During my time there I stayed at the home of David and Sharon van Dyke who have been a great support to the work of Diakonia.  Dave and Tim Pals (son of Chuck and Vi)  a few years ago rose to the challenge as successful  businessmen of travelling to Novosibirsk, Siberia, to teach and encourage an emerging group of entrepreneurs.  During my time there  I also was able to have a lot of fun riding one of their buggies.

From there I went to the north of Chicago to spend a few days with Jacek and Wendy Wheadon and the Polish Fellowship they lead.  Although they have now been given their all-important Green Card, they are experiencing difficult times. They seem to have been affected by the economic downturn, more so than the established American families around them

After a  7 hour drive I arrived in Spooner, Wisconsin where I stayed with my friends Tom and Chris Clements, who together with Michael and Rebecca Macone have become the focal point of a growing group that has gathered around them.  It was refreshing to be in a gathering where everyone participated in making valuable contributions.