Well, we have arrived at the training center in Texas. It has been a long, sometimes challenging, path to this point. We were talking with one of our younger friends who asked if the journey was somewhat surreal. . . it was an excellent description!!
We have totally emptied the house (except the storage room). The sale is done, several loads to various charities around town, a dumpster filled and removed, the house cleaned from top to bottom, the carpets cleaned. . . all while we were working to spend time with friends and family to say goodbye. Now we just have to wait for the right renter. We know that they are out there and are destined for our house!
We have certainly been shown great love by our friends, our faith community, and our family during the time up to leaving Owatonna. It was difficult leaving watching as people would open their arms for great hugs, sometimes with tears in their eyes. . . OK, maybe those were Matt's eyes!!
It was an amazing challenge to pack two years worth of belongings in to two duffel bags each (not more than 50 pounds per) and the carry-ons. We felt like we overpacked but kept thinking of things that would prove helpful. I know we will cull the load down before we move on to Africa.
Yesterday was travel day. We arrived at the airport in Mpls at 7 am (thanks Mike!) and flew at 8:40. Our flights were on time and uneventful. We were picked up by Mercy Ships staff right on schedule and got settled into our room. We had to pay for our flights to Africa today. They came in about $400 (each) less than we had planned. What a great surprise!
Today the training began, primarily with "get to know you" stuff designed to help the group bond. We have a wide diversity of people from early 20's to mid 60's, many different professions and backgrounds, but all with a heart of service.
Thanks to all who have been following this blog, thinking about us, praying for us. Your support is huge as we go forth. Blessings!!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Last Days in Owatonna (for now!)
It is early Tuesday morning on our last week in Owatonna for now.
The last month has been absolutely hectic. We dealt with preparing and operating a moving sale (I had no idea there was such a subculture of people who go to those things but that could be a blog post all on it's own!!!) and are now in the finishing throws of packing up what remains. Much of what we are keeping will be stored in one room here along with some storage at Denise's parents place (Thanks Jim and Geri!!) The basement is empty, Josh and Jake's rooms are empty, piles of stuff awaits final sorting for donation, dumpster, or storing. . . this is what the next couple days holds!!
In the midst of all this, there have been the goodbyes and farewells. We have spent time with many of our friends, but will miss many more. It is incredibly heartening to know how many really good people are out there supporting us. Your thoughts and prayers mean more than you could possibly know.
Here is the schedule for the near future. We will leave Owatonna some time on Thursday and stay up closer to the airport. Our flight to Texas departs Friday morning at 8:40 am, through Dallas to Tyler, Texas. Then on the Mercy Ships International Operations Center for the next five weeks of training. In early March we will fly to Conakry, Guinea, where we will participate in a ground based mission for a couple weeks to help us acclimate to the culture. Then, near the end of March we will be on to the Africa Mercy.
We can be reached through our cell phones while we are in the states (Denise, 507-676-1106, Matt, 507-213-7128). After about March 1, we will be out of touch via phone until we are on the ship. At that time, we will be able to provide a US based number for you to call us. Our email, mtveite@gmail, will be available to us all the time, except perhaps while we are participating in the ground based mission. If you prefer regular mail, you can reach us at:
Matt and Denise Tveite
Mercy Ships (when in Texas add -IOC, when in Africa, add -AFM Crew Mail)
P.O. Box 2020
Lindale, TX 75771-2020
For packages, if they are not urgent, please clearly mark them "Container" and they will be shipped to us on the regular cargo containers as space becomes available. If they need to get to us right away, just address them, but keep them light as we will be charged $8 per pound for the shipping.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go through the roller coaster of emotions that come with a move like this. We experience love, stress, fear, trust, and many more as we go day to day (OK, minute to minute!!).
Blessings!!!
The last month has been absolutely hectic. We dealt with preparing and operating a moving sale (I had no idea there was such a subculture of people who go to those things but that could be a blog post all on it's own!!!) and are now in the finishing throws of packing up what remains. Much of what we are keeping will be stored in one room here along with some storage at Denise's parents place (Thanks Jim and Geri!!) The basement is empty, Josh and Jake's rooms are empty, piles of stuff awaits final sorting for donation, dumpster, or storing. . . this is what the next couple days holds!!
In the midst of all this, there have been the goodbyes and farewells. We have spent time with many of our friends, but will miss many more. It is incredibly heartening to know how many really good people are out there supporting us. Your thoughts and prayers mean more than you could possibly know.
Here is the schedule for the near future. We will leave Owatonna some time on Thursday and stay up closer to the airport. Our flight to Texas departs Friday morning at 8:40 am, through Dallas to Tyler, Texas. Then on the Mercy Ships International Operations Center for the next five weeks of training. In early March we will fly to Conakry, Guinea, where we will participate in a ground based mission for a couple weeks to help us acclimate to the culture. Then, near the end of March we will be on to the Africa Mercy.
