Hello
Family... we didn't get Christmas cards out this year :-) but have had a very busy year. We told everyone around Christmas time last year that we were going to Bolivia and yes, we are still going. We can see in retrospect why God kept us here for the last year when we were ready to go last spring. We had so much to do and learn in the past year and it sure has been an interesting experience. We bought our container, which sits in our yard about 2/3 full after we found out we could only take the 20' container due to the road conditions going into Rurrenabaque. We are really anxious to get going now but really need to sell these houses and so far haven't had any success there. From the very beginning we told God we would go as soon as the houses sold and that He would have to control that so that we'd know exactly when to leave. Guess he isn't quite ready yet...tho' we have had more interest again lately than we had for a while there. Think the inaugeration is going to have to happen before much selling will take place anywhere.
We have had an exciting year in other ways and are now great-grandparents...I said that I thought we were always
great grandparents and then Travis and McKenzie made us great great-grandparents too. :-) haha Jeff and Mary are adopting little Abbigail, Shannon and Tony had little Zachary Issac, Angela and Jeramie had little Malachai Omar so that pretty much takes care of the big happenings. But then there is the fact that I have had pnuemonia 3 times since David's funeral, not leaving me to much time when I felt real good since July. This last bout was the worst and laid me out for 4 weeks. I am sure that you all know it's not in my make-up to hold still to long...but during this last bout I really didn't mind and am having some real trouble getting back on my feet again.
We have been blessed with many of the things we need to take into Bolivia with us but are still looking for a big generator and a tablesaw and a tiller. If any of you have any of these that aren't gettting much use... we'd be quite happy to have them :-) tho' we really need to make sure that any motors we take in are Honda as the parts for those are available down there and not much else. The guys came in two different weeks and helped us to get a total of 9 windows into the houses and we've done a lot of other little jobs that needed doing. We also have the siding now for the other house and want to get it on soon. We have also torn the downstairs bath out and are going to redo it. Just so much to do all the time.
We have so much to be thankful for and want to be sure to keep our hearts and minds on the lookout for Jesus, for as the Word says, He will come as a thief in the night. But those who are watching and waiting will know when the time is nigh on us. God's blessings to all. Eli and Elinor