Thank you to everyone who has been praying! Our travel went incredibly well, easiest trip to date, and we made it to Ukarumpa! What an amazing feeling it is to be back in our home of nearly 20 years, as of July 29th (which is also Gavin's birthday)!
It's been so indescribably sweet to renew relationships and just be back in the house in which we raised our kids and from which Isaac graduated in 2023. I just found his bath towel with his name on it. (Thanks, Aunt Fay!) Gracie has taken over his room, and his dog Goose has joined her there. There have been three community events, including a wonderful worship service and sermon that spoke exactly into our lives, from Ephesians 3:14-20, ending on the verse that was honestly the very first thing that popped into my mind the moment the ultrasonographer said, "And there's baby number five." (Up until then we thought we had twins, triplets, or maybe quads.) It's been our theme verse since then, and is again our prayer for this potentially very difficult time: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"
Please don't stop praying; this is really difficult even in the persistent joy, especially as we look towards flying away from this beloved place and these people who have become family. Thank you!
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| Dilu is married now and has a new baby, Jeffrey! Her husband, who works at Aviation, is holding our big, funny April! She lived with us her first year of life and is now three years old. To our surprise, she still took to us immediately and started playing all kinds of silly games with the quints! |
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| Dilu and baby Jeffrey (one year old) |
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Eketa is a big part of our PNG family. The kids were so thrilled to see her!
(I don't know where David and Will were at the time.) She has been a priceless gift during this time of sorting and packing. I don't have to give a second thought to all the cleaning and laundry! |
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| Friends from a partner organization, FinisTerre, for which Gavin flew often! |
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| Goose remembered us WELL and was very excited to see us, but he checked Isaac's room immediately to see if he was in there. Isaac said that almost made him cry! He'll always be Isaac's dog. Gracie took over her beloved big brother's room, and Goose sleeps in there with her. |
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| Laughing it up with Kori, Isaac's best friend and "brother from another mother." Kori was unable to make it to the wedding as best man, so we showed him the wedding slideshow Gavin put together. There were LOTS of pictures of Kori in it! If you zoom in, you can see why I'm laughing and Kori is cringing. In the photo on the screen he looks just like Where's Waldo?/Where's Wally? |
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| Kori, David, and Gracie - Isaac said this photo almost made him cry too! |
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| Gavin and some more Ukarumpa "family" |
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| Loving each day and each kiddo I've watched grow into lovely young people! |
"Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we could ask or imagine, according to His power that works within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
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