Last week, I told my mom that 73% of my monthly support has been pledged.  After a moment of great excitement, she said "This is going to start moving very fast.  Just you watch."  Well, she was right.

I'll be setting up my appointment at the consulate this week, gathering together the last forms that I need to get my visa, and looking at plane tickets.  My pastor is even looking at a number of apartments for me!  All that will be left is raising the last 21% before I'll be back in France!  How crazy is that?  It's all is God's perfect timing, even if it hasn't always been easy.  So, what have I learned in this season of my life?  Let's think back.

God is always good.
No matter where you go, you will find family.
Stress over money is obnoxious, and won't help a single thing.
You're never too old to to set a new goal or dream a new dream. (Thank you C.S Lewis)
Mario Kart is addicting, but great.
Momentary frustrations are hard to remember a month later.
Technology certainly is an astounding thing- you can see the face of someone to whom you are speaking when they are on the other side of the world.
Cooking is fabulously fun.
Creativity is wonderful and those muscles can always be stretched.
Reading in a coffee shop is a beautiful way to spend an afternoon.
Prayer goes farther than you may think.

Those are just some brief reflections on what the past eight months have been.  I'm excited to see what the next season will bring!

Slowly, but surely, and dollar by dollar, I am so close to having the funds to return  to France!

It's been an amazing thing, to wait as the money has been generously donated.  What strikes me most, and what I think has been the most encouraging, are the anonymous donations that have come in.  About twice a month, I receive notice that an anonymous donation has been given and often for very unusual amounts.  I have gotten donations for $18, $69, $38, $29, and even $4 among others.  It's very puzzling, but I am overjoyed that there are people who perhaps don't even know me personally who are partnering with me in the ministry I will be doing in France.

The funds are seriously SO CLOSE to being reached!  As of this moment, 73.3% of the monthly support has been pledged, and from different conversations, I know that I will have enough by the end of the week to apply for my visa!  Yikes!  I was talking with a missionary friend a few weeks ago, and she said that once the visa is set or the plane tickets are bought, the remaining funds come in rather quickly.  I pray that is true!