big news

I'm really sorry that I've been so negligent of this blog.  I promise that my thoughts are with you, my friends, even though I haven't had the time to post!

So, some of you may have already heard our big news either through Facebook, or through church circles.  We are moving to Zambia!  My love has been appointed as a full-time lecturer of theology at Covenant College in Petauke, Zambia.  You can read more about the college and its related ministries here: http://www.zambianmissionsupport.org/covenant-college/

As you can imagine, there are many details and logistics that must be worked through as we prepare to go.  The term starts again at Covenant College on 15 February, and Lord willing we intend to be in Zambia before that date so that we have time to settle in a little bit before David dives head-first into teaching full-time!  However, we only have about five weeks to get everything done at this point!  We have a few trips planned between now and then - to Skye for a friend's induction, to Wales for a friend's wedding, and then. . . drum-roll please. . . to the States in January!

Yes, we are coming to the States.  We are so excited and thankful that the Lord has provided for this!  If you are in or near Philadelphia, Norfolk, Charlotte or Greenville, SC -- we may be coming to a church near you!  There are many purposes for this trip, among which are 1) renewing our driver's licenses, 2) sorting through our stateside belongings, 3) visiting family, and 4) sharing about the work in Zambia in a few churches that are near and dear to us.  We want to enlist your prayers for the labors and laborers there.  And in the process of doing so, we are looking forward to seeing many of you, our dear friends!  :-)

We'd appreciate your prayers for many things -- here's a few:
1) For all the nitty-gritty and very tiring details to come together smoothly.  Such as: our research into international medical insurance, wills and naming next-of-kin (not-so-enjoyable but necessary), shipping companies (cost, logistics, etc), the purchase of a suitable vehicle and possible shipment of said vehicle (again, cost, logistics, timing, etc), the process of David's ordination in the FCoSC (our denomination), the oversight of our Home & Foreign Missions committee as they help sort through all the details with us, the process of applying for a work permit in Zambia and jumping through all the necessary hoops on that end, all the major and minor purchases that must be made, wisdom to know what we should take with us and what we should leave behind (and where we should leave it).  Complicating all of this is the fact that we are already living in two countries at once (half our belongings are still in the States) and so we will probably end up with things in storage in both countries.  Those are just some of the things that are weighing on us these days!

2) For safety in all our travels, for strength and endurance and patience and good health for all of us, and particularly for Elijah as I think he's going to be one of the most widely-traveled babies by the time he is one year old!  He has many hours in buses, trains, and airplanes ahead of him, poor wee man.  So far we are very thankful that it appears the Lord has blessed us with a son who is a good traveler, but we continue to pray for these travels to be as easy upon him as possible.

We are very, very excited about this new place God is leading us to.  Some have expressed surprise that we are leaving Scotland.  We are surprised (in a way) to be leaving Scotland -- we didn't have any "intention" of leaving, nor any indication until now that we might be, but we were seeking the Lord in all these things and open to following wherever He led, and He has made it very clear that He brought us to Scotland for a purpose, and now He is taking us to Zambia for a purpose.  And we are very thankful for His continued guidance and provision.  It is encouraging to have direction!

I will try to post more photos soon -- but if it takes a while, have patience (but don't give up on me!).  As you can see from the list above, we will have a lot calling for our attention, and you can add to my list a baby and a husband who both need lots of cuddles and attention and care each day!  :-)