News from the Nest

Dear Friends and Family,

Just when I get a hint of spring, the weather turns cold again. I'm longing for spring flowers, green grass, warm weather, and nesting birds. It will be so nice to shed our winter coats, bulky sweaters, caps, and gloves (and that's just how we dress inside the ETS building!) Despite the dreary weather outside God always provides some bright spots along the way.

This month is full of volunteers. Our entire month is filled with "Weekend Warriors" and local church volunteers. We are looking forward to our annual visit from the Pioneer Girls of Silver Springs, Maryland. We refer to them as our "White Cleaning Tornadoes". The girls arrive late Friday night and have a "lock-in" in our building. They work all day Saturday and as they are boxing clothing will pick out the most outlandish outfits to wear out to dinner at Cracker Barrel. They leave Sunday morning with organized rooms, boxes of clothing packed, and generalized cleaning completed. Their leaders tell us that this is their favorite trip and the girls look forward to it all year long.

Another "favorite group" of ours is the Vasey Family. They all come from Pennsylvania and have a working family reunion in our building. They arrive Friday, sleep in our building, make their meals and work all day Saturday at the mission. On Sunday they attend church together, have lunch together, and then head to their homes. They have tackled painting projects, labeling vitamins, packing clothing, and boxing computer parts for shipping in their past visits.

Just as these groups are highlights to our year so are the encouragement, love, prayers and support you pour out on us month after month. Please know that you are the bright spots of color in our long dreary winter. Thank you for your extended grace toward us as we work together to supply missionaries worldwide.