A Special Thanks

By All

As we get ready to depart on this incredible journey, we wanted to dedicate a blog entry to say thank you to everyone who has helped make this dream become a reality! And to show our love on this V-day!

To our God... I know, sounds like a cheesy acceptance speech or something you would read inside a CD cover.. but seriously, we know that You are the One going ahead of us on this trip. We know that we could not have pulled it all together if it was not for Your provision and blessings. Thank you for making the visa processes almost completely pain free! We are truly amazed! Thank you for connecting us with amazing, passionate, soulful people who helped make this trip what it is becoming. And thank you in advance for Your protection, provision and miracles we’ll see along the way. We’re just learning more and more about loving from experiencing Your love for us.

To all who have given financially to the work of this trip - We promise to be good stewards with these gifts and pray that God will lead us to the needs to be fulfilled in the projects, missions and organizations we will be connecting with on this trip.

To everyone who attended and gave to our Living Hope Charity event - thank you for making the effort! We were able to raise enough for a years worth of support for Living Hope’s D.A.D.(Dollar a Day) Life Skills Awareness Program.

To Winston at St John Ambulance - thank you for imparting your wealth of knowledge and experience of what is “First Aid”. You were so kind to take the time to address our specific questions and concerns, even when they diverted from the main course of topics. We feel very prepared to handle CPR, ABC’s, ... oh and snakebites!

To Ray at Land Rover Driving Experience at Rockingham Castle -for your wealth of experience you imparted. You taught us how to truly respect the capabilities and power of the vehicle. We feel a lot more ready to take on the challenges and experiences we’ll have on the African roads. Thank you also for all the tips; we will definitely heed them!

To Ray and Winston both - thank you for the “in case of emergency” cellphone numbers. Hopefully we’ll never have to use it!

Tim and Natasha would like to thank:

To Alex - you rock! Not only have you become a part of the team (and we look forward to meeting up with you in the heart of Africa), but you have become a partner and “ambassador” of this trip in the US. Thank you for all the help and support with your knowledge and equipment to capture this experience and what we’ll be witnesses of on this trip... we’re novices when it comes to filming... we’re hoping to be experienced amateurs at the end of this (thanks to all your guidance!!). Thank you also for being our and the trip’s biggest fan and for “campaigning” for this trip. We appreciate and love you man!!

To Andre - Little did you know that when you offered to bring over anything to the UK we forgot to get in the US, that we would take you up on that in a BIG way! Words can not explain how grateful we are to you for being our “mule”! If it weren’t for you we would have had to pay tons on shipping.. so thank you for bringing our T-shirts, video equipment and for just being the genuinely generous guy you are. Pity we missed you, but looking forward to catching up somewhere in the world!

To Andrea - for all your help with taking care of and handling all the Arbonne UK stuff.. thank you for being so sweet in offering to help and take that stress off my shoulders. Offering to sell it and to make a donation to our fundraising was probably the most thoughtful and generous idea. You are a sincerely sweet woman of God.. and no one deserved the “Heart of Arbonne” award more than you!

To Bernard and Lanie - Thank you for helping us to see on this trip!! No but seriously, thank you so much for the gas lamps that we are sure will be put to good use. And Bernard, you have no idea how much time, money and effort your consultation has saved us. Thank you for being so generous, patient in teaching me the ways of contact lenses, and for taking so much time out to help us! We love you guys and look forward to seeing you down there in a few months!

To Bruna - thank you for helping us and getting us connected to a GP so quickly and effectively so we could get all our vaccinations and consultations taken care of so quickly and economically. We’ll miss you sweet girl!

To the Fewells - our utmost thanks for making our UK experience a bit more like the US.. ha ha ha.. just kidding! But seriously, your unconditionally open doors to your home, hearts and time have granted us a haven in the madness that was our life in London (especially leading upto the trip). We look forward to the time when we all get to have Thanksgiving, watch football late into the night and sit having wine around toasty fires together again somewhere in the world. Our heartfelt thanks for being family and “kitchen” community.

To the Goodwins - thank you for inviting us into your family and as a result, you’ve climbed right into our hearts. We know that this is not “good-bye”, and only “until we meet again”. You all emanate love, generosity, kindness, faithfulness, and grace. We know that God is going to use your family in mighty ways and we look forward to seeing just what that is!

To Kate and John - Thank you so much for giving us “the water of life” for this trip! We love you guys and miss you greatly, but look forward to sitting down over a nice relaxing dinner and sharing Africa (specifically Rwanda) stories. Thank you for the water filter.. and we’ll return it so that you can take that epic adventure of your own!

To Mike Massingham - Thank you for all the connections to all the stellar people at African Encounter who have been very helpful and resourceful in planning our routes. More than that, your friendship means so much to us. We wish we had more times together outside “business” slash “missions trip” times, but we know that we’ll always have good times whenever we get together!

To Mt Zion (Tim’s dad’s church) - thank you for your partnership in the work we’ve been doing in Cape Town over the past 5+ years - the ‘Talents for South Africa’ program, and for teaming up as our prayer partners for this trip. We’re always so humbled and deeply moved by your generosity and faithfulness. We truly feel like we can never say thank you enough!

