School started back today, so for homework I have to write an essay on “What I did This Summer.” It was a really long summer, so you might want to pull up a chair and get comfortable. A beverage would be a good addition to your reading time, too.

Sarah graduated from her compulsory studies in Spain in June. The school system is a little different in Spain, and students have obligatory coursework through the 4th year of secondary school, which is the equivalent of 10th grade in the USA. So, she essentially graduated after 10th grade. She now enters in to a two year “bachiller” program, which is only for students who are university bound. Because it is not compulsory, we now begin paying for books and certain parts of her schooling.

In mid-June, I (Laurie) traveled to Panama to join a team of TMS Global staff for two-weeks of training and development for new cross-cultural workers. Alongside some really great teachers and leaders, I helped to lead training for people from all parts of the world who are going out to serve all around the globe. It is always a humbling experience to realize that the work we do to help train and develop new workers will eventually impact places and peoples that I will never see or know. Just to give you a small idea, at this particular training, workers in the room represented Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua, Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, and several parts of Asia. I’m positive that I have missed someone in that list. Just know - it was overwhelming to realize how many countries and cultures were represented.  PS...it was hot - very hot. Panama is really hot and sticky in July.

Billy and Sarah traveled to Wales with the community choir from our town for a cultural exchange trip. They stayed in a family home in a small town. We will host that same family when they come to Spain for their time of cultural exchange in the Spring. Billy stayed on in Gloucester to take some classes and training with his Member Care cohort.
​
We traveled to the United States for a time of reconnecting with family and friends and visiting our supporting churches and partners.  It had been two years since we had been in the States for any length of time (except for one quick layover that Billy had between flights last year) and we were ready to see our boys and granddaughter.

Here is our summer recipe for “Crazy Salad”:
· Mix in heaping portions of family visits - grandmothers, mothers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, adult children, and grandbaby. Be sure to share many meals and favorite foods, recreation activities, and lots of telling old family stories.
· Add in several church visits and partner visits to share the work and stories from Spain, and to say Thank You to all who partner in the mission. This includes Bryan, College Station, Dripping Springs, Navasota, and Wheelock. Each of these visits and stops includes copious amounts of food and sharing and laughing and crying.
· Add a LOT of driving! Drive from Colorado Springs to Wichita Falls to Arlington to Bryan/College Station to Waco to Wimberly to Dripping Springs to San Antonio to Round Top to Houston.
· Make sure to have a couple of side trips to see important cultural sites and teach Sarah about her Texas culture. Visit the Alamo. Float on the San Marcos River. PS...Texas is HOT! Ride horses. Go on a girl’s trip to Magnolia Market at the Silos. Stop at Bucee’s a few times along the road. Of course, several important foods needed to be consumed - foods we do not get in Spain...chicken fried steak, barbeque, crawfish etouffee, La Casita!, Gram’s banana pudding, fried okra, everything spicy and deliciously TexMex.
· Sleep in no less than 14 different places and beds and live out of a suitcase for two full months.
Toss well and hope for the best.

It has been a long, busy, fun, exhausting summer. So glad we did it! (Hope I get an A on this essay - it was a long summer!)