5 Weeks & Counting

Some of you might be wondering what it's like in the final weeks of  home assignment as a missionary family prepares to head back to their field. Well, I would like to give you a peek into what is going on in our house.
   One of the first things we did was make sure we bought enough of our favorite luggage - the $17 black trunks from Walmart. The day Eli brought 8 home, the boys had fun playing in them (as shown above.)

Another major thing on my To-Do List was to order the next 3 year's worth of homeschool books for my boys. We use Sonlight and they did an amazing job assembling the curriculum and shipping it to me in less than a week!

Speaking of To-Do List, Eli had this brilliant idea to hang this white board/pin board on our kitchen wall. We each have our own lists of jobs we need to do but we also have shopping lists and our SIM Departure List hanging there as well. This keeps us organized and getting tasks done. However, I've noticed that just as I cross things off, I think of new things to add!

This is our 2-page Departure list that we need to check off with our mission before heading back.

We've also been checking our immunization cards to see what shots we need for another 3 years in South Sudan.

These pictures portray a very neat and organized process but there are definitely other sides to this "coin". For example, yesterday we had the first couple come to see our house (since we need to find renters for the next 3 years) and I had just come home and changed into my hot pink sweats and had tried to build a fire and failed so our living room was full of smoke as I gave them a tour! Yep, that was a little awkard!

We're also wanting to have special times to say goodbye so we have been inviting several families for dinner a week which means a messy kitchen, multiple trips to the grocery store and piles of dishes.

There are also questions that come out of nowhere from our kids. Today in the car Joshua asked me what we will do if we hear gunfire in Melut. I was ashamed that I couldn't think of a good answer but instead fumbled around muttering something like, "yes, there might be gunfire but it will be ok."

The Nile River - our home - in South Sudan

I will also admit that though my husband and I both cried for joy when our tickets to head back to South Sudan were confirmed, we are dealing with a myriad of other emotions during these final weeks in the States. Pressures to finish well, pour into our friendships here, pack everything into our 10 bags, worries about the lack of stability in our area in South Sudan and many prayers, begging God to bring peace to South Sudan.

So how do we stay focused? I stare at these faces. These precious, beautiful friends that we love so much. And I think of the verse: " Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
                                                                                                                         - Phil.3:13-14