To Nicky - how cool that our next door neighbour was not only a Saffa, but an incredibly talented graphic designer when we needed one! Thank you so much for putting our visions literally to pen and paper.. but seriously, you designed exactly what we envisioned. You were very helpful and kind in coming up with what will now be our “logo” for the trip. Thank you so much for that.

To Nicole and everyone at Al-Lynn Sales - Thank you to everyone for sparking to get our shirts made and printed so that we could take it with us on the trip! Not only was it done in record time, but it looks incredible too. Thank you for your years of support, partnerships and love. We look forward to continuing doing “business” with you for many years to come!

To our Parents, Grandparents and Families - thank you for letting us do this because we know that this has taken a lot of sacrifice and given a lot of sleepless nights. Your blessing and support (prayerfully, financially, and countless gifts) have allowed us to make this dream a reality. We know you are concerned for our safety, and we would not expect anything less because you love us so dearly. We look forward to celebrating all that the Lord has done in and through you during this trip. Thank you in particular for your thoughtful Christmas gifts that were so sweet in helping this trip more fun and feeling like you will be with us. Thank you Mom and Dad, for the cookies, the driving around and the First Aid stuff!

To Patty - God made only one of you.. and I’m sure it was because there is just so much to you that He would have had to take superlong to try and recreate such an angel! We love you for your generosity, for your hard-working spirit, for always going above and beyond and for just loving us so unconditionally. Thank you for offering to update the Blog along the way... we know of quite a few people (especially our parents) who will be very grateful for you! Love you and hope to see you in Uganda ;)

To our Prayer Partners - we wanted to thank you for your faithful commitment on your knees not only during this trip.. but for praying so faithfully with and for us in the months leading upto today. Thank you for your words, pictures and encouragement.. but thank you also to those who have prayed so diligently in spite of your great concern for us.

To Ro, Marnieta and Reese - thank you for sharing our and for your own passion for Cape Town and Living Hope.. and for each being a representative to what we hold so dearly in your respective countries! We look forward to what will happen this June/July and our future partnership with you in ministry. That being said, we love each and every one of you in a very dear way. You all represent not only the Gifts of the Spirit living out in your lives.. but more importantly the Fruit.

To Sanctuary (Josh) - even though its been over 2 years and we only know about 1/3 of the people attending now... we still feel so loved, welcomed and at home everytime we are in town. Thank you guys for your partnership and support! Thank you also for all the interest in our T-shirts to help raise awareness and funding for the trip! You guys rock!!

To all at Selwyn (both rent and rent-free residents) - thank you for EVERYTHING! You have given us community, prayer, ministry, good laughs, wine, tea, coffee, and WAY too much food! Paul, you’re the closest to a Saffa a Brit will ever be (and that is a compliment)..and we’d like to think that we helped with that! ;) We love you all.. and look forward to meeting up with you all somewhere in the world! And most of all... we will miss you greatly! Thank you for sending us off and not ever making is feel like we are leaving you. Oh, PS. Harold is in very good hands!!

To Stuart, Paul, Nick and all the guys at Foley’s (as we’ve affectionately come to call Foley Specialist Vehicles) North of London who’ve not only been incredibly resourceful and knowledgeable about Land Rovers and Overlanding, but have also become friends in the process of exporting Tim and his Dad’s 2 Landy’s to the US, fixing up Nick and Lana’s Landy and prepping our hire Landy for the trip! You’ve been so incredibly patient and always made the time to explain all the vast unknowns to us. Your help has been invaluable and have always gone above and beyond and for that we are extremely grateful! It is safe to say that this trip would not have happened for us had it not been for you all!! A special shout-out to Nick for coming down to us in Putney to fix the alarm! We can now leave the car over night without having to disconnect the battery. :)

To SW London Vineyard (Neil and Kate) - thank you for taking a chance on us. We’ve truly grown in our faith, knowledge and confidence. Thank you for all your love, wisdom and encouragement imparted on us in our time in London. We truly feel like we have a home church to come back to when we’re ever in town again and that we are being sent and not leaving.

To Tannie Santa - Thank you for all the help with booking the Kruger and all the info on SA National Parks. We know you pulled quite a few strings to make it happen during the busy World Cup season.. so we really wanted to say a big thank you to you for this. You have made a distant dream of possibly being able to go become a reality for us. Thank you also for all the advice and tips on Spain and Morocco... can’t wait to experience it all! And for the towels!

To the Taylors - thank you for your countless blessings. You have blown us away by your wisdom and eagerness to impart it to us. We wish we had more opportunities to visit over some of Wendy’s delicious cooking! You’ve been an inspiration to us, to see how you love so unconditionally, and then to trust that God will handle the rest. Thank you for EVERYTHING! We love you.

To the Veales and the “Cutlets” - Thank you for always being our home away from home without any hesitation. We can’t imagine coming back to CT for a visit and not staying with you anymore... it has become the norm. You both give all that you have and so much more! Thank you for all your love and continued support and for always being there when we need you!

