We may have been avoiding posting our 2012 plans because it’s a bit bittersweet. But, since we’re a week into the new year, it’s probably about time!

After four years in South Africa, we’ll be returning stateside early 2012. Our plans remain uncertain, but we’re excited about what God has planned for our family.

More than you know, we appreciate your prayers and support through this transition. In the past couple of weeks we’ve had some financial setbacks. A computer and Marc’s wallet (containing cash) were stolen and we had about $1200 in unexpected car repairs. We’re hoping to book plane tickets in a week, but right now we don’t have money for either ticket. If you’d like to give, you can find out more here!

But, we know God will continue to reveal his will for our next steps, and we’re confident He’ll continue to prove Himself faithful!

We sent out a newsletter this weekend sharing our plans for the next ten weeks. If you don’t subscribe, here’s a brief synopsis:

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With our visas expiring early next year, we have had a bucket list of ministries we’d like to visit and friends we’d like to see before leaving South Africa. We’re still unsure about renewing our visas, but we wanted to take the opportunity to see what other ministries are doing in Africa. Air travel within Africa is very expensive, so we’ll be driving. And camping (check out our tent here).

We’ll be traveling throughout Southern and Eastern Africa for the next couple of months. We’ll be visiting over a dozen ministries, we’re excited to be able to see what God is doing in other parts of this continent! We’re excited to have the opportunity to share our hope in Christ in other parts of Africa.

This will also be Katie’s first experience camping (in a tent outside of her parent’s backyard anyway, which, according to Marc, doesn’t count!). Please pray for God’s hand of protection as we travel. Thankfully, friends have taken similar routes, so we feel well prepared for the two months on the road.

This is just another story of God’s provision, as well. Our friends in Cape Town have been so generous, loaning us camping equipment, and helping us get our truck ready for the long drive. Also, we really needed new tires for our truck and money was generously donated to cover most of the expense. When the money came in, the exchange rate changed in our favor and we were able to save about 10% off the price of the tires. With a few added expenses this month, that alone has made a big difference. It’s such a blessing to see how God consistently provides for our needs–often in unexpected ways!

Since Marc doesn’t think a Winnebago counts as camping, I’m about to embark on my first ever camping trip. And, to put it mildly, we’re jumping in with both feet. We’re leaving Saturday and we’ll be back sometime in early December. We’ll be visiting friends and family at over 12 different ministries throughout Southern and Eastern Africa, including our friends in Harrismith. We lived there for 3 years (and met there!), so it’ll be exciting to go back and visit friends.

We’re busy preparing out truck for the adventure. Here’s a photo of Marc and our friend, Rich, getting it ready this week! Yes, we’ll be sleeping on the roof.

A couple of weeks ago, we had kids from Marc’s music group over for an afternoon of games. We were running behind and I didn’t get the cookies baked before they got there. But, the girls were really excited to help!

The finished product!

Marc went to a “Man’s Breakfast” at our church on Sunday. So, our friend Amy and I hosted a little ladies get together at our house.

In this group, there are women that have literally lived all over the world: Zimbabwe, the UK, Germany…the list goes on.

We’re incredibly blessed to have such great friends!

A few weeks ago, our friends Sarah & Casey, had a bunch of kids from Ocean View at their house for youth group. Many of these kids are in Marc’s music group–so we came over as well.

Other missionary friends Karl & Julie, shared with the kids a Bible storytelling technique called Storying. It was a ton of fun and a great way to share (and remember) Bible stories.

Here’s a video from the night:

This week marks 42 months of living in Africa (or 3 1/2 years)!

It’d be the same day, but Marc stopped for Starbucks and missed his flight to South Africa, so it’s a day apart. Knowing what I know now about how popular instant coffee is here–it was totally worth it! I’d have done the same thing.

(These days people just give us Starbucks coffee as gifts–so no more missed flights!).

In all seriousness though, we’ve learned so much over the past 3+ years. God has been so good to us. He’s provided in such amazing ways.

I think that usually when we think about provision, we think about finances. And God’s been incredibly faithful in that area. We’ve always had what we need.

Lately, though, I’ve been thinking about the provision of relationships. I think friendships are something I’ve always taken for granted–I’ve missed my friends so much while living here over the past few years. But, I’m thankful for the friendship I’ve had with Marc since we’ve lived in Africa. It’s been such a blessing to me–definitely Godly provision.

And throughout the last 9 months, God has blessed our new friendships in Cape Town. We’ve been abundantly blessed by the people he’s brought in our path. So thankful!

I wrote last week about Baby Safe–it’s such a great organization that developed out of a real need in the community.

In addition to helping women find jobs, I’m also on a list to be a Mommy Mentor with Baby Safe. Basically, before someone can have an abortion in South Africa, they have to go through pre-abortion counseling. If someone decides not to go through with the procedure after this, they’re offered a “Mommy Mentor”–it’s just someone that will walk through their pregnancy with them.

I’m really excited to have the opportunity to walk through such a exciting season with someone. I’ll be able to offer practical help…things like how to baby safe at home, what they should be eating while they’re pregnant, and then things that totally intimidate me, like how to breast feed (I might need a little help with this one–thankful for my friends that are moms!).

I’ve been working with Baby Safe, a ministry in Cape Town. The ministry was birthed out of the realization that one of the consequences of poverty was that women were literally dumping their babies.

They’ve developed a Baby Drop–where women can anonymously drop their baby rather than dumping it (in places like the trash…). But, they’re also doing everything they can to prevent this by connecting with women before they get to this desperate point.

During a meeting yesterday one of the girls shared some unofficial statistics…

She said that when they’re working with women that are considering abortion, they ask them if they could ask for one or two miracles that would change their situation enough to not want to abort the baby, what would they be?

She said the majority of them say that if they had a job they would keep their baby.

It makes sense. They understand what it means to live in poverty–they know how difficult it will be to be a single, unemployed, mother. So, one of the things Baby Safe does as part of their holistic strategy is to help women get jobs.

I’m working with a handful of women to help them get jobs in the area–I’m excited to see how God uses this to change their lives! I’m totally encouraged by how faithful these women are in their desire to find a job to provide for their families.

We’re doing a weekly Bible study with the women. So exciting to see them grow in their faith as they develop their job-finding skills!

We posted a bunch of photos from the last few years here.

It’s been a crazy 4 years! It’s been fun looking back through the photos and seeing all God has done in our lives.

Enjoy!