A House Divided and A Hope Deferred

As we slouch toward the end of summer, I realize it is a good time to give an update on our current situation. We did a home leave update at the beginning of the month, and since then David and I returned to Addis Ababa around the 14th of August while Rebecca and Oren stayed in the US so she could take him to William and Mary and help him get set up for the beginning of college. This divide and conquer strategy seemed like the only way we could manage David starting school at Bingham back in Addis while Oren was to begin about 2 weeks later in College. Since William and Mary is Rebecca's alma mater it seemed like the logical choice for her to stay. She is probably also better at helping Oren get packed with everything he will need. 

We spent most of our last two weeks in Baltimore visiting family and having last times together with parents and friends. On the day David and I were set to leave, (our flight was from Dulles on a Monday night), we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum next to Dulles. For those of you not familiar, this is a massive hangar with hundreds of "flying machines" from all times in history. This featured a number of well-recognized and even infamous WW1 and WWII fighters and bombers (including the Enola Gay). But also some commercial airlines such as the actual Concorde supersonic, and the Space Shuttle 'Discovery'. The fact that the Space Shuttle is inside this building gives some idea of the museum's size. It is quite an awesome collection, and because it is so big, does not feel crowded. 

My personal favorite moment there was walking into the museum through the 1st-floor balcony where 2 WW II planes, a P-40 Flying Tiger, and F4U Corsair hang side by side. Since Oren and I built these two as models years ago and still sit on his shelf, it was as if we had become miniature and were standing next to the models! Rebecca tried to get a photo to capture it. 

The Space Shuttle, Enola Gay, and Concorde were among the most impressive in terms of size, though. It was not hard to spend the day there, and when it closed we went out to a nearby Thai restaurant and had a last family meal together. From there Rebecca and Oren dropped David and I at Dulles and we checked in for an 11pm flight to Franfurt. The flight was full, and I don't know why, but they put us in Premier Class which meant we had awesome big seats! We had a longish layover in Frankfurt and I was keen to go out to see the city, but David, after the full day walk at the museum and little sleep on the flight wanted to stay and sleep in the airport--which we did. 

We arrived in Addis the next morning at around 7am. We were disappointed to find that immigration was challenging our resident IDs and held us up for about 30 minutes, but we did eventually get through and we were picked up by Wonde, our logistics officer. We got back to the MCC office just on time to begin a full day of work on Wednesday. I thought jet lag would be better if I stayed up, so I did. 

Thursday, the next day was the first day of school for David. For me though, it was one of the most important days of the entire year. This was the day that Bereket, Oren's best friend in Ethiopia, (and friend of other MCC kids over the years), was to have an interview at the US embassy for his F-1 student visa, which would allow him to study at Eastern Mennonite University. I planned to drive him to his 8:30 am appointment to be sure he did not miss it.

It is worth backing up here a bit to explain the momentousness of this event. Over the past 12 months, during Oren's process of applying for College, Bereket was doing the same with help from Rebecca and me. While we have come to know Bereket from the past 2.5 years of living here, his relationship to MCC has been much longer. He was a best friend of the son of the former reps, and before that was a friend of the rep. couple before them. His dad, Muluneh, is the longest-serving MCC employee here and has worked guarding the compound for around 20 years. 

Because of Bereket's long experience with MCC families, he had become an excellent English speaker and has always been a very good student in the public school he attends in Addis. He is also an excellent chess player, and master of other games like Settlers and League of Legends. He is always friendly, and willing to lend a hand, especially in translating Amharic to English when needed.

Oren and Bereket hanging out

It was actually one of the former reps who suggested he pursue a University opportunity in the US. The former Rep. family said they would be willing to host him if he came to EMU in Virginia. I was inspired and paid for him to take the SATs to see how he would fare in an American system. (The opportunity to take such a test is steeped in privilege because you need access to USD on a credit card, which is not available to almost any Ethiopian!) Long story short, I was stunned when he scored around 1300 total score with high scores in both Math and English on his first try (top 10% of all test takers)! This after attending an Ethiopian public school with no SAT prep offered. 

