on our way to a Happy New Year

We hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas time with your families.  We enjoyed time with both sides of our family at different times.  We tried not to be too distracted, but there is much on our minds as we plan, prepare, pack and ponder all that is in store for us!

Most of our packing supplies have been purchased -- now it's time to pack.  Fortunately, we have downsized quite a bit in our relocation to Keli's parents home; unfortunately, we have settled too well into this home!  We have to begin the tedious process of pulling everything out, deciding whether to pack in what we need to take immediately, ship for later, or store with one set of our parents for whenever we should return.  Though this is really cathartic on one hand (let's face it, we could all do with less in our lives), it is also a difficult to help the kids process.  I'll post a picture of our shipping load later next week...

The airfare is purchased and flights are confirmed; we fly from Huntsville on the afternoon of Friday, January 6.  The flight combination includes 3 legs, and the two layovers are the briefest possible for an international flight--this means that we will have to be on our toes and hope that all goes according to schedule, or we will fall into the long airport layovers that we hope to avoid.  Travel time, from Huntsville takeoff to Cairo landing, is less than 17 hours.  It will be a long day...

We arrive, as previously hoped, on January 7, which is Coptic Christmas in Egypt.  What a perfect day to begin sharing the love of God in Egypt.

Thank you for your ongoing support and continuing prayers on our behalf...

Thank You - Praise God!

Wonderful people of God throughout the US and the UK have provided the needed pledged support to give us the "green light" to go to Egypt!

It has been a long road--trust me; i will have logged 3,000 highway and 4,200+ air miles in the last 40 days alone!  The Lord has been gracious, granting safety and favor through it all!

We now spend the holidays with our family in what will be some of the most important family time we have ever had.  We will also begin sorting through a variety of last-minute details, and pack!

Your prayers are continually needed as we make this transition; particularly for the children as the reality of departing soon is now upon them.  Pray for their peace as they come to grips with loss of friends, family and home due to distance -- Pray for expectancy to bring some excitement to this transition.  And, Pray for them as they prepare to make new friends, begin a new school system, and embrace a new culture and community.

We continue to seek and require financial support as these are uncertain financial times and pledges from the past may hit obstacles in the future.  But, for now, we have finished this part of the preparation process and we are eager to put our hands to the plow in Egypt.

from Sacramento, thinking about Syria

Hello there from Sunny California -- no, it's not necessarily warm here, though warmer than it was just a few hours north in Oregon and Washington.  I'm here continuing to meet with pastors and churches about our coming ministry to believers in the Middle East.  I am blessed to be in the home of the Popp's (said like "pope"), who are lifelong supporters and family friends of Patrick Nachtigall's family.

While traveling, there has been a lot of news regarding Syria and the continuing uprising and events there; Barbara Walters even has a televised interview with the Syrian President this week:

Here in the clip, you can see that life continues in these Middle Eastern city of Damascus despite areas of obvious unrest and even violence; yet, the uncertainty in Syria is even greater than in Egypt, and things have proven to be exceedingly more violent.

I can honestly say i never anticipated or even hoped to go to Syria in my life prior to this calling.  And, if stability can be restored and visitors are allowed to enter the country again, this will be one of the places we will be charged with visiting as we have believers and a church that will need encouragement and support.  As I hear the ongoing news reports, i can't help but wonder how are those believers doing--what are they doing?  Are they in the middle of the strife, or trying to stay away?  Have any of the Church suffered or died through all of this?  Is their faith threatened or are they finding fruitful expression of faith in the midst of the conflict?  And all of these questions create a desire, a hope, to get there, to meet them, and to hear their testimonies from this time--one day.

Meanwhile, it's Sacramento today and tonight; down to Madera tomorrow and Friday, and into Fresno for the weekend.  I will come back and share with a group in Modesto next week before another session here in Sacramento area next Wednesday evening.

Then, i may go home for Christmas!  Thank you all for your continuing prayers and support...