Furlough?

I bet many of you are wondering, "What exactly do missionaries do on furlough?" It's a question that probably has about a hundred different answers. For most though, furlough means time on the road. It is a year to visit family and a year to touch base and make contact with supporters. We have been doing a bit of traveling while back in the US. Our latest trip was to the Scientific Assembly of the South Carolina Academy of Family Practice Physicians. That's just a fancy way of saying a conference of Family Medicine Doctors. Allan had been asked to speak at a luncheon. He was able to challenge these Doctors to look beyond the current "healthcare crisis" in America into areas where no healthcare exists - to expand their vision to not only the Philippines but many areas that need even the most basic of primary care.

About a month ago, we spent a week in Auburn, Alabama at Lakeview Baptist Church's missions conference. This church has played an important part in our lives. It was here that we met Christ and each other. Through the ministry of this church, we felt our first call to missions and were united in marriage. They have been a great support and encouragement to us over the last 4 years of preparing and going overseas. It was a wonderfully refreshing week as we got to share our stories and visit with other missionaries from around the world. We were also encouraged by the staff and congregation. It was a great week to walk down memory lane with the kids and revisit some of our old haunts.

During this week in Auburn, we had the opportunity to go to an Auburn University Football game! It was the first time the kids had been to any football game and they loved it.

Will loved hanging out eating hot dogs in the Alumni tent.

When you are in Auburn on game day you have to go to:

Tiger Walk

(the guy in the sports coat hidden behind the people

is head coach Tommy Tuberville)

and to see the meeting of the band

It was a nail biter of a game and, typical of this season, we lost in the final minutes. The kids didn't get to participate in an Auburn tradition after a win...rolling Toomer's Corner, but that just leaves something new for next time.

It was an exciting time and we all left slightly hoarse from cheering so loud.

A final Picture from our week in Auburn:

Just because we are on the road doesn't mean a vacation from school. Homeschool can happen anywhere, even the bride's room of a church