As I reminisce on the past summers, I can’t believe that I am really in Michigan. Three summers ago I was struggling over rugged rocks on 80 degree inclines up and down mountains miles away from civilization. I spent the past two summers in Alaska standing in a warm bucket of water to keep my feet from freezing as I did my part in an assembly line gutting fish or carefully filleting the brilliant pink meat of King Salmon. I guess I have not had a “normal” summer in a while.
So what is my “ordinary” summer looking like? Well, I have been spending much of my time working at an internship this summer with Trinity Church. I have been mainly working with the Internationals Department which includes being a tutor in a conversational class on Monday nights at Trinity’s “Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages” program. I have worked with people from China, India, Bhutan, etc. It has been a great opportunity to learn more about other cultures and to teach them about who Jesus is and what the Bible is all about.
For the internship, I have also been researching and reading books on short-term mission trips. I and a team of people are working on what short-term trips should be and look like for Trinity next year. This weekend, I will be attending a short-term missions conference in Chicago to further my understanding of short-term mission trips.
Apart from the internship, I have been going to a Bible study at Trinity on Wednesday nights. It has been so encouraging to get to know some amazing women of faith and study God’s Word together. I have also been loving going to New Hope Church on Sundays. It has been fun to be challenged through God’s Word there and to get connected with the people there. The recent New Hope picnic was a blast as well. It was such a fun time of fellowship. Praise God that we can be involved in two wonderful churches!
Ric and I enjoy the opportunities we have to spend quality time with family and friends. At the end of August I will be finishing my Linguistic training by going to Oklahoma to work with Cherokee Indians and analyze their language.
Here are some ways you can pray for me this summer:
1. That I would prioritize and balance life well.
2. That I would continue to make spending time with God in His Word a priority.
3. For wisdom as I work on the short-term missions team at Trinity.
4. For clarity in presenting Christ to Internationals.
Thank you all so much for reading and praying for us. It means so much to me to know that people are wanting to take part in spreading God’s Word to the unreached in Cambodia!
Ric and Sharon Bruce 
