Since we arrived in Oregon in early June, we’ve said to each other at least every other day, “Well, [this situation] is just preparing for us for Togo!” So we wanted to share some examples of that from this last week…

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when you get two flat tires in three days… before you’ve had a chance to fix the first flat… when the only tire shop is a two-hour drive away.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when going to the grocery store (which, again, is two hours away) is considered a date.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when your kids have gotten more bug bites and injuries in the last three weeks than they did in three years in Alaska.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when dirt is your kids’ best accessory, toy, and sometimes snack.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when it reaches 96* every day for about a week… and there is no air conditioning.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when you have no idea where anything is, what the customs are in your new area, or how to fit in with the locals.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when an afternoon siesta has become one of your favorite daily routines.

You know God is preparing you for West Africa when any kind of playground equipment is all you talk about for days on end.

It’s been quite a week… but seeing things through a lens of, “Somehow God is using even this to prepare us for the future,” helps us keep a more eternal perspective.

You also know God is preparing you for West Africa when you see Him working in really great ways: He has provided 93% of our financial support. We have seen Him working in people and churches to join our team still. We have seen our own kids’ brokenness over sin. And we have seen Him renewing and sustaining us when that seems impossible.

We are thankful. We are tired and would love to visit a drive-through coffee stand on the regular, but we are so blessed.

Have a great weekend, and happy Independence Day! May God bless America as we seek Him.