One week!

I can't believe we leave one week from today. It seems like we've prepared for this for so long, and now it's almost here. But doesn't that always seem to happen? You spend so much time thinking about and preparing for something, but it still surprises you when it actually comes.
Both Rachel and I agree that it won't really hit us until we get to the airport and actually get on the airplane. Usually we just go to the airport to drop Brian off and pick him up. But instead of waving good-bye to Brian and driving away, we'll be waving good-bye to the rest of the family and flying away.
We have one more pick up at the airport tomorrow. Brian's been in Argentina all week working with the Toba translation. The work went well, but he could definitely see and feel that they were being attacked spiritually. One of the coordinators felt weak every day; Brian had pink eye and other health problems; and the other translation coordinator broke some ribs and was hospitalized. They accomplished the work they needed to do, but the devil made it as difficult as possible. We always covet your prayers for health and safety!
We plan on being gone until next summer, but we only have the travel schedule confirmed through the end of the year. Here's an itinerary for the next few months:
August 29-September 13 Bethel and Barrow, Alaska
September 13-18 home to regroup/recoup/repack
September 18-October 3 Madrid, Spain and Istanbul, Turkey
October 3-9 home to repack
October 9-10 Mexican Bible Society in Mexico City
October 10-17 Peru
October 17-29 Ecuador
October 29-November 6 Michoacan, Mexico
November 6-January, 2010 Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico
Thanks for following us in this adventure. Rachel and I will each be writing for the blog. We thought it would be fun to have two different perspectives of the travel, places we visit, work we're involved in, home-schooling, etc. Thanks for all of your support as we begin our year. Donna