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March 29, 2009
Big Week
Everything is going well and the kids are getting used to our life here in Nairobi! Morgan and Madelynne are becoming more acquainted with their school work and what is expected of them! Keegan and Kolby are enjoying life at home together!
This week is a big week for us as my mom arrives on Tuesday night and then Thursday morning I go to the hospital and via c-section, deliver our 5th baby! We have been busy getting everything ready for our new baby girl and for my mom's visit. We all are very excited.
Please be in prayer with us as I have the c-section Thursday afternoon. For most of you it will be Thursday morning. We really like our doctor and feel very confident in his skills as a doctor. The hospital is very modern and is compatible with a hospital you would find in the U.S. We know that God has everything under control and in His hands.
Please pray that my mom would have safe travels and all her flights would be on time. Also we are asking for prayer that all of our kids would do very well with another transition as they get used to another baby!
Thank you all so very much for all you do for us and for all your prayers! We covet them and need them!
In Him,
Abbie
Posted at 01:51 PM
March 13, 2009
Alien No More!
I arrived safely back in Nairobi about 4 hours ago, and for the most part, I'm beat! Thanks to all of you who prayed and gave towards this trip. Because of your generosity we have more than covered the travel expenses for the entire trip! I left Nairobi on Sunday night and had a great flight back to the US. Although I missed my connecting flight in NY, I was able to get on a later flight and arrived home in TN around midnight on Monday.
My oath ceremony was on Wed morning and I was blessed to have the largest fan base present. There were 10 of my family and friends that came to show there support and it was such a blessing. I envisioned that there might be 10 to 20 applicants recieving their citizenship and was quite shocked to find that there were over 250 of us from 67 different countries. It was quite an event and in the end, I did indeed come away with my certificate of naturalization. After a quick celebratory lunch eating "good old american bar-b-q and sweet tea" I was able to apply for my US passport at the post office and hope to recieve that in the next several weeks.
I then had to get home and pack the bags to catch my flight out of our regional airport at 6:15 that same evening. (I did retain my Canadian citizenship and traveled on my Canadian passport to get back to Kenya) After a night in a hotel near the JFK airport in NY, I was back on my way home via Dubai and safely home by 4pm this afternoon.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support through all of this. Abbie, had the hard job and did really well with the kids during the time that I was away. We are thankful and happy to be together again!
Please click on the "Photos" tab if you would like to see a few pictures from the oath ceremony. We'll work hard at getting some Africa pictures on there soon. Thanks for your patience!
Take care and God bless,
Reini
Posted at 01:01 PM
March 03, 2009
Murphy's Law!
I'm sure part of this law involves waiting 8 months longer to hear from US immigration than what I was told to expect and then finally hearing from them less than two weeks after arriving in Kenya!
It's official, we recieved the letter at our TN address yesterday that I am supposed to report to Greenville, TN for my oath ceremony at 8:00 am on Wed, March 11th!
We feel like the timing is actually alright since it is still a month away from Abbie's c-section. Before leaving the US, it had looked as though we would be able to take care of the majority of the ticket price through airline miles but it seems that we are having difficulties redeeming our miles on such short notice! I will likely have to leave here on Sat or Sun this week which doesn't leave much time. Anyway, please be in prayer about the funding for these tickets. If any of you want to make a donation, you can send it to our AIM address with a note saying that it is for us and designate it to our Home Assignment fund. I will also be able to recieve any correspondence at our TN address during the short time that I will be there next week:
Reini Schmidt
406 Lake Dr
Piney Flats, TN 37686
In other news, we were able to visit with Abbie's doctor this week and she and the baby are doing well. It looks like the date for the c-section will be set for Thursday, April 2. Abbie's mom will be arriving on March 31st and we will be happy to have the extra help for 3 weeks while we get adjusted to the new baby!
Thanks again for your interest and your part in our ministry!
Serving Him together,
Reini
Posted at 01:07 PM