Guess who got their travel date?

WE DID!!!!! Can you believe it?

Last Sunday, I was so emotional at church.  Everyone who saw me after the service asked me if we had any news and I tried to cheerfully respond no.  But when they start singing songs about seeing Jesus, I can't help but cry- that will be the best day ever.

However, today was a GREAT day! My 9 year old actually said today was her best day ever- so far. That girl is so excited to see her sister- oh how I wish I could bring her with us!  We had a play date today with a friend's niece who has Down syndrome and Reyna was loving on her and she was loving her right back- it was so sweet!

So I received a phone call around 12:30pm. I was actually driving and when I saw who was calling me, I immediately pulled into a parking lot. I was hoping this was THE CALL. And it was!  We will be leaving on July 16th and arriving on July 17th in Maria's country! Do you realize that's my birthday?  I had been begging the Lord to either receive a travel date or be over there on my birthday.  I said to my daughter, "Why is the Lord SO GOOD to me?"  This is the best birthday gift I could receive.  I'm tearing up about it right now.

We didn't really get too much info except that we need to apply for our passports, which takes two weeks and if it's less than two weeks they charge you $300 more- yikes! So we had to head over to the Costco photo lab and get photos for our visas this evening, fill out really annoying paperwork and I will be overnighting it to the agency who does the visas.  We also need to get our flights booked but we aren't exactly sure about our return date yet- I think it's the 23rd.  Pray we get an available cheap flight and we find one that's short-er- oh and that we don't die in a plane crash.  Yes, all the crazy terrible thoughts are starting to pop up into my brain. You see, Satan is losing the battle to keep Maria in darkness and he is not happy.  So he is trying to at least put fear in me.

Someone asked me today if we still were short on funds and I said, yes, we need about $3000 more.  So what are our plans?  Well, the Lord has been daily providing the funds and the number keeps decreasing.  As of tonight we still need $2951.  I don't know how God is going to provide- this is His story after all and He wants to write it.  Every time I think I might know how the money will come in, God blows me away with His provision.  If you feel led to help us reach our financial needs, there are several ways you can do this.  If you live in the Santa Barbara or Torrance areas, I will be making Key Lime Pies and Cheesecakes and selling them for a $15 donation.  Santa Barbara pick up is Friday. Torrance is Saturday through Monday.

In addition, you can purchase a CD by my husband's Peruvian folklore band, La Semilla, for a $15 donation as well.  Use the chip-in on the right.

If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation, you can donate through our Family Sponsorship Page on Reece's Rainbow- box on the right.

And we thank you for your continued prayers.  My brain has so much going through it right now, it's hard to remember anything and focus.  I have made a one page list and am trying to organize and prioritize everything I need to get done in the next two weeks.

Praise you Jesus!