April 22-27...a week in review

This week is a blur in many ways. It is hard to believe how quickly it has passed but I would like to share a few highlights.

On Sunday we had a send off lunch for our friends and co-laborers. Andy and Stevi Hansen and their daughter, Signy, have served in Iceland since 2004. They are moving to Staunton, Virginia, to take care of Stevi’s mother. Forty-eight people gathered for worship and the Hansen luncheon. Bill taught from Romans 1:8-16. We were delighted to welcome to the church new guests, Leenerd and Alise. Leenerd is from the Netherlands and was in Iceland for business. Alise is an exchange student from Latvia who is here on a work exchange program. Alise will be in Reykjavik for six more weeks.

Monday started our second week of language school. We continue to discover both the beauty and challenges of the Icelandic language. We are blessed that our sending church and organization are so supportive of our language learning. Two new friends came for a short but delightful visit (see previous post). We look forward to an ongoing relationship that we pray brings them to Iceland for a longer period of time to work with us.

Tuesday was a beautiful day in Iceland. The sun was shining, the wind almost nonexistent and the temperature was 12 degrees Celsius. Bill, Cami and Ben took a trip to the pool where Ben got a little sun on his legs! We had a great time doing some laps and then relaxing in the whirlpools. http://www.visitreykjavik.is/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-177/406_read-1469. 

Bill was a bit under the weather on Wednesday, but we pressed through our toughest day so far in language school. Bill attended a weekly prayer meeting. A group of about 20 people have faithfully prayed for God to move and bring a great revival in Iceland for the last four years. Bill was warmly received when he joined this group.

Thursday we awoke to snow falling. It was not much to talk about in the city but the outskirts got about six inches of new snow. Cindy’s highlight was when our language teacher talked to her after class and complimented her on her progress. Bill was not a part of that conversation for obvious reasons.

Friday gave us the chance to visit with new friends who just arrived in Iceland to live for the next two years. Andy, Kim and Luke (age 4) Bohon moved to Reykjavik from Texas and will be working alongside Mike and Sheila Fitzgerald, some of our dearest friends in Iceland. This is no surprise since Kim is Mike and Sheila’s daughter. Kim first moved to Iceland when she was 14 when Mike and Sheila answered God’s call to serve here. Now Kim and her family are joining the work once again to labor for our Lord in Iceland. Please pray for the Bohons as they make all the necessary adjustments to living here.

Please pray for:

1. Our Residency Permits and Kennitala to be granted by the Office of Immigration. We need these desperately.
2. Bill has a trip back to the States to secure our container for shipment. He arrives May 10 and will get everything loaded for Eimskip to ship on May 14. We are hopeful for a smooth transition. We have already been notified that the ship will leave Norfolk one week delayed.
3. Cindy and Bill’s language learning.
4. Cami and Ben to make some friends.

Some Praises:

1. Our visit and care package from Tim and Chris on Monday. A real blessing!
2. Our teaching at Emmanuel Baptist has been well received. We are ministering to about 40 believers now and sharing the gospel with 4 unbelievers who regularly attend.
3. Several new significant relationships that are developing to help us in the work here.