Z.a.M.b.I.a Update

Over the river and through the woods to ZAMBIA we go!  Well, not really a river, more like the Atlantic Ocean, and through a few more places than just the woods! But you get the idea... In a little less than 5 months, our family of 4 will be hopping on a jet to live and serve in Chongwe, Zambia for 1 year.  I have to tell you all, it is becoming SUPER REAL!  Our adventure that God dreamt up and placed in our hearts is going to be here before we know it.    So much has been going on lately so I thought I would fill you in on the latest:
-Adoption homestudy is complete.  We are just waiting on our adoption lady to complete the paperwork and for me to have my physical(which is tomorrow). After those two things are done, we can send in the approved homestudy to the U.S. government.  They will then (hopefully) clear us to be eligible to adopt internationally.  When we arrive in Zambia, one of our first tasks will be to go register this information with the Zambian government.  This will expedite the process of us finding our child over there.  I was so blessed to be able to talk to a fellow adopter from Zambia recently and it was soooo helpful!  She and her husband got home a few months ago with their baby girl.  They are just up in Minneapolis so we are looking forward to talking to them again and meeting them someday!  There aren't too many U.S. families that have adopted from Zambia so this could be a great connection.  I love how God provides, even when we didn't even think to pray for this!  Finally, we have really been praying lately about God making it clear to us who we are to adopt and for His provision in all the details-the more we learn about Zambian adoption, the crazier and more difficult it seems...so please pray that God will prevail above all rules and regulations.
-Our house is on the market...yes, you read that correctly.  We prayed and prayed over this decision and in the end, felt this was a better decision than renting.  We are SAD to let go our house and leave our AMAZING neighbors-words can't begin to describe-can't quite talk about that yet.  But being halfway across the world and worrying and wondering about what is happening back at our house and if the mortgage was getting paid was not our idea of "leaving it all behind to serve God".  We are doing it for sale by owner and trusting that if it is God's will to be sold, it will sell.  3 showings in and 1 more scheduled tomorrow, so thankful for God's provision already in bringing in potential buyers.   And...if you know of anyone looking for a great 4 bedroom house with finished basement in Ankeny, let me know!  wink-wink...:)  I couldn't be a sales person if I tried-but this is my valiant effort!
-The container that we were able to put some needed household items on(things that are way too expensive or even impossible to get in Zambia) is making the trek across the ocean as we speak.  Can't even begin to explain how weird that our stuff is just floating along right now!  Please pray it arrives before we do-it should, but you never know...
-Getting kids passports this week, meant to do this a while ago, but SOMETHING always came up!  I think it only takes about 6 weeks after you apply for one so we should be good though.
-Mickey just got signed up for the Farming God's Way conference in Livingstone, Zambia in September-so right after we arrive, we will head up there so he can learn all about this program and then implement it into the village we will be living in!
-I am currently trying to figure out how I can help the teachers in the school Give Life has opened-there are about 90 kids right now and 2 teachers and not very many materials-not at all like where I taught here in Ankeny!  Lots of thinking and praying about this going on...
-Support is coming in and we couldn't be more in awe of God's goodness through the giving of many generous people.  Thank you-it is more appreciated than you will ever know and we pray God is blessing you because of your gift.  And for those of you who are still thinking about supporting us, we ask that you take that step.  This year will not be possible without the help of all of you.  If you would like to hear more about what we are doing or how the whole donation to Gospelink works, please call us, shoot us a text or email.  We would be more than happy to share with you vision God has given us for our year in Zambia.

Well, that is it for now, I am probably forgetting some major things but it is Sunday night, the hubs is working, and after a ladies retreat this weekend where I got NO sleep (post coming about that next!), my brain is fried.  So, until next time!  God Bless!

The Beauty of Zambia