Ready yet?

No =-) I've been asked that a lot of times in the last week or two. In fact, a few people looked at me aghast today when I told them I hadn't even started packing yet! But really there's so much packing you just can't do until the end anyway, that it just makes me feel disorganized to be half packed. Don't worry though - I have a monstrous and very detailed packing list, and I think I have just about everything purchased and ready to go.

We do have a lot to get through in the next few days though, and packing is fairly low on the list really (Stephen says that will take 2-3 hrs... but I always at least double his time estimates ;-). There are just a lot of home and life related things that have to be tied up before we leave. And I was "ordered" today to make sure my husband sleeps before we go...

We leave Wed., Jan 23 at 5:40pm EST. We'll fly to New York first, and from there we have an overnight flight to Accra, Ghana. A driver from the hospital will pick us up and drive us to the hospital in Tsiko, Togo (Hospitale Baptiste Biblique, or HBB), which should take about 6 hours. My best guess is that we will arrive there around 1pm EST on Thurs, Jan. 24. We will try to write a quick update that evening just to let you all know when we arrive safely.

Here are a few things you can be praying for us in the next few days and as we travel:

- that we will be able to get things tied up around here that need to be - including...but not limited to...some home repairs (basement waterproofing issues, long story), and a final signing of Stephen's post-residency job contract
- that we will remember (brains are getting old over here!) to do everything we need to do, and to pack everything that we need to pack - and of course, that it will all fit =-p
- for Stephen and I to work together to get ready in a unified way, with patience and without misunderstanding
- no flight delays and smooth connections 
- sleep for Evelyn, our 17m old daughter, on the overnight flight (and maybe a little for us too!)
- for all of us to stay healthy before and during our travel time
- that we will have no problem connecting with our driver ("Johnny") picking us up in Ghana
- for all of our baggage to arrive with us and go through customs easily (we are transporting some things for the hospital)
- for a safe drive from the airport to the hospital in Tsiko, Togo (over very bumpy pot-holed mountainous roads!)
- for a quick transition to Togo time (5 hours ahead of EST), especially for Stephen as he will likely be jumping right in to his work at the hospital
- that we will be patient with each other and flexible in responding to any unexpected and 'un-fun' situations that may come up as we travel
- uh, did I mention SLEEP for Evelyn?

Thank you all for remembering us before our Heavenly Father. We are completely convinced that apart from His working in us, through us, and around us - we could do nothing of eternal value (here or there). Please follow along with us on this blog, feel free to comment and encourage us, but most of all - PRAY! It is a privilege to be used by God to participated in His mission of spreading the gospel to all the peoples of the earth, specifically right now in Togo. Through your prayers, you can participate in that too!