Live Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Once tickets were bought it was time for the next big expense -travel visas. On October 10th I started filling out the paperwork and collecting the documents. I thought this would take a couple hours at most. I didn't have to search for documents just fill out forms, copy documents, put them in order and send. How hard could it be? I even had great advise from Becky to save time by filling out the information that would be the same for everyone on a single form; then make 6 copies of it; on each of those copies add the personal information needed for each individual; then make 1 copy of that form (each person had to have 2 complete and identical copies of every requirement); finally make 2 copies of each required documentation, including notarized forms for each traveler under the age of 18 with signatures by both parents at the notary or even more paperwork.  There were so many papers and so much whiteout needed. I was shocked when it took 2 full days to get everything right. On O...

After watching airline prices since August, I felt I needed more of my time freed up to prepare other details; so on October 8 I searched for and reached out to 4 agents. I replied immediately with a phone call. I told them our purpose, range of travel dates, and our budget. Marvel from ASAP travel took down the information and said he would call when he found the best deal. He found an ok deal but I wasn't impressed. The next day he called saying that their expert team went to work on it and found an incredible deal. I thought I would do one last search myself. I found 2 travelnopyions yhat were less expensive but had LONG layovers. If I knew more to do or felt more confident in Spain or Istanbul an 18 hour or 24hour layover might not be too bad. Having never traveled internationally and suspecting we may spend more for sleeping, site seeing, and transportation I decided maybe it would t really be much of a savings. It was still hard to purchase the deal found for us. Ben and I pr...

October 2 marks 1 month until the layoff. There is excitement for what the future holds, but also a sense of sadness with a 14 year chapter of our lives coming to an end. Many are surprised to hear that we don't have hard feelings toward Ancestry.com considering the layoff, but they have been an excellent employer and very generous in having given us 3 months notice that this was coming. I also feel anxious for the future -anxious as in excited and nervous. Some moments my heart races or I feel the weight on my chest or shoulders -I almost feel paralyzed. When I pray for peace it comes and I don't feel paralyzed but that with Jesus we can do all things.  We are comfortable with stability and the known. I think God is wanting us to grow outside of that and to trust Him more. In just having faith and moving forward we are seeing more and more how aware of is He is and how merciful to shower us with miracles and blessings. 

As I mentioned in the last post we had an emergency with significant unexpected expenses on September 20. Before I get to that I have to set this up in hopes that the miracle will be more recognizable.  In a perfect home of order and an ideal life -which don't exist in the way I dream them up- we were going to have our personal items packed up in 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. This would free up time later for all of the things that couldn't be done so early; and for more time to go to many or our favorite local places and spend more time with family and friends. I've shared how all my kids can be hard workers even when it comes to doing jobs they really don't like. At different times one or another of them will step up and go way above and beyond my hopes. Before I came up with the brilliant idea mentioned above our Eliza had already started packing up her stuff. Since we had to start somewhere and our library is in her room I decided to work in the same area so we could spend time...

Social Media is overwhelming to me, but with the help of my wonderful children and husband we started a new Instagram " joyfuljourneytoafrica "and Facebook page " 16 hands, 8 hearts, 1 dream " on September 17. Our prayer is that we will meet more people were they already spend some of their time and whatever their interest. Please follow , share  with any and all you know,  comment,  and  like . We had hopes of have some personalized artwork done by our talented friend Adam. Due to an emergency and unexpected expenses, which I'll mention is a post very soon, we had to postpone. Sadly he isn't going to have time anymore to do the artwork because he is leaving to be a full-time missionary soon. Our next preference was to have a unique family picture taken that depicted our social media names. Thanks to our wonderful neighbor Tonya we have a picture we LOVE! Many times things don't turn out as we initially picture them but what God allows to happen is jus...

Many people would consider September 11th as significant. For our family and our friends the Thorson's it was additionally special as its the birthday of our friend Cory and birthday eve for my husband, Ben.  But what made this year especially significant was that it was also the day they moved the first of their items into our home. We were actually out when they came the first time so when we got home we were amazed to see how much they could fit, Jenga style, into the garage. As Ben likes to say -its like the events of our lives are coming together like two sides of a zipper. They are living with her family with 5 of their 6 children, until we are gone. I won't pretend I don't feel an urgency to be gone as soon as possible, it's all my own feelings though. They are SO patient and reassuring.  We each feel so blessed by how the timing is all working out.  I know I've said it before but I'm humbled again and again by how precisely God has orchestrated the detai...

