An unexpected visitor

For the last 2 weeks we have had a guest in our home. No it is not some wonderful family member or friend from the US--although we wish(hint hint). It has been a lttle dog named Scruffy. There are many things I thought I would do on the mission field, but babysitting a dog is not one of them. Being so far from home, the mission community becomes like your family away from home. While the transient nature of mission life makes making friends difficult, the friendships that develop tend to be strong. Will's teacher, Ellen, and her husband, Dan hold a very special place in our hearts--not just because they went to Auburn either. We have enjoyed getting to know them this year and do somethings socially especially during football season.

During the last week of school, Dan's father passed away. It is hard to imagine being far from home during the midst of a family tragedy, and Dan and Ellen made the tough choice to return to the States for a few weeks. Therefore, we are watching their little dog Scruffy. He is a tiny little thing, but he and WAGs have gotten along well. The kids were very excited to have Scruff come visit. It has changed the dynamics of our house a little as we have added a 4th dog to the yard. Every few days Scruffy sends an email and a picture about his life and trials in the Gilmer household. The Brooks have posted some pictures and a few of his letters on their blog if you want to check it out at-- http://www.brookslanding.com/