An update in pictures...60 days left in America!

First of all, please acknowledge the restraint that it took for me to only end that title in one exclamation point. Thank you. I am often called out for too many exclamations and smiley faces. :-p

Today is April 1st. We get on a plane at 1pm on May 30th and fly from O'Hare Airport to Newark to Brussels to Entebbe. Just 60 days until this chapter of our family's life begins to be written by the author and perfecter of all things.

We are all excited. We are fairly certain that we have all of the paperwork and preparations done that we possibly can. This week we will be making a decision on the renters of our house. (We have one offer and one more showing this Thursday.)

This picture will mean little to anyone except our dear, sweet neighbors who know how full our garage is typically, but while others were basking in the sun on their spring break, he was in the freezing cold garage purging and cleaning. Between storage for the homeless ministry and 6 kids' worth of toys and bikes and junk, this garage and the loft above it was packed. It is fun just to look at it now. Beautiful!

However, we do not feel that same sense of joy when we walk into our basement. As we have cleaned out the bedrooms and every other nook and cranny of the house, we have ended up with PILES of things for a garage sale that will take place as soon as the weather gets nice enough. (p.s. If you have any items that you would like to donate to our sale, we would be happy to take them.) Our garage has plenty of space now. ;-)

Also during spring break, our family was invited to visit with a wonderful group of women who make up Fibers of Love. They meet every Tuesday to sew dresses to be donated. Often the boxes of dresses that they make get sent to the Dominican Republic or Haiti on mission trips, but this time, they offered to sew dresses and shorts with our kids, for our kids to take with us to wear. 

They let the kids pick out fabric, help them sew and just poured so much love into these dresses and shorts. I was envisioning 1 or 2 dresses a piece, but when I went to pick up the box yesterday, there are at least 5 or 6 for each child and even some for me. Amazing, amazing provision. 

How much we have to pack up our house will depend on who the renters end up being. We offered to leave the house furnished if  needed. I am also waiting for winter to end so that I can pack away all of the cold weather gear and then only get out what we will need for summer. The boxes are ready and waiting. 

Likewise, our packing has begun, but is slow-going. Every day we find out a little more about what we will need to bring and how much of it to bring. We are allowed to bring 2 containers each weighing under 50 lbs...that is 16 suitcases or tubs. Can you even imagine what we will look like as we enter the airport?!?! I will be sure to send pictures of that!

Several of our tubs are designated for items that we will be taking for the people we will be serving through Healing Faith. Right now, God has led them to develop and grow their Malaria education, treatment and prevention program, but as support and God allow, there is a great need for a maternal care ministry to grow as well. 

Meet Sumia and her brand new baby girl! That bag is the "Momma Kit". 

Many of you have been working over the past few weeks to create "Baby Kits" for us to deliver to new mothers in Uganda. Healing Faith currently provides pregnant women with a "Momma Kit" and you wouldn't even believe that all that these women need in order to give birth to their babies, often unassisted in their dirt-floor homes fits in a ziploc bag! Our Baby Kits will then provide a warm outfit, hat and swaddling blanket for them once the baby is born. Although it is hot in Uganda, I am told that the Mommas still like to bundle the babies up like it's a cool, fall day.

One picture that I do not have, but that I pray will never fade in my memory, is of our Great Banquet Community. The love that they demonstrated on Sunday evening as they prayed for us, anointed us and commissioned us for this journey was awesome. Pastor Lori was recalling the story of Jesus walking on water and she asked our kids about Peter, who was walking on the water as well, until he took his eyes off of Jesus. She had the entire community gathered there stand and raise their arms while holding hands to represent the waves that led to fear and that caused Peter to begin sinking. She reminded us in those moments of fear and doubt, to remember all of the  people praying for us and to keep our eyes firmly on Jesus. And as that room full of people lowered their arms, as I looked at each of them, I no longer saw individual faces, but I was looking at Jesus in the flesh, and I was humbled. The love of this community is truly agape. In all that they say and do and in all that they are. 

God is pouring out His blessing on every step on this journey, and I am simply in awe.