Well, this is what you've all been waiting for...we have our flights booked!!! So, yes, this means we are at 70%. Well, officially we are at about 67% as i write this, but we have a couple of people whose support is in the mail. This doesnt mean we are done with needing people to partner with us...at some point we need to be at 100%, but for now we are thrilled to be at 70%!!
I suppose you are wondering when we are leaving. Too soon. Not soon enough. The date is AUGUST 23, 2012. It is going to come soooo fast!! We just got home 3 days ago from our cross-Canada trip and now we are leaving in just over 2 weeks. We have done laundry and unpacked. We will live 'normally' for a few days before we re-pack. This time everything we need will have to go into 12 suitcases. Its a very overwhelming task.
Our emotions are all over the place. One minute happy and excited the next sad and crying. You name an emotion and i guarantee if we havent felt it yet, we will before the next 2 weeks are up.
These next couple of weeks will be filled with getting the last minute details (which I dont even know what they are) done. We need international medical insurance and visa's to come in. Other than that I cant even think what else needs to be done, but I'm sure there is lots!
We will also be spending time with as many friends as we can. We know we cant see everyone, but we will do our best to make contact with as many of you as possible.
This is a very crazy time (more so then normal) for the Inkpens. We could really use your prayers during these last few days. Specifically, we need prayer for:
1. our visas...we are hoping that our work visas will be in to Changsha this coming week with the top line reading (something like this): This visa can be processed in Hong Kong OR___________. This means that our team leaders can fill in the blank with Calgary and have them couriered to us asap. If the "OR _________" isnt there, then we have to arrive in Changsha on a travelers visa then leave Changsha and go to Hong Kong for 48 hours to have it processed then back to Changsha. The entire family must leave the country and re-enter.
2. the 'big' kids...that they will be able to spend time with all their friends...i think this is very important in the lives of an 11yr old and a 13yr old. They have a very limited time to hang out and their friends mean the world to them. It will be a while before they can 'just hang out' with friends again.
3. for the twins...they are having a hard time figuring out what is going on...we were at Grandma's for 5 weeks, then traveling for 5 weeks now back to Grandma's for only 3 weeks and gone again - for 2 years! Their whole world has been flipped upside down. Schedules have been sent out the window and they are having melt-downs a couple times a day. Their behaviour has been, well, trying. One minute great, the next they are hitting and yelling. They have so much going on that they dont know how to process.
4. for me and andrew...we are trying to get everything done, when we dont even have a clear idea of what needs to be done...stress is rising (which we understand will happen) which is hard to deal with, even when you know its happening...we want to be a united family and more then ever at this time we need to be united. We know the enemy will be pulling out all his tricks to get to us and we need protection.
I'm not sure what else I would like to tell you at this time. Im a little overwhelmed. I will write to you all again soon!
Darcie, I admire your commitment to keeping everyone updated, especially as the stress continues to mount. I am praying that God will strengthen you and Andrew as a couple, to withstand any attacks that come at you. I am also praying that the kids will be able to come to you with all their emotions - happy, sad, angry - whatever...that they will be able to share with you how they feel and not keep things bottled up inside.
ReplyDeleteMostly, I am praying that in the midst of all the "details" and "stuff" left to do, that you can stop and really admire everything you've accomplished up til now, and all the fun and adventures that you'll be experiencing. There's a lot of fun coming...even if it doesn't feel like it.
Don't forget to ENJOY this journey as much as possible. There will always be work and stress in our lives, so make sure you focus on the fun times and silly times to help keep it all in balance. God gave us the gift of laughter and humour, so don't be afraid to use them!
My verse for you and your family is below. I hope it's a message you can cling to.
Hugs,
Pam
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm —
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.