He's Baaaaack.....

I am back in town after a brief respite. Besides my parents and a few other relatives, our time was structured around visits with people who had crossed our path along our thirty years in Lutheran schools. In contrast to Mary and I who've moved around a bit, we enjoyed some time with Barb and Mark Korntheuer who have spent their entire careers at Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, Illinois. A few days later we lunched with John and Ramona Ragland. John is at former athletic director at Faith and is now the Interim Executive Director of Rockford Lutheran High School (I am a proud alum, class of '74). Ramona teaches at Concordia Lutheran School in Machesney Park, IL (my 1st Lutheran School). The Lutheran world is really connected! We also spent time with Larry and Rhoda Baldwin, now living in Iowa (a relatively dry part). I miss Larry's excellence in teaching and our common frustration with the game of golf. Larry is serving on the Board of Valley Lutheran High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Those Lutheran Schools in the Midwest reflect much earlier some of the challenges we may soon face. They are facing even worse economic conditions than we currently have in Las Vegas. It reminds me that the sacrifice parents make to provide Christian education for their students must be honored by those delivering that education. We will work to expand dollars available for financial aid and work with families facing short-term financial situations that make timely tuition payments difficult. We just ask that families stay in contact with us and let us know when a problems occurs, not when tuition is so far in arrears that a student's attendance is in doubt.

I am fearful that my vacation is so attached to my work, but our lives would be much poorer without these wonderful people from who I have learned much, laughed until it hurt and shared the joy of ministry.