With that, I became more committed to help him get through the application process, again based on the privilege of having access to US dollars, but also access to a computer, knowledge of the admissions process, and the American system of collecting academic data, such as transcripts, teacher recommendations, etc, which are essentially non-existent here. (University attendance in Ethiopia is based solely on a national exam score at the end of secondary school and nothing else.)

It took months to get the guidance counselor to fill out a recommendation form (he did it on a cell phone). Getting US colleges to accept an Ethiopian transcript was also an ordeal and required expensive translation by a US service to determine equivalency. 

After 6 months of work, we did manage to get Bereket's application accepted at 3 schools who all were excited to have him and even offered him academic scholarships. The offers only came, of course at the cost of admission, and the ability to use the common app. to apply. We were happy to lend him a computer and internet access in our home and help him do this. He ultimately chose Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg Virginia.

This was exciting but we faced a number of hurdles on the Ethiopian side. Bereket needed a national ID in order to get a passport as he had turned 18. For some reason, the govt. here decided to revamp the system to avoid corruption and had refused to issue IDs for the past 8 months! Getting Bereket an ID during this period required us to leverage every bit of power and goodwill we had with the local administration, but we did succeed (without paying any bribes) after 2 months of trying. 

By this time it was after the new year (2023) and we still had to get him a passport. This was also a process in Ethiopia that had stalled, and when he applied, he was told the soonest he could have an interview was 5 months later, in June. That was concerning because there would also need to be an application for a US visa which could take several months as well. We could not change the passport interview times and waited the 5 months until he could interview in early June. When he went to the interview he was told his passport would arrive in 2 months. This timing would make it almost impossible to get a US visa on time for the 23-24 academic year. 

We told Barry to ask for an expedited passport, but the security guard at Ethiopia Immigration would not even let him in the door to make his case when he went to appeal. (he was almost always treated as a person of no consequence by everyone here since he is a high school kid.) In a final act of using every bit of leverage I had, I went myself in my full suit and tie, and NGO ID badge to the head of immigration with Bereket and sat with him. In Ethiopia, no one in govt. is intimidated by foreigners, but I think I did give Bereket the appearance of legitimacy and he was finally granted an expedited passport. 

Once he had it in hand we began the US visa application process. We needed to pay a lot of money to be interviewed for an F-1 (student) visa. None of which is recovered if you are refused. He also needed tons of documentation, most importantly an I-20 form from the school to show he was accepted and fully funded for at least his first year. His host family, and I, as MCC director also added letters of sponsorship which he could take to his interview. Again, there was nothing obvious about how to do this process and get an interview. If anything the process here was deliberately confusing. (To discourage the faint of heart, or those who do not have someone behind them to help them.) Despite this we fully succeeded at getting all the forms completed and successfully applying.

Bereket received a visa interview date of August 17th. In order to start school he had to arrive in the US on August 23rd--six days later, which was close, because there is about a week to get the visa in the passport once it is granted. I felt Bereket had really good documentation and a solid case for a student visa so I went ahead and bought a plane ticket so he could leave on the 23rd once he got the visa. 

My family was on home leave between the time of application and the interview date. I was back in Addis a day before Bereket needed to be at the embassy for the interview. I was very happy to be back so I could take him. I had been planning to go with him, and if possible go into the interview with him. I had spent a full year and a fair amount of time and money on the process, and I really wanted to see him succeed. Also, Oren, who is now in school in Virginia was looking forward to having his best friend in a Virginia college as well. They had spent almost every day together for the past two years in Addis. 

I knew that there was no chance I would be allowed into the interview, and it was true when I took him to the embassy on Thursday morning, I was not even allowed to enter the building. But I knew that Bereket had a portfolio of good documentation that he was accepted at a college, fully funded with scholarships, had a host family, and had sponsorship from an INGO. He was, in my view, a shoe-in for the F-1 student visa. He had a folder with all his documents in hand and was an excellent English speaker to boot. 