At the beginning of any new month, when my husband sees the calendar, he'll say, "It looks like we already lived this month" because its so full. That's not hard to have happen when even just 1 or 2 details for each of 8 lives are all written out in one place. Somehow with ever opportunity to plan or host a big event or a private job to fund raise we can fit another thing in. I often wonder "are we running faster than we are able". God has cautions us against this and I want His blessings so I need to obey Him. I need to trust that after all we can do that He will do the rest. To be honest not everything can get done that goes on the calendar or our daily list. My prayer each morning is that we will know what is most important and get it done; throughout the day I pray that we will put our wills aside when needed; as the day unfolds I pray that we are doing these; and at the end of they day I take it to our Father and ask Him to bless what we have done and t...

For weeks we heard of Self-Reliance classes starting at our church. Each time I would think, "someday I'll take one of those." Then the thought would come you should take the Start or Grow a Business class. The conversation within myself would continue, "I don't have a business so maybe it's the next direction my husband will go for employment. I do have a dream from years ago of a business we could start but he has had reservations about it." Each week I would hear it in church and go through the same thing. Then a few days before the first class I mentioned the thought to Ben. He thought we should do it. As much as I wanted to I thought, "I really don't have time for this if we are going to move to Africa for 6 months." August 23rd we went to the first class and I knew it was exactly what we needed to be doing. It is helping us with fundraising, giving Ben direction for other ways to provide for our family, and the experience and knowle...

There are lots of things I would like to have happen before we go; and then there are those things that have to be done, but wish we didn't have to do. Most have BIG costs attached. I called the health department to find out the actual price to budget for our Yellow Fever Immunizations and if they had it in stock. The answer $200.01 each for 8 of us and the location closest to us didn't have it in. With these immunizations there are 2 discomforts: the shots and the price. There's no way around this or alternative, by law we have to get yellow fever immunizations.  It is highly recommended and not an option to us, as we want to protect our family, so we also need typhoid and malaria immunizations. As Becky and I visited at a park one day to talk about food shopping so we can budget and the daily task of hand washing laundry; we side tracked for a few minutes and she ask where and when we were getting yellow fever immunizations. When I told her she was shocked and actually ...

  Each step to fundraiser has been small, but small things can add up. Since this all really began in June we had a few opportunities to serve and gifts given to get is to the point of covering the costs of passports. The time came to ramp up our efforts to raise funds. I can't begin to say how grateful I am for each family member's willingness to go out of thief comfort zone to advertise our efforts, talk to people, and work hard! I've overheard our children say that we want to work for this to make it more meaningful. Honestly there are days were that feels beyond our ability with the time frame we have, but so many have been so generous. We have seen miracles and feel that when we do all that we can that God makes it all work and be enough. We  have: had a yard sale; picked plums; done lots of babysitting; cleaned homes; done yard work; hosted a free movie night and sold concessions; had raffles and silent auctions; washed trash, recycling, and green waste barrels...

We became invested at a new level on August 15th and 20th when we submitted applications for 7 of our 8 passports. Our oldest will be doing her passport soon. She was living back east with family for the summer, when we did these. Since the 5 children we were doing passports for are all under 18, both parents had to be present.  If you have ever had to schedule appointments for 5 people with back to back time slots it can feel next to impossible; since the location within 20+ miles of us aren't open on Saturday's anymore we needed a location  near my husband's work. Most locations are only open 9:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m. We anticipated it could take 4-6 weeks for them to be processed so we knew we needed to get started. I could only get 4 appointments on the 20th. Then I found 1 on the 15th so we took them. When we arrived on the 15th we had 2 of the girls with us. The clerk asked if we had paperwork ready for both children. I had our family emergency binder with us so everyth...

