They're on their way to Ethiopia!

Katie and De after graduation celebrating at TGIFridays with some dessert. Don't they look gorgeous?




The oldest kids at graduation. We left the little boys at home. Need I explain that decision??




Just 2 nights ago they were graduating and today they leave for Ethiopia! We don't do things half way, do we? We're gluttons for stress!


Blake, Katie, De and Zach are off on the first leg of their journey. We left for the airport at 4:45 this morning! Of course, we had to make a quick trip back because they forgot their travel pillows. We weren't far from home so no big deal. But when we were almost to the airport, Blake says, "We did get the Baby Taylor, didn't we?" (this is a small guitar he was carrying on) Nope, we did not have it. So Blaine's mom graciously woke the little boys up, loaded them and the other Baby into the car and brought them to the airport. Thank you Grandma!

I guess there IS a benefit to gathering all your luggage and belongings and putting them into one pile so the night before so it's easy to gather them up in the morning;) Hmmmm...lesson learned?? Listen to your mother.

They called from Dulles an hour ago when they landed. De's ears were hurting but Katie has Sudafed so he should do better on the next leg. Zach is coming down with a sore throat, so pray for him. Katie and Blake were doing fine. Blake said that De was already stuffing his face with a burrito so I guess things are pretty good:)

People keep asking me if it worries us to put them on a plane to go half way across the world. I have to say that is really doesn't. We know that God goes before them. He has a plan for them while they are away. He had a plan for them while they were here working and raising funds. He has a plan for them when they arrive back home. They already have been asked by a friends' church to come and share their trip with the congregation.

I know he has a plan for the people they whose lives they will touch in Korah. I know they will be a blessing to the church there. It will be a church with musical instruments, something they've never had before. I wonder how many people in the community will come to the church for the first time ONLY to see what strange thing is making such music. Guitars are not common in Ethiopia. I wonder how many of them will hear the gospel for the first time.

My sister in law, Pam has spent well over a month gathering materials for 760 kids to make a wordless bracelet. She has been to every craft store in our area, coupons in hand, sometimes having to put an item and coupon in her 7 year olds hands, to purchase all the beads and leather it requires to make the bracelets. If you haven't seen a wordless bracelet...they are made with a leather string and 5 beads...a grey or black one, a red one, a white one, a gold one and a green one. Each bead tells a story.

Grey or black represents sin...because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Red represents the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed to save and cleanse us from our sins.
White represents that when we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, our sins are washed as white as snow.
Gold represents heaven and how the streets there are made of pure gold!
Green represents new life and how we grow in our relationship with Jesus.

I wonder how many children will go home with these bracelets and share the wordless story with their families and they will hear the gospel for the first time. And even though they cannot read a word or speak English, their families will understand about a Savior who loves them enough to die for them.

To be honest, I'm more than a little jealous that they get to go do this and I don't! I'd love to be there but this is their time.

Thank you for your prayers, support, love, interest and encouragement. You have blessed them!

More as I hear...

Love,
Laura