Dear Family & Friends,Yes, that is right we got plane tickets to leave Texas on Tuesday, August 4th, which is about 3 weeks away! Wow! This is really happening I keep thinking in my mind. If this is your first update from us, welcome! We are planning to use this blog to share about our year living overseas serving with International Justice Mission. First of all, I want to say thank you to so many of you walking with us in this journey in so many different creative ways - prayer, financial, helping with
errands, packing boxes, etc, etc. I am realizing the power of people helping people. And I am realizing the power of God to move in mighty ways all around us. Thank you Lord. (pictures - family pic at a 4th of July parade, Abigail & Caleb at the parade, packing crates, our new home in Kenya, and Abigail learning to ride a bike).The big news is that we got tickets to Africa! We will leave Austin on August 1st and head to Dallas to spend a few days with both sides of our families. Then we will fly out of Dallas on Tuesday, August 4th at 4:45pm. crazy! Pray for smooth travel, favor with any customs, and all of our baggage to arrive with us.
At home we are in the midst of packing. First, we are packing our stuff going to Kenya. Each of us get 2 crates as our checked baggage and so we will have 10 crates plus our carry-on items. Seems like a lot when you look at the sea of crates in my bedroom, but they are filling up rather quickly, if each person gets one for clothes and then the r
est of them are for toys and family items. Second, everything else that is left over is getting packed for storage since we will be renting out our house here in Austin. Which, by the way, we are almost set on renters for the house. Continue to pray that works out.Since this year long fellowship is a volunteer position, we are fundraising for our costs and we are so thankful that God is bringing people to help us financially. We are still in the midst of this and have raised 80% of our budget. Thank you Lord. Pray with us for the remaining $13,000 we are hoping to raise in the next few weeks. Here is the link to donate online.
Good news! Lane went on a scouting trip in June to meet the staff at the IJM office, get a feel for the city, visit Caleb's school, and find a place for us to live. This is a huge answered prayer!! He found a place for us and we can move in the day we arrive. wohoo! One thing I was praying for specifically was for some space for the kids to play outside. Evidently, grassy play areas can be hard to find in the city, but this place opened up and I am SO thankful. The place is unfurnished, but we have connected with two families moving, 
that are selling a bunch of their stuff (beds, tables, pots & pans, dishes) at a bulk price. Pray for our first few weeks there getting set up and making it a home for our family. We are praying that all of the furniture arrives in the house before we get there.There are lots of things we need to do to close life in Austin for a year and then try to plan and pack for a new life in Kenya for a year. Pray for the kids in this transistion. They are having fun so far this summer playing in the backyard kid pool and using the crates and boxes as forts at home. They keep talking about Africa and seeing the animals, which is super cute, but I had to tell them that we will live in the city and hopefully get to go visit the ele
phants and giraffes sometime. I think Abigail thinks we will live with the animals. :-)Pray for me and Lane in this as well. In the midst of taking care of details and Lane working full-time, we can miss the time together to connect. Pray for grace and patience with each other and wisdom to know what to focus on each day. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6.
We are so thankful for each of you in our lives and pray that this update finds you well. We'll hopefully send out another update before we get on the plane in a few weeks!
love,
Anna, Lane & the kids.
