With the new year, we can no longer talk about what we are going to be doing “next year”….2013 is here, and July will come quickly. We are in the full-swing of making all the necessary arrangements to move our family to YWAM Kona this summer.

We also welcomed a new niece, Tori, to the world. This is Paul’s brother Dave’s first child, and the first girl in the direct family since 1983 🙂

We also managed to sneak in a trip up Mt Baker to welcome in the new year. It was a gorgeous day!!

Our next newsletter is scheduled to go out in early March, so watch your mailboxes for the next edition!!

Despite a heavy dose of rain, we had a great time at the CTK Bellingham annual Trunk or Treat. For those not familiar with the concept, this is an outreach event for the church – a safe alternative to trick or treating. People volunteer to open up their trunks (car boots for you kiwis) and the church gives you candy to stick in your trunk which you then pass on to the kids. Basically, lots of people and lots of candy.

This year, our boys dressed up as a convict (Josiah), who had been arrested by police officer Kyle. And Austin was making everyone hungry, dressing up as a gourmet cheeseburger!

Our Fundraiser Yard Sale on Aug 3-4 was a huge success. We raised over $2,100 towards the cost of moving into full-time missions!!

We were blown away by people’s generosity in donating items, but also to the many people who helped with the yard sale – before, during and after!

We plan on having more fundraisers between now and June next year, including another yard sale in the Spring.

Inspiring video about upcoming push to improve facilities at U of N Kona