December 15--Departure

On December 15 at 7 AM on a very windy, frigid morning the families of Ellen and Katie gathered at the airport to say good-bye for a season (actually two seasons, winter and spring). The temperature was well below zero and the windchill caused frostbite in minutes (just ask Bryce). Months of planning and packing were over and, ready or not (and there was some "not") the girls were heading to Guyana.

At first, everyone put on brave and happy faces, if not always quite awake.

Daniel had planned to say a private good-bye and then head home to work. We're still trying to figure out if he REALLY thought that field was part of the parking lot. Was he just "accidentally" stuck and delayed? Whatever the case, he was able to savor an extra 40 minutes with Ellen while he waited for a few of the bigger brothers to show up and push his truck out.

The moms had to get special last moment pictures, then the whole families (minus a few who were out of town), and finally the time drew nigh and the sister moments became precious and overflowing with tears.








Finally, the girls were on board and our forlorn group could only watch the plane taxi away from us while we were left to our tissues and the biting wind. Knowing that God's love is more than enough to hold us up and to cover our girls was comfort that exceeded even the dismal scene awaiting us outside the airport doors.


Godspeed girls!