I’m convinced more and more that the Kingdom of God is in the dropping off of a meal, the offering of free babysitting, and the bringing by of fresh cut flowers “because I thought you might need some beauty in this transition.” All of these things have been done for us this week (actually a handful of times), and I am so much more persuaded of the supernatural power of hospitality—to anticipate someone else’s needs and offer help before a word is even needed to be said. Meals are powerful—grilled chicken, baked potatoes, veggies, soup, rice, still warm brownies.... all vehicles of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If you can make a casserole, you can do the work of God. And if you can’t make a casserole, well, there’s always take-out, and that works just as fine. There is power in feeding people, it’s the downright truth. 🥘 We leave in 2 days and God is so close—right here, right now, in the tension. In 48 hours we will be headed to the airport to fly away from the home and country we love so deeply, not knowing when we will return. And I have supernatural peace. It’s a miracle. Friends, God is real. His love is real. His promises are real. The finish line of the last 9 years is in sight, and we’re running hard to finish well. He’s the proud Dad screaming His head off in the bleachers; His recognizable voice giving us courage and motivation to finish strong. 💪🏻 Pray for our next 48 hours. We’ve said so many goodbyes over the last several days, and have more to say even still. (And not to mention finish packing.) Pray for us! We appreciate it so much.
We have been crate-training Dodger for the last several weeks, preparing him for his big international move (yes we are taking our dog to America 😂). He was Brandon and I’s first child when he was a 4 week puppy, and now is 7 years old. It just wouldn’t be right for us to leave him here. Our vet here has been amazing in helping us with his immigration process and advised us in the best way to crate-train him. Basically, it’s all about introducing it to him in stages. The crate is imported from Italy (that’s not a fancy brag, that’s admitting this dang thing cost a lot 🤑), and comes disassembled. We first start him off by just getting used to laying in the bottom green section, then after a couple weeks we introduce the top white cover. So now that he doesn’t have a cone around his head (lest we not forget about how he almost became a 3-legged dog recently), he’s getting more of the full experience of the crate life. Last step will be adding on the door. With so much going on, I’m thankful this part of the move has been smooth and Dodger has taken to it well. 🙌🏻 So now we just pray he doesn’t have an anxiety attack on the airplane (it’s a real thing ya’ll) and arrives to America with as little stress as possible. We are flying KLM who is ranked number 1 in animal travel, so we know he’s in good hands! 🐶 Anyone else flown internationally with their pets? Don’t tell me your horror stories!! 🤪 #takingroute #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica
Things I will definitely miss: incredible, local, inexpensive produce. Massive avocados for pennies, mangos falling off our 2 trees by the bucket-full, bananas brought down the mountain each morning on the heads of the banana ladies to sell right around the corner from our house. It all makes me so happy. 🍌 This sight is not unusual (conjoined bananas), and neither are double-yoke eggs. 🥚God has blessed the soil here to be so healthy and we all get to reap the benefits of it. 🥑🥥🍍🍉🌽 #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica #takingroute
Yesterday was holy. 17 pastors that we partner with gathered to bless us with a commissioning back to America, and it was.... incredibly powerful. Our sweet friends wanted to have us over for a meal to say goodbye, telling us that some pastors wanted to see us one more time before we go. But soon the house filled with ministers, giving of their day to minister to our family. It was completely unexpected and we wept with the abundance of their blessing. Each pastor stood and shared how the message/call that God has placed on our lives has impacted them; how Brandon’s book has opened their eyes and hearts to see orphans and widows in their midst differently, and how they are fulfilling the call to care for the least of these in their own communities now in greater ways. One pastor stood up to share how at one of our Kingdom Families conferences he and his wife heard about the importance for children to be in families and have since brought in 2 vulnerable children from their village who he now calls his own children and loves them as his own. Another pastor shared how the trauma training seminar that we put on has now changed how he responds to children he hears crying in his community and how he approaches families differently who are struggling in their parenting. Another honored Brandon by saying that when he talks and interacts with Brandon, he forgets that Brandon is white and see’s him instead as a local. And still many others boldly encouraged us to not pack our bags, to come back to their country again very soon, and to not give up on this message of adoption... that all churches in their country needs to hear the message and that they do not believe we are done here. Friends... we wept. And it was healing. Their words were a balm on our souls and their encouragement was energy for the call God has on our lives. These pastors, each stood and spoke encouragement and honor to my husband and it was probably one of the proudest moments for me as his wife. He is so respected here and his commitment to this country, it’s culture, it’s language, it’s churches, and it’s families has impacted these minister’s in beautiful ways. They thanked me for (continued👇)