I waited outside, praying, praying. I took a walk around the block. When I came back he was out. He looked at me and shook his head. "I was declined," he said. He told me the consular officer took less than a minute with him, did not look at his documentation, asked him 2-3 quick questions, and denied him on the spot. 

The drive home was one I will not forget. I had no words, no comfort, no pep talk. We drove home in silence. I could not even begin to start the process of calculating how we would overcome this barrier. I knew that whatever we did, it would be too late for this semester. After clearing every hurdle, we had face-planted at the finish line.

When we returned and the words came, I was able to assure him that this setback was not the end of his future. He is very bright. He did the Ethiopia national exam and can go to University in Ethiopia if he gets a placement which he almost certainly will. He has a winning personality, and an ability to move easily between cultures. I believe in him and his potential, wherever he is.

I also began the process of inquiring at the embassy. They have great protection of the consular decisions. No case is reviewable or appealable, and no third party can inquire. When I had Barry write for more explanation he received a form letter saying he did not meet the criteria of evidence of financing, acceptance at a college, or willingness to return. He of course had all of this, but the consular officer never looked at it. But again, there is no review or appeal of the process. 

He is welcome to try to apply again, but he must show how something has changed from his last attempt. That is hard to do since he had all the proof of his merit and credentials the first time. I am writing to Senators and anyone else who might help. (I have become too African to believe that anything happens without a "big man." pushing from behind) I had some privilege that got him all the way to the door of the US embassy---but could not get him through. 

It is defeating for Bereket and me. We put so much into this and I did my best to leverage my privilege to help him. What really struck me though, is that there was never any point where a barrier went down for him easily. I am reminded of Charles Dickens novels where a young boy, like Pip, is assumed to be and treated, by everyone, as a person of low birth and therefore bad moral character. That is how every single bureaucrat treated Bereket in this journey. It always took an adult who was perceived to have 'reputation' to make his case. His case was never taken seriously on its own merits. It is a lesson to me, to remember not to treat young boys with a prejudice that they are probably 'up to no good.'

I had prayed weekly for Bereket in our small group, and watching hard-ened barriers come down gave us confidence that God would do a mighty work to get him over all the hurdles to an opportunity to study in the US this year.

I am having a hard time drawing a moral lesson. God is God in all circumstances, that is all I can say. We live in an unjust world, and it does not always work out in the short run for those who are vulnerable. 

If anyone with the power to change this happens to read this and wants to reach out. I would appreciate it. I am not ready yet to completely give on this, but need to find a new road in. 

I could say more about other frustrations of being back. There has been a lot of work to catch up on, but this experience has colored much of how I am feeling about being back here. I just pray for the fortitude to keep up the good fight.

Sing Love Songs

Brad and Jo (from a photo)
 and a favorite song

Grief is always grief. Yet it helps to participate in grief together with the community. It is much harder when we lose someone dear to us when we are far off. That was the case for me when all of my grandparents died at various times – I was out of the country and had no real way to process it.

And so, Paul and I are thankful that my Aunt Jo gave us the gift of sharing in the end of her life while we have been here during this summer home leave. Normally I might be more private about personal losses, but Aunt Jo has been a central, crucial person in both Paul’s life and mine. In many ways, the trajectory of our shared life and marriage only makes sense in the light of the community that Jo helped create. And so I need to share a bit of history.

My father’s older brother Brad Sack was a forerunner in public health research on cholera and other diarrheal diseases. Amongst other things, Brad was “an early pioneer of using oral rehydration therapy (ORT) to treat diarrhea. The treatment would eventually become standard, adopted by the World Health Organization, and has been credited with saving over 50 million lives in the past 30 years.”[1] His research focus led him to take his family (Aunt Jo and 4 kids) to live in Calcutta, India for a number of years. 

