On the road finding internet is always a problem and when we do get it we snatch every precious second of it we can get. I’m in the process of adding pictures to our online albums, checking our email, updating our website, downloading important files and updates for my computer, and managing our contact lists from the churches we’ve visited. The most important thing I’m doing, though, is sending Sharons paper off to the grader’s. Here’s how it came in:
Pages: 115
Hours: 100+
Sharon is SOOO happy to be done. Now we party. We’re going to the beach and then shopping. Wednesday we will go to the aquarium here in town.
We have been in Virginia with my brother Sam and his wife Kari since Thursday. This morning we presented our ministry at South Norfolk Congregational Community Church, the church they attend here. Tuesday is Sam’s 23rd birthday, so we’re very excited to be here for that as well. While here we’re doing what we do on the road: talking to people about our ministry, handing out our prayer cards, spending time with family, and Sharon is stealing as much time as possible to work on her Cherokee write-up which is due TOMORROW!!! She will likely be pulling an all-nighter tonight and then be exhausted in the morning.
This coming Friday we head to central Virginia to visit some very good friends and then will drive on to Tennessee on Friday. Please pray for Sharon as she finishes up her paper and for safety as we travel. Thank-you.
Here are some funny comics that have been in the past few editions of our local newspaper. Sharon’s mom cut them out for us, so I thought I’d post them for everyone to read.
This post is just to let you know that we are in the process of sorting out a major change in our ministry location. We will be posting more information here as it becomes available. We have been able to talk to some of you in person, and would be more than happy to give anyone a call that is interested in hearing more about these changes. This in no way affects our desire to head overseas next summer or our existing financial and prayer partnerships.
Right now we feel about like this fish being devoured by a shark but very soon we will be getting information out to you. If you’d like more information now please send us an email at ricandsharon@gmail.com and we will reply promptly.
While Sharon is back at the camp meeting her Cherokee language helper I’m spending some time with my family in southern Oklahoma. It’s been great to see them and even more fun to live life with them. Today I went to church and ate a huge lunch with my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins then visited Lake Texoma with my grandparents. Here are some photos I took today:
Sharon’s parents grew up in a small valley in south-west New York state, where some of her extended family still lives. We love to come back to visit the family and take a much-needed break from the daily grind. Tomorrow we will take off for a wedding in Pennsylvania and a few days of hiking. We love visiting the town… the area is beautiful!
Please pray for safety as we’re on the road and for a time of refreshment and relaxation as we accomplish one of our goals before heading to Cambodia next year: spending time with family.
Sharon baked me a cake for my birthday! She worked on it all Friday morning at her mom’s house. Can it get any better than that? Well, I actually met like three people for the first time at my own party, which was the icing on the cake so to speak.
Some families do construction, some practice law, and others work farms. My family does missions. It started with my grandfather, Richard Bruce Sr. Following his example, my father (Richard Bruce Jr.) decided to go into the ministry. I’m the latest installment, Richard K. Bruce, III.
When I graduated high school I received a congratulatory card with a very smart looking professor on the front of it. He had his finger in the air and a bubble over his head that read, "Now that you’ve graduated, here’s a tip." The message inside said, "DON’T GO THERE ANYMORE!" Well, we broke that rule last week and headed back to the school we just graduated from… but not to attend class!
We attended our first missionary conference as official New Tribes missionaries with Sharon’s sister Michelle. The whole experience was terrific. The encouraging speakers, refreshment in the Word of God, and chance to re-prioritize life was incredible.
During the conference I worked with experienced photographers to produce a slideshow of the best pictures from the conference and set it to music. I learned a lot about photography and had a great opportunity to re-connect with childhood friends and family I haven’t seen in a long time.
Ever take time off work for a vacation that didn’t end up being a vacation at all? That’s how Sharon and I feel this next week may go. Here are a few of the things we’re doing next week and some ways you can pray for us as we do them!
Saturday: Race and Travel Tomorrow, June 13th, we will head to the Eastern part of Michigan for Sharon’s race and then drive all the way down to Camdenton, Missouri when it’s over. Please pray for safety as we go.
Sunday: Preaching Sunday I’ve been asked to preach at our baptist church in Missouri. I’m going to speak on Philippians 1, just thanking the church for the encouragement they’ve been to us. Please pray for my preparations today and tomorrow.
Monday – Friday: Conference and Photography I will be snapping pictures of a conference at the Missionary Training Center and putting together a slideshow the missionaries will take home afterward. It will be a lot of work but the conference will be very beneficial and encouraging as well.
Saturday: Six Flags over Missouri! My parents are treating us to a trip to Six Flags after the conference. It will be the first time in our marriage that Sharon and I go to a theme park together. Exciting.
Sunday: Driving Back to Michigan One of the many reasons we’re going to Missouri is to get the rest of the things we left there. We’ll have all that stuff packed in the back of our car on the way home. Again, please pray for safety.
Thank-you for taking the time to see what our week will hold. Thank-you for your prayers on our behalf. Thank-you for your continuing comittment to see people in Cambodia reached with the gospel. God bless.
This mother’s day we’d just like to thank our mothers who spent so much time and effort raising us. We both are blessed to have excellent families and especially dedicated mothers who love us very much. Although we weren’t able to be with them we still thought about them often. -Ric and Sharon
Ric and Sharon Bruce 
This post is just to let you know that we are in the process of sorting out a major change in our ministry location. We will be posting more information here as it becomes available. We have been able to talk to some of you in person, and would be more than happy to give anyone a call that is interested in hearing more about these changes. This in no way affects our desire to head overseas next summer or our existing financial and prayer partnerships.
