Monday, November 23, 2009

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

> > >

Sunday, November 8, 2009

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!

> > >

Friday, November 6, 2009

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!

> > >