January 2016

We have been tirelessly working on making a letter to send out to all our family and friends to update them on our future endeavors.  I had no idea that making a mailing list, letter, labels, and stuffing envelops would prove to be another part time job.  However, I enjoyed getting to think about all those who care for us, love us, and have provided us with so much knowledge and skill over the years.  I was able to read the names and pray for each family that a letter was made for.  (What a pleasure to have all the names in front of me to see and recall as I have a terrible memory at times.)

So here is the latest news!  Chris is heading to Mbingo Hospital in Cameroon on 2/9/2016 and will be returning at the end of the month.  He is going to work with the doctors there and gain some much needed knowledge and information about the hospital, the care we will be providing to the people there, and what we will need as a family to take with us. We are very excited about him getting to take this opportunity during his residency. 

We had a another event that encouraged us this last week.  We found that Micah and Micaja's passports will be expiring shortly after we arrive in Cameroon.  Which means a trip to the post office for new forms to be completed and everything else that goes along with that.  We arrived at the post office at 10:15am and found that you cannot get a passport without an appointment.  We stood there in line waiting (slightly dejected) thinking, "When are we going to be together again in order to have these passports ordered?  Chris is working all the time and when we are together the post office is closed." We get to this door on the side of the room and one of the employees there says we can come in.  I explained that we needed to get new passports for the kids and needed to make an appointment.  She asked how many children we had because there were 2 friends with Micah and Caj.  I told her 2 kids.  She looks at the clock and it is 10:40am.  "It looks like the 10:30am family that was supposed to get their passports today are not coming.  I will just do it now if you have the documentation needed." she says to us.  A wash of relief covered me.  With many thanks I begin pulling all the papers out of my bag.  She tells us how surprised she is that we have everything with us.  We explain that we are moving to Cameroon in what we are going to be doing there.  I told her we were so grateful to her for allowing us to get the passports for the kids that day.  As we walked out of the building, Chris to his car as he is heading to work and me to the van with the kids and 2 of their friends, I say to "Well how about that?  We must still be doing what we are supposed to be doing with our lives. I was so concerned we would not be able to come back until March.  That is God showing us again He has this." 
Chris looks at me and just says, " Of course." 
Encouragement received. 
Thanks for checking in on us.  We love you and there will be more posts to come.
Ashley