One Month...and Counting!

August 17th-One month from today. 31 days.
Thank goodness August has 31 days.
Slowly I have been checking things off my list.
Passports. Check.
Shots. Check. (At least for Dale and I)
Plane tickets. Check.

What to pack? What do you need for 5 people to live in a completely different culture and climate for 3 months? What will fit in five suitcases and 5 carry-ons?

How many Legos can Tobie fit in his back-pack and will that entertain him for three months?

How much of my knitting can I bring?

These are the thoughts constantly running through my mind. I have started carrying a folder of paper and notes with me everywhere I go. I find myself making lists at the strangest times during the day. (Like during the sermon on Sunday morning;)

Yet, blessings are everywhere.

-People stepping up to keep things going at church when we are gone.
-Questions from the kids showing their excitement and nervousness about how fast it is coming.
-The chance to share some of this adventure with my parents (Nana and Papa) and close friends, Noel and Sharon.

In the midst of all this my constant prayer is "It is all yours God.  Let us be open to how you will change our hearts. Let us be open to how you will grow our hearts. Let us be open to how the people of Iringa will become our community."

We covet your prayers. For health. For safety. For flexibilty. And most of all for God's amazing Grace.

Blessings,
Carrie

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On my end of things, I've been busy preparing to be gone from Fish Lake Lutheran for three months.  Pastor Connie Warner is ready and excited to take over for me.  I'm excited about this for him, his wife, and our congregation!  They will love Connie and Susan!

I've been working on creating two curriculums that I will be teaching at Tumaini University in Iringa - History of New Testament and Homiletics (preaching).  Some of my former Luther Seminary professors (now retired) have been extremely helpful as I gather resources and adapt/create/form my own syllabus and course curriculum to match my teaching style/technique and the African culture/context in which I'll be teaching.  I'm getting very excited about this new challenge!  In addition, I'll be preaching every Sunday in a different African village/community!  Needless to say, this time of sabbatial will provide the learning and challenges needed/expected in order to continue to grow as a pastor/teacher.

So, yes, we're getting excited.  Our last day at Fish Lake Lutheran will be on Sunday, September 16.  Pastor Connie will be there that day in or for me to "pass the baton (or bible or cross or whatever symbol pastors might pass :)".  Our church council will also be leading the congregation in a time of prayer and blessing as they send our family on our way and entrust Pastor Connie with leading the ministry in my absence.  We then fly out on Monday, September 17 - a day before my 43rd birthday!

We have some time to rest, relax, explore in Dar Es Salam and Zanzibar before arriving in Iringa and beginning my duties at Tumaini on October 8.
More updates to come as I, and my family, continue to prepare in many ways...

Dale