Between moving days Tracy and several other men built crates for three days. Mike, Chuck, and Barry worked tirelessly shaping plywood into sturdy containers to hold our furniture and household belongings. These men were a tremendous help and Tracy could not have done it without them. Thankfully everyone kept their fingers and limbs. By Wednesday they had created three crates and six pallet crates and had loaded most of our possessions into them.
On Thursday Joel and Keith drove a flatbed in to Chicago to pick up the 20 ft. container we purchased. Again, moving day was moved up a day due to the prediction of inclement weather. And, again God gave us a wonderful window of opportunity.
With my inventory list in hand I was writing numbers on anything that had none, making sure each of the 213 pieces were listed. Be sure and ask the guys how many times I reminded them to load the bunkbeds! They were pretty patient with me, though.
With my inventory list in hand I was writing numbers on anything that had none, making sure each of the 213 pieces were listed. Be sure and ask the guys how many times I reminded them to load the bunkbeds! They were pretty patient with me, though.
I wish everyone could have witnessed what I saw that Friday. Watching the guys load the container was like watching poetry in motion~it was that well-orchestrated. I really admire the skill and labor of my husband and these men. Thanks so much to every-
one that helped~Keith, Joel, Stan, Mike, Chuck, Chester, and Barry. A big thanks to Mark for the use of his forklift.
The fourth picture is of the final crate being loaded into the con-
tainer by Keith on Monday. Everything fit snugly with about a foot of space above to spare. Before we sealed the container Chester wrote a special message for his children in Zambia. I wrote, "Mwacha bwanji, Zambia!" ("Hello, Zambia!") Later I learned I mispelled "bwanji". Oops. Somebody has to go to language school! Sealing the container also called for singing the doxology.
This last picture is of Tracy, Joel, and Keith looking over the map, making sure they have the right directions for dropping the container at the railroad hub. On Wednesday God again great weather following an ice storm. From Chicago the container will be shipped to New York, then cross the Atlantic for Tanzania. As we left the container I realized that we
we came into this world with nothing and we will leave this world with nothing. So, if I don't see our possessions again, I am still ahead. Our life does not consist in what we own but in having Christ. Besides, I've probably forgotten a big portion of what we packed!
Yet, we still pray that the container arrives safely and would clear customs without hassles. God deserves all the praise and glory for the great things He has done.
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