Parnu, Estonia, Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Friends,
Life in Estonia continues. The weather is spectacular. It is like our fall – 60’s and 70’s. It is light until about 11:00 PM and the sun rises at 4:00 AM. Long days. We understand from our Estonian friends that the first Asbury mission team to visit Parnu determined to work until sundown. It is quite a joke around here. We went to the beach this evening. It was relaxing and enjoyable.

VBS is going well. We had 46 today. We are hoping and praying for an increase on Thursday. The kids are learning the songs and the routine and seem to really be enjoying themselves. After seeing the kids for 3 days, we are now recognizing them and able to greet them warmly. Allyson has a little group of Estonian girls that follow her around. It is so cute. They yell her name – Alllliiii-son. Obviously, hard to give you the real effect on email.

Our construction project is going much, much better. The carpet is done. The play set is going well. We should finish on Thursday. It was quite interesting finding a lumberyard in Parnu, much less treated wood for a play set. But, God is good and we had some help. The wood here is very cheap. Of course, everything is metric so communicating we need 2x4 or 4x4 has taken some handy conversion. We hope to finish Thursday so we can watch the kids play before we leave.

We head to Camp Gideon on Friday. It is a former soviet camp that Asbury purchased and has turned into a school and seminary. It is right on the ocean and I hear it is gorgeous. Then we head back to Tallinn to prepare to fly home. In Tallinn we will go to the seminary we also support. Thanks for your prayers. We are having a great and memorable trip.

God Bless…Teil