Off We Go!

It's been a whirlwind of activity the last few days as we've wrapped up our first term in Mahadaga, Burkina Faso. Aside from all the packing and last minute work we wanted to get done before leaving, we had lots of visitors and well-wishers. The team at the CAH had a little farewell party for us on Friday afternoon.

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We spent most of Saturday answering the door as various neighbors came to wish us a safe journey. On Sunday after church, our whole church congregation walked us home and gathered at our front doorstep to pray with us, sing us a farewell song, and then wave goodbye.

We spent Sunday night at the SIM mission station in Fada (the halfway stop between Mahadaga and Ouagadougou, the capital), then continued on to Ouagadougou Monday morning after saying a few more farewells to a few more friends. Monday evening we had a meal together with three other missionary families, 2 of which are also heading back to their homes in Australia in New Zealand in the next few weeks. It was a good chance for some fellowhsip and for the kids to see their missionary friends one last time before we head home.

Though we are only planning to be gone for 8 or 9 months, this seems like a long time for many of our Burkinabe (and non-Burkinabe) friends and neighbors! In some ways it will probably seem like a long time to us, too, as we will be missing out on some milestones in the lives of some of our friends (births, moving, etc.) and we will be away from our SIM Burkina family who is becoming dearer and dearer to us as time goes on. But we are also looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family in the US and Canada. We will even get the chance to visit some of our friends and family spread out across Europe along the way! So despite how hard it can be to say goodbye sometimes, we are grateful for the Lord's goodness in taking care of us. And we are reminded that one day we will be reunited with many of you for good...no more separation and goodbyes! Let's work all the more to make sure that as many of us as possible can enjoy that day together! In the meantime, keep checking back in and we'll try and keep you posted on our travels! Until we meet again!