Heading to the States ... bittersweet for sure

We leave for the States tomorrow and begin our journey with the drive to Joburg in the morning to catch our flight tomorrow night.  I must say we are TIRED here...  we spent all day yesterday and today in our year end staff meetings and now we have suitcases 90% packed, pizza in the kitchen, Brit at youth, Luke on the couch relaxing after a fun day at Jr. Youth and Mark is outside on the front porch sharing the Gospel and answering questions with a man named Ellais that walks around this neighbor hood with a lawn mower looking for work.

I just wanted to share a few things with you before we head out ...

We were so blessed on Wednesday night when we went to Johann and Ria’s house for our small group.  When we got there we noticed that they had organized snacks and EVERYONE that is a part of our group was able to make it.  They spent time praying for our family and for our trip to the States.  They also took time and read scripture for us.  Then we ended the night with great food and fellowship.  We have been blessed over the past two and a half years by the friendships and relationships that the Lord has given us.  Here are the scriptures that they shared with us …

Philippians 4: 6-7

         Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.    And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:1-6

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

1 Peter 1: 13-25

         Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.  For,

“All flesh is like grass,

And all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

And the flower falls off,

               But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word which was preached to you.

3 John 2

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

2 John 3

Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

1 Corinthians 15:58

         Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Philippians 3: 12- 14

          Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Exodus 33 -34 (Johann asked us to read this on the plane)

We leave for America tomorrow.  It is hard to believe that we have been here serving the Lord with Samaria Mission for 2 ½ years.  Our time here has flown by for us.  We can say that this has become our home and we are settled here.  We praise the Lord for all that He has done in our lives since we have been here serving in Africa.  

We are excited and feel that this is the time the Lord has for us to visit the States.  The purpose our visit is to visit friends and family but also to share all the Lord is doing in and through Samaria Mission as well as raise awareness and support for our family and the various ministries within the mission. 

Even though we are excited to get on the plane (and catch up on sleep – I hope) and see family and friends we are really going to miss being here in Africa.  I was sitting outside the other morning enjoying time with the Lord and I was thinking about our trip and time away …

These are things we are looking forward to …

Seeing family and friends

Spending time with our church family, PaulAnn Baptist Church in San Angelo, Texas

Eating Mexican food (Franco’s)

Sharing about all the Lord is doing in the mission with others (we have around 15 opportunities so far)

Things we are going to miss in South Africa …

Our friends and church family here

the mission – being gone for four months there are meetings, discussions, leadership trainings, and the golf day fundraiser etc. that we will miss

braai’s (bbq’s) & Pap

the scenery in Africa (animals, birds, flowers, mountains, sunrises, sunsets and I could go on and on…)

Jankie and Meriam (they have helped us around the house for the last 2 years – they are so special to us and the good-bye was hard as we will miss them and they said they will miss us)

The list for both America and South Africa could go on for a while but the point is that we love America and are looking forward to our visit AND we love South Africa and Mozambique and we are so blessed to be called to serve the Lord here.  We want to thank EVERYONE for your faithful and continuous  prayers, encouragement and support for our family as we continue to serve here in South Africa and Mozambique.  We are really looking forward to seeing all the Lord is going to do in our lives and in and through the mission. 

We will keep everyone updated on our visit to the States, our down time as well as the opportunities that we have to share about the work we are involved in with the mission.