Danny makes the team

After 10 years of community sports, middle school was Danny's first chance to try out for a school team. This is the year he has been waiting for all his life.
A week before Klinger Middle School opened, he received a letter asking him what sports he wanted to try out for, with instructions for physicals. He picked football, of course, and basketball, then baseball; he would pick no others, despite urging from his parents, "in case you don't make the teams you want." No such thing, he felt.
A week after school started, he reported that football practice would be after school every day from 2:45 to 5:00 and there would be two cuts! Another week, and his best friend was dropped. The week after that, his next best friend was dropped, but Danny made it!
Danny is a big kid for his age, but if you can believe it, he is a PEANUT on this team. The eighth graders are starters, and the seventh graders stand patiently on the sidelines, waiting to get noticed. By the time of the first game, Thursday, October 1, he did manage to get himself a starting position ... on the Kick Return special team ... while he proves himself for the Linebacker position he really wants. Proud and anxious father, Dan, was there for the kickoff at 3:45 pm. It was in the last 2 minutes that the visiting team, Tamanend, scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. The score was 0-8. Dan said to Danny, "It was a great game! I don't know how your team lost, but they played very well," high praise from a winning football coach himself! Danny is determined to make his team a success, and will be out there again tomorrow night.
Games are every Thursday at the same time through November 12. Stay tuned for information on Danny's drive for Linebacker!
Nancy 10/1/98

First Word from Belgium!

Steve and Mal just wrote to Mom and Dad about their setting up home and community relations in Belgium. It seems "they have an 'average house,' 4 minutes from SHAPE and 9.8 miles from work." And the "base lent them furniture until theirs comes." Very nice .. and let's hope the furniture arrives in decent condition and completely ... our fingers are crossed for you guys!
Meanwhile, Mal and Steve report that they connected with the Korean Mission Church in Brussels. Steve "is going to teach a Sunday night service, some Americans and some Koreans. Mal will teach the Thursday women's Bible study in Korean .... The subject material is Precept Ministries that they have been attending for the last 3 years" and that the "Precept Ministries (on the web) is leading and teaching people to study and interpret the Bible with the Bible itself ... not someone else's interpretation, but what God inspired the Word to be." Sounds pretty fundamental to me!
Steve continues, "My introduction asks the question 'We will study (the book like 2 Timothy) and find out why God had the book [written] and what God wanted us to learn and do." And they say, "We rejoice in the Lord because he brought us over here and we never thought of going to Belgium."
So, I guess we can expect that this will not be your usual tired old travelogue of a trip to Europe, but ... a different slant on things! More as it pours in..... Nancy 11/25/98

News Blackout on Catherine Lifts!

Catherine writes: "Well right now I'm getting prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday. They are supposedly releasing us early tomorrow from work so we can get on our way. I'll be visiting my boyfriend in Texas and spending Thanksgiving there. We've been together for two years. I don't do medical work now. I'm still a medic, but I work at post headquarters in the protocol office."
Hoping for pictures soon. Drop Catherine an email. Not much on Fort Polk, LA, when I searched the Web, but take a look here. Stay tuned for more!!! Nancy 11/24/98

Jennifer in College

My college: "The name of the college is Okaloosa-Walton Community College. The main campus is in Niceville, but I go to [a nearby] campus."

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My classes: "I am taking five classes: Intro to Humanities, Comparitive Religion, Business Law I, American Government, and Window 95. I changed my major to law." This full plate will get Jennifer a degree in four years.
Favorite: "So far, my favorite subject is law."

College life: "I've made a couple of friends at school, but with my schedule it is hard to stay in touch with anyone. Occasionally I will see a few of my old friends around town. The school is very friendly." But wait, there's more, much more!
Work: "I work about 30 to 35 hours a week at [a law firm in town]. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I work 5^1/2 hours. On Tuesday and Thursday, I work 8 hours. On Saturday I work at [a new-car dealership] 5 hours. Yes, David works there also."
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Scholarships: This resourceful young woman checked weekly at the Guidance Counselors' office for scholarships, and look what she was able to do. "I got a scholarship from the state to cover 75% of my tuition. The school pays for the other 25% and the [local] Rotary Club gave me a $1,000 scholarship to cover tuition and books." Way to go, Jennifer!
Home: "David is very supportive of the household work. Our roomate and David's best friend, Ryan also helps out."

Great job, Jennifer! We're really behind you 100% and are so proud of you : )
Nancy/Jennifer 10/5/98