the jug of oil

This is our 18th night in our new apartment. 

7 of those nights we have hosted guests. 

Tomorrow John Paul and Lydia and I leave for a five day trip to Guangzhou.

Honestly, at some points over the past three weeks I've felt a little like the woman who feeds Elijah her last loaf of bread.  Really?  Give away my last loaf?  But every time, just like the woman.... my jug of oil and my jar of flour have not run dry.  God sustains, and blesses.  Especially when we live in, embrace, our weakness.

[Although, if you want to get technical about the details we did finish up my flour supply last night when Ashlei and I made pizzas for the crew!... but you know what I mean.... ]

John Paul is a Chinese citizen and needs a visa to enter America (woohoo! we are coming!  approaching the 3-years-on-the-field mark and we'll be in the States for the holidays this year!).  So, early tomorrow morning we'll be on a taking-off-into-the-sunrise flight for Guangzhou.  At the U.S. Embassy there we will finalize his U.S. immigrant visa - giving our little guy citizenship upon arrival in the United States.  (And let me tell you, America is getting itself a sweet little thing when this boy  changes his passport from red to blue - what a treasure!)

Unfortunately the process is a hurry up and wait kind of thing so we won't finish til Friday afternoon - 5 days our family will spend split right down the middle (me with two in Guangzhou, Matt home with the other three).  Lydia is along for the fun, the fellowship, and the support!  She'll be a tremendous blessing.  

This is the longest stretch I'll spend away from my others - and a big first for Luke, with no Mommy around. I'm actually hoping for a somewhat relaxing week with *only* two kiddos to chase!  But it'll be hard too, for those on the road and those left at home. 

Would you pray for Matt as he balances working and some time off and all the needs of the three here at home?  And that all the paperwork and details in Guangzhou would go off smoothly for John Paul?  And for the whole family as we spend this extended time apart?  We normally run as a pretty tight pack (esp the five!) and it'll be so strange to be separated.  More than one of us was in tears tonight over the impending departure :)