Today is July 4! We thought we would be in the States enjoying this holiday with friends and family, however, we are here in Czech and hope to enjoy it here with family and friends.
Today is our last full day at home until we return on 27 September. We are mostly packed, but need to get all the things in the Rubbermaid containers that double as suitcases for our family. We are getting excited to see family, but I am feeling a mixture of sadness, nostalgia and just plain tiredness as well as excitement!
There are many changes in our circle of friends this year with 5 close friends/families moving on to other places in the world. This effects our life here greatly. Nathanael is experiencing his first real loss as our neighbors are moving on. This Hungarian/British couple and their boys have become like a second home to Nate. He climbs through the fence (we opened it so they could use our trampoline and we can use their pool) and visits them. During the school year he watched the clock and knew what time the boys would be home from school so he could invite them to play with him or he could invite himself to their house! Additionally, we watched the others' children when parents had to pop out to the store or out for coffee or whatever.
We went to their house, like proper guests, using the front door instead of climbing through the fence, and spent three lovely hours with them at their goodbye party. For Nathanael especially, however for all of us really, this was a lovely time and so important.
We say so many goodbyes and hello's in this international life and it can really get tiring and wearing. Would you pray for us as we are experiencing much of this right now?
On the UP side...I get to hug my AMY in two days!!!!!! She hasn't been gone from here long, but I still look forward to seeing her. I also get to see my Mom and Don, which I haven't done for almost two years!!!! Then, from there, there are MANY special people to see and spend time with. Pray that we would present at each meeting and with each person.
We all fly to London tomorrow night where we will stay at a hotel overnight. The next morning, Matt and Hannah will fly from Heathrow to Minneapolis where they will be picked up by dear friends who will keep them until they attend a re-entry gathering. From there they will catch a bus to Chicago and a train to Indiana. Tom will be flying to Ohio from Florida and picking up a van we can use while in the US then he will drive to IN and pick up M and H and drive down to Florida again. WHEW! Pray for all the pieces of THAT!
Tom, Rachel, Nate and myself fly out of Gatwick straight to Florida where we will be greeted by my parents and Amy.
Please pray:
1) that we would pack all that is necessary and nothing more for this trip.
2) that we would be protected in all our travels.
3) that we would continue to spend time in prayer and Bible reading to keep centered and focused.
4) for good "goodbye's" and "hello's"
5) that we would return fully supported at the end of September.
6) that we would share clearly what God has done and continues to do here in the Czech Republic
and Europe among the Roma.