Diane Pierce (L), wife of a public
health colleague from Calcutta days

When they returned to Baltimore, Brad and Jo found themselves out of step with the American church, having experienced an international perspective. They started a kind of house church / small group with like-minded Christians: public health scientists who had lived overseas and enjoyed the arts. Paul’s parents Henry and Bunny Mosley had been living in Bangladesh during the late ‘60s and early 70’s and joined that community when they returned to Henry’s position at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. My father David moved to Hopkins for a fellowship in infectious disease research in 1974 and we also joined the growing community when I was two years old.

Because he’s older than me, Paul has many more vivid memories of the “Family Singers.” Nearly every Sunday, they would go over to the Sacks’ home on Ridgely Garth, where Jo would teach the adolescent kids Sunday school using the radical new translation of the Bible “Good News for Modern Man.” 

Jo on far right

Brad and Jo both loved music and drama, and so the Family Singers would also sing—a lot! Louise Carlson would play the piano (she had her family had been involved in medical missions in Gondar, Ethiopia), Brad would play the double bass or direct the group, Dan Sack (my cousin) would play the drums with excellence, and we would all sing. Often the Family Singers would visit local churches and present music and drama, including some original works that challenged Christians to embrace a more authentic expression of their faith. (the production of “Masks” and “Festival of Fools” were key moments for the group). Sometimes the women in the group played guitars and did separate presentations through RSV. Paul’s mom Bunny was one of those guitarists along with Charlene Reinke; my mom sang. Paul was really close friends with my cousin Dan and spent many weekends sleeping over in their basement, learning to ride a unicycle and sometimes fighting. There were volleyball games in their woodsy backyard, and touch football games at the fields at Ridgely Middle School nearby.

Collete, Louise, Bunny,
Paul and Dan talking, Henry 

I was just a little child so I didn’t really understand all the dynamics of the adults, and all of what they did, but it was a very special community. Aunt Jo strongly formed in me the idea that at her house, the door is always open! No need to knock. There was always coffee and deep conversation and hospitality. My brother Paul was born into that group and passed around from arm to arm, dedicated in that community. Other folks joined in; some of us moved on for a while to other international assignments. Family singers took different forms at different times. Most people eventually made a church home at some established congregation. But many of those same people continued to meet monthly right up until the pandemic. What a rare thing – a Christian community that persists for 50 years!

Photos of Jo made by her kids
a few years ago

In December 2001, Brad and Jo had a huge Christmas party, gathering all the Family Singers folks they could find. My husband Paul and I both happened to show up at that party, home for the holidays to see our parents. We hadn’t seen each other in at least a decade, though I have always been close to his parents over the years. And as we talked that evening, catching up, sparks flew. It was very clear to each of us that we had a deep and special connection, as members of the same eclectic “tribe.” Paul and I would not be married to each other if it weren’t for the Family Singers. We invited all of them to our wedding in 2003, where one of the pieces of special music was their informal theme song “Sing Love Songs to a Lonely World.”

An old poster someone made for Family Singers, found in the basement

Sing love songs to a lonely world.

Sing honest love songs by the score

Real love songs, so all the lonely world

Knows why the church is here and what the church is for.

 

Bring beauty to a humdrum world.

Let truth and beauty now appear.

Some beauty that all can recognize,

And recognizing, share with everybody here.

 

Bring quiet to a noisy world.

Bring peace and quiet now and then.

Some quiet so all the listening world

Can hear the words of love and whisper as Amen.

 

Bring laughter to a solemn world.

Bring joy and laughter loud and clear.

Make laughter that fills the whole wide world

Our message to the stars that true love has been here.

 

Sing love songs to a lonely world

To tell them why the church is here.

Family singers gathering last week
in Brad and Jo's sunroom

My uncle Brad died in 2017 – such a hard time for all of us. Jo continued on, living in their family home, which has always been the special gathering place for family singers. She remained very sharp, even when it was harder to get around, doing puzzles and working on special scrapbooks to document the life she had lived. Jo was never one to stand on ceremony or to put up with small talk, cocktail parties and empty ritual. So by sharp, I mean she would say things like they are, loving but blunt. Every Monday, my parents would bring dinner over after work and watch Jeopardy or the baseball game.

