We leave for Greece in less than a week now -Tuesday November 6th to be exact. There is so much to do and the days seem to keep getting shorter.
Here's the abridged scoop on what needs to happen in that time:
- Pack up our entire house and move it into a 20' container that will be in our driveway this weekend
- Obtain a visa from the Greek embassy in Chicago
- Sell our house
- Say too many goodbyes
We've contracted for a 20' container to arrive at our house this Friday in which to pack up personal effects and household goods to ship to Greece. They pick up the container on Monday morning and then it starts its 4-6 week trip across the ocean to the port of Pireaus in Greece where we will have to meet it and arrange for its contents to get to our apartment. Since we haven't ever done such a thing before we are praying that everything we had hoped to bring with us will fit in the container and that we will pack it all well.
The visa deal continues to allude us. We went well prepared (we thought) last week downtown and they are stymied about what kind of visa to give us. This facilitated a call from HM in Greece to the Chicago office and maybe will take another trip down there for us. They are offering no guarantees just another look at it. Ironically, if we sold the house, we would qualify as "independently wealthy" for their visa and one would be issued right away!
Our house still has not sold. One of the many BIG things that we are still waiting to see how and when God will take care of this. It will be in an auction on Nov 10th-so we'll see if anything comes out of that and if so how to negotiate internationally.
Our kids: Missy was in last weekend helping us with some last minute planning and Michele and Jeremy will be here this weekend. It might not be our most hospitable time as I am trying to pack up bedding, towels etc. We may all be sleeping on the floor together! We continue to soak up as much time as possible with Mike and Nisha and our 3 yr. old grandson Jackson before we go. Jackson still tells his parents that he's going with us to Greece (Oh how I wish that were true!).
Goodbyes: not my favorite thing in the world, in fact something that is really difficult for me(Peggy). I would think God could have given me the spiritual gift of detachment if He knew how many goodbyes would be part of my life!
Thank you for all of you who are praying for us and who are partnering with us financially. We are privileged to be ministering alongside you. As we look ahead, there are so many uncertainties-but one constant-the love of Christ and the knowledge that He is the One who is calling us and leading us to Greece. These words from Psalm 139:10 comfort us and tell us that God will be our helper and our leader in what's ahead for us...."if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
