Looking To 2012

Happy New Year!

As we look back over the last year, it is amazing to see God's footprints next to ours along the path that we did not expect to be traveling. This is the time of year to reflect, and I hope as you reflect over your past 12 months on this side of Heaven, that you are able to see our Savior's footprints along yours as well.

As we look back at our journey through 2011, we see those footprints as so many prayers, notes, donations, messages... etc.

It is truly humbling to look back at a full year of so many friends, family, and even strangers that have joined with us in the vision of us and our organization, to break the cycle of generational poverty with the orphan child in Cancún, Mexico.

Even as we look back at how faithful God has been in bringing us to this point over the last year, we are even more excited about what He has planned for this next year!

We are picking up our Uhual trailer on Tuesday, January 3, packing on January 4, and leaving for our road trip to Miami on January 5. We then have 5 days to travel down to Miami where we will be unloading everything into the Freight company's warehouse and delivering our car to the port for shipment and flying to Cancún on January 11.

We are so excited to begin this new year in Mexico and finally, after 16 months of preparing, beginning this new chapter of life.

Thank you so much to all of you who have partnered with us financially, through prayer, and by helping us with fundraisers and donations! We are so grateful to have you all joining with us as we go to work in Mexico and begin the huge learning curve we have ahead of us.

Happy New Year to all of you and we pray God's blessings upon you and your families for 2012, that He may stretch you and bring challenges into your life throughout this next year that will push you to trust Him and love Him more!

In His Grace,

Andrew, Anna & Kai

All Systems Go!

Even as I type this, the pure surreality of all of this is overwhelming.

With so much going on and "To Do" lists a mile long, it is sometimes hard to slow down and realize just what exactly is happening...

So, while this week was mind-bogglingly stressful, busy, and list oriented, the next two should be much more relaxed.

This was all planned you see.

We worked extremely hard this week to get the majority of our stuff boxed up and we are now living out of three suitcases. (One for Andrew, one for Anna and one for Kai.)

Along with working to get our lives packed up, we were also trying to finish our fundraising through letters to all of our friends and family we were not able to meet with personally, as well as Christmas cards and thank you's.

And to top it all off, we are in Chicago right now, where I got my Visa from the Mexican consulate!

And just before writing this post, we booked our plane tickets from Miami to Cancún.

Needless to say it has been an extremely busy and crazy 76 hours! But a blessed and wonderful 76 hours also. God has been so good in smoothing everything out and helping us to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time.

So with 22 days until we pull out of Indiana with a UHAUL strapped to our Suburban loaded down with everything we own in the world, all systems are a go!

And the reason we worked so hard this week was because we want to have plenty of time to spend with family and friends over the next three weeks!

So we got everything done just in time to pick up Anna's sister, Priscila, with her husband Antonio and our two nieces, Zua and Eliana tomorrow morning here in Chicago at the airport for some wonderful family holiday times!

Pris, Zua, Eliana and Tonio

And then on Sunday, Anna's other sister and her husband Mauricio, and our nephews André and David fly into town for the holidays!

Mauricio, David, Andre and Lizy

From now until the day we leave, we only have to finish our shipping manifest for Mexican customs. While that will take a few days to complete, we are thrilled with how much progress we have made this week and how the Lord is smoothing out the path ahead of us with each step!

We know that this is all due to your prayers and support! So thank you and from our family to yours...

The Days Grow Shorter...

As the days of December grow shorter, the sun disappears quicker, the nights dip deeper in temperature; and so, our time here in the states dwindles as well.

We now have less than a month left here in Indiana. FOUR WEEKS!! THATS IT!

That is an absolutely thrilling and yet terrifying thought.

Sixteen months of preparation and planning, was more than enough to get excited about going. You would also assume that would be plenty of time to mentally prepare, right?

Answer: eheh...No.

Nonetheless, time marches on whether or not I am mentally prepared for what comes next. And so, with a Visa being the final piece of the puzzle, and its ETA being a week or less away, packing and preparing goes into full swing.

It is amazing how many projects, details, and errands need to be done. All the while, making time to spend with family and friends that we will be leaving soon. Not to mention, a little holiday called Christmas. And then there is still the fundraising to do to make sure that once we get there, we will actually be 100% funded...

I was reminded by a picture of a friend tonight, that with the Lord's help, He will renew our strength no matter what mountains or molehills seem to be in front of us.

Whether it be a 25k (Half Marathon) race in which you have to write this verse on your hand (Thanks for the inspiration Julie ;) ) or the details and "To Do Lists" of moving a family to another country, or a financial hole from unemployment, or a heart broken by someone close, or an over-bearing boss, or a... you fill in the blank. We do not go through anything alone, and we most certainly can't do it on our own strength.

I was reminded tonight, that when I try to plan out how I will accomplish everything that needs to be done in the next four weeks, and see a mountain for which I do not have the ability or strength to climb...

Our God is standing with Me.

So what could stand against?

Answer: Nothing.

I hope that as the Lord has shown this to me, that He would also make it real in your life as well. Place your hope in Him, your trust, your faith, your love , your life in Him. There is no other way to spend your life this side of Heaven.

We so appreciate all of your prayers and support. Our ministry partners standing with us is invaluable, and I am beginning to realize just how powerful your prayers are in our lives right now!

So thank you all so much for your willingness to partner with us and with Back2Back to serve the orphan child in Mexico. Thank you for being a part of breaking the cycle of generational poverty with those whom Jesus loves so dearly. We are blessed to play this role in the Kingdom and to have a team of supporters like all of you who read, pray, give and take part in the body of Christ.

Right now, our plan is to leave Indiana on January 3rd and drive down to Miami, where we will put our stuff and our car on a container to be shipped to Cancun. We will then fly to Cancun from Miami on January 11th. **


** All dependent on the perfect plan and timing of the Lord of course... :)