Henry, Rebecca and Paul Sack

In early June, Jo had a stroke and experienced some significant physical setbacks in speech and mobility. We were able to go and visit with her a number of times. She always loved a foot rub or backrub, so even when she couldn’t speak well and enjoy a conversation, she welcomed that kind of attention. Jo gave us about two months to adjust to the reality that she was on her way out. She completed her well-lived life at almost 90 in her own home, with three of her four kids nearby.

Louise Carlson talking with Oren

Jo really did not want any kind of formal funeral ceremony, just a brief recognition and a song during a normal service at her home church. But it was hard for those of us she left – her personality and her home itself had been such a center of gravity for so many of us. I was very grateful when my cousins agreed to host a final Family Singers gathering back at the Sack home last Thursday evening. There aren’t so many of the older generation left, but Paul’s parents, my family, my brother and my cousins, along with Louise Carlson made a warm group in person and lots of folks (grandchildren and family singers friends) joined us online.

We played one of Jo’s famous games (“this is the dog…”) and shared memories of her and of what Family Singers has meant in our lives. And then we sang together around the grand piano in the living room, Louise, at 93, still extremely able to accompany and play from memory as well as from notes: “love songs” and “In remembrance” from Celebrate Life! (a 70’s drama loved by Family Singers). We ended with Jo’s special request, “Just a closer walk with Thee.”

Sharing with friends online

Sitting in that sunroom, surrounded by dear family who are more than family, I realized how much I have taken for granted a community and a set of values that are extraordinary. How often do you find these elements coexisting together?

• a gathering of world-class scientists with hundreds of peer-reviewed publications each, all brilliant, rigorous intellectuals (I’m really not making this up)
•  dedicated to public health research that benefits people in the poorest nations, and always concerned about social justice
• Working in the same university – sometimes in the same department – and enjoying each others’ company rather than fighting for career advancement -- because of their experience working side by side in international settings, with the same vision 
• Sharing an examined Christian faith that is the motivation behind their professional calling
• Creating a place of hospitality and welcome for people of all ages
• These same people delight in music and the arts (with a fair bit of talent to go along with that joy)

Bunny and Louise

I am truly humbled by the gift God gave me to grow up swimming in these waters of creativity and faith and justice and respect for science. I never even noticed it was water. It’s very clear to me at this moment how much I am not my own, but so much a product of the special community that formed me. And I think Paul could say the same, that we are somehow spiritual heirs of this legacy. That’s why we’re married. How else do you account for a couple where the development worker / pastor got married to the dancer/choreographer/public health professional?

So the opportunity to be in Baltimore, in Jo’s house, to grieve her death together with our community was an incredible gift of timing from God. We are grateful. Sometimes grief is the flip side of joy.

 

 Bonus video can be found here, of us singing "Love Songs" -- not perfect, but with heart

---

[1] https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2017/in-memoriam-r-bradley-sack-md-scd-68

 

He Leadeth Me Beside Still Waters

Oren's baptism in the Chesapeake

Water is generally a central feature of our summer home leaves. We have been coming back to the US to visit family in the summer for over 10 years in the last 13 and we have fallen into a routine-- or better stated a 'ritual' of visiting certain places and partaking of certain activities that we find renewing. Most of them revolve around being near or in water. 

We call Maryland home as both of our parents live here, and the Chesapeake Bay is Maryland's most significant body of water. Usually, we spend a week to ten days there, and I will talk about that soon. Rebecca's parents' home serves as a base during our time in Maryland and the Little Gunpowder River runs nearby. We take walks in the woods there or go trout fishing several times per week when we are staying at their house.

