“We need rain. We need rain!” I heard this refrain for weeks before I left Dallas. I would have preferred that the long awaited downpour had held off for just a few more hours, but by the time we crossed a few state lines, I had dried out. This is one of my last views of Dallas as I followed that bright yellow truck north to Columbus.

We drove out of Texas, up through Arkansas, across Tennessee, over Kentucky, and into Ohio. Just outside of Columbus we met my brother and sister-in-law and my youngest son for lunch before arriving at the seminary apartments in time for Blake and Deb to get to the airport for their return flight to Houston. The rest of us, and some gracious summer students I had never met before, spent two hours undoing the marvelous job the loaders had done the day before when they fit all my “stuff” into that truck! We were again amazed at the way they had used every available inch to
pack boxes and furniture into the truck. (Best Move, if you ever need help with moving!)

Now I have about finished the exhausting task of unpacking and settling into my too-small apartment. Today I was offered an “annex” in the form of a friend’s unused second bedroom, in which I can store some books and chairs that I didn’t want to take to the damp basement. This, of course, will free up space for that loom that will arrive in about two weeks…Priorities, you know?

I want to thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes as well as for the generous monetary gift that will be much appreciated when fall tuition comes due! It was a privilege to learn and to serve in your midst for the past year. Next week I must share the highlights of my internship year with my classmates. The hard part will be sticking to my allotted eight minute time slot!

Classes begin the 2nd of September, and I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I finish the final year of classes and maneuver the final hurdles of the ELCA’s Approval, Assignment, and First Call in the months ahead. I trust you will give the same love and support to Ladona as you gave to me, so that she, too, will have the opportunity to deepen her understanding of what it is that Christ is calling her to do.

Blessings to all of you

—Kathy Redpath
2184 East Main Street, Apt. 201
Columbus, Ohio 43209
567-224-8133