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This will be our last post on this blog - our family is immigrating to New Zealand in about two-to-four weeks time, so we will no longer be "under African skies".
The past month has been really busy for us with all the preparations and paperwork needed for the immigration, but the Lord has been so good to us and smoothed the whole process - undertaking miraculously in every way! It's wonderful to see His Hand in everything and know that He is leading us! We are so thankful for His Grace and loving kindness!
New Zealand is a long way from South Africa - we will be flying to Hong Kong or Singapore and then onto New Zealand...a trip of about 27 hours! Once in N.Z. we will be "living like gypsies" for about a month - that is, living in a camper and touring around N.Z. until Dad has to start work. :P :)
If you're all wondering whether we're excited about the move.....Yes, definitely!! :) There is much we will miss about South Africa, especially our family and friends and all the things that make S.A. unique but we are also looking forward to New Zealand and all the new things which are waiting there! :)
Thank you to all our loyal and wonderful friends and readers who have visited our blog and also for the kind comments and feed-back you have given! Perhaps we will start up a blog once we settle in N.Z. but whether or not that happens, we will be still visiting all our friends and followers blogs whenever we get the chance.:)
If you'd like to stay in touch with us by email, just send us a note and your email address by clicking on the "Contact Us" button (right-hand side bar, near the top of the page) - we'd love to hear from you. :)
Goodbye, or perhaps "Totsiens" is a better word...in Afrikaans the greeting also means "till we see/meet each other again"! :)
~Jessica & Rachel
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
~ Numbers 6: 24-26
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22 comments:
Oh wow, how exciting! I hope everything goes well. :)
~Emma~
Dear Jessica,
Grace and peace be unto you from God and His Son Jesus Christ.
I would like to take this opportunity to make final contact with you without being too personal.
These are glad tidings indeed, and I take comfort knowing that you will be in a better place. I treasure the memory of our friendship, and all that you brought to my life. Thank you so much! May God go with you and your family.
- With love from a friend who has not forgotten.
I will miss your blog posts, y'all! Will you still be posting on some other blog? Or will you just change this blog's name?
I pray the Lord guides you in your steps wherever He takes you!
In Christ,
Mikailah
Wonderful and exciting for you!! (Am I just a tad jealous of how fast your process has gone..??) ;-)
I do hope you'll start a blog in NZ - it will be a great way to share all your new experiences.
May God go with you and keep His had over you and your family.
Will you be creating a new blog? I only recently joined Under African Skies, but I so enjoyed looking through all your old posts! Praying for you.
Dear sisters in the Lord,
What an adventure you're about to embark on! I pray that all goes well with you as you prepare to leave your home and move to another land. I guess you'll be saying quite a few goodbyes now too!
Please do keep blogging!!!!!! I always love reading about what you've been up to, even if I don't always take the time to comment....
May God grant you much patience on that long flight when you finally move. :)
Love and prayers,
~Cora
Thank you for all the lovely comments (and emails) we have received so far - we appreciate each one and the interest you've taken in the blog! Most of all, we truly appreciate your prayers, thank you!
At this stage we're not sure whether we will start up a blog in NZ, it all depends on circumstances over there. Though we won't be posting on here, we'll leave Under African Skies online (mostly for our own memories) :) and will notify on here if we do get another blog up and running.
God bless you all.
~Jessica & Rachel
Your blog has been such a joy and blessing to visit over the years... it will truly be missed!
May the Lord bless you and your family as you continue to follow His leading and to live every day for His glory.
In Christ,
~Shannon~
I don't know how I missed this! I will be so sorry not to read Under African Skies, and I do hope (if it seems to be the Lord's will) that you will start a New Zealand blog.
In any case, you might think about copying your blog posts and pictures into a document and printing a hard copy for your future enjoyment. In many ways, it is a journal and a priceless "memory bank" that you might not want to leave solely in the unpredictable internet realm. I don't know if you have something like this already, but it is just a thought.
Please keep in touch!
God bless you!
Elizabeth
I'm having several giveaways here: http://creativity-starts-here.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-forget.html
~Johanna
Wow that's a big move for your family! All the best, and I hope you enjoy living in NZ! :)
Wow!! That's exciting! =D I'll be praying for ya'll!
I hope you have a great trip. :-)
~ Lacy
An Ornament of Grace
You'd better keep in touch, Night Owl! You too, Rachel! ;)
But this post was no surprise!
So excited for you girls. Have a wonderful time!
I will miss reading your blogs. But I pray that God will bless you where ever you go.
~Elizabeth
Once again, thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments and good wishes!
We are leaving next week for New Zealand and are not sure about internet access for a while. We are excited about the move and it will be like starting a new life! We have sold/disposed of just about all worldly goods (All I have is a suitcase full of clothes and a few personal items, my Bible and a smallish box of things I just couldn't get rid of, and of course, my guitar!
[To a friend not forgotten, yes, I'm going to haul my guitar along on the plane with me, and around the airports, all the way to NZ!] :)
Thank you again to all the wonderful friends we've met on the net, through the blog, and for all the support from family and local friends too.
May the Lord richly bless you (and please don't stop praying for us!)
Love in Christ from both of us.
~Jessica
Rachel & Jessica
I just found your blog. My eye caught hold of it because we're from the same country. I was so surprised when I read your latest entry that you're now leaving our beloved Africa.
I tried click on the 'contact' link to send you an email, but that failed for me.
Either way, may the Lord be with you. Keep shining your light for Him, it's so beautiful to see Jesus in you, and I've only been visiting your blog for a day.
In Christ
It does me good to know that you've not forgotten, and I thank you for the laugh!
Guitar is certainly worth the trouble (in my opinion, anyway, for what it's worth). I'm only sorry I couldn't have had the pleasure of teaching you more of the little I know, but I'm sure you'll have a much better teacher soon.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Godspeed, my dear friend!
-JPH
I hope you all have a great trip! That sounds exciting. :-)
Looking forward to hearing how everything goes.
Happy camping.
Blessings,
Leah
Hi Jessica & Rachel,
I seem to be the last to know about your big move. =) It seems as though I haven't been around the blogosphere reading as many blogs as I used to, so I'm late to learn about news.
Whatever the plans are that God has given your family, I pray your journey is a safe one, and that you will enjoy your new home! And to put my vote in, I surely hope you girls will start a new blog for your New Zealand adventures!
Blessings!
~ Tarissa
I have been looking at your blog for a year now and enjoyed at lots, partly because i love Africa!
God bless and keep you, Beth
God bless you two
Totsiens!
P.S You should come to Australia!(ha ha)
Just found your blog, love it! Definitely following you :]
Blessings,
Caroline Leigh
thethinkingblonde.blogspot.com
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