Friday, November 14, 2008

We're Home in AMERICA!!!

We are SO sorry that we have not updated our blog in so long! Please forgive us! Things have been just crazy busy as we finally ARRIVED HOME IN AMERICA this past Saturday, Nov. 8th!!! It was definitely sad to leave all of our friends in Uganda, but at the same time, it has been such a blessing to be reunited with our family & friends after being apart for these past 2 years! Since we flew into the Louisville, KY airport, where Erica is from, all of her family & friends were waiting at security to welcome us with tons of balloons & hugs! It was such a sweet reunion! We are really looking forward to that same precious time with John's family & friends when we get to New Jersey!!! And we had a ton of time with our family & friends over the weekend...

But this past week we have been reminded of how hectic life in America is! We have been trying to get cell phones, buy a car, open a bank account, apply for jobs, find clothes that fit my growing tummy, and we move into our house today!!! You can probably imagaine why we haven't had time to update our blog! But God is giving us strength and energy to get it all done!

And this weekend we speak in/ teach a Sunday School class of about 150 people at Southeast Christian Church, and then we head to Marion, IN where our WGM headquarters are for debriefing & to speak in chapel there on Monday & Tuesday! Please pray that Jesus continues to give us extra strength & energy to do all we need to do! And just so you know, Baby Rinehimer is doing great~ he's been kicking a TON lately & LOVING all of the yummy food in America! Thank you so much for your prayers for all 3 of us!

SAYING GOODBYE TO ARUA :-( ~ our friends, Joel, Alice, Alfred, Joyce & EdmondLEAVING OUR DRIVEWAY & FRIENDS FOR THE LAST TIME :-(
JOHN PREACHING ONE LAST TIME AT KAMPALA INT'L UNIVERSITY








OUR LAST NIGHT WITH BILLY, JO & ELSIE JAYNE COPPEDGE (along with the rest of our WGM missionary family in Kampala!)OUR FIRST NIGHT IN AMERICA WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS!ERICA'S MOM MADE US A WELCOME HOME DESSERT WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG :-)FINALLY HOME IN AMERICA WITH ERICA'S DAD, SISTER & BROTHER :-)OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS~

Nov 8th- Arrived Home in America!
Nov 16th- Speak at ETS Sunday School Class at Southeast Christian in Louisville, KY
Nov 17th & 18th- Debriefing & Speak in Chapel at WGM HQ's in Marion, IN
Nov 30th- Speak to Christ UMC Youth in Jackson, MS
Dec 7th- Speak to Christ UMC Sunday School Classes in Jackson, MS
Dec 21st- Speak at Central UMC in Linwood, NJ
Dec 28th- Speak at Brick UMC, NJ
Jan 4th- Speak at Sicklerville UMC, NJ
Jan 6th- Speak at Leeds Point Community Church, NJ
Jan 8th- Speak at Emmaus UMC in Smithville, NJ
Jan 11th- Speak at Sharptown UMC, NJ
Jan 25th Speaking at WGM Asbury student center, Wilmore KY
Jan 28th- JOHN's 30th BIRTHDAY!!!

12 comments:

Rambo said...

So glad to know y'all arrived safely. Make sure you look us up while you're in Jackson.

The Engebretson's said...

we are glad you all made it back to the states safely! erica - you look great and so cute with the baby bump! john - we saw that you will turn 30 in january... scott wants me to tell you that it's the beginning of the end :-) (He obviously turned 30 this year!) keep us posted on how things are going! maybe we can visit sometime when we are in louisville to see scott's mom!

- hannah

Kelly Hallahan said...

So glad to see that you've arrived home safely! Please let us know when we can have you for lunch while you're in Jersey! Excited to hear about all God did in Uganda... as we prepare to head there ourselves!

Sam and Kim Trenwith said...

Hey there. So glad we tracked you down on your blog site cause our computer crashed last month and we lost all addresses. Aaaaaaargh!!! Just wanted to share our exciting news with you.......
Lucy Star Trenwith was born 21st October at 10pm, 8lb 8oz. A perfect healthy little girl!!! We were a bit shocked because we thought it was gonna be a boy, but we feel totally blessed and stoked to have a little girl in our family. The boys love her so much and are so protective and in awe of her. You guys must be so happy to be finally at home, and SOOOO exciting that you're having a baby soon too!!!! Please email us at samandkim@slingshot.co.nz so we can keep in touch with you. Love Kim Sam Zak Leejay and Lucy XXXXX

Sam and Kim Trenwith said...

Don't know where the &amp: came from.

Hear from you soon!!!

Katie Ingram said...

So glad y'all are home! Do you have a home address yet?

Leah said...

wow i cannot tell you how excited I am that you two are home in America! We have all been praying and thinking of you soooo much over the past 2 years. I was so happy when I saw that you will be speaking at Central UMC on December 21st. We definitely have to hang out when you're in NJ and catch up. Can't wait to see you both!

Paul, Karyn, Philip said...

Hey friends! It's been awhile-we are so excited you are having a boy! We have one too! Philip Samuel, he's so fun! Hope to get in touch soon!

Daysie said...

John and Erica, its so great to hear that the three of u made it back safe and sound to America! I'm sure you have been busy! I hope that you are well and Erica your belly is so cute! I hope to get down to you guys soon! And I think its great that you two where greeted by so many people who love you! Hope to heat from u soon and let me know when u get a cell phone! Love you both! *hugs*

Daysie said...

John and Erica, its so great to hear that the three of u made it back safe and sound to America! I'm sure you have been busy! I hope that you are well and Erica your belly is so cute! I hope to get down to you guys soon! And I think its great that you two where greeted by so many people who love you! Hope to heat from u soon and let me know when u get a cell phone! Love you both! *hugs*

Matt said...

Welcome back to the states. Maybe we'll randomly bump into each other in Louisville at some point.

Oh yeah and John, turning 30 isn't so bad. It's only been two months, but I'm really enjoying my 30s so far.

steph said...

I'm so glad to hear how everythings been going and that you've both arrived safely back in America. I attend Sicklerville UMC so Im very excited that you will be speaking there and I'll get to see you! I hope you had a great Christmas and are starting to settle in again. I love you both!