WE HAVE ARRIVED IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA!!

We are here.  All went well.  We are supposed to be here for about a week then head up to Mongu.  We are great!  Thanks so much for your prayers.  More later!

EXHAUSTED!

We are in London on Wednesday, June 24.  It's about 4:30pm - London time (11:30am Eastern time).  We will board the plane at about 6pm - London time.  The flight from Chicago was not good but not exactly horrible, either.  I think that the girls actually slept the most but didn't go to sleep until almost midnight, slept fitfully then had to wake up around 5am.  Levi slept VERY fitfully and had problems all night long.  He was sitting by me so therefore, I slept almost none.  For anybody who knows me well, knows that is very unusual.  

The kids are sitting here eating goldfish and cheezit crackers - playing the DS and Leapster.  All is well right now.  We are just soooo tired.  Please pray that we might all get some good and restful sleep on this next leg of the journey.  It will all begin again at 7:05pm - London time, 1:05pm Central time.  We arrive at 6:40am Lusaka time tomorrow, June 24 which would be about 11:40pm Central time.  Have I confused you on the times yet?  If not, I'm confused!   

Counting on your prayers.  Thank you so very much!

Pictures from Chicago O'Hare Airport

Levi was fascinated with the plane.  

This isn't our plane - we still have 1.5 hours until we get on it.

Going through our first set of security checks.  We lost our toothpaste and shaving cream!  

We forgot about taking out all liquids from the carry ons.....

Here at Chicago O'Hare

Here we sit at Chicago O'Hare Airport.  We are in the International Terminal 5.  We still have 4 hours until we board and we are contemplating going back to the Domestic Terminals because there is nothing here to do or see.  At least we can go back, get a Starbucks and watch the kids play on a playground that is supposed to be around there somewhere...  But if we do that then the FSA guy is probably going to take my Pantene conditioner.  I bought a big one specifically to take with me to Zambia and ration out little by little but I forgot and put it in my carry on.  Is it worth it?  I'll let you know....

Leaving on a jet plane...(tomorrow!)

Tomorrow we will pack up the cars at 10am. Yes, I did say cars - plural. We will have 10 pieces of checked luggage, 3 backpacks, 4 carry ons, 1 carseat, 3 kids, 4 adults and probably a few other things thrown in there. We will head out toward Louisville, KY so that we can catch our flight to Chicago, O'Hare. After a 5 hour layover, we'll take the 10:05pm flight to London which is supposed to be about 8 hours. Then we'll have a 7 hour layover in London and get on another plane bound for Lusaka, Zambia. I think that flight is 10 hours.

Then we will arrive at about midnight (your time) Wednesday, June 24th which will actually be Thursday, June 25th - 7am Zambia time (our time).

Please pray:

~for our family that we leave behind;

~for joy as we travel;

~for peace and patience as we manage flight travel with 3 tired kids. I probably should include myself in with the tired kids :-) ;

~that the layovers will pass quickly and enjoyably;

~for anything else you can think of!!

Please keep in contact with us. We count on your prayers and your support!

On the Road Again...

We are being commissioned by the IMB at 2pm today then we'll head out for Ky at about 4:30pm. We'll finally get there tomorrow. Thanks for all your notes of encouragement and your prayers.

The Countdown...

1.5 days until ILC is over...

8 days until we leave for Zambia...

10 days until we arrive in Lusaka!!!

Please pray!

Lottie Moon Results for 2008

Lottie Moon offering falls short of goal, totals $141 million for 2008
By Shawn Hendricks

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Despite financial hardships caused by the economic downturn, Southern Baptists gave $141 million to support the work of missionaries through the 2008 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. But the total, which fell nearly $30 million short of the $170 million goal, is not enough to fund many of those who are ready to go.

The final offering results follow a May 19-20 IMB trustee meeting in Denver, where trustees approved the suspension of new appointments to the International Service Corps and Masters programs. They also approved reducing the number of new appointments to the career, apprentice, associate and journeyman programs.

New appointments will continue on a more selective basis, involving the most strategic assignments.

“We will not be able to replace short-term personnel completing their assignments and will have to restrict the number of new personnel that can be appointed,” he added.
Just a year ago, the IMB celebrated the offering hitting a historic mark. Cumulative gifts to the offering, which was initiated by the Woman’s Missionary Union in 1888, topped $3 billion.
"We are grateful for the sacrificial giving of Southern Baptists to missions,” said Wanda Lee, executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union.
“This year's giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering may be more sacrificial for some than ever before considering the level of unemployment and loss of income experienced by many in our churches. And yet, Christ's command to go into all the world compels us to give in support of our missionaries during these challenging times.
“I believe if we keep our hearts focused on the mandate of the Great Commission, God will be faithful in providing the people and financial resources needed to reach a world desperately in need of the hope found in Christ."

Though the number of Southern Baptists who want to go — and are qualified — keeps growing, there are not enough funds to support them.

Levi's New Friend

The kids get out of "school" at 3pm each day.  Most days will find Levi and his new friend, Chloe playing in front of our house.  Chloe is almost a year older than Levi and loves to 'mother' him and take care of him as they play together.  It's so fun to watch them interact together!

MONGU, ZAMBIA

We got news that a house has been found for us in Mongu, Zambia.  We are supposed to be there for about a year to do our language study.  If you look below (upper middle, to the left), you will see MONGU.  If you look up to the left a little bit more, you will see LUKULU where we should eventually end up after about a year.  We do give thanks to the Lord that a house has been found.  Please join us in praying that we will be able to locate language tutors and helpers that will aid us in adjusting to our new town, new home and new language.  

Praise! Praise! Praise!

Thank you all so much for those who prayed that Levi might sleep longer in the mornings. The Lord is so concerned with even the seemingly insignificant parts of our lives. Levi slept until 6:45am this morning!!! Jeff and I were able to have a full hour of quiet time this morning. Praise be to God!