On a personal note... - by Don Neuendorf
I intended to write yesterday, but I found that I'm not as able to pull an "all-nighter" as I used to be. As my son and daughter-in-law prepared to depart for 2 years of mission service in Latin America, Sunday and Monday were filled to the brim with last minute tasks. Celebrating Jon's birthday while James and Christel were still here - sorting through the clothes to decide what to leave behind - packing and weighing and repacking to get all the bags under 50 pounds - last minute calls to insurance companies, bank accounts, and so on - informing the credit card company that they'd be out of the country for 2 years so that their account would not be frozen for "uncharacteristic" transactions.
Finally, because their flight left at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, meaning they had to be at the airport by 4 a.m., meaning we had to leave home by 3:30 am., meaning we'd all have to get up by 2:30 a.m., we all just decided to not go to bed at all. So numerous friends were invited. Movies were watched and games played. Old memories were shared around the bonfire out back. And then at 3:30 everyone said their goodbyes. We all prayed together, and the family drove James in Christel to the airport (in 2 cars because it took one car just to hold all their bags - remember, they're moving, not just traveling).
Lot's of hugs. Some tears. Many, many prayers. They are now safely arrived in Panama City and ensconced in their new apartment which they say is "huge" and very "cool" (by newlywed standards). They'll begin their work with a month of intensive Spanish immersion, including 4 hours of classwork every day. Expect to see pictures and posts at their website as soon as they get their internet hooked up. Currently they are sharing the wi-fi from the Church of God next door. Visit www.livingletter.org for all the latest.
I intended to write yesterday, but I found that I'm not as able to pull an "all-nighter" as I used to be. As my son and daughter-in-law prepared to depart for 2 years of mission service in Latin America, Sunday and Monday were filled to the brim with last minute tasks. Celebrating Jon's birthday while James and Christel were still here - sorting through the clothes to decide what to leave behind - packing and weighing and repacking to get all the bags under 50 pounds - last minute calls to insurance companies, bank accounts, and so on - informing the credit card company that they'd be out of the country for 2 years so that their account would not be frozen for "uncharacteristic" transactions.
Finally, because their flight left at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, meaning they had to be at the airport by 4 a.m., meaning we had to leave home by 3:30 am., meaning we'd all have to get up by 2:30 a.m., we all just decided to not go to bed at all. So numerous friends were invited. Movies were watched and games played. Old memories were shared around the bonfire out back. And then at 3:30 everyone said their goodbyes. We all prayed together, and the family drove James in Christel to the airport (in 2 cars because it took one car just to hold all their bags - remember, they're moving, not just traveling).
Lot's of hugs. Some tears. Many, many prayers. They are now safely arrived in Panama City and ensconced in their new apartment which they say is "huge" and very "cool" (by newlywed standards). They'll begin their work with a month of intensive Spanish immersion, including 4 hours of classwork every day. Expect to see pictures and posts at their website as soon as they get their internet hooked up. Currently they are sharing the wi-fi from the Church of God next door. Visit www.livingletter.org for all the latest.