8 weeks now

Eight weeks from yesterday the Buntings will board a plane that takes us home to the U.S.A.  This is a loaded thought!  So much emotion in the reality of that.  We will be leaving pieces of our hearts here, without a doubt.  We love our people.  But we believe the Lord has used us in these two years to help strengthen this church, and for that we are grateful and glad-hearted. 

We are forever changed by all we have seen and experienced here.  Our spoiled days of having everything at our fingertips ended the moment we landed here.  Compared to many countries of the world, the Bahamas has plenty.  But compared to the U.S.A, well...there's no comparison.  One trip to Wal-mart when we are back in the states and our entire family is in shock!  "When did they start making this?"  "Did you know they had THIS flavor now?"  "I didn't even know this many varieties existed!"  "Look at this price!  What a deal!  Let's get 10 to take back..."  We were recently in Florida and just didn't make it to Wal-mart until the day we had to head back to Nassau.  BIG MISTAKE.  Kendall and I (Kristin) were the only two who could go during that timeframe and we had only 30 minutes to shop.  Again, BIG MISTAKE.  We couldn't even get through the snack aisle in that time!  Not to mention, since our bags were already packed and Delta has a "No free checked bag" rule we couldn't get much to take back.  I just kept reminding Kendall that we would be flying back to the US permanently in 10 weeks.

Our girls have become very frugal since living here.  Their practical math skills have blossomed.  They can recall prices better than the top contestant on "The Price is Right."  They know a deal when they see it.  Wal-mart only gets the nod if Goodwill doesn't have it...on discount day.  This is all something that might have come much more slowly had we not lived in the Bahamas these last two years!  However, there are other effects too.  They wonder if they won't fit in well in the U.S.  They wonder if their friends here will be closer than any friends there.  They wonder if the U.S. kids will be laden with i-phones, the latest fashions, and heaps of friends that won't allow room for them.  They wonder if the church won't worship as vibrantly as they do here, that they won't be calling their parents' friends "Auntie" and "Uncle" or "Sister...." and "Brother..."  They wonder what homeschooling co-ops will be like.  They wonder where, for sure, we will live.

And so each day is usually filled with some questions and answers.  So in this, you can be praying.  That God will quiet hearts.  That God will make clear and straight paths.  That God will provide for every need and beyond.  That God will be glorified in the way we finish our time here.  We covet your prayers.  We feel them.  Thank you for every thought, word, and prayer you've made to bring encouragement to us.  God has seen and He will bless.