It's hard to believe we have been on home assignment for eight months already. Time sure flies when you are having fun! Since we've been back we have been pretty busy, both with fun things and ministry related things.
Back in October we celebrated Maddie's 2nd birthday. Is she really 2 already? When we arrived she wasn't talking very much and still wasn't walking, but she soon started doing both... and doing them well! Turning two brought her out of the baby stage and on to the toddler stage. She loves playing with her sister, her babies and reading books and she really LOVES to sing. She often entertains us with a one of her favorite songs - Jesus loves me, jingle bells, row row row your boat or twinkle twinkle little star, and dances along to any music or beat that she hears.
In November Skyler turned 4! Our big girl also started preschool soon after we arrived. She absolutely loves going to school and playing with her friends. She can now write her name, recognize all the letters and can count to 30. She got a bike with training wheels for her birthday and loves to practice riding it. Some of her favorite things are playing with her friends and cousins, playing with her dolls and trying to master the monkey bars. Just recently daddy started teaching her how to swim and she is doing very well with that. Not too long ago she decided she wanted to go ahead and get her ears pierced; a process which only got halfway through before she changed her mind :) She's waiting until she's older to get the other one done.
In addition to all the fun we've been having we have also been speaking in different churches and Sunday school classes about all the wonderful things God has been doing in our lives and in the Mibu church since the last time we were home. We've also been focusing our efforts recently on expanding our monthly support base up to recommended levels. BTW, if you're looking for a great ministry to give to, we'd love to share with you some of the wonderful things that God is doing in Mibu. Maybe the Mibu ministry is the right fit for your gifts! Let us know if you might be interested.
Geoff has also been very busy trying to put together a short term mission team to fly out to Mibu later this summer to build an addition onto our house. He's also been putting together lesson material for a Bible reading class he is teaching and trying to fit in all of his meetings and appointments.
Shannon tries to keep up with three little kids and with all the housework that needs to be done as well as doing homework for the two Bible study classes she is involved in.
The biggest thing occupying most of our time right now is adjusting to and enjoying our newest addition to the family - Abigail Marie Husa born on May 11th. So far she is an easy baby and sleeps well at night too. Both of her big sisters love to play with her and hold her. We feel very blessed to have 3 beautiful and healthy girls.
Prayer requests:
Pray that all of the kids passports and visas are processed in a timely manner so that we can return to Papua New Guinea the first week of October.
We are still in need of around $1800/month to meet our recommended monthly support before we head back to Mibu.
We also are estimating that we will need about $8,000 to purchase our return tickets to Papua New Guinea.
Thank you to all of you for your ongoing love, prayers, and support. We appreciate every one of you!
Love,
Geoff, Shannon, Skyler, Madelyn and Abigail