Pressing On

What can we say? This week has been a blur of emotion, packing, 2 trips to Cotonou, and a continual search for information that will lead us to our fingerprint clearance so that we can obtain Lael's visa. With the help of our U.S. Consular we decided to re-do and re-send our fingerprints. Randy and I spent 2 hours at the Embassy yesterday. By the time we finished there we did not have time to stand in-line at DHL to have them sent to the USA. It was already 6PM and we knew that we were going to be driving at least part of our trip home in the dark. It is not wise to drive in the dark in Benin.

Tori and I returned to Cotonou early this morning to DHL the fingerprints to Nebraska. They will not arrive in Nebraska until Wednesday of next week. With this information we know that we are going to have to change our tickets. We are hoping to gain some more insight next week as to how far we will have to push out the date. We are still very hopeful that we will be home by the end of this month.

We are extremely excited about our visitors that arrive on Monday and Wednesday of next week. Tears have come to my eyes all day as I have thought about seeing my parents here with Phil and Brenda Martin and then on Wednesday being with Don Box and Kellye Stone! Next week is going to be a very special week! Having our visitors here to share our last week here among the Aja people, we have just about every minute planned. Lots of meetings, meals, prayers, laughs, tears, and blessings will be shared. Our visitors will also be helping us move out remaining furniture and appliances, occupying our sweet children, and they will be here when we turn the house lights off and actually drive away from our dear friends in just over a week. We are so thankful for the support they will be for us as we begin our transition away from a place where we have spent the first chapter of our family's life together.