Back from Canada

We returned from our trip to Ontario, Canada yesterday afternoon. It was so good to relax with my (Josie's) parents and sister Tamara. We vegged out a lot, but did take some side trips.
One day we drove out to a park in Hanover. We had a picnic and the kids enjoyed the play structures. We took a walk to see a dam and threw a frisbee. My shoulder is still sore!

We also drove out to Kincardine to the shore of Lake Huron. It was not a good choice, weather-wise, as there was a COLD wind, so strong that it almost blew Julia over. Then it started to rain while we were having a picnic, so we called it quits, drove through the Tim Horton's drive-through for coffee to warm up, and headed for home.
We also were able to spend some time with Josh's Aunts and Uncles: Vern & Holly and Wes & Brenda, so that was an added bonus.

Now that we're "home", it's back to packing and adjusting to Josh being here with us (instead of at work every day). We're still not sure when we're going to leave as we have not yet reached our needed monthly sponsorship amount. Beyond that, we're all set to go! If we can't leave July 3rd, we will defer to August 1st.

Thanks for praying with us!

A Bunch Of Great News!

VISAS
We got our visas on Monday!! We were so excited! We're going to Asia Pacific!!
STORAGE
Another answer to prayer is that we have a place to store the few items that we're not wanting to take with us to Asia-Pacific. What a relief to have a home for our photo albums, my wedding dress and other irreplacable items!

MY PARENTS
Last night we got the call we've been waiting for since March - my (Josie's) parents got their interview date with the American Counsulate in Montreal, Canada. Their visa to be in the US ran out and they had to leave their ministry at New Tribes Bible Institute in March. Since then they've been staying with friends in Durham, Ontario, Canada, (im) patiently :) waiting for the call. They were to have had this interview back in December 2005 (before their visa ran out), so the wait has been LONG. We are so thankful for this answer to prayer. They'll be able to return to the US mid-July.

Good place to rest and have some milk...

Current Prayer Requests:1. On June 15th we plan to drive the 11 hours up to Durham, Ontario to say goodbye to my parents, staying until about the 20th. Please pray for safe travel and that the kids do well.
2. We're looking into tickets for departure approximately July 3rd. Please pray for wisdom to know when to go ahead and purchase the tickets and for good prices and good connections!!
3. We're in the midst of packing (again). Please pray that we would have the wisdom to see what things still need to be left and what's important to take with us. Also pray that we will be granted the excess baggage allowance with the airline that we end up with as we're not planning to ship anything.

4. Praise for the supporters that the Lord has already provided - both prayer and financial - they have been an incredible blessing to us! Pray that the Lord will continue to raise up financial supporters -we still need to raise about 10% to be able to leave.
5. Please pray for our family as we transition - new family roles, new schedules, new home, new experiences, etc.

Thank you so much for your partnership with us in prayer - we could not do this without you talking to God about us. We count on the fact that " The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it". 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV) 

It's A Done Deal!

We are no longer home owners. We closed on the house yesterday afternoon. We're thankful that it went off without a hitch - thanks to our realator! We were missing a lien for some work we had done and he called shortly before we had to leave to ask about it. We tracked it down and he actually was able to pick it up for us on his way in. Whew! That could have been a pain in the neck! It has taken an incredible amount of work to get out of the house and into the Luy's house. More loads, more Rubbermaid bins, and many more hours than we thought possible...

We're so glad to have a great place to stay while we're in transition. We're staying with some friends in New Berlin. You can still reach us at our cell number as well as our Vonage number: 414-431-5036, as well as our josh_dyck@ntm.org email address. The other one is cancelled.

Yesterday on the way home from the closing, I asked the boys what they would miss about our house, and here's the response: "The bar stools" and "The crack on the sidewalk that helps me do pop-a-wheelies on my bike." So, it's a mixed response. I miss "normal" and I know that "normal" for us will be nothing normal at all for the next few months.

Through all of the upheaval, it's so comforting to see God meeting our needs. One example of this is my perennials. I have planted flowers over the 4 years that we lived in our house, and everything was green when we were moving out, but my prayer was that I would be able to see at least one bloom before we left. The day we took the final bins out of house, I saw this:

How amazing to see God's tender care of us even for the non-essentials. I was so blessed by another grand gesture of His love for me!

We already have some dates booked in June for meeting with small groups. We also have a trip to Canada to say good bye to my folks planned. After we arrive in Asia-Pacific we have 5 weeks of pre-language study orientation, and then each month following we do a new chapter of language/culture study. After we have reached a sufficient level of language proficiency, we will move to another island and settle in our "permanent" home. Change is the name of the game right now!

If you and your family or small group would like to hear more about tribal missions and the work NTM is doing around the world, please contact us. We have open dates in June for just about any time of day. We'd love to meet with you!

Thanks so much for praying for us! We have felt the effects of your prayers as we've been stretched to the max these past few weeks!

Looking ahead - Our short-term home in Asia-Pacific

These pics were sent by the couple whom we will be substituting for in Asia-Pacific once we do a minimum of language study time. Their daughter is in the photos.

Kitchen - cupboards custom made locally

Fridge and water cooler

Dining Room, backyard beyond (tile floor is common)

Living Room