            I LOVE learning and cooking foods from around the world. I rarely get to find out if they turn out "right". We usually like what we try but have not idea how authentic it is. One thing I look forward to in Ghana is being taught by navies how to correctly make their foods. Ashley invited me to their home so Micheal could teach me how to cook authentic Ghanaian dishes. We made 3 incredible dishes: Tomato Stew, Fried Chicken, and Jollof Rice. There were a couple unexpected experiences of the night -trying to eat the chicken bones and eating with my hands. The second isn't too new but not something I usually do in front of others. We had no idea that a tradition we started 18 years ago would be preparing us for Ghana. Years ago I wanted to make sure our children learned proper etiquette, so I suggested an occasional "delicate dinner". My husband, being the more fun parent, suggested something to offset this formality and came up with "s...

Less than 2 weeks after meeting Becky for the first time, via Facebook video, Ben and I were meeting her and her husband in person, in our home -half a world away from Ghana. We met with one other couple that night. The time flew by as we got to know each other; talk about the work both couples have done in Africa and getting answers to LOTS of questions. We could have talked for hours longer but it had already been almost 3 hours. I felt so connected to people I had just met. We are all part of a much bigger work than we can explain yet we feel a similar draw and power to and in Ghana at this time. Strangers and a world apart one day and then we recognize that we are on a similar path together with even more of our Father's children. We are not alone. He is guiding us.  

                                                                                                    If you could talk to my new friend George he would confirm that I am not the quickest to reply to messages on Facebook. Somehow, on August 2, when he messaged me asking for the name and location of the orphanage we are strongly considering; I replied that is in Santasi and its name. Later that day he sent picture of it. And said, "I just happened to visit the orphanage today." From past conversations I suspected he lives near Accra, which is almost 5 hours way. The next day we talked on video chat. He confirmed he lives near Accra but that when I messaged him he happened to be just 45 minutes from the orphanage and decide to drop by and...

There are many days when we wonder how we will get to Ghana and do this work. The costs to get there, as I have said before, are better than I thought they would be for 8 of us, but there are days that $16,000 can feel almost suffocating. Reflecting on the miracles that have occurred so far bring peace and hope. They remind us that it is not only our efforts that are bringing all of this about. Trusting in our Heavenly Father with all our hearts and allowing Him to direct our path is especially important when events occur that appear to be roadblocks. One detail that has been difficult to figure out has been what to do about Ben's employment while we are gone. How do we take a long enough leave to make the time, effort, and expenses worthwhile? What can he still do for work while we are there, while participating in this volunteer efforts we will be part of?  Is it time to make a career change? He has loved working for the same employer for the last 14 years. They provide a prod...

As we made our 3rd attempt to get passport pictures taken, on July 30, I realized that most of these posts are of how excited and wonderful this all is.  Well, for those of you that feel like this isn't realistic, unfortunately you are correct. Surprisingly getting passport pictures taken was vary difficult and emotional for a few of the children. WE are weak at times. This is HARD. There are so many people and things we will miss. There are experiences and events that will happen without us. There are foods we will have to give up for a time. There are foods we may not like that we will need to eat. There are things we may have to sell or get rid of. The petty things that seem a no-brainer from the outside in exchange for what we will have and experience, but we are human, we are weak. We have moments of sadness, selfishness, anger. It's not that we will never have most if not all of these again but things will change. We will change. Change is hard, especially when we like ...

My children help me be humble with their faith and charity. Our 15 year old son has shared on several occasions, "I feel like we need to do this and sooner than later." and "This is a difficult time to leave but a crucial time in my life for this to happen." It's difficult because at 16 he could get his drivers license and begin dating. He finally feels accepted and included by the youth in our neighborhood since we moved in 5 years ago. This was the year he wanted to go back to school after homeschooling for 6 years. As hard as it is he is willing and wanting to leave that all for a year to go have a life changing experience. To add to my admiration for his example he has plans to serve a 2 year full-time mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,  in a couple years. I can see how it would be easy to think I'm going to serve in a couple of years so why "take away" a year from "my life" now.  When his f...

