On our way Home...

Dear Friends and Family
The four of us are sitting in the Boise airport. We should be on an airplane to San Francisco but we ended up missing it...mainly because the security people went over every single little thing that Nick had with him today. It took him 20 minutes to get through security and i was waiting at the gate but the lady had to send the plane on its way so now we are hanging out until 10 am and i thought i would write a quick update about our time in the U.S. and let you know some prayer requests for the next few weeks. We hope to greet the Cole Indonesian Team as they will be flying in from San Francisco on the plane we will probably be taking out...so that is kind of cool.

We have had a wonderful summer here in the U.S. We loved getting to see so many people but as always it was too fast and the time with those we did get to see went by so quickly. We are always sad too that we can't see everyone and just wish we could sit down over a cup of coffee or tea and talk about what is going on in your lives.

Here are some of the Summer Highlights:

Boise: Getting off the plane in Boise and seeing Annaliese again after 5 months apart and a surprise visit from my oldest sister Nan , picnics in the park, coffee & lunch times with friends, shopping, waterskiing/surfing/wakeboarding with the Cowells at Lucky Peak-even though it was very cold and our tropical bodies were frozen and then later with the LaShelles at Cascade on the Bat Boat, a great Vision Lunch at Cole-thanks to all who attended, going to several movies-favorites for me were "Get Smart" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D, eating at lots of good restaurants as well as friend's homes, working out at the YMCA, going to a Boise Burn game

Anna grew her hair out and then had it cut for Locks of Love :)

Hailey: Time with my parents and good friends, Mary & Ferdinand and Jay-taking them "up north" and swimming in the freezing cold, clean water of Redfish Lake. Hiking Mount Hyndman (Nick all the way, the rest of us just part of the way), riding the chair lift to the top of Baldy (i don't like heights too much but it was worth it), taking lots of pictures of wildflowers, flank steak on the BBQ, eating asparagus and artichokes, seeing deer, watching the guys take out one of the Big Cottonwood trees in my parent's yard, playing bocce ball....getting to share at Calvary Bible Church and then at Church of the Big Wood, selling earrings and necklaces to help Anna pay for an arabic class.

Arizona: Time with Nick's Mom, Clotele, getting to see Nick's Dad, Wes, eventhough he is declining from Alzheimers-two highlights in seeing him was how loving and affectionate he is and listening to him hum several songs and singing along with him, Armstrong Family Reunion-Pirate Theme-over 50 of us up at the Worsley Lodge-playing, laughing, crafting, paintballing, singing and talking,seeing all the new babies and how much the kids had grown up, meeting new in-laws, time with Jay's family, watching a Diamondback's game, warmer weather, swimming, playing with Pepe-Grandma's dog, visiting ASU, visit with Christen and her Mom Bev, visit with Ruth, Ona and Rachel Liles.

I tried to list as many of the things that i could remember but of course i am sure i have missed a few things here and there. Overall our time in the U.S. has been great. Luke had a great time with friends and over the last couple of days, every time we had to say goodbye, he would look at me and say, "You know that it will be 2 years before we see them again...2 YEARS." I don't think i really needed the reminding but i guess he needed to be able to verbalize that. Annaliese leaves the U.S. with mixed emotions-excited to see friends back in Indonesia but definitely sad to say goodbye to everyone here. Both Nick and i look forward to the next 2 years with her being that after this term, she will be heading off to University. I think it makes us realize how much we need to take advantage of every moment we can with her as well as Luke. They grow up so fast eh?

Prayer Needs:

Laura: Well i thought this year was all laid out and was going to be smooth but over the past two weeks i found out that my 5th grade teacher's visa was denied and will not be renewed. :( Then my ESL/Art Teacher decided that he could not return. This puts a major hole in our staff and schedule-i still can't imagine how i am going to work all of this out before school begins on the 14. Please pray for me and for the rest of the admin. to be creative and to be wise in what we do.

My heart is also heavy for one of our school families, the Bruckerts. Their son was recently killed in a car accident... Jon graduated in 2004 or 2005 and was in his final year of University in the U.S. Please pray for the Bruckerts as they grieve the loss of their precious son and brother.

Nick: Nick asks for prayer for readjusting back to Indonesia and for training of the Back to God Hour staff in Conflict Resolution. Also pray for the training of the South Sumateran church which will take place in the next month or so in the area of how to walk with the poor and bring about transformation (spiritual and physically) in their lives.

Annaliese: Adjustment back to Indonesia, reestablishing friendships, school schedule and healing of headaches.

Lukas: Excitement for school and ability to really apply himself in school, reconnecting with friends in Salatiga and enjoying life daily.

Thanks again for all of you that made our time in the U.S. so special. A special thanks to the Cramers for having Annaliese for a semester-taking care of her, loving on her and making her time here so special. Ditto to the girls in her Bible Study. Thanks to Mom and Dad Newcomb for all you do for us when we are in the U.S.-driving us around, shopping, mailing, having us at home etc. Thanks to Mom Armstrong for letting us invade your home in Arizona and for putting up with us :). Thanks to the Larsons for having us in your home again, letting us come and go and all our friends and family as well. You all are great.

We will Miss all of you...and as Luke would say, "Two more years!"

Laura for the family

Post Script: Nick and i are sitting at the Jakarta airport...our bags and us have made it back to Indonesia. Annaliese and Luke are with their friend Josh here in Jakarta for a couple of days. We will get back home around noon today. :) One thing i appreciate about my husband is how he hangs in there even when things are crazy and stressful. Missing our flight turned out to be a blessing because our bags were only checked into Bangkok...but we had time along the way to get them routed to Jakarta which has been a good thing...we were going to have to get them in Bangkok and go through customs and recheck in. We were thankful to not have to do that. He is a trooper and i am thankful that he does all these interactions for us. :)