So Much To Catch Up On!

It has been a couple of weeks since I've posted and I apologize for my tardiness.  Much has been going on and we are excited to share all the things God has been doing in the last couple of weeks!

1.  Our Support!

When it comes to support, we actually have three categories:  our monthly requirements for living overseas, our Outfit and Passage to get there, which includes flights, visas and immunizations, and our Outfit and Passage to get home.  Two out of the three are pretty much complete.  People have responded in big-time generosity and we have been overwhelmed!  Mountain moved.

We have 99% of our monthly support and 100% of our Outfit and Passage to get over there.  We just need to raise a little more to get home -- but we have 2 years to do that.  Miracles!

2.  Our Flights!

Because we have raised our support, we have also booked flights!  This seems like such a huge step in the process.  We are actually doing this!!  We leave on August 15th from Toronto, fly to Brussels, and then fly from Brussels to Lome. AND we got a good deal on tickets. 

3. Our Home!

This is the last big mountain that we are praying to be moved.  We have to rent out home. To be honest, this seems like a dark, looming road block to me.  Over the past couple of weeks, we have kicked it into high gear, trying to get our home ready for renters and for showing it to renters.  We had people here on Saturday to look at out place and they seem interested.  We're praying that God gives us wisdom and provides the right people. Because you have been so patient in waiting for me to post, I'll show you some before and after pics.

Dining Room "Before" -- not sure if you can see the white carpet, but it was there.  Actually, it was white with brownish patches depending on the various things that have been spilled on it.  Green walls, lots of moldings, popcorn ceiling and french doors (which you can't see because that's where I took the picture from):

Dining Room "After" -- wood floors, wood ceiling, plain"boring ol' cream" walls and the wall opened up between the dining room and the living room.  Plus, a bonus because my kids are eating their breakfast (this morning as I type) at the table.  

We also put the same flooring in the living room and the same paint colour -- here's a quick peak.  (We have no furniture for this room so it's not very exciting!)

 

We also (I say "we" like I did this...HA!) built a new deck with lots of help from family.  Here's a couple of pics:

The kids have been helping...sometimes actually helping and sometimes staying out of the way.
When they are staying out of the way, here's what they've been up to:

 

Kylie

 Jack

Ethan

 Nolan

Teddy

And finally, we did this:

Teddy is three!  So hard to believe!

Please keep praying for us and with us.  We really need it.  The weeks are flying by and before we know it, we'll be on a plane to Africa.  It's really happening...

NEEDLES are AWFUL!

We've been in the process of getting all our shots for Africa.  Africa really gets under your skin.  

We've had 2 out of 3 shots for Hep A/B.  We've had a yellow fever shot.  Now we need Meningitis and perhaps Typhoid.   Doesn't that sound like a good time?

Here's Nolan getting his shot.  

Yes, we are getting our shots outside on someone's back porch.  Turns out my lovely neighbour across the road is an ER nurse and she did the shots for free, rather than charging us $50 per person like my doc would have.  Thank you, sweet neighbour lady!

The needles are not fun.  Poor Jack just about loses his mind when he knows it's time to get one.  We had to go to the travel clinic this past week to get our yellow fever shot and it took a nurse and me to hold Jack while another nurse poked him in the arm.  He HATES it.  So do I, but I don't kick the nurse when she comes near me!  Poor Jack-o.

Here's Teddy...post-needle:

"Ouch.  That hurts, Momma!"

It's not only the actual needle that hurts, it's the cost. Immunizations are not cheap!

Turns out the region of Africa we're headed to is the "Meningitis Belt of the World."  Woo hoo! (they probably shouldn't use that on their tourism literature)

So, three shots down, two (or three) more to go. 

In other news, we're at a big milestone for support.  Are you ready for it??

 

That's right! 

We are at 98% of our monthly support!!!

Amazing.  Miracles happen, my friends!

Drum roll, please.....

84%

Hello, Mr. Snake....

Here's what he looked like before:

Here's what he looks like now:

 Hello Rainbow Snake.  We're almost there!! 

In other news, we have just posted our house to be rented, so please pray that the right people come along at the right time.  Our goal for departure is now August 17th, so we have a lot to do in 14 weeks!