The final details

We're working out the final details today for many things.  The bags are getting packed, we're changing the addresses on the final bills and accounts, we're chatting with friends and family one last time from Colorado.  Tomorrow we have a commissioning service at the church here in Paonia, followed by a brunch in our honor.  We are looking forward to connecting with supporters one last time, being encouraged and sent on our way.

Monday afternoon we'll drive to Denver (about five hours away) and spend the night so that we can take our time getting to the airport on Tuesday morning.  We fly non-stop to New York in the middle of the day, and will spend until Thursday afternoon at Africa Inland Mission's headquarters in Pearl River, NY.    From there, we fly to Kenya via London, and will get there just in time for a good nights rest Friday night.

It's hard to feel like there's time to write any deep thoughts, much less think them right now.  It's surreal to be going, when we've "been going" for almost two years now.  We are grateful from many perspectives that we've had so much time in preparation: physically, spiritually, emotionally and relationally.

We've gotten everything packed into thirteen 50-pound bags.  Yep, that's a lot of stuff.  Or a little depending upon how you look at it.  You can get quite a few "things" in Kenya, but it's still very different and limited, so hopefully we have a good balance of what we will need and what will be helpful to have to make our new house feel like home.  We are allotted twelve at no cost, and we were hoping to not have more than that, but decided the stress of getting the last bits distributed among the already packed bags and carry-ons was not less than the cost of one extra bag!  Right now, it really feels priceless!  The challenge now is making sure that the kids have something to wear the next few days... Jim too!  The kids played in the sprinkler this morning in t-shirts and underwear!  We are quite a sight around here.

The kids are doing well.  Pray for our travels with them.  They are excellent travelers, but we will all be tired and an extra measure of grace would go a long way.  Pray for our last goodbyes with Jim's family, and pray for safety and health over the next week.  We appreciate your support - through interest, prayer, and finances.  We know this is a big step we are taking.  And we are so grateful to have many people behind us in love.  And most of all, Jesus.