Three Weeks Left!

Well...if any of you have been watching the news today...you may have noticed that a tornado breezed through Southeastern VA this afternoon! Praise the Lord we are all doing fine and Franklin was not touched. However, in Suffolk, the city where our church is located...homes have been destroyed, many people have been injured (although they don't have the official counts yet). So far there have not been any deaths. The tornado passed very close to the church, but we haven't heard yet whether or not there was any structural damage. A friend of mine from Sunday School lives in that same area and we are thankful to know that he is okay as well. One of his cars is totalled and there is a little damage on his house, but nothing compared to other homes in his neighborhood. Of course we have many other friends in Suffolk from church and Dad's school, I know they would appreciate your prayers.

Mom, Emily, Wesley, and I returned last night from a trip to Pennsylvania. We were able to visit with a childhood friend of Emily's, Julie Wade Bakker, and her family. She has a baby girl only a few months younger than Wesley so it was fun to watch them interact with one another. We also spent a few days in Newtown Square with several cousins on my mom's side of the family (it would be her brother's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren). Emily and I have not seen them for many years! We had a wonderful time visiting together! We returned home in awe and yet again encouraged by the amazing family God has blessed us with! Not very many people can talk about the incredible desire even their extended family has to see the spreading of the gospel! I feel so truly blessed!



As for the current status of my funding...
God has provided all but $250 of my monthly support. I am extremely encouraged by how close I am to being ready to return. However, when I begin to think of how my flight takes off in 3 weeks and I need $250 more per month...then I get a little nervous. I know God is in control and He will provide it all in His timing...or else He'll have a reason for me to stay. In reality, all that is needed are...5 people giving $50...10 people giving $25...about 13 people giving $20...I think you get the idea. If you are currently providing financial support, thank you so much for being a part of this team. However, if you are not , yet now feel led to contribute to the work God is doing in Bolivia in this way, please email me at lboyce@southamericamission.org or send a letter stating your monthly intent to the home office (1021 Maxwell Mill Rd, Suite B, Fort Mill, SC 29708-7852)

Over the next week I will be taking my final trip to North Carolina to say good-bye to friends there. I am also still trying to finish up my classwork. There is of course many other things to do as well...getting my visa taken care of, stocking up on those things I want to take, packing, etc. It will be a crazy 3 weeks!!!! There are also...the "last" things...that are now beginning. My mom asked not long ago if counting my final activities ever gets old or makes things more difficult. My response to her was that in some ways it does, but most of the time it just helps me prepare for leaving. Join me in the transition of these last 3 weeks!

Bound for Bolivia...

Greetings once again...although I am a couple of weeks late. Thank you for continuing to pray for me, even when things get a little hectic!

I am pleased to report that I now own a return ticket to Bolivia. My departure date will be May 19. I will be leaving from the Norfolk airport at 5:00 in the evening and arriving in Santa Cruz at 7:50 on the morning of May 20. I am currently working on writing and mailing my final prayer letter from the U.S. We are also in the process of taking care of things such as my visa and immunizations. I am still about $350 short of being fully supported. I would appreciate your continued prayers for the Lord to meet this need.

This past weekend I celebrated my 32nd birthday. Even though I had to go to Charlotte for class, my friends and family worked to make it an extra special occasion. It all started Thursday night over dinner with Emily, Christopher, and Wesley. I then spent the night with them and in the morning Emily had balloons and a special breakfast prepared. I also had lunch with her and Wesley and then went on down to Charlotte. When I arrived in class a couple of my friends had balloons and flowers waiting on my desk. Then at night, Linda and Bruce Dial ordered pizza and we watched a movie together. Finally, on Sunday afternoon, my mom and dad invited my friends from church over to the house so that we could celebrate together. All in all, it was a very special occasion.

I have now finished my trips to Charlotte. My classes are over with the exception of a few unfinished assignments. All I have left is a research paper, a take-home final exam, and some reading. It sounds like a lot, but compared to how far I've come...it seems like I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The challenge will be that I would like to finish all of these things within the next couple of weeks so that during the last two weeks I can focus on packing and preparing to leave. That is typically doable, but I also have some travelling to do over the next couple of weeks, so that is where the challenge comes in.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Thank you so much for your faithful support through financial giving, prayers, letters, phone calls, etc. It means so much to have family and friends such as you.

April 7, 2008

Greetings from chilly Franklin, Va! I do not have a lot to report this week so I'll make this a short entry.

I am hoping to buy my plane ticket sometime in the next week, I'll be sure to let you know when I have a set date of departure! I have also finished one of my classes from this semester!!! Yeah! That's exciting! I turned in the remainder of the coursework for that class and took the final exam last weekend. It is nice to feel like I am on the downward slope. I still have two more weekends of classes and the remainding coursework for those two classes, but I it at least feels like I'm getting somewhere! That is quite a blessing for me!

Also, today is my mom's birthday! She and my dad went to the beach for the weekend and got back this afternoon. It was the first time they have had the freedom to travel without worrying about making plans to have people care for Grandpa. Although they never minded doing that, I know they appreciated the chance to truly relax together this weekend. When they returned I cooked mom's birthday dinner and we had a great time with all of the typical festivities...good food, flowers/balloon, cards, presents, dessert! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother and hopefully she realizes how much we all love her...not just today but everyday!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers! I guess that's it...until next week!