We can be reached through our cell phones while we are in the states (Denise, 507-676-1106, Matt, 507-213-7128). After about March 1, we will be out of touch via phone until we are on the ship. At that time, we will be able to provide a US based number for you to call us. Our email, mtveite@gmail, will be available to us all the time, except perhaps while we are participating in the ground based mission. If you prefer regular mail, you can reach us at:
Matt and Denise Tveite
Mercy Ships (when in Texas add -IOC, when in Africa, add -AFM Crew Mail)
P.O. Box 2020
Lindale, TX 75771-2020
For packages, if they are not urgent, please clearly mark them "Container" and they will be shipped to us on the regular cargo containers as space becomes available. If they need to get to us right away, just address them, but keep them light as we will be charged $8 per pound for the shipping.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go through the roller coaster of emotions that come with a move like this. We experience love, stress, fear, trust, and many more as we go day to day (OK, minute to minute!!).
Blessings!!!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Cleared!!!!
I had an orthopedic appt on Tuesday. . . the surgeon said he would clear me IF I did a CT scan to make sure one of the small bones healed. I had the CT on Wednesday, then was called back to the hospital because the radiologist needed more views. . . I was not happy!!!! OK, really I was more scared!!!! No call on Thursday, felt the stress levels going up. . . the orthopedic fellow called yesterday. . . IT HEALED!! I am cleared and will be getting the doctor's letter next week!
Praise God for healing!
Praise God for healing!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Moving Sale!!
We are diligently working going through every corner of our house, getting things out, deciding to keep, donate, or sell. If you are in the Owatonna area this weekend (1/11-13), please plan to stop by our house at 1676 Wedgewood on Friday (noon to 6), Saturday (8 to 5), or Sunday (noon to 4) to help us reduce the storage load!!! Lots of good stuff, sports equipment, a refrigerator, a treadmill, lots and lots of games and misc.
Last week we went out to Colorado and stayed with Denise's sister Bonnie and her husband Max for a couple days. Jake got to play in the snow, spending several hours Friday riding snowmobile in the mountains and on Saturday spent the day skiing at Loveland!! He was quite a happy young man!! We had an awesome visit with Bonnie and Max (and of course Brady!). We all got our mountain fix before leaving. It was strange on Sunday when we left Kremmling in the mountains it was -15 degrees. A couple hours later in Denver it was +50 degrees!!!!
Hope all of you are doing well! I will do another update next week after the hecticness of the sale has passed!
Last week we went out to Colorado and stayed with Denise's sister Bonnie and her husband Max for a couple days. Jake got to play in the snow, spending several hours Friday riding snowmobile in the mountains and on Saturday spent the day skiing at Loveland!! He was quite a happy young man!! We had an awesome visit with Bonnie and Max (and of course Brady!). We all got our mountain fix before leaving. It was strange on Sunday when we left Kremmling in the mountains it was -15 degrees. A couple hours later in Denver it was +50 degrees!!!!
Hope all of you are doing well! I will do another update next week after the hecticness of the sale has passed!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
. . . And A Happy New Year!!
Here we sit on New Year's day, having completed Christmas celebrations on both sides of our family. Each of our siblings (and several of our extended family) made it a priority this year to make sure they were at the celebrations, we can't tell you how much we appreciate their support!!
As we sat at the Sandin home in New Prague, Minnesota, last weekend, and the Tveite home in Bloomington, Minnesota, this weekend, surrounded by our family, we marveled at the love and harmony in both families. We are truly privileged to call our families our friends!! They would do anything for us, not out of obligation, but rather out of love. How richly blessed we are!!
Time and again at both gatherings, we heard words such as "We are so proud of you!" "What can we do to help?" "Your journey will be amazing!" and so forth . . .
It was hard, this morning, to leave the last gathering, knowing it was quite possibly the last time we would see many of these people for the next two years. However, we left, lifted up by the fact that we have families that were raised knowing the importance of supporting and loving each other. We left with certain knowledge that, no matter when we next see each other, that love and support travels with us, helping to make us the people we are.
To our siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, Thanks for your love and help. (. . . but next year, please remember that calling us at midnight Central time to wish a Happy New Year will likely not be greeted happily!!)
To our parents, Well Done!!
As we sat at the Sandin home in New Prague, Minnesota, last weekend, and the Tveite home in Bloomington, Minnesota, this weekend, surrounded by our family, we marveled at the love and harmony in both families. We are truly privileged to call our families our friends!! They would do anything for us, not out of obligation, but rather out of love. How richly blessed we are!!
Time and again at both gatherings, we heard words such as "We are so proud of you!" "What can we do to help?" "Your journey will be amazing!" and so forth . . .
It was hard, this morning, to leave the last gathering, knowing it was quite possibly the last time we would see many of these people for the next two years. However, we left, lifted up by the fact that we have families that were raised knowing the importance of supporting and loving each other. We left with certain knowledge that, no matter when we next see each other, that love and support travels with us, helping to make us the people we are.
To our siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, Thanks for your love and help. (. . . but next year, please remember that calling us at midnight Central time to wish a Happy New Year will likely not be greeted happily!!)
To our parents, Well Done!!
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