Monday, February 02, 2026

 Lots and Lots of Travel...

 I haven't posted much in here for a long while, but that doesn't mean little has been happening with Poetry Art and Global Impact World Relief.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Much has been occupying our time and hearts.  After winter camp in Ukraine, I jetted over to Kosovo to attend a gorgeous wedding of Albanian friends who we had met and stayed with, after the war-24 years ago.  Immediately after my return, my beloved father-in-law passed away at the ripe age of 91.  We also were blessed to see friends in Malta and spend September in the south of France. Marty went back into Ukraine with Jeff and visited vulnerable people on the front lines of the war.  See the website:  WWW.Globalimpactworldrelief.org for his latest update on that.

Coron, Philippines 

We are still jet lagged from an almost month-long trip to Singapore, the Philippines, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Australia.  We did a vision trip to an island called, Palawan in the town of Coron to partner with Northgate Church.  We will be bringing a small team back there in May to be part of a family camp that they have just begun last year.  As many of you know, I do lots of camps around the world and love doing art, games and activities with kiddos.  Although May will be super hot and rainy, I look forward to doing camp and making new friends.  The Filippino people are kind, friendly and loving and we have already met so many folks that we are sure we still know for years to come.

 Our time in Malaysia, Singapore and especially Melbourne, Australia was personal.  We had such a full and sweet time with long time friends, who we haven't seen in ages.  I got my fill of kangaroos, koalas and even saw a Kookaburra in an "old Gum Tree."  
It was everything you would imagine "down under" to be!

 

As it appears right now, 2026 is shaping up to be a memorable year.  My new book, He Loves What's Broken should be published in the spring.  We are also hoping to circle back to Ukraine, Armenia, the Republic of Georgia to work with Mercy Projects (Mercyprojects.org) and Marty has a huge class reunion, this fall that we are planning to attend in Ohio.  If all goes well, perhaps, we will also get another month in France.  Fingers crossed and God willing! Okay, I think this update is complete.