Dear Friends and Family,
Wow, I can't believe that it's already September 1st! Where has the time gone. As many of you know Amanda and I launch on our World Race missions trip this coming Monday. This has been exciting time as well as a sad time for Amanda and I. We are excited because we are taking the next step in the journey that God has put before us and we don't know where exactly that journey will take us. We've been sad because we are leaving all of you. I'm writing you this blog to ask, no to plead, that you don't forget us while we are gone. You all have been so supportive of us as we have been preparing for the race and we continue to need your support as we enter into this journey. I know that God has brought each and every one of you into our life for a special reason.
I'd like to take a moment to speak to our "St. Joseph Family". When Amanda and I moved to St. Joe a little over 2 years ago we looked at it as a temporary stop that we were eagerly looking to leave. That is until we met all of you! You all have been the best of friends to us and I have to say it's because of your encouragement that we decided to take this leap into the unknown. Words cannot describe what you all mean to us. Looking back I can clearly see that moving to the small town of St. Joe was exactly what God had planned for us and was a necessary step to get us to the step we are about to take. We will always take the memories of the ravine where we would walk our dog with Nancy, the Beach House where you always knew there'd be good food and great hospitality, the Tree House where we were first introduced to the "Piece of Paper Game", and of course the Twerp house were Amanda and I moved into the basement for our last month in town. There was the Dog Wash at First Church of God, the impromptu trip to New Buffalo where Amanda ran from the ducks, the chili tasting in South Haven, and great discussions down on the beach. These are all places and times that we will never forget and will take with us from country to country. Amanda and I will miss each and every one of you.
Now to all of you I ask that you please don't say "goodbye" to us as we leave as I feel that implies that we are moving out of your lives and you out of ours. Rather I think a "see ya later" is in order. To me "see ya later" means we're going away for a little while but we'll be back. Also to me "see ya later" means we might be separated by thousands of miles, but we won't forget you.
To all of you I say see ya later! I hope you say the same to us.
