OK--ONE MORE

Hi There!

 

We are at the airport, 7 suitcases and $600.00 later! I hated to pay for extra bags, but after assessing the cost of buying clothes in Japan, additional baggage was the better option. And I just want to thank God for luggage carts! Oh Yeah! 

 

We fly out of Denver at 7 PM Wednesday (today), fly 13 hours with a layover in L.A., and land in Tokyo at 4 AM Friday morning. This will be the farthest I have ever been from home!  Not too many years ago I would not have even considered leaving home, and certainly not for the other side of the world! My move from Texas to Colorado brought about many changes: some good, some bad; but even the things that were meant for harm, God has turned around for good! I have not only climbed to a higher physical altitude, I have been lifted up spiritually and my eyes opened to see beyond my own borders. I Praise Him!

 

OK, this really is the last post until Japan!

 

Blessings until then,

Rhonda

 

 

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE

HELLO FRIENDS AND ADVENTURERS!

 

I find myself at this moment to be homeless and unemployed...hmmmm. It is a very strange reality to be sure! Had an awesome send off last night by some of the best people on the planet! I have made some really great friends in the past 13 years and feel connected on a deep level with so many. No matter where I go, I do not want to lose that connection. This is a small world and I want to do whatever I can, to not only stay connected, but draw those who will come with me into this adventure! My friends, you are welcome here!

 

We leave Wednesday night and will wake up in Japan on Friday morning. I will update again from the other side of the world, as soon as I have internet service. 

 

You are loved!

Rhonda

FINAL APPROACH!

Hi Friends and Family,

It has been a flurried couple of weeks getting all of our business in order. I am taking a day off to do those things that you just cannot do between the hours of 7PM and midnight! We are racing toward the finish line. Walk through is next Thursday at 10 AM and closing is Friday, April 24th. I am a mix of emotions!

Thank you to all who have prayed and are praying for us! My eyes have been opened to a family that I have longed for. This family is no longer just a concept, but a tangible, living organism filled with the Spirit of God! We are connected, alive together in Christ! I am not alone, and that is priceless to me!

My car is sold. I have been allowed to drive it until next Thursday. We are going to pick up an SUV at a rental place near the airport next Wednesday. One large enough hopefully to contain 7 large suitcases plus carry-ons. That way we can carry ourselves to the airport on the 29th without interrupting someone's work day. If it will not carry 7 large suitcases plus carry-ons, we may be calling you for help! Thank you in advance! 

We do have a place to stay for the final few days after closing on the house. Many thanks to those of you who have offered your home to us! It really is amazing how things have worked out, particularly in such a limited time frame. God is Good!

To update you on our financial progress...We are almost there! Together we are required a minimum of $24,000 for basic expenses. At this moment we stand at 80% funded! We are in need of $5,000 dollars to complete the basic funding for our first year in Japan. If you would like to be a part of this venture and have not had the opportunity, the 2 easiest ways to give are outlined below:

•    Paypal: for US or Canadian dollar donations: Go to www.pazjapan.org and click on the donate link. Our names are listed on the "donation to" drop-down menu. Please note, if you change from "one-time gift" to “monthly donation”, the drop-down menu will default back to the PAZ Japan general fund. So, you will need to select one of our names again. If the funds are donated to the general fund, they must remain there due to US tax and audit requirements.

•    Check or Money Order: payable to Project AmaZon, P.O. Box 3253, Peoria, Illinois 61612. Please indicate on a separate piece of paper if for Rhonda or Jennifer Hurley. If you intend to give to both, write both names on a piece of paper and indicate how much is to be donated to each one.

Thank you so much for your support!

Rhonda



DISCONNECTED!

Well Friends, we no longer have a phone here in the US.  In an effort to save as much money as possible, it was disconnected at the end of the billing cycle. Wow, I think I am addicted to be connected, because the moment I realized my phone was really disconnected there was a feeling of isolation. Me thinks there is a steep learning curve in my future. I can hear the words of Gandalf in The Hobbit, "You will have to manage without pocket handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end..." 

On the packing front, after all was said and done, we will be leaving with 7 suitcases, one of which is filled with sheets, blankets and pillows (in those bags that you use your vacuum cleaner to suck all the air out of). Another with shoes...Hey! a girl needs her shoes! The rumor is that my size may be hard to find in Japan, and we need them for every season.

We are now in the process of getting rid of everything that didn't fit in those 7 suitcases, and making the house presentable again for walk-through on April 23rd.  As you can imagine, there is stuff everywhere. 

I still need to sell my car, but that is the last thing that needs to be done. I have been holding on to it until the last minute since we are both still working and need transportation. Please pray for this to be accomplished at just the right moment. 

I want to thank all who are praying for us! We are experiencing more peace in this process and everything is falling into place. And a huge THANK YOU! to our home church, Denver United, for supplying us with furniture funds for our new apartment in Japan! You are awesome!

With much gratitude!

Rhonda