Up, up, and away

When Musa was asked this morning if he was excited about going back, he said, "YES!  Goodbye, America!"  Which suprised me, as he spent some money yesterday buying an American flag.  He has had such a good time here, but he is ready to go home.

After commenting about how we haven't been on a plane in ages, Lauren said to Grandpa, "I'm so happy to be going on a plane, Grandpa, but I don't want to leave you."  So we are caught between being ready to head back, and being sad over all the continual goodbyes.

We head out tonight, and Dave just went and bought another suitcase (not a good sign :).  We have had a busy, fun couple of weeks with family--what a gift!

A HUGE thank-you to Paul for driving our van back to Montana.  How many people do you know who will drive from South Carolina to Montana just for "fun"?

Thank you, each one of you, for your encouragement and love.

Thank you, David Helsby, for 16 years (yesterday) of adventure!  I love you.

Pray that we will go out as salt and light back to Africa!

Family Ties

We have had some incredible times with friends in the last couple of weeks.  It has been so refreshing to catch up on old relationships and meet new ones, as well.  We are so thankful now to have some time with our families!  In the past couple weeks we have seen both of our grandmas (one is 88, one will be 90 soon!),  had a very sweet time with Dave's mom, his dad, and now we have a big reunion on my side with all the siblings and my folks.  Two of my siblings live in Taiwan with their families, so it is no small task getting everyone back here at the same time!  We will be here in South Carolina for another week and a half before we head back to Tanzania.  The cousins are having the grandest of times!

On the Road Again

Traveling through Chicago on this grey day has us remembering what a great five months we had and all the friends that we enjoyed.  We have had plenty of time to think about those nasty goodbyes since Monday, when we pulled out of Bozeman. 

The van looks like some kind of bomb went off.  Between passing around food, dolls, games, and schoolwork, it takes some serious re-organizing to make enough sense of it to fit everyone back in their seats. 

Dave said to me on Saturday, “Do you have some CD’s for the trip?”  Wouldn’t you think that would be kind of a no-brainer?  36 hours to New York with tic-tac-toe and the license plate game just doesn’t cut it. J  Thankfully, friends loaned us some books on tape, which are keeping us busy.  The kids really do like traveling, and it has been a good time to be together and learn some US geography as we drive through it.  Traveling has been lacking in African adventure--crazy tweaked buses driving right at us,  stray animals to dodge.  We're enjoying the lack of adventure. :)

Enjoying the time on the road, opportunity for regrouping, and well-synchronized potty stops. :)


This was written a couple of days ago, but I’m posting anyways!  Currently in NY, headed to VA tomorrow.

Last Minute To Do List

It's time today to take a little break in packing and seeing friends to celebrate Megan.  It's hard to believe she turns SIX today.  She could not be happier, even though she says six "doesn't feel really all that different from five."  As we looked through pictures of her life today, I was struck by how her life has been defined by Africa.  Here she is, shortly after we arrived in 2005.

Here she is today, her birthday banner crowded by packing crates. :) 

 

Birthdays are definitly priority as we prepare to leave, and they rank right up there with a last-minute rat funeral (not kidding, ask Ellie Moore someone about that).  Trying to get in ALL the final goodbyes!

Leaving--so soon?!

It is hard to believe that these five months have gone by so quickly.  We head out next Monday for the east coast and one more month of traveling and a family reunion.

 Dave returned Saturday night from the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit, an encouraging and challenging three days dedicated to many venues of orphan care.

It is with mixed feelings that we head away from Bozeman.  We keep thinking it is going to be easier to leave each time, and instead it feels like tearing apart more than ever.  I think we are feeling the weight of the preciousness of friendships that have lasted and even been strengthened during our first five years away.  I can't even describe the blessing it has been to be with our Bozeman family. 

Musa, too, leaves with mixed feelings.  He will be attending ECHO for a special training course, then another English course before he leaves with us on June 25th to head home.  I asked him the other day what he would miss, and he quickly said, "Worship, and the people in Bozeman."  He has enjoyed being here SO much, but he also says he is ready to go back. He has been so blessed by Jen and Charlie, who he stayed with, and all his Bible college professors and friends. 

We hope to see many of you to say good-bye.  Thank you for all your kindness and hospitality.  We go back encouraged, refreshed and (mostly!) ready.

April

I write this as the snow falls...hardly seems possible that it is almost MAY!  We forgot that Montana only has two seasons...winter, and July. :)  The kids had a barefoot race in the snow the other day.  I think they are getting desperate to get rid of their shoes.

Our time in Bozeman is winding down.  We have a little over three weeks left, and then we head to the east coast for a month before heading out.  How did the time go by this quickly?!

Musa finishes school and will be filling in the time with a couple projects in Bozeman, and then hopefully on to ECHO in Florida for a short time.  He has thoroughly enjoyed his time here, and Bible college, but I don't think he will be sad to get back to his friends, family, and "normal" food.

We continue to feel so blessed by connecting with friends.  It's common knowledge in the missionary community that you shouldn't count on the same friends every time, as people move on and make new friendships while you are gone.  Our friends, on the other hand, have been so gracious in including us back into their lives and making extra time for us on a regular basis.  THANK YOU.

God has generously given us this time to regroup, get a new perspective, and work on some of our own areas that need reshaping in order to be more faithful servants for Him.  We are praying that we will go back with new enthusiasm and patience for what is required of us!

More Travels

Very few people that I know are able to travel around as a family meeting amazing people. We are some of those privileged few! While traveling is sometimes tiring, we are so blessed to meet people from all across the spectrum, share with many different churches, and see the heart of the Body of Christ in many places. We feel like our family has the best of both worlds—being on the “front lines” of orphan care in Africa, and also being able to come back and see all that God is doing right here.

 

One of the highlights of our last trip was visiting our friends in Nebraska, Dean and Shanna. Having known eachother well for a long time, it was especially incredible to meet the newest members of their family—three children that have become a part of their family and whom they are hoping to adopt soon. God has definitely poured out His blessing on their faithful love and parenting of these three. Talk about orphan care up close and personal! We had a great time sharing at their church and their terrific congregation (and the potluck afterwards :)).

 

old friends having new fun together

 From Nebraska, we headed to South Dakota, stopping overnight at the Hofer’s house—longtime friends of Mavuno and parents of our great friend Ross. They spoiled us, and sent us on our way with lots of grandparent love and good SD cheese (there’s nothing like it!).

 We had one night in Sioux Falls, where we met with Christian Begeman, who made our Mavuno video. Christian’s office generously bought us pizza and showed us all around their commercial editing studio. That night we were able to share about Mavuno with a group of people from his church who are involved with orphan care. Like I said earlier, we have been amazed at who God has put in our path!

Christian at work

 Billings was our next stop, but we detoured to Mt. Rushmore. Dave and I had only been one other time, but I remembered it being worthwhile. I didn’t remember how incredible it actually is. I was so amazed, in fact, that the kids had to tell me to pipe down about it. :) The longer I’m away from America, the more patriotic I feel!

 Catching up with more friends in Billings for a day or so was so sweet—our little children now teenagers, and our fellowship just as rich as ever.

 Last stop, our friends the Brosts, who pray faithfully for us and also spoiled us all. Their goodies kept the girls busy for the rest of the two hours home.

 A good sign, especially at the end of 2200 miles!

What an honor to have these people in our lives!