Here we go...

Well, this is it. First thing in the morning we are headed out. We are excited to get there. As soon as we get settled and get back on the internet we will be in touch with you guys. Until then... thanks for praying with us. Lord willing, you will hear from us soon.

Love,
Jim, Tania & the kids

Here we are with the Richards and Laura after our 'farewell for now' pizza party... Lord willing, they will be joining us in Vanuatu in about 2 months.

> > >

Packing and saying 'Good-byes'

In case you didn't get the email...

Five days to go (now only four days) until we depart once again for Port Vila, Vanuatu. We are packing the last of our things, starting on the cleaning job that always goes along with moving out, and enjoying the last days we have with friends and teammates before we head out.

Grace and Josh had their last day of school today. It went well. It is a bittersweet thing for them, no more school, but also saying good-bye to friends. Thankfully they have been able to exchange email addresses and will try to stay in touch. Plus, they have friends they are looking forward to seeing in Vanuatu so that is just a really great blessing.

God has been blessing us with relative peace up to now which we are really thankful for. As you would expect there are a lot of things we could get really stressed about, but we are just making sure we have all our ducks in a row, and trusting God for the outcome.

All of you that have been praying... thank you.

We are not sure what the internet situation is going to be once we get to Vanuatu so this is your last chance to email us ;0). Hopefully we will be connected soon enough.

We will write again just before we leave.

Love,
Jim & Tania

The Finish Line

November 20th marked the end of our school year....






Classes are over, graduation is behind us! We praise God for all we have learned and how he has grown us over this past year. It feels really good to being moving on to the next phase of the ministry.

What now –
We are spending the next 2+ weeks getting ready to head back to Vanuatu.

What next –
Settling into life in Port Vila. That will include…

• settling into and enjoying ‘normal’ family life once again,
• resident visa and work permit applications,
• getting back into learning the national language (Bislama) and the local culture,
• getting ready for the coming year of homeschooling for Grace and Josh,
• and last but not least, anxiously looking forward to when the rest of the team will be able to join us (likely in February, but, Lord willing, it will be sooner).

You can pray with us…

• Praise for the training we have received this year
• Praise for the personal, family, and team growth we have experienced this year
• Pray for our last couple of weeks in Australia be spent well – preparations, relationships, closure, rest.
• …and this is a big one… Pray that God would put the right people in the right place at the right time to make shipping, travel, resident visa applications, etc. all go smoothly and without complications.

Love to all,
Jim & Tania

> > >

30 days and counting...

As of today, November 9, we have 30 days to go before our departure to Vanuatu. Tickets are purchased, housing is arranged.

This coming week we are visiting the police station for Australian law enforcement clearances, and the doctors office for medical clearances. All this is paperwork needed for our resident visa applications. The Vanuatu immigration department has cracked down over the last year and even deported some missionaries, so we are being careful to 'have all our ducks in a row', so to speak. We appreciate those of you who are praying with us about this matter.

This weekend, amongst the essays and other homework, we started going through our belongings to decide what goes and what stays. We are being allowed half the baggage that we came here with, anything over that we have to pay extra (plus duty). So we are being very selective, going through every item of clothing, and every piece of paper, to pare down to the essentials.

We'll stay in touch!

> > >

Class of 2009

Here we are...
Not a bad lookin' bunch if I don't say so myself ;)

Equip Training Class of 2009

I think you can click on the picture to see a larger version.
Days to graduation.... 14!

> > >

It's an Echidna!

Too bad the kids weren't around when I was taking the pictures. They did get to see the Echidna later though. This little guy was obviously not shy. His quills are not like a porcupine, but more like a hedgehog. What a cool thing to get to see before our time here in Auz is up!



Thank you Lord =)

> > >

How Its Made - Bible Translation

You know the TV show 'How Its Made'? Well, even if you don't you'll get a kick out of this video. It was made by Wycliffe translator friends of ours who are working on the island of Tanna. This would be a great video to share with kids. Plant the idea of Bible translation in the heads!

> > >