Bay house

We went to the Chesapeake Bay less than a week after Oren's surgery. We have access to a really beautiful A-frame house which I described in the last installment as regaled in shag and a tribute to Brady Bunch mid-century decor. We typically invite my brother Jonathan with his wife Emma and son Fletcher, who is Oren's age, to spend the week with us there. They drive up from Nashville. Fletcher is Oren's age, so the 3 boys usually have a very good time together. 

Annual cornhole tournement

This year, although Oren's mobility was limited, we were able to play many board games and have long indoor debates. Fletcher, now a licensed driver, was able to take David and Oren on trips to pizza parlors or Walmart to buy stuff, without parental supervision. I think this was a highlight for the kids to have this new level of independence. Adults enjoyed this as well as it allowed us to go to an adult restaurant by a marina where we had great seafood and listened to a decent country western singer from Nashville. 

Canoe trip

The activities we engage in over the week include fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, board games, Texas hold-em, puzzles, grilling, sampling craft IPAs, spike ball, corn hole, and croquet with the most amazing croquet set made by Brookstone. We also did some outings to play miniature golf and experience a modern urban golf driving range/restaurant.

family dinner

We also had both sets of parents as well as other cousins come out and visit while we stayed there since it is only about an hour from Baltimore. 

Jenn and Rebecca

We also had a special visitor who has come in past years, Jennifer, a very long-time friend who worked with us in the MCC program in Burundi. (We hired her). She now works for another humanitarian organization in Ukraine. She had numerous stories about old friends as well as the challenges of living in Kyiv while they are at war with Russia. It was so great to catch up with her and she is really like a member of the family and has known the kids since Oren was about 5. 

This year, though we added another unique event. Over the year, as Oren was applying for college he made the decision to be baptized this summer. We come from a faith tradition called 'believers baptism' which means we don't baptize infants, but rather wait for a person to make a decision on their own about their committment to following Jesus. Oren had done some preparation with us over the past few months. He also had some meetings with Arthur, the new pastor at our home Mennonite church in Baltimore in the past few months. 

Mennonites usually immerse people in water for baptism and this was going to be a challenge with Oren in a boot. On the day of the baptism, we went to church on Sunday where Oren gave a testimony and we helped lead one of his favorite worship songs (Psalm 34, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir). Paul also shared about our work in Ethiopia on the same Sunday! then we invited the church community to rendezvous in the afternoon by the Bay near our summer house. (at a retreat center called Charter Hall, where Rebecca's family has been going since she was 8 years old.) We made a plan that 6 of us would carry Oren out on a makeshift stretcher and lower him into the water in front of the pastor. (Normally a person would walk out on their own power.) The day had a miraculous feel because it rained all morning. Then at 2pm it cleared and stayed clear until 5pm. The ceremony was scheduled for 3. So it was timed perfectly.

As planned, we had the ceremony on the water edge with Oren sitting in a chair, then we lowered him on a stretcher and walked him out into the bay where he was dipped into the water and raised up and carried back. (I helped hold his leg safely above the water, so no danger to his surgical wound.) 

Actually, the whole event was very moving because of the assistance of the community to make this happen. Even David and one of his cousins as well as his two uncles were there to assist. It was also a courageous testimony as baptism seems to have 'fallen out of fashion' among the youth at the church these days. I think Oren set a good example of what making a vowcommittment of faith looks like. Hopefully, it will serve him well as he begins his life away from home this fall. 

We returned to Baltimore at the end of our stay and spent a couple of days with Rebecca's parents. We had another special trip planned though, this time to Canada, a bit west of Toronto. Although we were not right on a lake, there was one nearby that we went to during the week. 

This trip was planned so we could connect with very dear friends from Tanzania who were part of our small group when we were there: The Gingeriches, a family of 5 with boys the ages of Oren and David, and a younger daughter, as well as the Taylors, a family of 6 with 2 boys the ages of Oren and David, and 2 younger girls. We have stayed in touch for at least 5 years and saw the Gingeriches last summer at Charter Hall by the Bay, and the Taylors over Christmas in Kenya at Brackenhurst for New Years. 