We fly out in exactly 2 weeks. 14 days left here, and it hasn’t fully hit us. The emotions are there, the workload is in front of us, but the fact that we don’t know the next time we will be in Tanzania again has not fully registered. Brandon and I were talking the other day, trying to have a short time of processing, in between working on stuff. And I said the transition and all the work required for it is something we can handle, something we have done before, something God is gracing us for. Our entire marriage and time overseas has been in a state of constant transition: it’s sorta the name of the game. The hard part for me is the not knowing when we will be back here. A year from now? 2 years from now? 5 years? That’s the hardest part. This has been home and leaving it with no return date is something I am laying down to God on the daily. We have loved raising our children here. We love the slower and simpler way of life here. We love the people here. We love and believe in the churches and families here. We feel so strongly about ethical missions, ethical development work, and ethical, Kingdom-based orphan care. And we have strived to maintain a standard of excellence when it comes to all of those. And let’s face it, we never will be done with this country—one of our very own is Tanzanian. This level of trust is supernatural; something we cannot do on our own. It’s a trust that has been cultivated over years of constantly laying it down and believing that He works ALL things together. And not just that, but with the attached promise that it’s for our GOOD. And so we say yes. And so we trust. And so we choose to not believe the lie that this is as good as it gets, but instead believe that even greater things are still to come. From Grace to Grace. From Glory to Glory. From Increase to Increase. It’s what we’re expecting and it’s what I’m claiming! We’re palms-up-people, because we trust the character of our God. We have a history with Him. He’s good, He’s for us, and He can be trusted with our whole lives. One foot in front of the other, one yes after another. There’s Grace for it all. #takingroute #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica
After an incredibly full few days of having multi-day moving sales at our home, the introvert in me was starving for some “nobody talk to me, ask me questions, or have me decide on another price” type day. 😆 We’ve craved some slower moments, so homeschool today will look like staying in our pajamas, listening to audio books while drinking chai masala tea, Mo taking a math test, doing crafts, and me secretly packing for our surprise safari tomorrow. The kids have no idea and I’m excited to wake them up early tomorrow morning to tell them to get dressed because there’s a safari truck waiting out in our driveway to whisk us away. We prayed for this opportunity to have one last family trip together here and because of God’s kindness to us and the incredible people in our lives, that prayer has now become a reality. This is going to be a good time of closure for all of us and a highlight for our homeschool studies as we’ve been learning about African animals; combining art and science to study the wildlife around us. 🇹🇿 Our kids have been so brave in this process of letting go of the only home they’ve known and trusting our leading as Jesus continues to point the way forward. The trust and surrender we have given to God is something I am proud of. He has trained us and empowered us for such a time as this and it is with confidence we can be palms-up people.... Hands raised to Heaven in praise; hands wide open trusting His faithfulness and provision. We want to be people who will trust Him fully, but also people He can trust fully as well. One yes after another, one obedient step forward after another. That’s what this time is to me. He can be trusted fully, and so we continue to say yes. #takingroute #velvetashesafrica #velvetashes
It’s a rainy day here and I’m getting a whole panel of blood work done before we leave; that way I won’t have to do it in the states. These tests are costing WAY more than I expected, and yet still probably less than what I would pay stateside. There are so many things to still cross off our lists before we fly out in 3 weeks. We still need to sell all the rest of our belongings, sell an entire car, buy things, have things made, go to appointments, pack (no small task, at all), and still try to balance homeschooling, a masters program, and life with 3 precious kids who are all grieving in their own ways. Time feels limited, and so does energy. And yet every moment feels so sacred as well. Ending well is our goal which has meant having to make hard decisions about what the rest of our time here will look like—keeping the main things the main things. I’m very aware of the heaps of grace it takes to make a transition such as this, and feel all the more sensitive to others who have journeyed this road as well. It’s no small task. But God is here... right here. Walking in the tension of feeling all the feels and yet needing to do all the things still too. He’s been so kind to us, and I know His kindness and abundance will continue on, ushering us into what’s to come. 🕊Would love/appreciate your prayer for us over the next few weeks. 🧡
