Her heart.

Her peace.

Her gentleness.

Her smile.

Her offered hand.

How she stoops down to their world.

How she tickles.

How she catches crushed ice cubes in her mouth on the walk home.

How she prays so deeply.

How she radiates His Light.

How deeply she gives of herself for the edification of others.

How naturally and quickly she became Auntie.

How we are going to miss

Our Angela.

A week from today we will be commissioned by our sending agent. It will be the last step of orientation before we all spread out all over the world to share the Gospel.

Next week will be a week of goodbyes, celebrating our time here. There will be an open house at Rachael and Abi’s school, allowing them a chance to rejoice in all their hard work and share the fruit of some of the greatest social studies lessons they have ever received. How their worldview has expanded. How their hearts have grown. It’s quite beautiful to witness.

Then there’s goodbyes to the teachers who have become family. There’s goodbyes to the affinity mates who are family. I can tell you right now that there will be a lot of tears. Happy tears and “I miss you already tears”. Hugs we hope to carry for years.

…and then we will just drive away.

I can’t predict how that will feel. We are such different people than the family who first drove in through the gate. Different and yet the same.

I don’t think I can be prepared for all the emotions that are just beginning to hit about saying goodbye. We are walking into that new season of goodbyes. See, coming here it was a season of “see you in a few months” and now it is a season of “see you in years”. But it is also a bittersweet reality that our family is about to walk into a really intense and hard setting, and we cannot take our dearest confidants with us.

I am so thankful we don’t walk alone, for the Greatest Confidant holds our hand through all these goodbyes. He holds our hands and our hearts. As He reveals this plan He has laid before us. Open us, Jesus. Open us to Your plans.

And then we will get on a plane and fly 17 hours across the incredibly big ocean, stepping off the plane into the great unknown…

But I can tell you one thing: in the midst of all the goodbyes that hurt so deeply there will be one hello. And then another hello. Followed by a team of hellos as we step into the Moz family. No, they won’t replace anyone here on this side of the ocean, our hearts will still ache for our friends and family. We’re told we’ll get used to the ache until it becomes our new normal and we will cherish the times we share with our friends and family all the more.

But I am thankful to know that after this season of goodbyes there will be a season of hellos.

This is the Body of Christ.

In all her beauty.

The sheer freedom.

The utter delight.

We all have felt it.

The weekend!

Here’s a look at a few weekends full of fun while we’ve been here at orientation.

One weekend Goga and Gopa visited.

We enjoyed a yummy meal out together and an afternoon of hanging out and showing them around campus. They even got the girls little stuffed animals to hug ona nd leave for the next kiddos coming through orientation. Such heart. So sweet.

WAHOO!!!

We always love getting to spend time with them.

Another Saturday Grandma and Grandpa came in our direction on their way to vacation.

We enjoyed their hotel pool, lunch together, showed them around campus, and enjoyed a game of Ticket to Ride while the littles slept.

(She looks like she’s getting away with something)

I’m so thankful for family love and support. But the best part is ALWAYS getting to exchange hugs.

We love you both. Thanks for making our weekends so amazing.

She had been trying so hard. She was bound and determined. They may be big and fast, but she is so confident that she is huge. 

Always the last one. Little legs can easily fail you. But she just kept trying. Determination convinced her of Olympic gold. 

That’s when she turned around and saw her. Everyone was going to make it. Gold, silver and bronze. But what is earned for fourth place? 

In the blink of an eye she did a 180. The finish line within fingertips. That’s when she discovered the real race. And that’s when she gave up the gold to go encourage her little sister’s pursuit of bronze. 

She didn’t have to. Long legs and experience almost always win. 

But her beautifully compassionate heart stooped low to go back for the smallest. 

I only caught it in a flash. She wasn’t doing it for anyone but just her sister. Her precious cheers of encouragement. And as they approached the finish line, Rachael hit the brakes and let Eden win her accomplishment. 

There was no prize for fourth place.

… No prize except for a full heart.

– Oh the lessons He teaches me through her big heart.

– Treasuring it all in my heart.

We’ve had some wonderful opportunities around here for the past almost 7 weeks. It’s so crazy to think that we’ll be wrapping up our time here in the next two weeks. Where did the time go?

I mean during all this time we have gotten to:

Play in the rain.

Go fishing.

Go to cross-cultural worship times.

Ride the city bus with friends.

And even some really great family movie nights with our quad mates.

So as the last two weeks begin our transitions to the ends of the earth, I just can’t help but thank the Father for opening His heart in delight to us through those we have embraced during this opportunity. We don’t deserve such blessing. We don’t deserve such love. It truly has been such a wonderful opportunity for the past almost 7 weeks.

– Thankful, grateful and beyond blessed.

– 26 days until we cross the ocean.

It wasn’t a normal goodbye in their classrooms. No, not a hug at the door as they dance into intentionality crafted lesson plans. This time it was outside of the airport.

Do you have your passports? Here’s your bags.

The hustle and bustle. The chaos and confusion amidst goodbye hugs.

Immediately they were absorbed into the airport rush. A swarm of uniforms and smiling faces. Passports checked and on to ticketing.

“Why are you going to Mozambique?” she was questioned while struggling to keep track of her baggage and her preschooler in tow.

She and her sister choked back hysterical laughter as they later told me of elaborate broken computer problems in ticketing and malfunctioning staplers played out by familiar faces.

Then came the lady speaking French that no one understood. What exactly were they supposed to do with their bags? Body language overcame language barriers.

Then extra fees for stuffed animals! And confiscated toothpaste!!

And that delayed flight that took “forever” of just waiting… and waiting…

Why not use the bathroom while you wait? Only to discover your bags stolen upon your return!

Calming a sad four year old. Finally you were able to board the plane.

No snacks for anyone not in first class.

“Turbulence!!!” as the walls rattle and the girls struggled to relay that part through choking laughter.

And then finally you successfully arrived in Africa!

I just adore how the teachers are so intentional to prepare these little ones for life ahead. Such deliberation. Such intentionality.

Oh, of course, they add in the fun. Afterall, they do just adore these little ones. But a hint of experienced truth permeates the lessons. Intentionality breathes confidence into little hearts, encouraging, “You can do this. Even when it goes wrong. This is doable.”

I love how the teachers are shaping their new normal.

Familiarity.

Encouraging helpfulness.

Easing anxiety.

One deliberate step at a time.

– Thankful, grateful and beyond blessed.