The Final Countdown

In less than two weeks, we will be on a plane (several, in fact) bound for MAF's training base in Australia.  So what is involved in moving a family overseas?  Every time I turn around there is another task to be accomplished, from the important to the mundane.  Let me give you a taste of some of the last minute details.  

Once our flights were booked, Tim applied for our Australian visas (the PNG visa application is more complex and was initiated months ago). The last few weeks have been a blur of medical appointments (doctor, dentist, optometrist, vaccines), meetings at the bank and the law office to ensure everything is in order to be handled from overseas, and final connections with churches and friends. Because of the generous loan of a vehicle from friends, we were able to sell our van with lots of time to spare.

Sometimes a treat is required as a reward for all those pokes and jabs.

While Hannah had the flu, I sat on her bedroom floor keeping her company and working on the more mundane projects: Sorting a limited variety of ribbon, thread and supplies into my sewing box; writing my Pinterest recipes out on to cards so that I can cook without my phone; and organizing larger kids clothes by size and packing them into Ziploc baggies.  All of our belongings are being organized into the smallest and lightest format. 

Packing little things into Tupperware or Ziplocs to keep out moisture.

We have decided to use excess baggage on the airline, rather than sending a shipment by sea, and this has meant rethinking our packing choices.  We had been planning to ship large airtight drums with as much weight as necessary.  Now the challenge is to pack our belongings into totes with maximum total dimensions of 62 inches and weighing no more than 50lbs.

Sorting station in the basement.  Some things will go; others will be in storage.

We spent this past weekend in Peace River saying goodbye to good friends and our home church.  We moved away from Peace River in July, so we were able to give an update on our journey since then and celebrate being fully-supported and ready to go.

Prayer from the elders of the church

Hannah insisted on getting her time at the microphone as well.  We agreed, thinking she would clam up when put on the spot.  We couldn’t have been more wrong! Since her contribution was unrehearsed, I’m not sure exactly what she said, but it went something like this: “My dad is going to fly an MAF plane to take sick people to the hospital and people who are hurt and they can have their germs taken out of them… and he’s going to fly Bibles and food and toys to people who don’t have them.”  It was a privilege to be commissioned by our church for God’s work overseas.  

Hannah's turn at the mic

Please continue to pray for us this month as we travel and begin flight training and language school in Australia.  Look for our newsletter to arrive in your inbox or mailbox in the next week or two.  If you don't receive our newsletters but would like to, please drop us a line at tneufeld@maf.org