Getting ready to leave

We are down to our last week here in the good old USA. It seems like we have been packing since we arrived in February. We have a few bags to finish up and then we’ll have to count up how much extra we will be charged for extra bags. It is hard to pack four years of supplies into the luggage that airlines allow these days.

We are very thankful that Tyndale is healthy and growing like a weed. He is already over 11 pounds. Areli and Galilee caught a bit of a flu bug this last week but seem to be getting over it fast. They love their little backpacks for our trip back to Asia. Missionary kids have to learn early how to pack and carry their own bags.

Areli and Galilee turned 4 on the 26th. We had a little birthday party for them and invited some of their cousins. They had a great time swimming, eating cake and ice cream, and opening presents. We treasure our time with family, trying to store up enough memories to last us for the next 4 years.

Please pray for us as we say our goodbyes this week. It doesn’t get any easier. In fact, it seems harder this time because now we know what it feels like to be gone for so long.

Our first flight leaves from San Antonio at 9am on Sunday August 3. From there we fly to Detroit and on to Tokyo. After Tokyo we stop in Singapore for half a day and will try to get some rest before flying on to our capital city. We arrive in the capital on August 5. Jennifer’s sister Julie and our friend Hannah will be leaving a day later than we do and arriving in the capital on August 6. We are planning on spending a few days there before flying to our island on August 8. Then on August 12 we take one more flight interior. That is where we finish our trip by boat. Hannah and Julie will be spending a month in with us.

DJ was able to test our new Satellite email system and everything is working well. We will now be able to send emails from the tribe once again.