2 years ago today…

…we were at Philadelphia airport saying good-bye to Kevin, who was heading to Ghana, W. Africa for 2 years, to teach English to village children and minister to the surrounding villages.





Dad praying over him during the send off at Charity in PA

At that time 2 years seemed like an eternity! And tons of questions ran through our minds, “What will happen while he’s gone?”
“How much will change?” (so much can!) “Ivanya won’t remember him, but will Gracie?”, “Will any of us go over and see him?”, “Will Mom have another baby?“ etc. 2 years is SUCH a long time!!! Now it’s amazing to think that we’ve hit that mark and in less then 2 months he’ll be home!!! We can look back now and see the answers to all those questions. Yes, a lot has happened and much has changed.

Here’s a glimpse at that:

Ivanya, who was 9 months when he left is now the age Gracie was when he left. And Gracie has admitted to not remembering him, but knows him through our stories and pictures and talking to him on the phone.

These 2 pictures were taken the day he left...

...and these 2 were taken today. Exactly 2 years later!

Kelly, who was just a few months pregnant, now has 2 boys for Uncle Kevin to meet! And now lives in NM.
We left the church over the mountain and are now in a home fellowship. We’re dressing differently. Have met new friends. There’s been changes with the house. And the list goes on. It will be an adjustment on both ends when he comes home. For him, getting use to the changes and living with a big family! And for us, getting use to having him living home again! It was weird not having him around when he left, but having gotten use to that it will be weird having him home all the time! :-)

But we’re all so looking forward to being all together again!…sort of.

We’ll miss you Kel , Dan and boys!!!

This was taken about a week before he left

and this was taken this Summer

January 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-)

That day I also had to say good-bye to a real close friend, Lysanne. She also was one of the 6 GES workers that went over. It was hard enough saying good-bye to a brother that day, but also one of your closes friends too???!! Ouch!!!! Thats was not an easy day! Since they have left, the rest of Lysanne's family has moved to Ghana for an indefinate time, But Lys is coming back for Charity's Mission Conferance in Feb. YEAH!!!!!! :-) I can't wait! Emails are nice, but it's nothing like a long talk, right Lys?! :-)

The GES team

standing - Kevin, Lysanne, Lauren and Lucas

kneeling - Nate and Justin