Together with Family & Friends

Hello Everyone,

We wanted to share with you some of the wonderful moments we have had with cherished family and beloved friends. We have tucked each moment into our hearts to help strengthen us on our journey back over the ocean to the mission field of the Philippines.

We will treasure the moments we spent together ... all the laughter and love and even the tears. You are all more precious to us than we know how to express.

We have had the sorrow of saying good bye to Nate's dear mother and the joy of expectation of a new little life into our family with the wonderful news of Nick and Aubrey's baby that is due to arrive in July.

We have traveled from the west coast to the east of our great nation seeing those we love and having the honor of meeting many new people. We have experienced an out pouring of goodness from all. You all have helped us in so many generous and thoughtful ways. None will be forgotten.

We have also had the joy of ministering to many people and seeing bondages of fear and pain and torment broken by the truth and love of Christ. A woman in California no longer wants to die - but live. A man in the East no longer harbors anger in his heart for past abuses but is free and feels the peace of God in those areas. A woman in the East is free from debilitating fear that kept her alone and withdrawn. A man on the West coast is free from shame and has joy instead and peace. A marriage now has hope instead of being filled with anger and resentment.

These are just some of the highlights of our times of ministering the truth of God's freedom available to all through Christ's love.

We pray God's protection over each of you. God's favor, His wisdom in all things pertaining to your life and that you experience the love He has for you richly and deeply in your everyday lives.

The sweetest of God's blessings ...now and always.

The Troias

Home at last!

Kelly, her sister Vickie (in Illinois) and Hope. Finally together again!

Are we really here or are we dreaming?

Family and cake - It doesn't get better than this!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jeff and Ashley!

(Noah, Ashley, Jeff, Cassie , Mary and Vickie)

Aunt Vickie showed Hope the closet full of beautiful clothes that people bought for her and loaned to us to keep her warm. We are used to the tropics..and could not aquire warm clothes and coats in the Philippines for our trip. Thank you all so much! God's blessing multiplies back to you again and again!

Aunt Mary!! Hope missed you so much and was thrilled to see you!!

Seth is Hope's cousin. She thinks he is pretty terrific!

Seth playing G.I. Joe with Hope : )

Aunt Vickie with arms full! Snuggling with Hope and Elsa.

Hope prayed for snow. She said that God sent the snow for her! I am sure He did. She had a blast!

Nate and Hope had lots of fun shoveling the drive way at Vickie and Jeff's house. Nate was used to plowing snow for 20+ years and never having time to play in it until we sold our business. This is the first time in all those years that Nate was able to actually enjoy it. They both enjoyed their day!

Hope with her Grandpa (Kelly's dad) Grandpa is showing her how to

work the flashlight and how to make paper airplanes. We all enjoyed our

visit to Grandpas house!

Hope and her Aunt Mary playing at Grandpa's house.

Hope loves her Aunt Mary!

Hope knows how to get her cousins to play... they all usually end up

on the floor playing with her : )

Nate, Kelly and Hope with Nick and Aubrey (Kelly's nephew and wife)

Vickie, (Kelly's sister) Nick, Aubrey, Hope and Kelly at Vickie's house.

So wonderful to be together!

Hope and her little cousin Elsa playing in the snow in Illinois.

Nate made Hope a snow tunnel - hours of fun!

Hope with 7 other little girls from China. It was a humble time to see them all together..how God brings families together. And these girls together to play for an afternoon. So special!

Hope sharing at Elevate Kid's Church with Pastor Heidi. Hope said she

loves to preach!And when she is a grown up, she wants to be a missionary

to China and tell the people there that God loves them.

So far, Hope shared at 3 kids churches. That is a great start for a 5 year old!

Together with our very dear friends, Sarvar, Bayum and Seyera.

We had missed them very much. We were so blessed to be able to visit

with them and share a meal. We treasure our friendship with this kind family. We pray God will bring us together again soon.

Father, keep them in Your loving, tender care, in Jesus name, Amen.

Our hearts over flow! It is amazing to us to be in the midwest of the United Sates at Christmas time - of all times! To come so far from Asia and to be together with beloved friends truely amazes us at how God works out the details of our lives. Melissa and Sevda - We love you!

Oh, Christy - You are a beautiful friend! We thank God for your friendship and support. We treasured our time with you. The Lord bless you in all things.

Nate and son Tony. So great to be together again!

Nate, son Abe, grandaughter, Jeneyah, Hope and Kelly.

We all had a wonderful visit! Such a blessing to be together again.

Arms full of love!

Nate and daughter Hope and grand daughter Jeneyah!

Hope had a very fun time visiting with her niece, Jeneyah. They were inseperable... like they had not been apart for 15 months.

Good byes.

Sweet Jeneyah, we love you and look forward to holding

you in our arms again..soon we pray..until then, we hold you

in our heart always, babygirl. We love you so much.

God, please keep this one in Your tenderest of care...

Hello Maryland!

The towns in Maryland are filled with history. The narrow

streets are so quaint.We were blessed with this trip to the

East Coast to be with our ministry leader and to rest before

returning to the mission field.

Thank you Amy!

The scene from Michael and Amy's after a light snow fall.

While visiting Michael and Amy in Maryland, we had the honor

of praying with this father and son for physical healing.

They both had back problems and all pain left and

they had more flexibility than before. Thank You Jesus!

Our quick glimpse of the White House - But oh SO inspiring. Thank you

to all the brave men and women who serve and protect our nation.

God bless you and keep you.

This was our greeter at the Museum of Natural History

in Washington D.C.

Kelly and Hope enjoying the exhibits.

Auntie Amy and Hope having a fun time at the museum.

Our time in Washington D.C. was short but we are so thankful for it. We had a great day in our nation's capital. Hope has tucked away some special memories ... we all have.

On the road again back to California for the last leg of our furlough.