The Beginning of our New Life

We made it to Egypt safe and sound! David picked out a great apartment, and it was nice having a home to come to. (I love my husband who worked so hard to find us a wonderful place to live and had the necessities ready for us when we came in.) Life here has been very different. More different than I expected. Shopping has gone well. We now have a bedroom suit and a sofa and love seat. It is hard to find furniture that is not really expensive or terribly cheap. We have been working hard to get things done ASAP. We are usually out by 9:30 and do not finish until about 9 or 10:00. Then, we unpack and clean.

Culture shock has got us a few times. More people than I expected don't like us. We usually have ladies try to curse us and our children at least 2-3 times a day (Not David, he fits in!). But, I must say, the people who like us are really hospitable and loving. People assume we are rich and try to rip us off. And, we get lost every time we come home. haha. Today, we were right around the corner and didn't know it. This city is confusing and everytime the taxi brings us home we go a different way! Crazy.

We have almost everything here. We have found some good places to shop that are not far from home. This is a blessing.

We are attending Bro. Thomas' Church on Sundays and Thursdays. It is all in arabic. The people there are very friendly and Bro. Thomas' wife, Ruth, really seems to love Joshua and Sandy. She doesn't speak english, but she has a good spirit about her.

Mom and Carrie seem to be having a good time. They have never been outside the states and it has shocked them. We have all learned a lot. They have been a tremendous help. I can't imagine doing all we have without them. It would have definitely taken us a lot longer.

Thanks for all of you that have prayed and written. I will get back to you personally when things slow down some. Keep writing though. It sure is encouraging.

Still in GA

Well, after a long day of packing and repacking suitcases. I went to the airport with my children, mom, and sister. We said our farewells to my Dad and other siblings, nieces, and nephews, and got onto the plane with the thoughts of not seeing each other again for years. Well, after sitting on the plane for over three hours, they made the announcement that for the first time in 21 years the plane would not take off due to technical difficulties. We took our carry-ons and sleeping children, got on Marta at 12:30am and met my Dad to head back to my parents. Tomorrow will be filled with more goodbyes and probably more tears, but I am thankful to the Lord Jesus for allowing the mechanics to find this problem with the plane and to keep us safe. I believe prayers were answered for our safety. Thank you all for praying. The Lord is so good to us-all the time! I am enjoying experiencing the Lord- His mercy and His grace!

Beginning of Goodbyes

Last week we went up to Virginia and said our farewells to family and friends in the area. Our sending church also had a send-off service for us. It was a bitter-sweet time. We are currently home packing and saying our goodbyes to friends and family here in GA. Our house is getting more and more bare everyday. It has been incredibly hard for me to pack and figure out what to do with everything. It's difficult in a lot of ways. Sometimes the stress is overwhelming and I feel sick to my stomach. I often have to stop and pray for the Lord's help. This is definitely the most difficult thing I have ever done, but I know it is the Lord's will. I am humbled that He would use my family to do His work. Please pray that I will be able to finish packing and moving everything by Saturday afternoon. Thanks!

Please Pray for Lost Family Members

In the last week the Lord has answered prayers that I have requested for about two years. I thank Him and praise Him. Please pray with me for lost family members. Next month I am leaving for Egypt and many of my extended family members are lost and on their way to hell. Please pray that they would be saved. Pray that David and I would be a good witness to them. One of my uncles moved about a year ago. He has many problems with the main one being without the Lord. I witnessed to him several times, but one time I felt like I should have said something to him and didn't. I regret that everyday. I believe his blood will be on my hands. Please pray for his salvation especially. He is in poor health, and we don't know how much longer he will live. Thanks for your prayers.

Trusting the Lord

I went through my kitchen cabinets yesterday. I packed a few things to take with me and decided to give a lot of things away. I was a little sad to get rid of my stuff, but I am thankful that someone will get good use from it. I know that I will get what I need when I get to the field. Everyday, things come to my mind that I will miss when I get to the field. I really have to try to take my thoughts captive and balance the sad ones with positive things.

My Dad and I were talking about how good the Lord has been to us in the last couple of years. He has shown so much grace and goodness. He has provided in all ways. I told my Dad that because of how He has proven Himself so good, I can go to Egypt and have confidence that He will give me the grace to adjust and have joy. I pray that the Lord Jesus will help me to stay close to Him because I need Him so. I need him to adjust, and I need Him to have boldness to witness.

Getting Ready to Leave

Last Thursday we went to our mission board for our departure interview. Everything went well. I can't believe we are so close to leaving. Wow! The time flies. That evening my mom came over to help and we started packing some of the items we aren't using now. We packed eight boxes for our crate. Saturday, we left and went to TN for meetings on Sunday. They went well. We left from there and went to NC, where we currently are. We are at the Regional conference until tomorrow, when we go back home to continue working to prepare to leave.

Praise the Lord - All is well!

Thank the Lord my MRI results came back good, and thank the Lord for the trial. Before I got the results both of my parents told me at different times that the situation has caused them to have more peace about me going to Egypt. They trusted the Lord for good results and have been more at ease knowing what could happen to me. This is hard for me to explain, but I guess what they were saying is that they would rather me be in Egypt and healthy than me be here with them and have MS or another crippling disease. I am thankful that they have been a support to me and my family and have never tried to discourage me from doing the Lord's will. Please pray for them as well as for us.

David and I are working to get things done for our departure. However, it seems the more we do, the longer the list gets of things that need to be done. Sometimes it seems overwhelming. I am glad that our God is greater. He is greater than all we have to do, whatever we go through, whatever the world or the devil throws in our face. He is so much greater than us. I am so thankful to have a husband to remind me of this. I am so thankful to have a husband who leads and challenges me to follow and trust the Lord more each day.