Dear Friends, We’ve just returned to Ohio after a 12 day trip. Along the way, we stopped to visit some of the Karen being resettled in Rochester, NY and then spent the weekend to worship with the Karen and English speaking congregations at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Utica, NY. From there, it was on to Washington, D.C. to attend the annual General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Biennial gathering of the American Baptist Churches. At the General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) we were officially appointed as CBF Field Personnel. After being in the works for a couple years, it was gratifying to have the process complete. Making the moment particularly special was that our son, Sean, was able to introduce us, representing our home church. Throughout the course of the General Assembly, we were able to meet many new people and make new contacts. We look forward to becoming more familiar with CBF people and churches in the days ahead and hope we can encourage CBF congregations already connected with new Karen and Chin communities and help make new connections as well. Friday, June 29th was significant in that the CBF and American Baptists had a joint gathering for the evening program. It was an impressive sight to see the huge assembly hall of the convention center so full of people. It was a memorable night for us personally too, as we, as well as Steve and Nancy James, were jointly appointed as CBF/ABC missionaries. To be recognized at such a gathering is special enough, but making it extra special is that 25 years ago, we and Steve and Nancy James were commissioned together at Green Lake at the start of our mission careers. Now, we are both jointly commissioned together and we are working with the people that Steve and Nancy grew up with as MK’s in Burma. Seeing the wandering paths our lives take, I sometimes say that God does not like straight lines. But, it does seem that God likes circles and keeps bringing us back to people and places we have been to or with before. Another circle was highlighted at the ABC Biennial. As the centenary of the formation of the ABC was celebrated, we were excited to see the connection with Burma emphasized. Chin, Karen and combined Burmese choirs were featured in several programs, particularly at the Sunday morning service. For the Karen choir, people had come from Utica, Buffalo and St. Paul as well as from the DC area. It was the great grandparents of these singing in Washington that first heard and accepted the Gospel as presented by Adoniram Judson and other early Baptist missionaries. Here in the US, it was excitement generated by the early mission efforts in Burma that caused independent Baptist Churches to start working together, first to form mission societies, then the denomination. Now, various ethnic groups from Burma, driven out by their own government are being resettled throughout the US. So those singing were not visiting, but are in the country permanently, returning to the place where their Christian heritage began just in time for our 100th year celebration. The historical link with Burma was also featured at the “Feasting Fast” of International ministries. Chin from the DC area and Karen mostly from Utica sang and Pastor Saw Ler Htoo from Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, DC spoke. Another high point of the meetings was the chance to call together those pastors and church leaders involved with Karen and Chin in their churches. We hope to have more gatherings like this in the future, but this first meeting gives us a start. We will only be at home a few days, then on July 9th we’ll fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Since we’ll be in the US for the next several years we need to settle some affairs in Thailand. We’ll also visit at least a couple of the refugee camps while we’re there. Praise God, it looks like the Thai government will give us permission to visit the Tham Hin camp at least for a day. It is sometimes difficult to get permission to go there. We would appreciate your prayers as we go to Thailand and particularly for our time in the camps. We anticipate being asked by those in the camps about what resettling in the US is like. With the help of Steve Clark and Annette Ellard from Louisville, KY we have recorded some interviews on video with Karen that recently came here to the US. We thought the Karen will give a better picture of what resettlement is like than we can. Whether to stay in the camp and hope for a change in Thailand or Burma, or come to the US or another country is a difficult choice for the refugees to make. It was great to see so many of you in Washington. But for everyone, we appreciate your prayers and support. Yours in Christ, Duane & Marcia Binkley