Big Changes in 2009

We only have one week left until we return to the mission field! Our time in the US has flown by, but it’s been great. We’ve enjoyed visits with family and friends; reconnected with our home church; cheered on the Gators through the national championship; enjoyed meals at favorite restaurants; and worn out a Blockbuster pass catching up on movies we’ve missed over the past three years.

We’re returning to Africa for two more years to do the same work as before –- Member Care (counseling for missionaries) and media (to promote and recruit for missions in Africa). But a couple of significant changes are coming our way:

We’re Having a Baby!
While in the US, we discovered Mary Beth is pregnant! The baby is due July 26 and will be born in Africa. We are very excited about the new little one who’ll soon be in our life. We thank God for the way He’s blessed us.

We’re Moving to South Africa!
The International Mission Board recently combined our region, West Africa, with Central, Eastern & Southern Africa to create one large area called the Sub-Saharan Africa Affinity Group. This includes not only the 2,400 people groups in the geographic area, but also Africans living in other parts of the world, such as Paris. The administrative support center for our affinity group will be in Johannesburg, South Africa. This center will facilitate finances, medical care, media, member care and other services for the whole affinity group.

We anticipate moving in April or May, so we’ll still have a few months in Cote d'Ivoire to pack up and say good bye to friends and neighbors. Although we’re sad to leave West Africa, we’ll continue to serve it as part of the support center and hope to be able to visit occasionally. We’re very excited about the new opportunities and experiences we’ll have in South Africa. One tremendous blessing is Mary Beth’s parents will be there with us -– they are transferring from South Asia back to Africa, where they first started missionary service 24 years ago! We’ll feel very blessed to have grandparents so close by.

Please pray for us:

• that our remaining time in West Africa will be fruitful
• that details will fall into place as administrators in South Africa look for housing and office space for the dozens of new personnel moving to Jo’burg
• that our baby will develop healthily and that we’ll be godly parents