Katie –
- You were the first one Tyler called friend
- You taught Ethan to Read and Tyler to cover his cough
- You helped us make progress in language and ministry
- We spent hours talking together about your future
- We fought off hopeful suitors and set an incredibly high bride price
- You gave Joel and I a night away
- You bravely ate whatever was served to you and never complained
- You made our host family cry when you left
- You became a part of our family and we love you!
As you return home this is my Challenge to you –
- Stand under a hot shower as long as you want
- Turn on the faucet and drink the water
- Fall asleep without mosquitoes buzzing in your ears
- Sleep in without the call to prayer to wake you up
- Sing worship songs in English as loudly as you can
- Listen to what is going on around you and enjoy understanding what is said
- Walk down the street without being noticed or watched
- Open the refrigerator without checking to make sure the electricy is on
- Eat without worries of getting sick
- Kill bugs with pride knowing you won’t see one again for awhile
- Eat all the food you have missed these past months (not all at the same time)
- Wash your feet and enjoy how clean they stay
Enjoy the familiarity of life and the comforts that come with home BUT never forget what you saw, tasted, smelled and heard here. Most importantly never forget what God taught you during your time here with us, because I know He taught you a lot.
What a wonderful blessing you have been to each other! God is so good!
What a wonderful tribute of appreciation for a beautiful young lady inside and out. I’m sure you will be missed.
We had several girls that God sent to our family to meet our very specific needs in a season. Isn’t God so good to send someone to be a friend and teach your children to read? Isn’t God so good to give Katie the chance to live in your family and experience life & missions & parenting in your embrace? I know the grief of saying goodbye is part of missions – but this one hurts a little more than others – saying goodbye to people who’ve joined & impacted our families.
So thankful God has blessed you with katie.
I still remember you talking to Katie when she was home from college one Christmas, about the possibility of her joining you guys in Senegal. And now she is finished with that adventure. It was so cool to see how God orchestrated all the details to make it happen. Thank you, Andi and Joel, for pouring into Katie while she poured herself into whatever was put before her. I’m forever grateful for this life-changing experience she has had, and look forward to seeing what God has for her future… after spending some time at home in Portland of course! 🙂
What an amazing girl!
You were mutually blessed!
What a wonderful gift Andi. I really liked the “challenges” 🙂
Thanks for giving us a picture of your life with Katie. Looking forward to hearing about it in person. Praying for you guys as you transition into life without Katie.