Preparations

This is our second time to prepare to move to a foreign country and we thought we pretty much knew what was needed and what we had to do in order to get there. However, things don't always happen like you plan them. We received an email a few days ago from Ecuador stating that our invitation that we need from the churches there in order to get our visa will be delayed by another month. Meaning we won't be able to apply for the visa here until we receive those papers, moving our departure date back. So it now looks like we won't be able to leave here until the beginning of January 2011. In some ways it is a blessing to be able to spend more time with our friends and family here, especially over the holidays. As well it would be a new beginning for everyone when we arrive there in the new year.

However, at the same time it is hard to think we won't be arriving there yet and we have all this time here to continue in the plans for getting there. We still have to continue to think about getting our visas and how all the paperwork will get done and the time frame in which it will get done. We still have to think about what items we will need to pack, what things we still need and how that is going to get done. We also have the worries about all of the funds we need to get in order to move and how that is all coming together. But through our past experiences in Brazil and trying to get there, we know that God always has his plans in place that always are better then ours. He knows what we need to get our visas, what we need emotionally and spiritually, what we need financially and so much more. So in God's timing we will make it to Cuenca, Ecuador to serve him in sharing our faith in Him to the people there.

Some of the things that we have been doing while here in Canada are securing our funds, visiting with family and friends, writing letters and emails, finding odd jobs, going to school and so much more.

We have been visiting many different congregations around Canada and sharing our experiences in Brazil and our plans for the future in Ecuador. It has been great sharing what has happened and the lives changed in Brazil but just as exciting to be able to dream and share our vision of the future in Ecuador.

We have been living most of the time with Len and Carol and been able to share our time with them and the kids are enjoying spending time with their grandparents, as well as their Auntie Leah, Uncle Craig and their cousin, Lena and Uncle Josh. We were also blessed to make a trip out to B.C. to visit my parents, Alan and Janice. It was the first time that they were able to meet Calen in person and enjoyed getting to know their only grandson. We were also blessed to visit with the kids Auntie Mikaela, Auntie Naomi, Uncle Murray and cousins, Abigail and Kyra. And now that we have more time we plan on making another trip to visit my side of the family.

As we wait for our new work in Cuenca, Ecuador we have found a few odd jobs to keep us busy and to help with some of our expenses. One job we had was delivering mail for Canada post, another is cleaning a house and the last is working with inner city kids after school. They have helped us feel like we are at home a little bit more then just kind of in-between things.

One major thing for us is going to school. Okay so only one of us is actually in school. Basically since Ceara started talking she has been asking to go to school. We decided that in order to give her some more structure and feel like she's got a home right now, we decided to put her in preschool. She is going Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings for two hours. She goes to a church preschool so she's even getting the basic understanding of the bible stories and learning more about God as she learns the basics of school life. She loves every minute of school and never misses us when she's gone. This is a great thing for her because when we get to Ecuador we will put her in school so that she can adapt quickly to the culture, the language and the people. I know she will adjust quickly no matter what but it is nice that she has something to call her own and to enjoy. For the rest of us we are starting some school, more like language learning. We have gotten a few books and movies for the kids in Spanish and just the other day they watched one that taught them the numbers. That night Calen started to say his numbers in Spanish, one listening and he already can count to ten. I know he will learn quickly, now let's hope I can transition to Spanish quickly too.

We definitely are looking forward to our time in Cuenca, but will continue to enjoy the time that God is blessing us with here in Canada. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as we wait for our visas, as we secure our funds and for the people that will be changed when we get to Cuenca, Ecuador.