We find ourselves wrapping up our year of US/Puerto Rico Assignment and things are a little bit crazy. Jamie and Micah are finishing 9th and 5th grades in mid-June. A whole new batch of missionaries is headed for the U.S. while our thoughts and feelings are being pulled toward Costa Rica, where we will find ourselves in mid-July.

It's hitting us that we have been in a lot of your churches, but we're also realizing that there are so many more churches that we just don't have time to get to. I (Gary) have a Missionary Partnership Team training in Illinois that will allow me to touch base with a couple of congregations, but we are now officially in the packing and goodbye stage. Packing is a hassle, but it's less emotionally taxing than the goodbyes. Friends and congregations in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Illinois, Missouri and California have been a blessing to us, and e-mail is handy but can never replace real time spent together. The kids too are in the goodbye process, having made good school and church friends in this foreign land.

We know that the stress of transitions is not unique to missionaries. Many of our friends are dealing with job changes, new ministry opportunities, new stages of parenting, caring for aging parents, or grieving the loss of a loved one. So we ask for your prayers and wisdom as we navigate these next couple of months.

Please pray for:

• " Good goodbyes and one last chance to see family members
• " Wisdom with how to handle stuff (Pack it? Give it away? Store it?)
• " That Gary would complete his marathon without whining too much.
• " Members of our home church in Costa Rica as they come here to visit members of FBC Port Angeles, WA (our other home church)
• " Our friends Jim, Sara, and David Wiegner as they leave Costa Rica to do ministry in Pennsylvania. (We will miss them a lot)
• " The changes we will face in Costa Rica
  "The two Baptist groups have come together and are now figuring out how their two training institutions can best cooperate and train leaders for the churches.
• "A different home.
• "Healing for Pastor George Boudet of First Baptist of Port Angeles, WA. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer and it is a very rough time for him and Donna.
• " The International Ministries staff members at Valley Forge who make our transitions possible and whose ongoing efforts keep us on the field. We regularly thank God for these gifted and dedicated servants.

This journal entry began with the statement that change is the only constant, but we know that "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases." May his presence guide us all through all of our transitions.

Bendiciones (Blessings),

Gary and Mylinda Baits