Last update-On their way home!PTL

Hey!
Wanted to let you guys know that the team got off just fine this morning. They should have arrived in Jakarta by the time you read this. We are SO sad to see them go, but thankful they will be reuniting with you guys very soon and SOO VERY thankful for the time they were able to be here! We cannot thank all of you enough for the part you had in helping them get here! You will never know the encouragement they were to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR LETTING THEM COME!!!
Since Marie is not here to do it, I’ll update you on the last few days. The guys were due to come in Thursday, mid-morning, HOWEVER as things go here they were not able to come out until about 4:45pm! Marie was a real trooper in being able to roll with the punches and adjust the cooking schedule and keep the food hot til the guys got home. Grandma Gwen and Grandma Rita were awesome in helping watch the kids and make dessert while I ran around or talked on the phone getting things ready for the plane, etc. The “plan” was to take them to the guesthouse first to let them shower and then bring them here to our house to eat. When they arrived they were STARVING as they had not eaten since breakfast. SO, we had an awesome home-cooked meal of baked chicken breasts, scalloped potatoes, carrots, green beans, rice, fruit, etc. The guys didn’t smell TOO bad so we let them eat before bathing! J After supper we all went over to the guesthouse to let the guys shower. American Idol was on TV so we all watched that, listened to stories from the guys, the guys took turns showering and hacking off their beards and then we had brownies and ice cream for dessert! “Can we have seconds of dessert too?” they asked!

On Friday the 6 of them and Porter all went to Jayapura to buy souvenirs, take pictures of the scenery and enjoy some local cuisine. Marie had some beef marinating so when they got home, her and I cooked up supper and cinnamon rolls. Before that though, Marie had to try her skills at coconut tree climbing to see if she could still do it! hee,hee!

After supper we had a time of sharing. It was neat to hear all the Lord has done in the lives of these 6 loved ones of ours over the last 2 weeks! I will let them share with you personally all that God showed them and how He let them be a part of the work here! It was SO encouraging to just sit and listen to their take on things here and how their time has gone. After sharing, we had a time of prayer and then they were all off to the guesthouse for a night of much needed rest… in the AIR CONDITIONED rooms! (Man, wish I lived at the guesthouse!

We picked them up this morning at 7:30am and headed off for the airport. We forgot 2 of the gal’s bags at our house so Port ran back for those and I drove them all to the airport. We waited in line a LONG time and when they finally started checking in it was getting so close to departure time they decided not to even charge them the 10 kilos of overweight they had! PTL!!! After some quick good-byes and some tears we waved them into the departure lounge… them to fly off to Jakarta and us heading back home. Hard to believe they have left already! The time went so quickly and yet they accomplished SOO much! Besides getting our house really far along, building an outhouse, and all the things I already have mentioned that the gals have done, the encouragement and taste of HOME that they gave to us will stay with us far into the future! We knew we needed some encouragement, but had no idea these guys would be THIS big of a blessing to us and just what we needed at this time in our lives! WE MISS YOU GUYS… thank you for sending these 6 to help us with our homesickness and giving us some much-needed fellowship and encouragement! We treasured every minute!!! Have I said “THANK YOU” yet?!!? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sending our love and prayers!

Lexie for Porter, Ember, Rehn, Reece and Midian




The guys… before, during and after!



The inside of our house!!! Our house. Our outhouse.



Maxi, Darren and Ben. Jason and his kid buddies… (Jono was his special buddy… he is the little guy that got shot a few months back… if you blow up the picture you can still see the scar in his chest). Lance enjoying some coconut milk!



Marie and Ibu Maria (our helper). Grandma Gwen and Grandma Rita with the kiddos.



Marie climbing a coconut tree!! Grandma Rita teaching school. Marie and Grandma Gwen hanging out with the neighborhood kids.


“The Team” yesterday enjoying the sights. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!