We are leaving for West Africa in two days! We have been preparing for this trip for months. Discussions, dreaming and praying about “what if.” And then just one day it was clear. We are going to Liberia together in January. When we made the decision, there was so much to do to prepare! And there wasn't just “stuff” to do, but praying, processing, sharing with others. and planning takes mental and emotional energy - it requires bandwidth - more so than a vacation (though that takes bandwidth ahead of time too) And there was, of course, life still to live as we moved toward departure day. The last four months have been a constant juggle of the “now” (and sometimes urgent!) and the “we need to do it now for the very near future.”
Our next post in this diary was taken from Kelsie’s blog that she started over a year ago. We decided to share this recent post as a little backstory in how we came to decide to do this trip together.
We will be ready to go on Monday, January 6 - whatever that looks like. One way or another, we will be getting on a plane first thing in the morning. We have made lists, shopped at Goodwill and Target (more than once), been to Seattle twice for medical requirements for travel, shared our story, raised money, asked for prayers, posted on social media, raised some more money, gathered donations, and now, with just a couple of days until departure, we are packing and packing - hoping it all fits. One of our beds is currently piled high with all we hope will fit in our luggage!
We invite you to follow us on this journey. We will write as much as we can as we go. Our hearts are brimming over with all the love and support we have received from so many of you.

If you are the praying kind, please pray with us:
*Clarity and guidance from the Lord on each step
*Travel mercies
*Final preparations
(Picture below: Jaye’s birthday in Liberia 2 years ago.)