To the VBYE kids - thank you for one great year of fun and growth (for both you and us!). It is hard to leave you now, when the good stuff is just about to begin for all of you! Thank you for loving us and sending us. You will be missed - and we love each of you! Liking the book with pics and messages!

To the Wilders - Our “friends” (they’ll get the reference!)... we know you do what you do without wanting any recognition. But we are truly grateful for you and the way God has wired your hearts. Thank you so much for the incredibly generous support towards the trip, the Skype chats and for just checking in even when your own lives were crazy. We love you guys!

Oh and on a non-trip related note, thanks to Mandy for the World Cup tickets! We weren’t planning on attending a match, but just being there.. and now we actually get to go! Shot for that!

Nick and Lana would also like to thank:

To Hugh & Claire – for coming into our lives the way you have. You have introduced us to a whole new world of ½ price curry and chinese, it’s been delicious and memorable and we love you as a couple and as friends. Thank you for your gift for the trip, it is such a blessing and we are truly thankful. We cannot wait to share this experience with you when we return.

To Rachel Pistol – for your friendship and generosity. You always brighten up a room and definitely my life. Thank you for your gift and for wanting to be a part of this trip in some way, it means so much to us. Your angelic voice and contagious laugh will be sorely missed!

To Rachel O’Mahony – for your invaluable friendship, your smiles and laughter, your encouragements, your hugs, your positivity, your guidance and prayers. You have given in abundance and supported us throughout the planning of this trip and in more ways than one. Words cannot express how much that means to us. We have so much to look forward to when we come back, and I’m so excited to watch this friendship grow even though distance might separate us.

To Pat & Dana – for always opening your home to us and accepting us into your family. You have loved us, cared for us, nurtured us and fed us; London would be a lot lonelier and colder if it were not for you. We will miss you tremendously!

To Michelle – for being my energy, friend and confident at work. You are thoughtful and generous and always manage to put a smile on my face. Your gift for this trip was so incredibly special, the time and thoughtfulness you put into it have really touched my heart and I promise to put it to good use and share the memories with you when I return. I will always go to my “comfort zone” when I need to reflect, de-stress or just calm myself & in those times I will think of you. Love you Duffy!

To Emma & Martins - for sponsoring us so generously and believing in and supporting our trip, it means the world to us. Martin’s has left a footprint in my heart and I cannot wait to share my experience with you on my return. I will be thinking of Peter along the way!

To Trudy – for being such a wonderful neighbour. For keeping your eye on us, for baking us the most delicious apple crumbles, and for loving us like we were your own. Your gift for our trip was incredibly generous and we are truly grateful. We will miss you, but we promise to have you over for dinner again on our return.

To Julie & Duane – for being the best Kiwi friends we could ask for. It was heartbreaking not to be able to say goodbye to you Duane, but having Julie around made up for it. We hope to keep in close contact as we go our separate ways & perhaps the dream of the Vineyard in New Zealand will become reality one day. Thank you for your contribution to our trip, as naughty as it was, you knew it would be needed.

To Charles/Damo/Shaun – for your incredible “handymen” skills.

Charles you have been our strength in the preparation of our trip, we could not have “beefed up” Foxy the way we have if it were not for you. I’m not sure how we can THANK you as words do not feel adequate enough. You have given your time, your tools & your skills to help us and we are so appreciative!

Damo and Shaun, you guys ROCK with the paintbrush and of course coffee/tea making skills. You have made the work such fun and have kept Nick warm on the freezing cold days, THANK YOU! I love that we never really had to ask for help, you just offered ~ we love you guys!

To John – for being a book of knowledge and wisdom when it has come to our Land Rover. Your insight and advice has been priceless. Nick has learnt so much from you and we are thankful for having you as our neighbour.

To Matt & Bonnie – for parting with your legend car & allowing us to share in your experiences on your journey from Cape Town to London. This trip would probably have not fallen into place the way it did if we hadn’t found Foxy. Thinking of you during your pregnancy, we look forward to meeting the little man when we return ~ you are going to make amazing parents.

To Jacques Cilliers – for lending us your car, when ours “died”, as we needed to get to Foley’s to pick up our Land Rover. You trusted us with something valuable and never hesitated to say yes when we asked, so Thank You! Oh yes and for spoiling us with rusks and the best rooibos tea ~ you always manage to put a smile on my face ~ we promise to go fishing with you when we get back!

To Paul – for your abundance of generosity and selflessness, especially in the kitchen (your wine and your pasta/risotto dishes are to die for). You have been an incredible friend, confident and home group leader and your presence is truly going to be missed. We look forward to exploring the hills and valleys of France when we return; you have become my all time favourite wine buddy! We will of course take EXTRA special care of Harold; hope you don’t miss him too much!

To Sally & Bjorn – for their incredible generosity and help with the trip. For treating us to an incredible Thai meal and spoiling us to bits; and for their abundance of boxes that have been our saving grace in the packing process. You have really touched our lives in an amazing way. Thank you.