Spikeball

We had all rented a big house at a church retreat center near Kitchener, Ontario. The drive up from Baltimore took 8 hours during which we listened to the audiobook 'The Maze Runner'. The border crossing was uneventful. 

The kids are almost all like cousins and there was a great deal of joy for all of them to reconnect. Many of the games mentioned above were played indoors and out. The adults enjoyed games as well, especially since Eli Gingerich is a real games aficionado, and often gets very new or even unreleased games to try out. I think I tried about 7 I had never played before, as did the kids who went through them much more quickly than us. 

St. Jacob's market

One highlight was going to a huge Mennonite farmers market in Kitchener. We had a great time as a whole group shopping like tourists and trying the local cuisine, which is mainly Poutine. We also had apple fritters that were delicious. (Admittedly, poutine is a bit too much for me-putting gravy and cheese curds on french fries sounds just too heavy.)

Our friend group

I could give more details about meals cooked, games played, and side trips, but what was most renewing was the fellowship with very dear friends. It is really good to catch up and to hear updates, joys, and concerns. I am sure we will meet up again in the future and already anticipate seeing the Taylors in Kenya next New Year again. 

We returned from Canada, back again to Baltimore where we have spent days catching up with friends from church, extended family, and our previous time living in Maryland. We have also gone over to my parent's retirement community where the kids can play Bocce ball, mini golf, and hand shuffleboard, even frisbee golf. It is actually nice for Oren because it is very accommodating to people with movement limitations. 

My dad, Oren, and I also made a quick side-trip to North Carolina, about a 7-hour drive to visit my other brother Mark and his wife Christine. They are family we try to see every year, although we could not all go down because of some appointment conflicts. The long drive south with my dad and Oren was a time to have some good conversations. Oren requested having 'Southern food' on the menu when we got there. My brother prepared ribs in 3 different ways so we could sample different barbecue styles. We had a good chance to talk on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning we went to a church service where Mark was preaching. Oren's cousin Grace, who is college-age, joined us, as well as some of Christine's family. We had an Italian lunch after church before heading back up to Baltimore. The visit was short but felt very valuable as we only have the chance to connect once per year.

Shark tooth hunting

We continued with one more tradition of the past 3 years, a favorite of David's, which is shark tooth hunting. There is a place in southern Maryland on the Potomac River, that used to be an ancient sea, where ancient shark teeth can be found quite readily. We have gone before with our friend Chris and his daughter Ella. This time only David went with us as it is really not a place for a knee scooter. We spent the day (the trip alone is nearly 2 hours) on a strand of beach straining for teeth. David also perused down the beach where he found some of the largest specimens. (about an inch long.) We also had a nice time swimming and visiting. In the evening we went back to Chris' house and joined his wife Lisa for dinner. The good thing about a long drive is that it's plenty of time to talk and catch up with a good friend. We relate so well to their family because they also grew up overseas and then served as missionaries in Asia.

Our most recent activity was helping Jean, Rebecca's mother set up a house for some Syrian refugees who are arriving soon. Jean is a volunteer with IRC (International Rescue Committee), and has done this for the arrival of many Afghan refugees in the past two years. It was a good opportunity for David to get some service hours in for school. We worked with a team of about 8 and left, in my opinion, a very cozy apartment for a family arriving from a Syrian camp next week to call home. 

This brings us up to date. David and I have about a week left before we return and Rebecca will come a couple weeks later after she drops Oren off at college. Updates on that to come. 

Bonus Photos:

Shark teeth

canoeing on the bay

A trip to the Gunpowder with the Hoard family

David mowing, a weekly summer activity

Croquet with Papa Dave

The refugee family set up project

Rebecca's birthday by the Bay

Topgolf in Baltimore

Family meal by the Bay

David helping with yard work

Paul and Mark Mosley and their DAS Swag 

Fishing with friends in Canada

Marketing in Canada