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| Off we go! |
By Natasha
At long last, we (Tim and Natasha) are off! Our original plan was to depart on the 15th, but we figured the last-minute preparations were worth the time in the long run. We are forever grateful to Nick and Lana for putting up with us packing and sleeping on their couches for a couple days longer than we had planned. (We know you would do the same for us!)
At long last, we (Tim and Natasha) are off! Our original plan was to depart on the 15th, but we figured the last-minute preparations were worth the time in the long run. We are forever grateful to Nick and Lana for putting up with us packing and sleeping on their couches for a couple days longer than we had planned. (We know you would do the same for us!)
The last two days were just a blur, but so much was accomplished. Monday saw us re-packing, yes RE-packing, to be more space efficient. What a pay-off: all of our stuff now fits in the Landy nicely! We’re still a bit full, including bags in the back seats, but much of what we have now will be consumed and/or shared when all four of us meet up in Italy. It’s both challenging and humbling thing to transition your life from a typical flat or apartment to the back of a Land Rover. In the end we had to ship more things to the USA for storage. Shockingly, we learned that a small 1-bedroom flat holds much more than we thought!
On Tuesday all four of us met up in London in time to watch Big Ben strike 12 noon for our final time. It was characteristic London weather: cold and rainy! We wouldn’t have had it any other way. As the last two weeks have been, it was all-surreal, to be in the city for what may be the last time for a long time. Very bittersweet, but it was a fitting farewell!
We could have “set sail” by Tuesday evening, but decided that driving to the port in the dark and in the rain, coupled with traveling in France in the wee hours of the morning, didn’t bode well for our health and safety. For the last 2 weeks, there have been multiple “all-nighters” and very few hours of sleep. We are looking forward to a few lay-in’s in Europe to catch up on our sleep!
On Wednesday morning, after a day of nonstop rain, we were blessed with clear skies and bright sunshine. We wore our sunglasses for the first time in months! As we took off down the A3 bound for the Dover-Calais ferry, so many thoughts ran through my mind: “This is it! Can’t believe it’s happening! Here we go, bound for Africa, our ‘adventure of a lifetime’ ”. That’s a phrase that commands so much expectation, yet in reality, at this moment, I realize there will be so many unexpected events along the way. That is what makes the adventure, I think. But I’ll admit, it’s daunting!
On Tuesday, I was moved by the following verses, Romans 15:5-6:
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the last few weeks, we’ve been going at an insane pace to pack up our lives so we can enjoy our trip. But why are we stressing at all? This passage reminded me to let go of the details and take hold of the big picture that God has prepared for us: He has made it possible for the next 5 months to be simply about Him and his people, and how our hearts are to be changed forever. Now that’s a statement that commands expectation! But I’ll take it on, because I know that God is both behind and in front of it. What a time this will be.
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