Please take note of our new box number. (We didn't move, Trinity just changed their mail system.)

Todd & Jana Patterson
2065 Half Day Road
T-2006
Deerfield, IL 60015

Summer break has finally arrived!

When the school year ended we gave the kids a one week break. During that week we broke the news that they're going to have to work on their Slovak reading and math during the summer. Max almost cried.

It's not that bad, though. Elisabeth works on her Slovak summer school about three hours a day Monday through Thursday and Max a little less. We're hoping this will make the transition to the Slovak school system a little easier.

Plus they've been having fun with their other summer activities like a trip to Chicago, visiting family, swimming lessons, playing with friends. Actually, I think the school work helps them enjoy the other activities even more.

back to top

I met a classmate from the PhD program walking with his 3 year old daughter. We greeted each other and I said "Hi" to his little girl, too. He tried to coax her to say "Hi" back but she wouldn't even lift her eyes from the ground. It looked like a crow bar couldn't pry up that chin! I was forced into using my secret weapon. "Do you now miss Jana from Music Together? That's my Jana," I said gently but enthusiastically. Slowly the eyes lifted to get a peek.

Works every time.

In June Jana finished her final planned Music Together class. However, since our stay in the States has been extended she decided to apply for an extension to her limited license. That was granted so she is teaching a summer and fall session. 

back to top

During the months of May - July I've been teaching at First Evangelical Free Church of Rockford and The Compass Church in Naperville. We've been looking at how to read the book of Acts like a story with a beginning, middle, and end. The classes have found it helpful because it gives them a sense of how the book fits together as a whole. It really helps to see the main message of the book of Acts--the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I'm doing a series of posts on the book of Acts on our web site. So far I have four posts:

1. The Story of Acts
2. How to Read a Story
3. The Beginning of Acts
4. Continuing the Ministry of Jesus

During the month of October I'll be back in Rockford for five weeks to teach on the book of Genesis.

If you would be interested in having us visit your church, small group, homeschooling coop or anything else--please contact us using the information at right or below in the footer. We'd love any opportunity to preach or teach or share our ministry.

back to top

Right now churches are making decisions about their new fiscal year budgets which means in the next month or two we should get word on decisions they've made about levels of support for our ministry. We're praying hard about this at our house. Currently, our support level remains at about 66%.

back to top

Other posts to our blog since our last update

• Visitors from Slovakia
• Communicating the Gospel in Slovakia (from the Slovak Religion series)
• Max's gymnastics and Elisabeth's ballet
• 1,000 Years of History Hits (My) Home

back to top

Thank you very much for your prayers and for your continued support.