We can't believe it. The time has come to go home. We will be leaving in about 7 hours. We will take our last cab ride to the airport, saran-wrap our baggage, check-in, and wait....
We land in New York, spend the night and then arrive in Appleton on the 14th.
We are excited, nervous, sad, grateful, humbled, pensive, and shocked. Our two years are up, we never thought this time would come and now that it has we don't know what to think.
We attended a "Close of Service" conference last week, so we were able to hang out with all of our friends one last time. Again, saying good-bye was heart breaking. We have become like family and have experienced something together that no one else will quite understand. We are a family of friends that has been change and a family of friends that will go home different. We will always have the bond of Mali in our hearts. I love the friends I have made, the support they have given me and the laughs with them that have brought me through. Thanks guys.
Here are a few pics of our Malian/American family:
Mopti Girls: We are different as can be but love each other all the same.
From left to right- Iowa teacher, Miami dance girl, Boston Proper, Colorado rock climbing genius, and LA party girl Oh and I must not forget the Pakistani Princess (pictured below-when we took this picture she was busy straightened her hair and perfecting her make-up).
Couldn't have done it without them!
Pakistani Princess and I, her fashion sense alone gave me the will to go on.
Joelle was always ready for a game to pass the time!
And my beautiful ladies, Cassie and Jennifer
Hi Joe and Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have support from great friends. All that bonding time gave you the strength you needed to get through each day. Two years is up and your coming home. I am happy but sad for you at the same time. To leave one family and come back to another. To be honest I just want the part of my life I have missed so much to come back. There has been great changes in both our lives and I can't wait to share them all. See you soon. :)
Love
Jody,Ben, and Anna
Welcome back to the USA!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove, Sue and Mark
Life is so full of opportunities, some we see, some we don't. You two are so blessed to have the ablitly to know that God plans adventure and change at each corner of our life. Whether it be an orphange in Belize, a summer camp in the mountains, bible camp in Okoboji, worshiping at Clark Fork or a 2 year commitment in Africa. You two seem to have the spiritual gift/knowlege of discernment, which you have chosen not to ignore. Through that we have all been blessed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home, know that we are all anxiouly awaiting your arrival and that we all love you dearly. "the doobs" :-)
Welcome home Joe and Ashley -
ReplyDeleteI woke up thinking about you two today so I read your last couple of posts and realized you have just have gotten home after saying some hard good byes. I think my morning thoughts were actually a prompting from above...I will be praying for your adjustments coming home, decisions to be made, and sadness of saying goodbye. What an incredible journey! We can't wait so see you! Love, Jesse B
Miss you...Keep thinking of things to text and with you gone and Jennifer out of the country...life is tough!
ReplyDelete