LVI-JNB-DXB-IAD-DCA-DTW-SEA-HNL-SLC-DCA-IAD-DXB-JNB-LVI…

 

 

Departing Livingstone on December 2 was just the beginning of my frequenting more airports than I care to on my journey to the states.  God has bestowed many blessings on me this year, but the best was having the funds to go visit my family in the states.  For those of you who don’t know, the end of this year brought two new additions to our family…my niece, Aleah Jean, and my nephew, Oliver Lawrence.  Having been gone for about a year, I was ready to have a break from ministry in the villages of Zambia going to see my family and carry out all my Auntie duties!!

 

When I first arrived I spent a few days with my parents before they departed to Hawaii to see their third grandchild!!  After that, I headed out to Salisbury, MD to see my brother and his wonderful family.  Their oldest, Mason, is now three and how I have missed seeing him grow in these early years.  What a beautiful reunion getting to spend a whole week with him baking cakes, building gingerbread houses, going to parks and the zoo, cooking dinner, washing dishes, and so much more.  As if that wasn’t enough, I also got to meet his new little sister…Aleah, born in October.  Aleah isn’t quite as animated as her older brother, she was still a delight to spend time with and to love on. I enjoyed the mornings and evenings with my brother and sister-in-law, catching up about things that have happened this past year and looking forward to what the future might hold.  Praying for their continued adaption to having two children while building and growing their family. 

 

Shortly after I returned from Salisbury, I hopped on a plane to see my sister and brother-in-law in Hawaii!!  I know, how we suffer to visit our families :)  I haven’t seen them in nearly two years since they have been out here, so I was very anxious to get here and be reunited!!  Since being here, we have done many amazing things, as well as, just relaxing and hanging out.  My sisters firstborn, Oliver, is such a wonderful baby.  He is now about 5 weeks old and growing everyday.  It is amazing the change I have seen in just the couple weeks I have been here, I can’t imagine how big he will be next time I get to see him.  Christmas here is much different than the east coast…I have never been to the beach on Christmas Eve before!!  The weather is nice and warm, so a different experience, but fun nonetheless. 

 

In addition to all the wonderful family time I am getting in, I was reunited with my best friend from middle school, who happens to live on O’ahu.  She took me out for my first time surfing and got me up on a board catching a few small swells before the days end.  I have also experienced and Hawaiian Nativity Canoe ride at the Polynesian Culture Center, while meeting a local TV celebrity on Hawaii Five-O.  The family has been out boating, swimming, and fishing in the gorgeous waters of Kailua, embracing the beautiful creation all around us.

 

I will be here until the first week of January when I return to Maryland for a few more days before heading back to Zambia!!  Thank you all for your continued support through this past year and partnership spreading the gospel to the people of Mukamba.  Praying I get a chance to connect with everyone while I am here visiting!