Psalm 127

Children are a gift from the Lord,

they are a real blessing.

The children a man has when he

is young are like arrows in a soldier's hand.

Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Joseph L. Bartkovich, father of 7, passed away the Tuesday before Christmas. We had previously planned to come to the States for a brief holiday visit. We arrived in Baltimore the afternoon Kevin's father was taken to the ER. Kevin was able to be at his parents' side during the last two days of his dad's life. As we continue to mourn his death, we are amazed and grateful that we were exactly where we needed to be when we needed to be there. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and for understanding that many of our hoped for visits and conversations sadly just got dropped. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we return to Bundibugyo and a very full school year that begins on the heels of our return.