Sept. 06 06

I'm (Chad) almost finished with my 3rd week of this semester. It seems to be going pretty quickly and I am really enjoying my classes. Hebrew is the most challenging so far. It seems a little easier than Greek was but right now it is pretty tough; we have tons of things to memorize. Once I finish this semester I will be completely finished with the mandatory language classes and my Systematic Theology classes. Those are some pretty big hurdles to be over - I will be glad. It seems like I have so far to go until I finish the degree but when I look back at what I've done so far I realize that it's not really that far off.

Laura and Rachel started pre-school today. We are taking them to the church that our church is currently meeting in so they are very familiar with the surroundings and they both had a really good day today. Taking them to pre-school helps me to be able to work more hours and get more studying done. I was finding that really the only time that I can get concentrated studying/homework done was after the girls went to bed.

The Marriage & Family Enrichment class that Andrea and I are in has been great. We have to read a few books for that class and one of them is "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas I really like it - very challenging and helpful at the same time. I highly recommend it though I'm not completely finished with it yet (I'm on the 2nd to last chapter).

At our church up here (Crossing) we had our 3rd baptism service this past week. The way they do it is to have the person getting baptized write a testimony and then have someone else read it for them while they are waiting to be baptized. Andrea read one of testimonies this Sunday - she did really good. The people were then baptized in a horse trough (outside in the grass) - haha - very cold water too. After they were baptized everyone clapped and cheered and shouted - it was great!

Our church up here is going to be moving to a new location in a couple of weeks. We've already outgrown the fellowship hall of the Episcopal church we've been meeting in. We are moving to a high school gym so that should give us plenty of room for a while.

Thank you guys for "Keeping up with the Braggs" and especially thanks for supporting and praying for us!

We love and miss you,
The Bragg Family