COVID Spikes and Spreads to Basketball Academy Director

Hard to believe this headline?  Mongolia’s Covid-19 tally surpasses China  Can it be true even though China has about 400 times as many people? 

It hit home last week when Matthew our 33 year old Mongolian friend and fellow basketball academy coach and director came down with COVID.  He had received his first Chinese vaccine from Synopharm, but could not get the second dose from showing symptoms, which he wasn't sure were allergies or what.

Then he tested  positive and started to quarantine with his family of 6.  We're hoping they all make it through safely soon and are hearing that is likely.  There is now news of another lockdown stirring in the plans of the newly elected president of Mongolia for July.  

You can see pictures of academy kids and coaches at the website of our International Mongolian Basketball Academy

Lydia Graduates High School from Black Forest Academy

Here she is with her classmates before the ceremony...

And after commencement with her diploma...

Lydia graduated with High Honors and a 4.3 GPA!  We are grateful and happy for her accomplishments. 

She is getting ready to further her studies at Taylor University in the fall. 

Here she is with some of her graduating friends (and family)....

We were so grateful to be able to make the trip and be in attendance with Johanna. 

Congratulations Lydia!

Black Forest Castle Hike with Johanna

We took a hike on Sunday after church and Lydia's graduation to a castle ruins near where we stayed.

Johanna greets her Chapel Hill grade school and current classmates of Josiah, whose principal is encouraging them to post their pictures of getting out into nature this summer.  

Germany Arrival for Lydia's Graduation

It's been about a year and half since Renee and I were able to visit our daughter's boarding school. 

So yesterday's arrival at their dorm was meaningful!

Today we will all 3 be all be able to see Lydia graduate in person.

We're so pleased to be here to mark this important achievement in learning and life. 

Thanking God for Lydia!

Josiah Turning Nine

Happy Birthday Josiah!

Here's the family party...

And here he is with friends from school...

And with his dinosaur piñata!

He's growing up good. 

Black Forest Academy Palm Dorm Fun

Lydia is coming to the last few days of her time in high school in Germany.

Here she is making memories at a swiss chocolate factory on a dorm outing.

And outside in the beauty of a Western Europe spring day. 

 

Like Heaven Indoors...

Meeting up at Opryland Resort with old friends like the Lains who served with us in Mongolia for years.

Underneath the indoor waterfall inside Opryland's Cascade Atrium.

Meeting the parents of our friend who serves in Mongolia and stuck it out through COVID.

Meeting with two friends who came from Washington state...one is going overseas with the Alliance soon. 

With our family and friends the Lees, who we serve with in Ulaanbaatar.

Inside the Opryland Hotel Atrium at night, they light it up like Old Glory.

God bless America, and let the nations be glad!

Music City Meeting!

General Council of the C&MA happens every other year, this time in Nashville, TN!

We had hottest tickets in town for the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night.

We got dinner at the food truck out front.

And rushed in presenting our tickets to the taker: "I'm sorry those are for last night." Ugh!

But fortunately we got back to our nice room in time to catch the show on TV.

Can you name this 30 year old singer with a string of #1 hits on the radio these days?

Mothers of Preschoolers Mongolia

Renee helping lead MOPS for Cornerstone Church of All Nations virtually via Zoom.  

They had their last meeting in May,  and our hoping to reunite in person in the fall.