Well, I now have a sister in the other hemisphere. Karissa left yesterday afternoon for field work in Australia. We are all very proud, but very sniffly. This is everyone at the airport (except Bob, who was kind enough to take the picture so that we could all be in it) trying to keep from crying for long enough to take a snapshot. None of us are pretty criers.

Kris decided when she was in High School that she was supposed to do mission work. She talked to Dad about it, and he thought it was a great fit for her. She has done a short-term mission (6 weeks) in Moscow with the Let's Start Talking program and a week long mission trip to an orphanage in Leon, Mexico. Now she is going to be working with a church in Gosford, Australia for the next 14 months or so. I'm glad she's brave enough to do it, because I'm certainly not. We are all incredibly proud of her. She's sacrificing a lot of things to get to go, and people in her life (hello again, Bob!) are sacrificing too. We'll be posting lots of baby videos for Auntie K to watch, and having weekly web vists via webcam.

So, long and short of it is: K, we love you and we miss you and are so, so proud of you. Hang in there sweetheart. Once you get settled and busy things will be easier. Take in the gorgeous landscape, try not to get eaten by spiders, and we'll see you when you get home. Blog often (send me the link again!), send lots of pictures, and have a fantastic time. Promise that you'll go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef at least once, and take an underwater camera. Just give us some notice if we need to get dresses before you come home.

Everyone else: please keep Kris and her mission team in your prayers. I will link to her blog as soon as she e-mails me the link. If you know any rich people, or just mission-minded people, her team does still need some additional support. Just get in touch with me via e-mail or comment.

Peace be with you!