Well Big D and I are heading to Ireland today (4/30). From Ireland we go to Lithuania. Yes! It is work. But such nice work. We get to see IICS professors. There’s Olga Artamonva teaching Russian at Trinity College in Dublin; she’s an absolute sweetheart. We’ve got Frank Peters and his amazing family living in Cork. Frank teaches physics. Jo, Frank’s wife, is one of my favorite people on the planet. Their five kids are awesome. I’m more than excited to see everyone. We are traveling with a group of ten. I’ll let you know how that worked out. I think of Daryl as the shepherd and I’m the herd dog. I’m the youngest in the group so it sort of works like the bear formula: if you and a friend are being chased by a bear…you don’t have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun your friend. So on this trip I don’t have to keep up with Daryl, I just have to stay a step or two ahead of the slowest guy in the group. And I’m very excited because we’re going to Skellig Michael. There are 938 steps up to the top of this old Irish (Daryl’s peeps) monastery that protected sacred scripture from those pillaging Vikings (my peeps).

The group heads back home May 8th and Daryl and I head to Lithuania. We have two IICS professors there: Susan Robbins who teaches philosophy and John Campbell who teaches Old and New Testament. Both are in Klaipeda. The Campbells have four kids. These are such wonderful folks. John has this gentle spirit and so kind. Laura is very funny and fun to be with. Susan has a brilliant mind and knows everything about J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m not up for a big skip around the globe, but to see these brothers and sisters it is well worth it. Also, we’ll be in Vilnius a few days and that is my favorite place on earth. I love that town.

It seems like a tough time to go. My BFF Margaret is in the hospital. She had surgery, but all went well. I just wish I could be here to fluff pillows and make jello. My Dad is being moved into a care facility for veterans on May 7th. My poor sister and brother-in-law have to handle that move/transition all on their own. A good friend’s husband is in the hospital and I want to take them meals and just be “there.” It’s odd that all of this stuff happens when we are leaving. Please pray for us (safety, health, that we will minister effectively, that we will smell like Jesus to others). Please pray for our friends. Please pray for the IICS professors who serve so beautifully in these lands. They are indeed the fragrance of Christ. See you soon! Peace.