Katie on crutches after surgery

Our flight leaves in the wee hours of the morning on October 5, so we are busy packing and weighing our bags and saying goodbye to our family and friends here in the States. It is a time of mixed emotions as we plan to be in Senegal for another four years before our next home assignment back in the USA. Emma and Molly are already back in Senegal – they flew with friends on September 6 to be there in time for the beginning of their school year – so we look forward to being on the same continent with them again!

My hip surgery on September 2nd was successful and I am off crutches and doing well. I have two more physical therapy appointments and a list of exercises I can continue on my own. I am so grateful to have had the surgery and I look forward to being much less limited physically this term!

Our hearts are full of praise and thanksgiving for all of the sweet blessings we received during this time in the States.

Every day, we had a vehicle to drive and a place to stay. We had precious time with friends, both new and old,  and were prayed for and encouraged. God’s people also continue to generously support us financially; we are at almost 100% of our goal and expect to hear back soon from two congregations who may become new ministry partners.

The Gallaghers at SIM HQ

So, the Lord has provided all we need – and we are ready to return to Senegal to see what He will do next!

Delay of New Teammates’ Arrival

Some of you may have heard that we were excited about getting to meet one of the couples who is coming to work with us in Kaffrine who were booked to be on the same flight to Senegal with us on October 5. Jeff and Amanda Gallagher are coming from California and are fully supported — but they have just had to cancel their booking so that they can take care of a medical issue that has come up. Obviously, this is disappointing for all of us, but we are so glad that the Gallaghers are able to take advantage of the quality medical care available in the US and we trust and pray that the delay will not be a long one.

Our other new teammates, Kody and Jennifer Sanderfer and their three children, are poised and ready to come to Senegal as soon as the last 27% of their financial support comes in.

The Sanderfers

We trust the Lord is in control and will bring the Gallaghers and the Sanderfers to Senegal in His good timing.

We appreciate your prayers for both of these families!

Adoption Update

Three years into this process, we are hopeful that things are now moving forward with our adoption in Guinea. However, the US government’s approval for us to adopt from Guinea only lasts 18 months. Our adoption agency doesn’t think that the process will be completed before our approval expires again in December. So… we need to update our homestudy again. This is complicated by the fact that the American social worker who did our original homestudy and update no longer lives in Senegal. Would you pray that the Lord will work this out? Not only do we long to bring our children home, but it breaks my heart to hear that since the orphanage is full right now, when the police bring abandoned babies to the orphanage, they have to turn them away.