From Here to There: Our Timeline

Welcome to the fourth installment of the week!  One of the most-asked questions we hear when people find out we're going to Kenya is, "When are you leaving?"  Until just recently, we've only been able to give a rough estimate.  Just last week, we finally heard some dates set in stone... soft stone... maybe soapstone...  or better yet, molten lava.  Anyway, here is a brief outline of where we are now and when the next steps will be completed.  Currently, I'm (Jim) still teaching at Woodland Park High School in Woodland Park, CO.  Heather's helping out with the MOPS ministry at Woodland Park Community Church and taking care of our awesome kids.  We'll both continue to do so until the end of the school year on May 28th.  The end of May also marks the time at which we must have 100% of our outgoing expenses and pledged monthly support raised.

At that point, we'll begin packing up the house.  We will travel to Pearl River, NY where the US headquarters of Africa Inland Mission is located for a couple of days of training and debriefing from July 20-22, 2010.  After that, we fly to Nairobi, Kenya for Africa Based Orientation in nearby Machakos.  We'll spend some time from July 27th to August 17th learning how to survive in a new culture (basic language, bartering, working together, etc...)  After that we'll head to Kijabe and Rift Valley Academy with a little over a week to prepare for the start of the school year (which we're guessing will probably be August 27th.)  Please pray for us as the end of May approaches.  In addition to being the busiest time of the school year for our family, we'll also be facing deadlines for the completion of our support, Bible classes...  I don't want to think about any more of that - just pray!