Halls

Halls
July 2015

Friday, June 28, 2013

June News from the Halls



June 2013: Goodbye to Kabwe



How does one say goodbye? Goodbyes are big part of mission life. Many come and many go and then one day it is also time for you to go. We have had to learn that if you are sad at goodbyes it is a good thing because it proves that you have loved. Zambia has been a great time for us all. We have met and worked with some great people these past five years.

            But now the house is full of boxes and piles to sort; rooms to paint and pets to give away; a car to sell and a house to rent out. By the time you get this update we pray that this is all in place.

Transition:
How do you prepare yourself to enter into a different phase, a different culture, a different worldview and a different people; from driving on a different side of the road, from single lane roads to six lane roads; from being a novelty and a hope for many to being just one in the crowd. Ready to go, yet not ready to leave.
Ethiopia
This is not at all a goodbye to Africa, albeit a temporary “see you later”, as we now take time for a type of sabbatical. My times among the Masai, in the swamps, in the bush with some great men and women of God who still cook over an open fire with smoke in their face, kids with no shoes and snotty noses. Working in Ethiopia, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania have all been incredible times seeing people hungry for God, for many all they have is faith to live on for they have nothing else. There is so much that we can learn from them.


Goodbye and Hello:
Goodbye to the sweet smell of the African rain, as well as the dusty roads and potholes.Goodbye to Africa’s open plains and the challenges that Africa brings. Goodbye to the late afternoon sun that gives its beautiful deep red tint on all it touches.
But with every goodbye there is a new hello. New people, new places, new challenges and new adventures. We have been working and ministering to the people of Africa for many years and now we come to work and minister to the people of a different land, to be a blessing where we are and to those  whom we are with. And this, perhaps, is what we look forward to the most.



The way forward:
            We arrive in Seattle on the 3rd July and off to the fireworks of Independence Day. The schedule is busy as we will be visiting family and friends until mid-August; then off to Florida where we will be working with YWAM Tampa for about six months. The girls are registered in the local ACE school and of course there are a lot of mixed emotions wrapped up their hearts. There is the look of excitement and worry all in the same smile. It is easy to think that they are Americans, but what are they? American dad, Danish mom, both raised in Africa, they have lived in Africa 90% of their lives; there will be a lot going through their minds. Excited about new gadgets and “stuff” in America, but will miss the simplicity of life here.

Thank you all for continuing to stand with us in so many different ways. Please keep us in your prayers during these next few months of great transition. And don’t hesitate to drop us a note and let us know how we can be praying for you.

Love and blessings,
From Lyle and Jette, Rachel, Acacia, Mikaela and Naomi

Our new prayer card



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