The same day we talked to Becky, July 21, I took my girls swimming that evening. As they swam I filled out more forms for passports. While doing this I had the thought to contact a women that used to live in our neighborhood. She moved about 4 years ago and I didn't know her very well since we had only lived here for a year at that point. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say, I had forgotten her name. I didn't even know where they moved exactly, but generally northeast Africa or the Middle East area. At first I thought, "I wouldn't even know how to contact her." Then the thought came -Facebook. I laughed because I usually only get on Facebook a couple of times a year. I'm still not checking posts much but it is becoming my go to way to talk to and meet people connected to Ghana. The next day in church, July 22, while sitting in Sunday School, I had the thought again to contact this women. I looked toward my left and in the next section over I saw a women that l...

This experience is not directly our but it has details impact our story. I have asked Becky and gotten permission to share. I know it is not a coincident and am humbled that the smallest details are as much a witness of God's hand as are the big miracles. The day I contacted Becky, or the day before (time between there and here is confusing to me) she had a miraculous experience. Her daughter informed them that she would be getting married in August. The family already had plans to come back in September and had already purchased airline tickets. Becky called to try to change their tickets for August. After spending all day on the phone with the airline the best they could do was $9,000 to change the date of travel for the 5 tickets they had already purchased. This wasn't going to work she only had $1,800 she could spend. At the end of the day they gathered and prayed again, even thought they had been praying all day. Afterward her children asked what to do and she told them to...

While on vacation I texted another friend, Melissa. She had texted me back when she saw that we were having a fund raiser yard sale and wanted to know more. I finally got back to her 5 days into our vacation, June 23. She asked if I knew Becky Rogers and if we would be anywhere near her family. I knew  of   Becky and 2 things about her: she has a daughter that was in a book club with 2 of my daughters 2 years ago, and that their family had moved to Africa. Considering how large Africa is I didn't think the possibility of meeting her was very likely. Even when I found out that they lived in Ghana I wasn't confident we would ever meet. To give some perspective, Ghana is about 8,000 square miles larger that the state of Utah. Then there is the population comparison: Ghana's 28.21 million to Utah's 3.102 million -the chances were slim. I didn't do anything about contacting Becky until on July 21 a clear and strong feeling came to contact her. My first thought was -I ...

While on vacation I received a second text message from John and Alicia saying they really wanted to talk to us. It finally worked out late on June 23. Their stories and answers to our questions helped bring clarity.You know how learning more about something makes it clear that it is not the option you are seeking, well this conversation was a bit of that.  From their experience they emphasized the need to make sure all expectations are clearly defined before we go. They had incredible sightseeing experiences with George. He will be a great resource when we take time to do sightseeing. I was not deterred by what I heard but felt clarity and peace in choosing a path. Their stories and input were extremely valuable. I am so grateful for the time they took to share. With so many paths to choose from, knowing which ones to not take is as important as which one to take. His hand is in such details. 

A few weeks passed and I had only dared to dream, but dreaming alone doesn't make them a reality. June 11- It was a late night and my son was on the computer. I decided to take the next step -start finding out just how much airline tickets would cost. I was shocked ...I expected it to cost so much more! Not that it was cheap, but much less than I thought it would be. It seemed like the next natural step was to look up what else we would have to get and do to go to Africa. It was all much less and easier than I had thought it would be. The excitement built up the next few days, so on June 13th I sent a message on Facebook to George -the man that lives in Ghana and helps coordinate service and sightseeing trips. He messaged back several hours later (its a 6 hour time difference) and offered to call me the next day. I was giddy and anxious. I texted the women from our homeschool commonwealth. I told them who George was that he would be calling the next day. I asked if they would pra...

I've tried to figure out when this all started. It would seem it was when I started reading Kisses From Katie aloud to my children. But have you ever felt something so familiar that you were sure it wasn't your first experience. Maybe a feeling that there have been dozens, hundreds or even countless little things that all seem to fit together to form a picture you didn't even know you were looking for? I hope I'm not alone in this...but if I am then I'll do my best to give you a glimpse of what it has been like and let you look-on as it unfold. Thus our first entry, in this beautiful real life story, I will title "Not the Beginning, but Where I'll Start Sharing Our Story ". It was January a time of "new beginnings" and resolutions for many. For us it was a time to start another new book to read aloud with my children and the beginning of a journey we couldn't have imagined. A miraculous journey! We were part of a commonwealth, a cooper...