Well, the time has  come.... These past four days my family and I have spent our  time together in St. Lucia, SA debriefing.  We had our final days of ministry last week, its still weird to think about. Since Cherish was through I spent the better part of my week helping out with a woman's retreat that Children's Cup put on. All of the ladies that work at the care points around Manzini- Mbabane came out for three days of praising God. We were able to hand out a pair of Nike's to all of the bo makes (moms) and bo gogos (grandmas) that were there. The husbands came and also got a pair of Nike's and a meal.  We had a "store" where they went through and got to pick out 20 items, all free of charge.  Jill, Alene, Sarah K, and I got to do games with them on Wednesday afternoon. This is defiantly one of my favorite memories from this trip .... We played musical chairs and did the limo with them. You'd be surprised how crazy bo gogos get trying to get a chair when the music turns off. It was amazing seeing these ladies who look like they can barely walk push the younger girls off of chairs.

Friday, our family ministry day was spent painting our friend Julie's house. I really enjoyed getting to paint and being able to bless one of our friends while spending time with my family. It was a great way to finish out the year.... Which isn't quite over yet..... When we get back from debrief, tomorrow, we'll have four days before we leave for home.  I'll have to go to the care point where I've become close to an11 year old girl, named Ianda and say good-bye. We'll also have to say good-bye to the people like Phumlie, Swazie, amd Gugu- the ones that we've become the closest to over the past 4 months.

And then still, on the 15th we'll have to say good-bye and part ways with this family of ours. Thinking about that day makes me cry...  We've already started planning out when we're going to visit each other. This is going to be the hardest good-bye I've ever had to do. Please keep us in your prayers as we head back home to North America. Our plane flies out on the 13th and we land around 6:30 AM on the 14th  in DC.  I personally will be flying in to DFW at 11:30 AM on the 15th. ( We have a one day debrief with all of the FYM teams in Georgia on the 14th.) So this is it, my last blog before I get back to the states...

I'd like to thank you all again for all of your love, prayers, and support. God has truly blessed me through all of you. I know that with out all of your prayers I never would have made it through this semester as I did. Christ worked amazingly in my life and has changed me forever. I thank all of you for continually lifting my family (team) and I up these past couple months. After all we've been through God has shown Himself faithful and just. We truly serve an awesome God. Let us never forget the death and resurrection, the blood that was shed for each one of us. Let us never take Him for granted again. The Lord has given us so much, we have so much to be thankful for, take a moment now and look at your life. Thank Him for everything you see, because I  guarantee its 100 times  more than what over half the world outside of North America has and truly look at your life and the world around you with open eyes.