In 76 days we will touch down on American soil for the first time in 3 years and 8 months. We are very excited and are ready for some touches of home! We have so missed our family and friends and can't wait to just hang out and relax. Our kids are ready too! They know that they will miss their friends here, but are excited to see their family and old friends. In asking what they miss most of course they say "family and friends", but they are also looking forward to seeing green grass, fast food restaurants and movies. I am most looking forward to walking through Target, being able to shop off the rack and not through a pile of used clothes. I have missed being able to shop for clothes and running to Target or Walmart for something quick. I look forward to being able to get a fountain diet coke and not have to think twice if the ice is okay. There are so many great things about living here, but there are so many things that you have to deal with it will be nice to not have to think about some of the inconveniences for awhile.
Our time here is going well. School continues to be great and we still love what we are doing. The girls are great and our transition has been smooth. The kids are doing well - Zach is doing great with grades and is going to be one of the brothers in the upcoming Spring musical "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat", Luke is also doing well with grades and has recently started basketball, Faith loves being in the dorm and also is doing well in school. Her transition to the dorm has been great and loves being surrounded by so many big sisters.
We passed our language evaluations, but still have a strong desire to speak better. When we are home we are going to be looking for ways to learn and practice our speaking. Upon returning we are going to restart language lessons.
So here is our plan: we will come home June 10th into Dulles and be living in an apartment supplied by some awesome people from our church. We will be traveling quite a bit through North Carolina and up the coast. We will home school the kids due to the traveling. We want to be able to see as many people as we can and reconnect with our churches. We will stay in the US through the beginning of January and then head back to Senegal for the second semester.
The current news in Senegal is that we had a peaceful election and a new President was elected. Pray for a peaceful transition of power. The current President has called for peace and has asked all of his supporters to be at peace and cause no problems. That is a huge answer to prayer for this country!!
We are so thankful for your prayers for our family and look forward to connecting with many of you!!
