Departure Day

It is crazy to think that this day has finally arrived! I have been collecting items for this trip for almost a year now (I got tuna fish packets for a steal this time last year!) and we have been packing for nearly a week off and on. My mom and sister surprised us and came up for the day on Sunday to help which was SO appreciated. We ended up a little heavier than we would have liked (we are taking three extra trunks- one with medical supplies and two with extra food, diapers, and toys), but we think these items will come in handy to us and others over the next few months. We have eleven trunks total today that we will be hauling to the airport along with four carry-on pieces. We are thankful to have both of our parents here to see us off and to help us get checked in at the airport. I am pretty sure I have never traveled with this much luggage before. :) Along with all our "stuff," we are also taking hearts and minds that are very excited and ready to see all that God is going to teach our family in the coming months. We hope to see how God is working throughout the world drawing people to Himself through Jesus, and how he chooses to use ordinary people like us to help show others how great His love is for them. We are also eager to grow closer to God through the hardships and challenges that await us. We know that we are guaranteed some trials and difficult days, but we also trust that God will be right there with us walking us through those moments as individuals and as a family. I hope you are excited to take this journey with us! We are praying that God will use our story to teach each of you something along the way as well. Next stop.... Niger, West Africa!