Engagement Party

We had the sweet opportunity to celebrate Alex’s & Sherrod’s engagement last week with family and the wedding party. They are such a precious couple. What a joy! The children all were very thoughtful in their gifts for them. I didn’t get pictures of everything but here are a few...

Everyone is so thrilled to be part of their relationship and looking forward to their marriage. Alex has invited Wallace and Calvin to his bachelor party (camping trip) and they are over-the-moon excited!

Zambia

Sydnee and Sherrod recently had the wonderful opportunity to go help friends who are on the mission field in Zambia. What an experience! We saw God’s hand of care and providence in so many ways, I’m not even sure I can recount them all!

This is the trip they have planned on for a very long time. Sydnee was originally supposed to go alone but through some other things, that fell through last year. Then the door opened for Sherrod to go as well. We had planned on them going for the month of June but we are so thankful that “man plans His ways but the Lord directs his steps.” 

Because of Memorial Day, their COVID tests ran late. We ended up getting Sydnee’s test back less than an hour before she had to check in for her flight but it was shockingly positive  😳 We just knew it had to be inaccurate, but of course it still meant she couldn’t go. Two more positive tests over the next 20 days got discouraging. Then just after she took a third test, Zambia completely shut down due to COVID - nothing open, no ministry opportunity, just would have been sitting in the house, staring at each other. When we suddenly got the call that they were open and ready for the girls to come, it was 3 days after Alex proposed to Sherrod. And a crazy, whirlwind trip. Both girls tested negative and have been gone for the last 3 and 1/2 weeks. And, in God’s way of caring for us in the details, it came at a personally emotional time of year that was really good for them to be away. He even worked out some political unrest over there (too much to get into). 

So they just got back and we are excited, but also hurriedly on to the next thing. Here are some pictures of their time there. 

Arrival:

A little sight-seeing in Livingstone...Victoria Falls.

It’s certainly different when the animals aren’t in a zoo. They had a little thing with baboons. Glad it turned out fine! 😬

The children quickly stole their hearts...

Zambian meal...

Selah and Blessing had on the same shirt, continents apart!

Winter in Zambia...

Trying to catch a little time with the girls on a WhatsApp video...

Visiting the bush...

Processed 1200+ chickens...

Leaving Zambia...

Arriving in OK...

Celebrating their return...

We are so thrilled that they had such a wonderful time and got to make new friends and be hands for the Lord in a new way. We are also thrilled to have them back! 

If you get the chance, be sure to ask them about it. They have lots of amazing stories and learned some interesting information about Zambian culture!