Winding down

With only 3 1/2 weeks left in the States, we are starting to wind down.  I use that term very loosely.  We are going to be traveling up until the last week before we leave, giving us one week to pack and prepare to return to our home in Tanzania.  

         This summer has had many memorable experiences.  Now, we begin to prepare mentally, and logistically for the return to Africa. 

At Lincoln's Memorial, Washington, DC

In front of the Ark Encounter, near Cincinnati, OH 

The Things We Leave Behind

It seems like every trip we make, I leave something behind.

       -a Kindle
       -a jacket
       -a necklace
       -a sock
       -underwear
     
The more trips we make, it seems like I leave more things behind!  No matter how carefully I check the room, house, or hotel before we leave, it seems like I am always leaving something behind.

             This can also be taken symbolically.
 A little bit of me is left behind at each place we visit.  With every church, family member and friend, I feel like a part of my heart is left behind with them as we visit them and then move on.

                We are so blessed to have so many people who love us, and it is hard to not be able to see them very often.   Everywhere we visit, I wish we had more time to stay and visit.  It never feels like enough time.   I wish we had weeks to spend with everyone, but we are lucky to have one day sometimes.

      If we haven't been able to see you, or if our time with you seemed too brief, we feel you!!  Just wish we had more time.

                 We head back to Tanzania in 6 weeks and most of that time is pretty heavily scheduled with trips (Nebraska; southern Indiana; Cincinnati; St. Louis; Anna, IL; McLeansboro, IL; Jackson, TN; Fairfield, IL; Crown Point, IN; and Dyer, IN).  

We are already on the "wrap-up" mode of this home assignment, and getting geared up to our return to Tanzania!  Blessings!

On the Road Again

This summer is one long road trip for us!  In the month of July alone, we will be driving 3,377 miles (for a total of 54 hours of drive time).  With this much traveling, I'm glad that we are on summer break from school!  It is a big blessing to be able to see churches, friends and family that we don't often get to see.

              Even though we aren't doing "school", the kids have been learning alot.  We visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and learned a lot about Lincoln and the Civil war.  We visited the St. Louis Botanical Gardens and learned about different species of flower and plants.  We visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and learned about fish and oceans.  We have gone to see the Dunes in Indiana.  The kids have worked in the garden, fished, read a lot and swam.  Heather is at horse camp this week.

 Sometimes I joke with the kids and say, "Uh-oh! You're learning something and it's not even a school day!!"  Katrina rolls her eyes and says, "Mooooom!  You don't just learn in school."   :-)

Summer begins

School's out for the summer!

                   
                                   We have officially finished our homeschool year.

For Katrina, she has finished homeschooling, and is preparing to go to boarding school in Kenya at the end of August.

         But, for now, we are enjoying summer.  We are doing a LOT of traveling this summer, visiting many churches, as well as family and friends.  This month alone we will be in four states, visiting four supporting churches, doing one VBS and presenting to a potential supporting church.
                         
             Let summer begin!

       

Katrina prepares for boarding school

 
         Katrina is preparing to go to boarding school, for 9th grade.

  Her school is in Kenya.  We live and work in Tanzania.  She will be 366 miles away from us, and at least 7 hours away, if we fly or a two day drive (stopping over in Arusha).

                        She is thrilled!

No, really.

                 Mostly, because she has very little social interaction in Tanga, the town we live in.  The only other family with kids is moving to another city. (What high school girl would want that?) 

                             Of course, there is also academic reasons.  The main reason we want to send her, is so that she will graduate with an American accredited high school diploma.  She will be able to go to any college she wants to.

     She will be able to be in choir or band, soccer or girls' volleyball.  She will have roommates, and study hall, and lunch in the cafeteria and dorm devotions each night.

Katrina's sheets, blankets, towels, and all of her clothes will have to be labeled with her name.

             She will have dorm parents that will make sure she is studying during study time, and not staying up past lights out.  

Bill went to this same boarding school, Rift Valley Academy, from 7th-12th grade.  We are happy that Bill's classmate, Kristy Faber, will be Katrina's 9th grade English teacher.

          Of course, as with everything else in our lives, we are doing this on FAITH!  We don't yet have the support raised to pay for her tuition, room and board.  

                                         So, if you feel led to give towards Katrina's school fees, please let us know.

Thanks and God bless.

Home Assignment Starts: March-April in photos

Riding the bus on March 1, on our way out of Tanzania

March 4, walking across the Tanzania/Kenyan border during our bus ride to Nairobi, Kenya

March 14th, Arrive in the US after a week-long conference in Kenya.  Cold enough to bundle up.  Thank you Valley of Bacca for the van!  We're going to put a lot of miles on it!

We got to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens with my dad and brother.

Jonathan's 7th birthday, March 24th

Catching up with friends Jody Shaffer, Angela Schultz and their kids

Easter 2016

Leah's brother, Ben and parents- Chris and Norb Fischer (our forwarding agent)

Bill with his mom, Carolyn

Homeschool continues on the road, while we are visiting churches in Iowa "library school"

Katrina's 14th birthday in Indiana

Katrina's 14th birthday in Missouri

Hanging with second cousins, Star and Aiyanna

What we leave behind when we leave Africa

The lion we saw about 500 ft from us at Mkumi Game Park.

"What do you miss when we leave Africa?"

           -Everything.  Friends. Food. Everything. The lifestyle. (Katrina)

           -Nothing. Actually, the ice cream. (Jonathan)

           -I guess the thing I'll miss the most is the trees, the wilderness. Even in the city, there are trees everywhere. And, the culture.  People walking everywhere. (Heather)

            -The consistency of temperature, people who greet you and will talk to you (Bill)

For me, I will miss the people, the fresh tropical fruits, the consistent 12 hour day and nights (we are near the equator), the consistent weather year round, living near a beach, and the relaxed lifestyle here.           

          There are also things that I miss about America while we are gone.

"What do you miss about America the most (besides family)?"

            -McDonalds (Jonathan)

            -Convenience. You can go anywhere and buy anything. (Heather)

            -Food. (Katrina)

            -The food. (Bill)

My answer, after family, is food.  Convenience is also a big one.  24 hour stores, multiple brands of basically anything, so many choices, mail delivery on your doorstep!

    Truly, we are never "home" in this world.  This world is not our home.  Our home is in heaven, and I can't wait until we get there! 

Only 23 days until we say good bye to this continent for a few months!