I’m sorry we didn’t get a newsletter to you in March but, once you read this one, you will understand why as we have had lots happening on the Atkins front!  We have been doing lots of traveling visiting our colleagues in Central Europe as well as attending meetings in relation to our job.  It is often so encouraging to hear how our colleagues are building into the lives of those God has called them to reach for the gospel as well as seeking to encourage their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to extend His Kingdom where they live.

The IMB European Leadership Meeting that Trey attended in Prague went very well and he left very encouraged by both what he heard and who he is blessed to work with here in Europe!  Elise really enjoyed co-leading the Grip Birkman Team Build in Poland with our personnel there and found most of our colleagues very enthusiastic about the opportunity to discover more about their giftedness, personality, and how they best work within their teams.

After much prayer, discussion, email, and tryouts, Bret has chosen to transfer to East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) in Marshall, TX!  We are all very excited about this opportunity and thankful to God for His provision.  Trey, Elise, and Bret will be traveling in mid-May to Marshall for Bret to meet with his academic advisor and to get more acquainted with the campus and town.  We are thankful that Elise’s Dad and his wife, Barb, will help Bret move in around August 21st.  Oh!  And Bret was voted ‘best teammate’ by his team at SWOSU at the Awards Banquet this past week!

Our other big news is that we will be going to California on April 29th to celebrate not only Ryan’s graduation from California Baptist University on May 3rd, but also his marriage to Summer Beamon on May 17th!!  We are so grateful that Ryan has kept us posted on his plans throughout the whole process of his graduation, proposal to Summer, and his new job with the Teach Abroad Program. (TAP)  During one of our conversations, we mentioned how it’s difficult to adjust to married life, let alone adding a new culture and language to it!  Summer and Ryan talked about these adjustments, and chose to get married a few months earlier prior to them moving to Changchun, China at the end of August or first part of September!

Please pray for our family in the following ways:

  • Safety and no complications as we travel from Bratislava to Los Angeles on April 29th
  • A wonderful time meeting our soon to be daughter in love, Summer, and her family
  • Safety and wonderful memories made as we are with family in Newport Beach, Riverside, San Diego, Napa Valley and Austin, TX
  • Ryan and Summer as they prepare for married life and their new adventure to China
  • Wisdom for Bret with his summer plans and preparation to transfer to ETBU
  • Thanks so much! 

Love, Trey and Elise