Just 9 more days to go. We have our shots done, we are getting our Visa's in Dar Es Salaam, and we have started packing. I went to Goodwill to get me some skirts and I made a skirt. I still ended up with too much. So I am not bringing some. LOL At least I have some for work now. LOL Our Dogs will be staying with some wonderful people and they will be loved and spoiled. No worries right? :) You always worry about your kids. With Fur or not. LOL I have pretty much everything set at work for when I leave. There shouldn't be any problems. I guess if there is I will know when I get back. So far though I think I am good. I do have to clean the house and do some laundry before we leave. All natural stuff there. I haven't heard anything about Billy's appt. I believe he had one on Monday. They were going to go over his MRI results on his wrist then talk about his ankle. Still waiting to hear about that. We know that God has that taken care of as well as everything else. We are so fortunate to be going on this trip. We would like to thank all our friends and family for their support and the prayers. Keep the prayers coming. Talk to you soon.

Love and God Bless,

Julie and Kevin

As of today we have just 19 more days till we leave for Kigoma Tanzania. We are very excited and with the weather we have been having, the thought of 80 degrees sounds really good right now. Today the Mission Buddies gathered together for our last Africa meeting. The meeting went very well, but there was a part of the meeting we did not expect and we are praying for. Pastor Billy (our Brother in Law) fell off of a ladder this past week and messed up his ankle and his wrist. As of now he doesn't think he will be going on the trip with us. He goes back in two weeks (the monday before we leave) to get a progress report. He hasn't cancelled anything yet, because he would like to see how that report goes. So we are all praying that God will heal him or get him where he would be able to go. Kevin and I and I am sure so was everyone else, was looking froward to him going. He is a wonderful person and just so easy to talk too. Not to mention he is a wonderful leader and a great Pastor. I don't want to sound negative, but if it is not in God plans and he is unable to go he will truely be missed. What we talked about in our meeting was getting to the airport, Malaria pills, Visa's and learning how to crochet. Which I have yet to accomplish. That is something I am going to do too. I just need more patience. LOL God has asked each one of us to be on this mission trip for a reason. We know that we are to do his work. That is a given. I also feel that there is more and each one of us is going to learn, experiance, and achieve the one or more goals that God has intended for us to do. I just feel there is more to this trip then just the Mission itself. This is what makes this trip for me more exciting. We are so glad and blessed to take you all along with us on this wonderful journey. As you read this please keep Pastor Bill in your thoughts and prayers and his family too. And of course please keep our Mission Buddies in your thoughts and prayers too as we take this journey together. The Mission Buddies are JoAnn, Steve, Terry, RuthAnn, Kevin, Julie, and Pastor Bill. Talk to you all soon.

Love, and God Bless you all,

Julie and Kevin and the rest of the Mission Buddies

Happy New Year to all of you. Kevin and I wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year. I have looked at my calendar and we have just 3 more weeks to go till we leave for Africa. I believe I am going to start packing so I know what I have and what we still need to get. I have so much running through my head as to what we need to be doing and what needs to be done. I feel like a chicken with it's head cut off. We were going to send for our visa's but decided to get the visa's there in Dar Salam. We believe we will make it on time to get these and have no worries. I did however go to Dick's sporting goods and I was so proud of myself for what I have bought. I have a swim suit now, a great deal on some sandals, and found a hat that protects your neck for Kevin. Still need more things but I am sure we will we have them bought and taken care of. I believe we are done with clothes. Just the essentials now. Like razors, shampoo, lotion, purell, etc. LOL you get the drift. I am not sure if I had told you but we found some friends that are going to look after our dogs Buddy and Lacie. Mickey our Yorkie is going to stay with some other friends. She is 13 and is going to be put where she won't be around so many other dogs and just get the love she needs for her. Buddy and Lacie of course still need the love but they need to be together. They can handle other dogs. They are going to be taking a trip themselves. They are going to Ohio and they are going to be staying with 4 other dogs. But they will have a yard to run around in and they will get the same loving they get here. These friends of ours are wonderful. I feel so at peace to know my kids are going to be loved and well taken care of. God has blessed us with wonderful friends and yes of course family. We truley believe that God was looking out for our kids to make sure they will be safe and loved while we are gone doing his work. I have also learned how to crochet. All though I am not good at it but I am learning and looking forward to more teachings. I know I will learn from villagers there. I hope they have the patience for me. LOL My blankets are nothing compared to crochet. LOL My goal is to keep you all up to date with our travels but as for pictures those will wait till we get back. I don't want to take up too much of the computer time we have there. I did buy some journals so I am good there. Talk to you all soon.

Julie and Kevin