Tickets in Hand

We never knew how overwhelming buying a couple of airline tickets could be - until we just purchased one-way tickets to Africa...we're going, we're actually going!?! Daniel was jumping up and down and Melissa was panting as if recovering from being recently stunned. Everything is taking on a new level of sincerity. The Lyatuus, our team leaders, leave for Dar in less than two weeks. Our church is praying for us at each service this weekend, in preparation and ordination for the first of our team members transition. In less than 5 months we'll both have quite our jobs, packed up our belongings, rented our house, sold our cars, loaded a shipping crate, finalized our visas, inoculated our immune systems, gathered our favorite music and whittled-down our inseparable books, said our goodbyes and boarded a one-way flight. We'll rejoin our two of our team members in September and receive the final of our "first wave" team by early December. After almost 24 months of planning, somehow 9 adults and 11 kids will have managed to trade in their lives in Columbus, Ohio for a new beginning in Dar es Salaam. Only be the grace of God could we be in the place we're at. In reflecting, it's one of those moments where you're awash in awe at where you've just come from, and astounded you've landed right side up. Since we haven't actually completed it yet, I hope we land right-side up, but the feeling is we are, so far, and we will.
At our most recent team meeting there was a unique buzz in the air - like the thrill of a wedding finally arriving or a the night before a vacation. The word Joy kept creeping into our conversation in the manner of emotions just bubbling over - some couldn't contain it that night. I believe the presence of the Almighty was there and his Favor rested on many of us. My prayer is that we continue to recall that Joy, and seek in our hearts the desire to persevere for the Goodness of our God. May we START well. May our hearts, in the beginning, align closely with our father's. May the hardships be embraced and peace found in Him, within our families, and on our team.