5 years 10 months 29 days

Day 2159. Sammy was up early, as usual, then Emmy got up. He was the only one in our bed, just like the night beore. Randy got up next, and Tammy and I were last. We got dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast. The breakfast room was full of people. Then we returned to the room and got ready to leave the hotel.

We drove the just over 10 minutes to church. The parking lot was already full so Randy let us out at the entrance and left to find a spot to park. I went inside the building with the kids - conquering a few steps - and took them to the kids' conference registration table. I signed them in and took them to the entrance where the teachers walked away with them. Then I walked to the sanctuary and ran into Randy, and we got ourselves some seats on the ground level. 

At 9 am the conference started with an hour of worship, then the first speaker spoke. There was a half-hour break from 11 to 11:30 am, then another speaker spoke. I was really tired but listened with my eyes closed. The first speaker spoke about the goodness of God following us everywhere and told lots of interesting stories. I had to think about how every time we've been right before a breakthrough in the ministry it all fell apart. 

At 12:30 pm the morning sessions were over and we had to go pick up the kids. While we were waiting for the kids, a teacher was telling us that the Lord had really touched the kids which made my eyes well up. When our kids came out, the teachers were saying how they had had kids surround them to pray for them. They said they could tell that our kids know how to pray for others. One teacher said how he'd seen Sammy pray for someone last night which had touched him. The kids were telling me that they'd had a great time.

We got into the car and went to the nearby Walmart to buy some food. Emmy and I went into the store while the others stayed in the car. We got some yogurt and chicken and peas and fruit, then continued on our way to the hotel. At the hotel, everyone was on their devices for a while. At 3:30 pm I suggested it was time to lie down for a nap. Tammy was ready, while Emmy did not want to lie down at all. It was quite a fight. Randy had already succeeded in getting Sammy to sleep, and Tammy was asleep on my other side. Emmy was crying and trying to get up. It took a long time before he finally gave up his fight. It was 4:30 pm that I looked at the time for the last time before also falling asleep.

Randy and Sammy were up when I woke up. It was 5:30 pm. I woke up the other kids, and we soon started getting ready to leave the house. At 6:15 pm we left, but it was 6:35 pm before we drove off.

When we arrived at the church, the parking lot was already very full. Once again Randy let us get off and left to park, while I took the kids to the children's conference, signed them in and waved them good-bye as they were taken to their classroom. Then I went to our seat that we still had in the sanctuary from the morning where Randy soon joined me. We had skipped the two afternoon sessions as the kids' conference does not have any. 

We had a wonderful hour of worship, then there was an offering, and at 8:15 pm Leif Hetland came to speak. I really like him, and I enjoyed everything he said. In the end, he asked those who had had dreams die, those who had lost hope and have had losses to come to the front. I went to the front. Tears were running down my cheeks as I was thinking of the ministry and of not being in Mali and not knowing when I'd be. Then I heard God say, "Enjoy Saturday, Sunday is coming." Leif had been talking about Friday (crucifixion) and Sunday (resurrection) during his preaching. Then God showed me that where I am right now is comparable to the 8 years before I went to Mali when I wondered when I'd ever get to go. Then He showed me that my second going to Mali in the future would be even more glorious than the first one, much more glorious. I was so very encouraged by what He showed me that I started smiling. Hope was restored and peace of where I am right now filled me. It was time to enjoy this season. 

As it was nearly 10 pm and time to pick up the kids, I made my way back to our seats, and we both left to pick up the kids. The session was over anyway, and so there was already a line to pick up the children. They were very happy to see us. Once again they were telling what a great time they'd had. 

We made our way to the car and drove the 10 minutes back to the hotel. Once in our room, we all ate some food as we had not had dinner, then the kids went to bed. Tammy was asleep quickly, the boys needed a little longer. Randy then also soon went to bed, and now it's going on 1 am, and I also need to go to bed as we have to get up earlier than today tomorrow.