THE REAL STORY

I've been "posting away" lately, but not really saying anything! Lots of photos (even though we still have no camera, I keep collecting photos). Every time someone has one I say "let me take a picture and send it to me." I assume that our girls and the pregnancy have a much higher priority than me, so I'm respectfully absent. A lot of the photos are of the city. I think that most of our family and friends are from places SO DIFFERENT than this, I'm compelled to show them what we see everyday, what is our reality.

Where are we...... let's see.......

BABY: she'll be born on May 15 at 8AM Bucharest time. Please remember to pray for us and if you'd like, send Lisa an e-mail at lisahlong@yahoo.com. This is a big event and we're doing it without family or the "American" comforts. The clinic is excellent, Lisa's at peace, God is sovereign ....what more do we need? We've officially named her, so we'll go ahead and spill the beans.... Sofia Marie. Sofia is the "Romanian spelling" because we want to honor the country where we live and serve and from where she'll always say, "I was born in Romania." Marie was my grandmother who lived with us as I grew up.

BCA: We're humming along, finishing the school year and we're searching and praying for staff members for next year. God always provides! There is a lot going on here, a lot of things being "set in motion" and a lot of what I do each day might bear fruit in a few years. Such is the realistic view of ministry!

OVERALL WELL-BEING: Things are good, Spring has sprung and the city is daily transforming itself from a cloud of gray concrete to vibrant greens and flowering tree. The city's many lakes are turning blue and the parks are alive with people pouring out of the apartment blocks seeking fresh air ....us included!

We've got the van back, up and running, but need to bring her in one more time over a few small things. With Sofia coming, we need the wheels in top shape. God's graciously been meeting our needs.

Right now, Lisa's out fighting the traffic for a doctor's visit across town. Emma is with her, of course, as well as Mikie today because she has a fever and a cough and needed to see the doctor also. More than anything, the biggest daily burden to live here is simply the traffic. Words cannot describe it. The basic assumption is that you'll up to an hour and a half to drive anywhere, anytime. You gotta love an underground subway!

So, that is a brief update!