The first day of the rest of our lives

Yesterday marked an unofficial beginning, of sorts, as our co-workers (Aaron, Cindy, Kaela & Melia Baker) left for their new work on Tanna Island.  We had been planning for this day for months, but it was still a bit surreal to say goodbye and watch them board the plane.  I thought I would give some history and an overview of what our teammates are planning.

Our team has been together in some form for many years.  We first met the Bakers back in 2001, when we both worshiped at the 29th and Yale congregation in Tulsa, OK.  Independently of one another, we both decided to begin attending the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver in 2002.  It was there that our friendship with them was solidified, and also where we all met Mike Olson, a native of Colorado.  The five of us went on a survey trip to Fiji and Vanuatu during the summer break between our two years at Bear Valley, and then began making plans to function as a mission team, ultimately deciding to focus our efforts on Vanuatu.

Upon graduation, we all moved into a house in Colorado that was owned by some great friends, Jeremy and Rebecca Korodaj.  That house served as our home base as we all went out raising funds for our mission.  It was during this time that Kaela was born.  We lived together in that house for almost a year, when we then moved to Vanuatu (April 2005).  We were grateful to find a duplex for rent that met all of our needs, and so we have lived next door to the Bakers in Vanuatu for almost six years.  Our four kids are like brother and sisters to each other, and we really do feel like we are family.  Of course we’ve spent countless hours together with “Uncle Mike” as well.  We have experienced a lot together, both joyful and sorrowful, and "the team" has been a blessing every step of the way.

The Bakers were introduced to Tanna through the Christians in Etas Village here on Efate, most of whom are originally from that island.  Once these locals had learned and obeyed the truth, they were eager to have that same truth taught to their loved ones.  After making several trips to Tanna, the Bakers decided that they would dedicate at least a year to helping these people learn about Jesus by teaching the Bible.  They have rented a small, one-room, cement block house in Lorakau Village, which is the village where the church was started in Tanna during an April 2010 campaign.  Aaron’s main focus will be on training the Christian men, that they may teach others also (a la 2 Timothy 2:2).

Once he returns from his time of furlough in the States, Mike will be preparing to move to the island of Espiritu Santo.  We have hundreds of Bible correspondence course students there, which he will be following up on.  He will also take advantage of his proximity to Ambae Island, where there are two congregations meeting, by making several trips in to assist these brethren.

As of now, we plan to all be together in Vila in April, at which time we will celebrate the completion of six years on the field.  We will again gather in Vila next December, which looks like it will be the last time for us to be together in Vanuatu as missionaries. 

As a reminder, our family was delayed a week by Cyclone Vania.  Lord willing, I will be heading to Malekula on February 3, and the rest of the family will follow a week later, on February 10.  Please keep our entire team in your prayers as we transition into this new phase of our work, especially as we do so separately.  Tank yu tumas! (Thank you very much!)