Today is the day,

We're Off to Great Places, We're Off and Away!!

After a bitter sweet emotional send off from our church family this morning we will once again journey back to India!!  Bitter because our beloved friends and would be travel companions, Lora and John (better known to us as Mr. and Mrs. HeadBuck), had to cancel their plans due to health issues.  
This saddens us as we will miss them immensely, 
but more so we pray for renewed health and patience during this long process. 
(even though Lora says never pray for patience :)
Sweet because we feel so much love!

Yes, some of us have our PJ's on as the Sunday between
Christmas and New Years is always designated as
Jammie Sunday at our church! :)

So what does this mean for us; well, we're on our own.  
Our small group just got smaller as it will simply be our family traveling this time around.  Although the dynamics of the trip will be different, we are confident that it will still be meaningful and valuable to both our family and the ministry.

We are incredibly excited to see all the Indian children and people that we hold so near and dear to our hearts, as well as all the new additions to the buildings that have taken place since our last visit in 2013.  
We look forward to this opportunity to share with you all the good works that are being done to improve the day to day lives of the people in Madhavapatnam and the futures of the young "shine brites" who attend Marshall School.  We will do our best to make regular posts on this blog and invite you to follow along by either signing up on the right for updates or manually checking in at your leisure.  Also, we'd love to hear from you so feel free to leave us a comment after our posts.

Again, thank you to all who's love and support 
has helped make this journey possible;

you are in our hearts as we travel and always!!!!

Namaste'

~Jenny

Big Bob, Emma, Jo, Loobie, and Sophie too!!

p.s. In case you'd like to see what our travel plans look like,
this is what it takes to get to and from Madhavapatnam...
fyi, India is approx 12 hours ahead of WI time

Sunday Dec 28 – Leave Kewaskum 3:00pm

Sunday Dec 28 - Leave Chicago 8:10pm 

Monday Dec 29 – Arrive Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 7:30pm

Monday Dec 29 – Leave Abu Dhabi 9:40pm 

Tuesday Dec 30 – Arrive Hyderabad India 3:10am

Tuesday Dec 30 – Leave Hyderabad India 8:55am 

Tuesday Dec 30 – Arrive Rajahmundry India 10:15am

Tuesday Dec 30 – Leave Rajahmundry India with Novahu on bus

Tuesday Dec 30 – Arrive Village of Madhavapatnam approx 1:00pm 

  

Thursday Jan 8 – Leave Rajahmundry India 2:30pm

Thursday Jan 8 – Arrive Hyderabad India 4:00pm

Friday Jan 9 – Leave Hyderabad India 4:25am

Friday Jan 9 – Arrive Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 7:15am

Friday Jan 9 – Leave Abu Dhabi 9:30am

Friday Jan 9 – Arrive Chicago 2:50pm

Friday Jan 9 – Home Sweet Home

Thanksgiving...

A time to reflect on our blessings:

   In America, this time treasured holiday called Thanksgiving has different meanings to all of us; for many it's a time to enjoy a delicious meal of turkey and all the fixin's , oh and don't forget the pies, Jo makes the best :), then there is lounging around and watching football, or maybe hunting is more your activity of choice, or heaven forbid you choose to shop on this day, then of course there is the simple joy of being together with family and friends...whatever your day looks like, I hope it begins and ends with a thankful heart.  

   For our family, one cherished tradition is holding hands around the table and taking turns saying what we are thankful for before we dig into my sisters delicious cooking (which I'm always thankful for).  As I anticipate what to say, I am reminded of so many things that are probably not on most people's thankful list but are quite high on mine, here are just a few... My family has the opportunity to travel for the 3rd time to India to visit people and a ministry that hold a very special place in our hearts, the gals passports have been renewed and all our visas have been sent in and are waiting to be approved, the typhoid and malaria medication we take to help keep us from getting sick while visiting a third world country, our "body guards" in Madhavapatnam who watch over us during our time in and around the village, modern technology like this blog (I can't believe how much the gals have grown since our first post) and all who take the time to follow along on it, a healthy but sometimes tired body that has enabled me to continue to "work 4 change" alongside my daughters to raise money for our trip, the incredible generosity of family and friends whose financial contributions are helping with the countless expenses accrued in this endeavor, the love and encouragement of those supporting us on our journey back to India, our homeschooling path and those who have paved it for us which has allowed the world to be our classroom, mashed potatoes instead of rice today, a husband who walks along side of me not in front of me,  and the freedom I have in America to give thanks to my God.  For all these things and soooooo much more I give thanks today!!

Today may your gratitude be extravagant 

as your blessings continue to pile up!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!

Namaste'

~Jenny