gift you are to me! Thank you for being a part of my world. COOL. Thanks you guys.

Much love,
Jess